[stylist] Trials of an honorary Dragon chapter 21 (new chapter).

[helene ryles]

Chapter 21:
Kan Darth by Nadia Murat.

I can still remember the long and thrilling ride on Kan Darth’s back.
First she flew to Druzil, and then she turned and took me 300km along
the east coast, before turning again. I held on tightly via a sort of
Nylon strap that Kan had across her back.
Eventually Kan flew me to a building.   Like a lot of buildings in
Darthrila the entrance was situated on the roof.   A rather bored
looking dragon sat near the entrance watching us enter.
This building smelt strongly of chlorine.  I stared in alarm as water
came cascading in highly powered torrents, to fall under a giant
grill.  Then I saw the other people there.  To my surprise they seemed
quite unafraid.  They were simply washing themselves under the water,
along with some small green dragons.   I watched them enviously,
wanting to join them, but I was quite unwilling to remove any of my
clothes.
The dragon glanced at me, scratching her head.  She seemed deep in
thought.  A golden-skinned woman, clad from head to foot in a modest
black bathing costume came over at that point.  I saw Kan hand her
something.
I pictured myself bathing in an enclosed shower.  I was being handed a
bathing costume rather like the one that the woman was wearing.
At that point the woman stretched out a hand for me to take.  She led
me to the shower that Kan had told me about.
“Hand me your clothes,” she wrote on a large slip of paper.  She
slipped the message over the top of the door.
“What will I wear?”  I asked.  I felt anxious in case someone should
burst in on me.  I had a great fear of being seen without my clothes.
“The dragon has paid me to buy you new ones.  A swimming costume too,”
the woman told me.


Half an hour later I was back with Kan.  I was now wearing a very
modest bathing costume that covered everything from my neck to my
ankles. I had removed my hearing devices but still kept my glasses on.
  Kan escorted me past a gigantic pool.  I felt a big splash, and
looked round to see a green scaly tail submerge into the water.  As
the tail vanished from view a man got out of the pool.  He looked so
much like one of my mother's boyfriends that I backed away in fright,
but he just passed us by.
Kan led me to a small door in the wall.
"Children's pool.  Costumes must be worn," read the sign on the wall
in very large print.  Kan opened the door, pushing me gently through
the door.  I saw another pool.   There where many small blurry shapes
in the water.  I guessed they must be swimming children but they were
too far away for me to see.   I felt another splash as a child slid
down a water shoot near where I was standing.    Several large
inflatable objects littered the pool and there seemed to be some sort
of current.  I had never been to a swimming pool before. Sometimes the
other children at NIRC went but I was always in so much trouble that I
was always being banned from going to any outside excursions.
I stayed in the shallow end, nervously clutching an inflatable Banana.
 It was at that point that I visualised mother and Beria travelling
through the air on Beria's flying rickshaw.  I stiffened in fright.
At that point I felt Kan Darth grab me in her claws and flew off with
me dangling in mid air.   We were flying out of a couple of doors in
the ceiling and up into the sky.
After another long journey we arrived on the marble balcony of a high
storey apartment block.
Dragon flats are huge.   The walls were lined with black metal shelves
and a large metal cabinet that filled an entire wall.  It was marked
by flames in places. On the floor there was a very thick green carpet.
 Just like the one that Talmon had.    In fact the dimensions and lay
out of this room were so similar to Talmon Bronze's living room that
it felt like being back at home with Aunt Liza.  I almost expected
Bella to come bounding up to me.
Suddenly several paintings flashed though my mind followed by a
question mark.  The dragon wanted to know if I wanted to see her
artwork.
The vividness in the colours of Kan Darth‘s art work took my breath
away.   I spent a long time admiring them.  Some of them were of my
Aunt Liza.  I wondered where my aunt Liza was now.  When would I see
her again?

                 ***  ***   ***


I woke with a start.  I found I was lying on the dragon’s carpet with
a duvet thrown over me.  I looked around, but there was nobody else
there. I wondered for a few minutes how I'd got there.   I’d been
dreaming about flying.
A large green dragon fluttered down.  She handed me a bowl of cereal
before flying off again out of my field of vision.
After breakfast, I pulled out the books that Wendy had given me to
read.  I was relived to find they were all in large print.
 I glanced at the book on top of the pile.  It was called “Mutts and
Butts” and had a picture of a small black dog on the front cover.
I turned the book over to read: “Mitzi the Mutt is a canine shape
shifter.   Mitzi discovers that his comrade Scrap was imprisoned by
the evil vivisection laboratory, Nastington live sciences.  It is
Mitzi's job to rescue Scraps before it's too late.”
I settled down to read.  It was good to read about someone else who
was earth bound; somebody who did not want to commit suicide as a
result.    I greatly enjoyed this book although I found the scenes in
the laboratory were very sad.  It was such a relief when Mitzi, along
with several animal rights activists, got scraps out of the laboratory
and they all lived happily ever after.
 It was late at night by this time.  I had been reading ‘Mutt and
butts' all day long, only stopping a couple of times to eat the
sandwiches that the dragon had served me.


