I was in the back yard raking leaves which is a fairly common operation in my neck of the woods at this time of year.
Shadrack, my aging golden retriever was keeping me company when I guess he thought things were getting rather dull
for he suddenly decided to head off toward gate that leads toward the wooded area at the rear of my property
to see if anything more interesting was happening down that way.
I couldn't say that I blamed him any for raking leaves has got to be one of the most tedious chores there ever was
and I sometimes wish that the trees would just hold onto their foliage until it is needed again in the Spring.
That way it would save them the effort of growing new ones every year and me the trouble of disposing of the old ones.
It seemed a sensible enough arrangement to me and so I guess that I may have been half smiling to myself
when I looked up to see Shadrack making his return with the Amazon Warrior Sabre in tow.
"Sabre! How good to see you again! Won't you step inside the house?"
"Greetings, Buck!
I see that you are busy!
I don't want to interfere with your work!"
"The leaves are going nowhere Sabre!
They'll wait for me clear till next Spring for the most part!
And besides ...
I'm dry and dusty and a nice cool glass of ale would sit well right about now, don't you think?"
"It is a long journey as you know, Buck!
So, yes!
>br>If you will forgive the intrusion ... I would be most grateful!"
"Some people may be regarded as interlopers, Sabre!
But others are folks just coming to visit ...
And those of course are most always welcome!"
"How can you tell the difference?"
"The welcome ones are most often female!"
"Oh! I see!"
Sabre accepted the glass I proffered;
quaffed a generous amount of the amber liquid;
smiled her gratitude and settled back comfortably.
"I'm afraid that Shadrack doesn't make an effective watch-dog, Buck!"
The Amazon reached down to stroke the dog who had settled on the floor at the woman's feet.
The dog looked up to acknowledge the petting in the hope that it would continue.
"No, I would have to suppose that Shadrack knows you far too well by this time, Sabre!"
"True! He acts as my reception committee more often than not!"
"I don't think that there's a gentler dog alive than a golden retriever ..."
"Perhaps ... But I still feel that even Shadrack here would be at least as effective
as some of the youngsters that come to us these days, Buck!
Why just the other day I was attempting to offer several of them a bit of instruction
in the time honored art of assassination ...
And yet I fear that somehow few if any of their number took what I was saying at all seriously ..."
"I tried to impress upon them the fact that the first warrior that will have to be neutralized is the sentry!
And it isn't likely to be a simple matter of sneaking into an enemy camp and stabbing a sleeping adversary!"
"An Amazon Sentry takes her assignment very seriously at all times becasue she is well aware of the fact
that her own life as well as the lives of the entire Clan may well be at stake!"
"Even though standing guard can be tedious it remains a vital duty and responsibility ..."
"And the assassin must never suppose that it will be an easy thing to take a sentry unaware ..."
"And so my lessons stand to serve as examples to both the Sentry as well as to the Assassin whose
object it is to neutralize her ..."
Failure of Stealth
