(This story so far resides here: ofourmaker.com/2023/10/17/adolphus-search-and-rescue )

Needless to say, everyone present was curious to go with Number One, but naturally only Gareth went this first time. Gibbsen didn't count (which he often used to good advantage).

Her brother met them - standing erect, in a dark suit, with combed hair, and wearing shoes. He gave a toothy smile, which in his lined and weary face looked noble.

"Brother," Number One said quietly. She went and put her head against him, and he stroked her tumultuous hair. "Haho," she said, muffled in his suit coat.

"Haho, little sister. Number One they are calling you."

"And they will call you Number Two!"

Dr. Kilver shook his head, with a smile under his moustache.

"I and the SAC took the liberty of naming him: we chose Moses, because we drew him out."

"Yes," her brother said, "I am Moses."

"They named you!" Number One said in an awestruck voice, with her hands on his arms (which was silly behaviour to Gibbsen).

Drops of sweat were growing on Moses' brow, and he stepped awkwardly away from his sister - but it was only to sit down in a chair, and slump forward as though he had been holding his breath until that point.

"I stand hard to stand so high for meeting you, Sister. So it is not easy to stand."

"Your heart was beating hard not because I see you?" Number One asked, with some very human humour in her tone. Another smile was his only response to that. He spoke to the doctor:

"We will choose a next gluckast this time, and will take her?"

"We can hope for a good success in taking another in, yes."

"Please, choose the one I want: she who was my mate."

To be continued.

#dailycreatedoom #writtenoom #adolphussearchandrescue 2023/11/05