                  ***  ***  ***


I got up earlier that morning and was soon engrossed in "The life of
Cathy the cow".  It was a very moving story about a cow that was in a
modern intense dairy farm.  I had just reached a particularly sad
passage of Cathy and her baby being torn away.  It reminded me of what
had happened with me and Liza.
"No! I don't want that," I cried when Kan came with my cereal that had
milk poured all over it. I had now decided to give up milk altogether.
I visualised a question mark.
"Milk is very cruel because of the way they take the baby cow away
from its mother," I told the dragon.
I visualised some beans being harvested.  Then crushed to make Soya
milk which is what the dragons had put on my cereal.
Kan went on to explain that Darthrila doesn't have a meat or dairy
industry.   Intensive farming had been banned soon after petrol driven
cars due to the amount of pollution it caused.  You either had to buy
meat that was flown in from abroad, hunt for or your own meals, or
take up a vegetarian diet.
"What do you eat?" I asked the dragon.
I visualised a feral dog being hit by a fast moving ambulance.  The
ambulance drove away leaving the dog flattened on the pavement.  I saw
the dragon swoop down to collect the animal.  Then I saw the dragon
chopping the poor creature up and putting it in a pan of boiling
water, before adding several spices.
"Isn't that rather a horrible thing to do?" I asked.
A question mark again.  Then I saw the image of the feral dog which
was very clearly dead.
He pulled out one of my other books that Wendy had given to me.  This
one was about the cruelties that went into factory farming.   I
decided to go vegan after I read that.

                    ***  ***  ***

I had just finished rereading "Mutts and Butts" when a hand tapped me
on the shoulder.  I had been so absorbed with rereading my book that I
did not notice anyone come.  It was the middle of the night.   I'd
started rereading ‘Mutts and butts' because I couldn't get any sleep.
 I turned to see my Aunt Liza who was wearing a loose lacy dress.  She
looked much happier then when I’d seen her last, despite the large
puffy bruise over her eye.
I rushed to hug her.
“It is really great to see you again.  Sorry to keep you waiting.
Certain family members proved a little hard to shake off,” My aunt
signed, after we had a long embrace.
“What’s happened to your eye?” I asked.
"That was your mother’s doing. She wanted to know where you were but I
preferred not to say.  She didn’t like that.  My eye is feeling rather
tender at the moment.   I’m only glad I can still see with it, I
wasn‘t so lucky last time she did it.   In the end Talmon came to
collect me from Druzil railway station.  They tried to follow me there
so he had to shoo her and Beria away from his property.  I’ve been
watched constantly since then.  That’s why it's taken this long to get
to see you.  Now I must go soon.  Kan is going to fly me to Keraina so
I can catch the first train into work as usual.   I’m afraid I can’t
come and see you too often, Just in case I get traced."

                  ***  ***  ***

I felt a scaly hand shake me awake.
I visualized myself in ragged clothes.  Then I visualized shopping at
a market stall for new ones.  Next I saw myself going on another
journey.   This journey was a shorter then my last one.
Kan Darth led me out to the balcony.   After scrabbling on to her
smooth shiny back, she flew me to another building.    We landed on
the roof, where many dragons lay in the sun.  They were waiting for
their humans to return.  A raven flew next to us.  The next minute she
had turned into an older woman.
"Hello, it's me Wendy. I collected you from Snyder.   I thought we
would have less problems if I changed myself into a grown up," she
told me.
"How do you manage to change shape like that?" I asked.
"Oh that was nothing.  I’m a transfigurator. It was a gift I was born
with.   Animal transfiguration is the hardest.  I turned into a
gorilla a few years ago.  I've only just been able to turn into a
raven.  I was determined to learn before I left Starhorn."
"Starhorn?" I asked.
"That's a school run by a group of Parvesh witches in Nazdonia.  Not
that all the children are magically capable, but children that are get
extra lessons to control and improve our magic.  Pluto and Sunniva go
to school there too, and so id Pyre when he was younger.  I've now
left that school and I have just entered a special university for
gifted children in Darthrila.      Now you best follow me closely.  If
we get separated and someone wants to buy your legs, just say no,” she
instructed.
I followed her down a ladder to a busy market place.  We found a stall
that was selling children’s clothes.
Wendy asked me to make a selection.  Advising me here and there on
which fabrics were suitable for vegans and which weren't.   Fur,
Leather, wool and silk were out since they came from animals.  After
glancing at various outlandish Darthrilan styles which all had flaps
at the back, I chose a few shirts and matching trousers.
“Is there anything else you would like to get?” Wendy asked, after we
finished shopping for clothes.
"I would like something more to read," I told her.
"Didn't you like the books I gave you?" she asked, looking really disappointed.
"Yes, but I've finished reading them.  I really enjoyed 'Mutts and
Butts'.  I read that there is a sequel so I was wondering if I could
find it," I explained.
"There is actually a whole series, but you won't find them here.  The
'Mitzy the Mutt' series has been banned in a lot of places.  Still
I'll take you to the local book stall anyway so you can see for
yourself."

