Journey and Jeopardy

By Candy Rae

Dragon Wulf: Book 1
The galaxy is enormous. There is intelligent, alien life out there. Events have already been set in motion. An implacable, impersonal, grasping enemy is about to be revealed. The wolf-like Lind and Larg, the dragon-like Lai and their human friends are beginning a new life on a new world. When their space ships land on Planet Tak they believe they have left war behind forever. They are wrong.

PLANET WOLF
(1) Wolves and War - (2) Conflict and Courage - (3) Homage and Honour - (4) Dragons and Destiny - (5) Valour and Victory - (6) Ambition and Alavidha - (7) Paws and Planets - (8) Tales and Tails

DRAGON WULF
(1) Journey and Jeopardy - (2) Gossamer and Grass - (3) Flames and Freedom

FLYING COLOURS
(1) Rascals and Renegades - (2) Outlaws and Overlords - (3) Sparkles and Sphinxes (forthcoming)

T’QUEL MAGIC
(1) Ephemeral Boundary - (2) Enduring Barrier - (3) Eternal Bulwark

MULTIVERSE MUDDLE (forthcoming)
(1) Vampyre Crypt - (2) Faie Castle - (3) Shadow Cave - (4) Demon Citadel

SAMMY THE CAT
(1) Cat in Charge - (2) Cat at Christmas - (3) Dog not in Charge

KILL BY CURE

• Language: English
• Publisher: Candy Rae
• Release date: Feb 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310287145

Candy Rae

Candy Rae has been an avid reader since childhood, with fantasy and science fiction appearing on her bookshelf in her first year of university when a friend introduced her to talking dragons. All her life, she has wanted to write, but it wasn’t until Christmas Day in 2003 that she sat down and started planning the book that, after many revisions, became the first book in the Planet Wolf series: Wolves and War.As a former accountant, Candy was notorious among her family for elongating her commute home by parking in a safe space and starting to write, having got into the habit of carrying a notebook with her wherever she went, a habit she continues to this day. When she’s not writing, her hobbies include knitting, tapestry, and trying to figure out ‘whodunnit’ in murder mysteries.Candy lives in Ayrshire, Scotland, with her large black cat, Sammy, and her Labrador-Corgi cross, Alex. She writes her books in British English with a Scottish flavour.

Book preview

DRAGON WULF (1)

JOURNEY AND JEOPARDY

Candy Rae

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SMASHWORDS EDITION

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Dragon Wulf (1) - Journey and Jeopardy

Copyright © 2014 Candy Rae

All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead; is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the author.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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BOOKS BY CANDY RAE

Dragon Wulf - (1) Journey and Jeopardy - (2) Gossamer and Grass - (3) Flames and Freedom

Planet Wolf - (1) Wolves and War - (2) Conflict and Courage - (3) Homage and Honour - (4) Dragons and Destiny - (5) Valour and Victory - (6) Ambition and Alavidha - (7) Paws and Planets - (8) Tales and Tails

T’Quel Magic - (1) Ephemeral Boundary - (2) Enduring Barrier - (3) Eternal Bulwark

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Dragon Wulf (1) - Journey and Jeopardy is dedicated to everyone in the world who hates animal and child cruelty.

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Cover Artwork by ebook-designs.co.uk

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AUTHOR’S NOTE

‘Dragon Wulf (1) - Journey and Jeopardy’ is written using British English. There are spelling differences between British English and the English as written in other parts of our wonderful, diverse world.

No prior knowledge of Planet Wolf is assumed or required.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Exordium

Chapter 1- Assignment

Chapter 2 - Warnings

Chapter 3 - Firearm

Chapter 4 - Journey

Chapter 5 - Landing

Chapter 6 - Jeopardy

Chapter 7 - Rescue

Chapter 8 - Dragon Wulf

Chapter 9 - Escape

Chapter 10 - Return

Characters

Glossary

Appendices

Short Story - Daniel and Deceit

Short Story - Star Ships and Space Ships

Creatures (and a little bit of history)

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Exordium

Is it a comet? Is that what a comet looks like as it streaks through space? asked the Vlonak.

