affame_le_geant_arriving_in_montlapine fyn gula the wind picked up and all the travelers to montlapine could do was brace themselves against the icy fingers of old man winter as he, in his merciless, characteristic way, found places to reach in and make things uncomfortable and downright miserable. "we're almost there," twinkletoes said, turning around to inform the mandrill. sometimes words of encouragement are all we need to lighten the burden. his previous talk of log burning fires was still clear and present in her pleasant recollection and the irritating frigidity seemed to wane in its efforts to squelch her air of clemency. thora simply buried her beak inside his paper coat to stay warm. a surefire benefit of marrying young, always a toasty to spon up against. the mandrill's colorful face was nearly hidden behind her fur collar that she had lifted entirely up and around her head. beck's sea change played all the way through. and the cd changer continued with sondre lerche's "faces down" record. as the cheerful tune, "sleep on needles" faded out, the cardboard cart squeaked to a stop in front of a small, peculiar farmhouse nestled in a forest of massive blue spruce trees. they were blanketed with a recent heavy snowfall and all looked to be dipped in white chocolate. a wooden fence, its pickets cut to form undulating swells and painted black and white surrounded the house. snow sat on top of each fence post like dollops of whipped cream. two lemurs in rainbow sweaters ran about the small yard inside the fence and shouted threatening warnings in brazilian portuguese, like, "who are you? what the fuck are you doing here? don't even try anything shady!" but when thora rose and stretched and twinkletoes stepped down from the cart, they immediately recognized them and quickly changed their belligerence into hospitable welcomes. "that's more like it!" twinkletoes said, approaching the gate, laughing. the agreeable fragrance of chimney smoke filled his paper nose. he walked up to the gate, singing some goofy song in portuguese and held out his paper hand to the lemurs. he had a kumquat for each one that he kept in his pocket for such an occassion. they took turns sharing greetings and twinkletoes told them why they came and asked where his brother was. "dr. ocktuber is in the shed with a cartload of swine." one of the lemurs offered. "wouldn't go up there if me was you," the other one said, "he's got the sledgehammer out and blood's on the snow." twinkletoes turned around and gazed up to where he saw his brother's shed, a bright orange stucco building painted with yellow spiraled suns. icicles hung down heavy from the steep pitch of the roof. he noticed the turquiose cart with red lightening bolts backed into the doorway. a team of six border collies were harnessed to the front. they were sleeping on the snow, heads tucked in against the bitter cold, tails wrapped around bodies tight as wool balls used for juggling. "i'd go in and see praayli first," the lemur who remained, suggested. he was referring to the doctor's wife, who they did not yet know was inside the kitchen preparing a scrumptious lunch for everyone. the other lemur stood off studying the mandrill. she stayed in the cart not sure what to do. she was a bit leery of the hostile approach of the lemurs, even though she didn't understand the language. it was like the anger of suspicious dogs for all she knew. she had been looking at the farmhouse, first noticing the sign announcing, "let us eat lettuce farm" in french. it was made of mosaic tile and featured a rabbit-woman, happily waving her hand,driving a cart overflowing with various vegetables that was made from a carrot pulled by a rabbit-man, who seemed just as happy, although he wasn't waving. "brother twinkletoes!" the shout came from the direction of the shed. everyone turned around at once. it, of course, was the doctor, wiping his hands on a rag. he was human, that was plain to see, except for his head, as you are finding to be true in these parts. it was, as you guessed, that of a dutch rabbit, black and white. and there was a large smile on his face. 030118 what's it to you? who go blather from