Alternia Comics

Elson gningerly swung into a sitting position on the bed to hand her his tray as he pondered that. He didn't even know where he was going nest - wherever Templeton thought was best, really. And even if when he got there, chances were good he wouldn't be there long enough to wait for his letter to reach her and for her to send a return letter.

Still ...

"Yes, I would like that. I can send you a letter when my friend and I get to where we're going."

(Author's note: Elson, you poor hormonal fool! You're leaving a trail!)

Marta nodded and smiled as she took the tray. As she walked away, Elson stood up behind her and walked over to the window. It was snowing lightly; he had to wipe away some of the fog on the window to see clearly. "Where do you live in town, Marta?" he asked. "Can you see it from here?"

"Ah, not so easy. All the streets around here are very nice streets. Mine is not as nice. Not beautiful, but... a small beauty?"

"Pretty, perhaps. Cute." He had gotten a little too close. He could smell her hair. His mind was filling with the thought that if a woman could be a small beauty, she was a very great one. Sometimes her language was very literal.

"Ach, yes. It is over past that forests. Near the street to Koeln."

Elson touched his finger to the window where he could see a little house sitting on the street she described. "That one there, with white walls and a red roof?" he asked.

She tittered, making her eyes sparkle and bringing her for just a moment even closer. "No, that is on the street. It is near, only, hidden by other houser." She pointed more clearly, then spun on a heel and scribbled on a piece of paper. "Here, this is more use-like."

Elson's hand brushed hers when she handed it to him, and he reflexively sucked his breath in.

"What is wrong?" asked Marta, suddenly the nurse again. "You are in hurt?"

"No, no," he said. "I'm ... it's ..."

Elson covered by looking down at the map she had drawn. "Oh. So it's right there." He moved his finger a little. "Behind that tall one."

"Ja," she said.

"Well," said Elson with a shrug. "Do you ..."

Suddenly the door burst open. "It's finished!"

Marta looked at the newcomer and Elson's dropped his face into his raised hand. "Hi, Templeton."