[Imladris]

October 31st

Olo groaned as he heard the stupid lass scream and he himself shouted, though it was drowned out thoroughly by the shout of the girl, "Hob! Get back here now." Fuming because he himself had been unable to hear his cry, he decided to watch the scene in hiding as he saw Hob and the other hobbit approach one another: Hob the picture of abject terror. His thoughts were interrupted by a voice that said, "And no funny business."

"What the bloody ---" he choked upon the swear word as he turned to look at the impudent hobbit who stood facing them. Clasping the hands that were trembling with contained fury, Olo stood still for awhile, inwardly raging:
Stupid, stupid, fat hobbit!! -- he wasn't sure if he was speaking of the lass or Hob -- When everything was going so splendidly! Now its ruined, ruined! Instead of capturing them and getting a fat reward from Sharkey, they have captured us! And what is he doing?! Arguing with some red-faced lass when he should be here with us, standing by his fellow Shirrifs. What a traitor, what a deserter! I'll report him to Ferny and Sharky and they'll make him wallow in the darkness of a cell that is without furnishings. He shall live on bread and water once a day and shan't see a pipe or a solitary pice of Leaf! He shall languish in there until he repents!

After a suitable pause, which was mainly to rant and to show the other hobbit that Olo wasn't afraid of him, Olo dragged Brass to his feet and tumbled from the brush.

The hobbit lad who had discovered them looked as if he was trying to stifle his terror and was doing a somewhat good job of it. Olo peered intensely at him, he recognized him vaguely and it seemed his name was Josh. "Josh, right?" said Olo with feigned cordial. Sticking out his oily, pudgy hand he continued with a sickening smile, "I'm Olo Underfoot, Shirrif of the Shire and this here is Brass," he said, gesturing to the said hobbit with a jerk of his other thumb. Olo frowned when he saw that Josh stared at the proffered hand with scorn.

Olo glanced quickly around and saw that Hob and the other hobbit were still having a terrific spat, and that Brass was inching his way towards them. Looking around him, he saw the other hobbits, the bad-good hobbits -- what an oxymoron --, come towards them, weapons drawn. "Brass," he hissed, tugging the hobbit to him, "Look around you," he added, pointing at the hobbits. "And what might ye be doin' so far from home?" he asked Josh as pleasantly as he could muster as his hand slowly dropped towards his loaded cross bow.

[ October 12, 2003: Message edited by: Imladris ]