Nothing like this.

Enlarge the image, the Vlonak commanded.

The screen flickered and the area of the image worrying the Vlon space-watchers grew bigger, if not clearer. The Vlonak’s protuberant eyes grew bright as his mind assimilated what he was seeing.

"I don’t believe it! There are three of them! What are they?"

Definitely not comets. They are travelling far too fast. The Vlonak’s aide de camp was accustomed to his master and was being very patient. Sometimes it took the Vlonak time for unpalatable facts to register.

What’s that behind them? the Vlonak enquired, leaning forward in an attempt to see the grainy image in more detail.

It appears to be some sort of ibon trail, much like our ships expel from their power drives when they are accelerating but the objects are too far away to say for definite.

"Are they accelerating?"

It would appear that they are but we’ll know more after the analysts have completed their calculations.

In what direction are they heading?

Towards the Diaglon sector.

I do not think we should wait for the analysts, declared the Vlonak. Open a channel to the Gtrathlin of the Diaglon. I must warn him.

* * * * *

Chapter 1

Assignment

Tavin Karovitz listened to his Aunt Elizabeth’s request to look over Mikey’s class assignment and agreed that it would be a really good idea to check it before the boy handed it into his teacher in the morning.

Mikey had a slapdash approach to anything remotely resembling ‘lessons’, unlike his older brother Charles who rather took the opposite to extremes.

Charles would if I asked, Elizabeth apologised, but he’s concentrating on his exam preparation and he needs to get good marks.

Tavin forbore from telling her that he was also studying hard. He was attending a number of adult educational classes most evenings and was holding down a job to boot. As a boy Mikey’s age his education had been minimal at best. He owed the family, and especially his aunt, a lot. She had taken him in when they had arrived on Planet Tak even though she hadn’t needed to. He was part of the family now and with that loving inclusion came obligations.

I’ll have a go after evening meal, he said and was rewarded with a relieved smile of gratitude.

Thank you Tavin. I knew I could rely on you. Now, I’d better go and wash the vegetables and fruit or you’ll be eating nothing but thin air come dinnertime!

So after their meal, a juicy kura steak and root vegetables followed by fruit accompanied by a creamy, sugary sauce only Aunt Elizabeth knew how to make, he settled down by the fire and began to read the pages Mikey had reluctantly handed over. Not for the first time he wished that the authorities had seen fit to run the electricity wires as far as their home. Humankind had been on the planet for over two years and they still had to utilise the messy, old-fashioned oil lamps.

Mikey’s assignment had been given out by his language teacher (the language was Standard) and it required Mikey to write about four different creatures that lived on the planet, using as illustration, and this was the point of the exercise, some memoirs of people who had interacted with them.

Mikey’s writing was rather spidery but after a few lines Tavin managed to get a handle on it. It was also far neater than he had been expecting. He made a mental note to compliment the boy about the improvement in both handwriting and spelling. The information he had gathered was surprisingly good for an eleven year old but Tavin realised that he had not even begun to attempt to use the information. The pages contained only paragraphs copied down verbatim from various sources. Wondering how Mikey could possibly imagine that this would be acceptable to the teacher, Tavin read the pages through; making mental notes about what parts Mikey should use and what could be safely disregarded.

‘The Lind are long-legged, fast-running, horse-sized (in build they resemble thoroughbred horses) creatures who can communicate telepathically and talk out loud. They are highly intelligent. The Larg are shorter-legged, not so fast-running, horse-sized (in build they resemble carthorses) creatures who can communicate telepathically and talk out loud. They are highly intelligent too. Both Lind and Larg can form life-long mind-bonds with receptive humans although more Lind life-bond than do Larg. The colour pattern of the Lind varies from rtath (pack) to rtath and is striped with an underlying colour-base of a pale brown. The Larg are predominately sandy brown all over. The Lind are more peace loving than the Larg who are quick to anger. Lind and Larg come from the same genetic stock.’

