"We did promise to get the bikes back by one."We did promise to get the bikes back by one." "What time is it?" she groaned. "Almost dawn." "Hmph," she repeated. "Okay, I'm getting up." "Good," he replied, "Or else I'd have to tickle you." She stuck her tongue out at him, and he leaned over to kiss her. "Good morning," he said. "You too," she sighed. They both quickly clambered into the clothing they had been wearing the night before. Nickolai felt sweaty, sticky, and he thought his smell wasn't too great, either. Furry looked disheveled, the fur of her body in chaotic whorl patterns from lying in bed. "We need a shower," he observed. "Yeah," she smiled. "But let's get the bikes back first." "Actually, before that, we have to go to Carraraug." "Oh, that's right- Fadi has to go back, doesn't he?" "Yup." "Let's get moving then," she said, pulling on her shoes and dashing for the door. Skii and Fadi were standing outside. If Skii was nervous, Fadi appeared stunned... by the frenetic pace of morning or by the athletics of last night, Nickolai couldn't tell. They quickly found their bikes and flew out of the barn where E'Lyn had stored them, reaching 300kph and maintaining that speed all the way to Rocchodain, through which Skii slowed down. Past the town, he again went full-bore until Carraraug. The entire trip took under ten minutes. Skii's voice over the intercom said "Five minutes to Rocchodain, four to the castle. That gives us... six minutes to spare." "Where do you think he got that number?" Furry asked Nickolai. "Probably giving us a spare minute or two." They stopped at the hotel, where Skii and Fadi had a breif, friendly kiss before Fadi disappeared into the hotel. "Write me," Skii said as the doors closed behind him. "They never do," he said to Nickolai and Furry. "Let's get going." With a quick turn, he sped out of Carraraug and they followed close behind, reaching the Castle vehicle bay with three minutes to spare. "Wonderful," he sighed. "Just made it." As they walked down the hallway, Skii said, "I want to thank you guys for being here and being so helpful. I really like that little place in Tuilpalya, but I haven't been able to get there with a date for a long time, because Tuilpalya has no SDisk. |