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

Number One was leaving Raleigh behind on his crutches, as they made their way to the receiving bay where Gareth would be returning. Gibbsen came at a more reasonable pace - he missed his master, but would not see him sooner by hurrying. The banshee scream had come while Gibbsen was helping Ansel, one of the mechanics, so Gareth had gone with Elroy.

Nurse April was waiting in the bay, as was the rolling cage with the restraining arms - from this Gibbsen surmised that a child had been rescued, and also a gluckast taken. He wondered how that had gone.

Number One sat down by the wall. Though she could now stand quite straight, it still tired her after some time, especially when walking. Though her feet could fit in shoes now, she yet went barefoot. Raleigh came, as out of breath as she had been, and leaned against the wall beside her. He eyed the cage.

"You know, Number One, we could try and find a quieter place for you to live..."

"No, I will not leave. Unless," she added in a softer tone, "you need my room for somebody you rescue?"

"Not at all, I only thought... but there's the chopper, I think."

Gibbsen had noticed that Number One had noticed the chopper's sound much sooner than Raleigh - only a little after Gibbsen had himself. She had good ears for a human.

As the shape of the chopper could be made out, something twisted and curious seemed to be happening towards its front. Then they saw that a struggling and raving gluckast was clutched by the gargantuan foreclaws of the chopper. Raleigh shook his head.

"That man can make his chopper do anything. Doing it that way would have saved me my leg."

To be continued.

#dailycreatedoom #writtenoom #adolphussearchandrescue 2023/11/17