Tavin pondered Mikey’s use of the phrase ‘genetic stock’ for a moment. Its use was not like him at all and he wondered if his cousin actually knew what it meant. Pushing that thought aside for the moment he continued to read.

‘When I met the Lind who was destined to be my life-partner, I didn’t know how much my life would change. I didn’t realise at the time how lonely I had been. Once our lives and minds were joined the loneliness disappeared at once and forever. I had read about life-bonds but had never imagined … she understands me completely and I love her, not in the way a man loves a woman but in a way that transcends all physical boundaries. Since that momentous day we have rarely been apart and we shall be together until the day we both die. Thomas Wylie.’

The little idiot has forgotten to put the dates down about when the memoirs were written, thought Tavin with an inner smile. Still, for a spot of research by a junior student it probably doesn’t matter. If I did it I’d be in all sorts of trouble.

‘When I saw my first Larg, it was the most terrifying moment of my life. It was before they became reconciled to peace with their eons old cousins, the Lind. The kohorts of the Larg had invaded our lands and the people in the village where I lived had taken refuge in the chapel, which, luckily for us, was built of stone and three stories high. We saw them running towards the building. It was like a sea of large, vicious, snarling bodies, all howling for our blood. Danny Stefansson.’

‘The Diaglon are what we humans might call dragons. They are warm-blooded and walk on their hind legs.’

‘Their adult bodies are approximately the size of a full-grown African elephant male (an animal that once lived on the planet we came from (Earth). Each wing extends to around twice the length of the body and the tail is the same again. They can fly and breathe fire. Their back legs are strong and very powerful. Their short front legs have hands at the ends and each hand possesses four digits, three fingers and a thumb. The Diaglon have been capable of travelling through space for thousands and thousands of years and have been exploring the cosmos for almost that long.’

‘There are five types of Diaglon - the golden-skinned Lai, the black-skinned Brai, the green-skinned Dglai, the red-skinned Sbnai and the blue-skinned Rai. Planet Tak was first colonised by the Brai.’

‘The Diaglon become adult at around age one hundred and fifty of our years and live for around eight hundred.’

‘Ah, to fly with the Brai. I hadn’t had an opportunity to do so before my family came to Tak. The feel of the wind and to see the clouds, like lazy wisps below. It was intoxicating! Once one has flown one will ever after walk with one’s gaze looking skywards towards where one has visited and to where one longs to go again.’

I wonder who wrote that one? Must find out. He can’t use the quote otherwise. Tavin was beginning to enjoy himself. The bells of each and every one of his days were always filled to capacity with work or study. He never had much free time to read purely for fun and this was not only fun but interesting too.

‘When I met my first Lai I was stunned. He was scary, beautiful and wonderful. His black skin shone with health, so much so that sunlight was glinting from it all over, and his eyes, they were huge and bottomless. He seemed to be, to my untutored eyes all knowing, like the Gods of legend. Ryzcka Niaill.’

‘As I rode along the trade route something possessed me to look up. In the sky I saw the Lai, their golden bodies gliding through the sky like five silent shadows. Then my horse bolted and it was all I could do to stay in the saddle. Once I had got him under control I looked up again but they had gone. Matt Urquhart.’

Right, thought Tavin. The question asked for four creatures? Yes. He’s got three, the Lind, the Larg and Diaglon. I wonder what he’s picked for the fourth? He was growing more and more impressed as he thought about the number of bells Mikey must have spent researching the subject and writing the data out. It was unlike him. He read on.

‘All the Lind, the Larg, the humans (and Maru the Lai) who live here on Tak arrived from our home planet, Rybak, under one year ago, transported by the large, ponderous, exploratory space ships belonging to the Diaglon.’