"Do you have any books about dogs?" I asked a stall holder thinking
about 'Mitzy the Mutt'.  I wrote this request on a white board which
Wendy had brought for me.
"You mean bogs?" The man wrote back.
"No, just ordinary wingless canines..."
"Why would anyone be interested in land animals for?" the man asked
giving me a confused look, "I thought all kiddies wanted to read about
the five fairies and their bog."

                          ***  ***  ***


Aunt Liza didn't come for over a week after that. She had to shake me
awake as I was fast asleep.  This time she was with a very attractive
golden-skinned man. He had waist length hair and a long shaggy beard.
He wore a loose cotton shirt and matching trousers. There was a big
smile on his face.   He had a red and white cane with him as well as a
walking stick.  As I sleepily stretched my hands out for a hug I saw
my aunt signing to him.  I got my hug but I felt it was not as long as
it should have been.
"Nadia, I would like you to meet my new husband Vinny," my aunt signed.
"Hello, pleased to meet you," I signed rather mechanically.  I wasn’t
really pleased to meet him at all.  I'd been told of this new rival on
the scene before, but I was still not too happy about it.  I blamed
him for my aunt's absence. It was like Mitch from NIRC said, when guys
came on the scene mothers, and in my case aunts, gave up on you.
 The man smiled pleasantly but said nothing.
"I'm afraid he's a little shy," my aunt explained, "But he's a really
lovely guy.  I can’t understand why his ex wife Arielle wanted to
leave him so much.  He has a lovely sweet nature.   Maybe he's not the
smartest of men, but who cares.  I've had enough of clever people.
Now I must go.  This will have to be a very brief visit or I'll miss
my train going into work."

                  ***  ***  ***

A few days later Wendy came with a little girl.  She wore a smart
black dress.  Her long black hair was tied up in plaits.
 "Meet my friend Sunniva.  She's also your step sister," Wendy signed.
 Sunniva walked towards me, clicking her fingers as she went. Although
she looked no older then seven she did not behave at all like a young
child.   There was something very precautious about her manner. I
wondered if she was undersized like me and Wendy.
"Hello.  My name is Sunniva.  Father uses signs like you," Sunniva
told me using tactile sign language.
“How did you know where to find me?" I asked.
"Echo location.   I make noises that give me some idea as to what's in
front of me..." the girl explained.
"I didn't realise that was possible."
"Oh yes, It's how bats and dolphins get about.  Are you vegan?" she asked me.
"Yes," I told her.
"I'm glad of that.  We're all vegan in this family.  We were hoping
your aunt would become vegan too but she refuses to give up fish.  Sea
food is very bad for you because it contains mercury.  Fishing is also
damaging to marine wildlife..." And so she went on.  At some point I
switched off.  She kept spelling out really big words.   I had no idea
what they meant.  It made me feel quite embarrassed.  Sunniva was so
much younger then me yet she knew so much more. I was hoping she would
not stay too long.  She talked more like an encyclopaedia then a
little girl.

              ***  ***  ***

"What’s happened to your speech processor?”  My aunt asked several
weeks later.
 “Broken” I answered. Wendy had given me another book titled 'The
trials of Celia the chinchilla' who had been tortured in a research
laboratory.  They had tested the cochlear implant on her before it was
used on humans.   On my request Wendy had given me several other
articles about animal testing for hearing research.  Wendy had
enlarged the print size on her computer especially for me.   After
reading all that material I decided to stop wearing my cochlear
implant.
“Oh dear, would you like me to book an appointment at an audiologist
to get it replaced,” my aunt asked.
“No.  I’ve decided I prefer it quiet.  In fact I want the whole thing
removed,” I told her.
“That’s rather silly of you.  You might change your mind later on,”
she replied.
“Animals were tortured in laboratories in order to create my cochlear
implant…” I exclaimed.
“I know, but they won’t come back to life if you stop wearing your
cochlear implant,” Liza replied.
“I feel it‘s unethical” I told her bluntly.
"This doesn't have anything to do with a certain Wendy Krum by any
chance?  She is very heavily into the animal rights movement but you
shouldn't take anything she has to say too seriously," Liza commented.
"So what if she is? At least Wendy comes to see me more often then you
do.  She provides me with a lot to read," I retorted back.
"I must dash now.  We will discuss this further, but I'm getting
really sick of this Wendy.  I feel she's a bad influence on little
Sunniva too."
"No she's not.  She's my friend.  She's the only friend I've got now
you abandoned me for some dumb bloke."
My aunt didn't answer.  She just turned and left.