That’s not right, grinned Tavin with another mental chuckle. It is over two years. I wonder what he was thinking about. Perhaps he needs some extra maths lessons. He laughed out loud, imagining Mikey’s face if that was suggested.

‘When I, aged twelve, arrived on Planet Tak after an eight year journey through the stars and planets, the shock was tremendous! The grass was green! My space ship was not the first to arrive and the people who had landed before us had been busy building temporary shelters for us out of a substance I had never encountered before. All the buildings were a peculiar shape but we all soon got used to them. I wanted to explore my bright, green new world and I remember the disappointment when my mother told me that that school would start the next morning. I had to wait days until we were taken on our first expedition. Charles Karovitz.’

The last one made Tavin’s mouth open in astonishment. Tavin couldn’t fathom how Mikey had managed to persuade his brother Charles to contribute to his assignment. He was immediately suspicious. What was going on?

But he’s definitely gone a bit off track here, thought Tavin. Nothing about the physiology of us people at all. It’s not what he’s interested in of course - he wants to know what happened and not the who and the why. Still, it’s very good.

‘The Vada is a Lind/human cavalry force dedicated to fighting evil and protecting those who must be protected. It has been in existence for over eight hundred years, eight hundred and eight of them on Planet Rybak. It is made up of fifty-one Ryzcks (Companies) of thirty-five vadeln-pairs each plus support and training personnel. Some Larg have now life-bonded and have joined the Vada with their partners. All but a few are still in training.’

‘When I arrived at Stronghold, riding my very own Lind, I was fourteen years of age. Little did I know that apart from some ten years serving with my Ryzck, that I would be spending the majority of my life there. I never dreamed I would become the Vada’s Weaponsmaster and be training young men, women and their Lind for fifty.

‘As the years passed I taught hundreds of eager young cadets, watched them grow up and watched them join their own Ryzcks. Many did not return and I grieved for them. I always wondered if I had failed them by not teaching them enough. My Lind always tried to comfort me and I her but it rarely helped. I liked better the occasions when a vadeln-pair arrived back at the Stronghold safely and came to thank us for teaching them so well, thus saving their lives. It sort of balanced out I suppose but I could never forget the faces of those I would never see again. Weaponsmaster Jilmis.’

Tavin finished the page and turned the sheet over but it was empty. Mikey had not answered the question but Tavin could not help but be impressed with what he had read.

I must get him in and set him to writing this up properly. I wonder where he is? Outside playing with his friends no doubt.

Tavin was getting up from his chair prior to going outside to call Mikey inside when Charles arrived.

What you doing? he asked Tavin.

Mikey’s assignment.

Oh?’ Charles was interested. May I take a look?"

Tavin handed the sheets of paper over.

The little scallywag, Charles exploded as he began perusing the first words. These are my notes! Who is his teacher? Old Hardbottom? This was one of the first assignments he gave me when we got here, about different creatures and what people’s memoirs say about them. Am I right?

Tavin nodded.

I thought as much! He must have filched them from the top shelf in my room where I keep my old notes when I wasn’t looking. Where is he? I’m going to …

I’ll call him in and set him to work, Tavin promised. And on my honour, I’ll make doubly sure he’ll never try this trick again!

He needs a good hiding! Charles stormed away and Tavin went to call Mikey in. trying hard not to smile. The whole situation was just so typically … Mikey.

* * * * *

‘Dragon Wulf (1) - Journey and Jeopardy’ begins in 818 AL (Anno Landing). The equivalent Earth timeframe is approximately the 32nd Century AD.

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Chapter 2

Warnings

There was something magical about riding a Lind. The wind blew away Thalia Josensdochter’s cries of pure, exhilarating joy.

: Let’s run up to the top of High Hill : she urged Josei.

Josei wanted to run up the hill too. He loved spending time looking out over the countryside even more than his life-partner did.