                ***  *** ***

A few days later I was sitting in the hatchlings pool wearing my
modest bathing costume.  Kan had been very reluctant to take me back
to the pool but I was getting very bored and restless. In the end she
gave way.  She asked me not to tell my aunt Liza as my aunt Liza
wanted me to stay indoors.
 I was holding on to an inflatable banana when a group of golden and
black   figures   approached me.  They were all wearing black bathing
costumes.  The smallest girl was also carrying a long white cane.  As
I grew nearer I recognised Sunniva along with some older children I
didn’t know.
"Hello Nadia.  Meet my cousins.  They are all witches like me,”
Sunniva told me, introducing me her to her companions.  She was using
tactile sign language again.
“How did you know it was me,” I asked.
“My cousin recognised you.   She says your aunt has a photograph of
you by her bedside and she was wondering if it was the same girl.  It
is nice here isn't it.  This place isn’t too far from the Nazdonian
borders.  We come here regularly I love going down the water shoot.
Have you tried it yet?"
"No," I replied.
"Well you should.  It's great fun.  My brother Pluto should be coming
down with my little nephew any minute now..."
Sunniva stopped signing.  She put her head to one side, listening
carefully.    I saw her speaking to the other girls.  They looked
puzzled.
All of a sudden Sunniva grabbed me.   I was pushed on the back of her
cane which flew up in the air with us both clinging tightly to it.
As we left the pool, I was horrified to see mother behind us.  She was
sitting on the back of her flying carpet.   She was getting nearer all
the time.
At that moment Sunniva’s long cane snapped.  It was a small
lightweight cane.  It was designed to be used as an orientation tool
for young blind children, and not as a substitute for a broomstick.
Only the sturdier metal canes were capable of that.
For the second time in living memory I was falling.
I gave a yelp of pain as I felt myself landing on what appeared to be
a large flying inflatable. Sunniva landed along side me.  I peered
round to see Sunniva’s cousins holding on to each corner, whilst
another girl manoeuvred it into place.  They must have grabbed a large
inflatable from the children’s pool and followed us with it.  They
were all holding it up, whilst simultaneously riding inflatable
bananas.
I saw mother swerve and make her way back to the inflatable.  Just as
she came close enough to reach me, Kan Darth flew overhead.  She
grabbed me in her claws and flew away with me.   Mother was still in
hot pursuit.

We eventually stopped at a large hall.   There was a dragon sitting at
the entrance.  He removed my glasses, and a blindfold was tied round
my eyes.  After that I felt myself descending again.  I was being
pushed into a small space, and the door was shut on me.
I stayed there for what seemed an age.  As I had nothing better to do,
I felt about the space that I was being kept in.  I could feel what
seemed to be several harnesses and ropes.  Similar to the ones that
Aunt Liza used to climb up and down from the roof with.
I heard a noise.  As I was not wearing any hearing devices at the time
it must have been very loud for me to hear it.  I wondered what it
was.
 I could smell blood.
Eventually Kan Darth came back for me.

A pair of heavily bandaged arms embraced me.
"It’s me, Liza.   I'm so sorry you have to wear that blindfold.
Normally humans aren't alowed here at all.  I'm the only exception.  I
had to go through an initiation and the dragons all had to agree on my
presence in their private quarters.  Some of the dragons won't agree
to let you stay here unless you are kept blindfolded and locked in one
of my cupboards.  I'm sorry about that too," my aunt signed.
"Liza, what are all those bandages you are wearing? What's happened to
you?” I asked.  My aunt smelt quite strongly of blood and
disinfectant.
"Please don't worry about me.   You are ok.  That's the main thing…”
my aunt replied.
“What happened to you? Did mother do it?" I asked.
“No.  Witch or not, your mother would never dare enter these
premises...  That was just Beria’s dragon Julius Darth.  He came to
conduct a search.  I was asked to entertain him, so as to distract his
attention from you.  Beria needs to trim his nails…” my aunt
explained.
“What happened exactly?” I asked.
“I’d rather not go into details.  Now, I’m going to have to wrack my
brains to think of another place to hide you.   We can‘t go back to
stay at Kan Darth.  Kan is being watched."