Almost as fast as the wind he ran, through the light trees at the base of where the hill began and out on to the incline that marked its beginning. Upwards they flew, Josei’s paws barely touching the ground until at last, a slightly blowing Josei, Thalia holding on tight to the long-haired ruff around his neck, reached the summit.

That was wonderful! enthused Thalia as Josei came to a stop. She swung her right leg over Josei’s withers and jumped down.

They gazed at what was around and below them, still utterly enthralled with the view even after all the seasons they had been living here.

To the north was Township where the majority of the citizens who lived on Planet Tak lived - people who were neither farmers, nor hunters nor those who chose to live in close proximity to the Lind. The farms spread out in wide swathes to Township’s west and east. Thalia and Josei could just make out the neat little crop squares. North of Township, in the far distance, were the domtas, or living areas, of the Brai, the dragon-like creatures whose planet Tak had been before the people, the Lind and their cousins the Larg had been brought here, at their invitation.

Thalia turned and looked to the west. Her gaze swept over a vast forest, the trees went on and on for hundreds of kellrans. Amongst the trees were open spaces, some very large where there were no trees but where bushes and grasslands grew strong and healthy under the Takkian sun. This was where the Lind packs (rtaths) had made their homes. The area was known as the Rtathlians of the Lind.

Thalia knew that further west there were very few trees and the land was drier, more like scrubland, with rocks and boulders lying around like discarded pebbles. This was where the Larg had made their homes. The area was called the Nadlians of the Larg. Thalia and Josei had never been there but were planning to visit as soon as the opportunity arose.

To the east lay the ocean. She squinted through the morning haze and tried to make out the fishing village that lay nestled along the shoreline but the haze was too heavy so she gave up trying.

In the large, undulating, grassy area to the south sat the township known as Stronghold, the home of the Vada and populated with people like Thalia who lived alongside the Lind. At the western edge of Stronghold were the structures that made up the physical Vada garrison - the sleeping quarters, the cookhouse and the many other buildings necessary to run a military unit. Josei and Thalia’s sleeping area, known as a daga, was situated at the edge of this area, close to the high, wooden wall that surrounded the buildings. Thalia could see the lazy wisps of smoke rising from the cookhouse fires as the Vada cooks prepared the midday meal.

The Vada was a cavalry army made up of its fifty-one Ryzcks of thirty-five each plus support and training personnel. At Stronghold they lived and trained. It was their home. Thalia and Josei were a serving vadeln-pair in the Fifteenth Ryzck.

She looked affectionately at Josei as he too took in the vista before them. If he were a cat he would be purring, thought Thalia. It is gorgeous here, not like home but pretty tremendous all the same.

Josei caught her thoughts. Vadeln-pairs were mind-bonded as well as life-bonded and there was little they could hide from each other, or indeed, wanted to hide.

: I agree. Perhaps when we get leave we could go do some more exploring? : His mind-tone was wistful.

Thalia’s face broke into a grin. Leave-time was fast approaching and they might be able to explore their new world quite a distance further than they had done already and before the winter storms began to bend their destructive way through and over the continent. Thalia knew Josei was thinking about the proposed holiday into the Nadlians.

: We have visitors : Josei telepathed suddenly, but Thalia wasn’t worried. Josei sounded pleased. : It is Artem and Larya :

Thalia turned, a smile of welcome on her face.

A long legged Lind female was padding towards them and beside her walked a strongly muscled man of middling years with a weather-beaten face. He sported a scar along his left cheek, a constant reminder of an encounter with a sea pirate back on their planet of origin.

I hear congratulations are in order, Artem pronounced, grinning broadly and striding over to Thalia and Josei.

Thalia looked embarrassed but Josei was pleased with Artem’s words. He looked smug. Their joint promotion to Vadryzka (troop commander) had now been recognised by no less a person than the Assistant Weaponsmaster himself.

Susa Malkum told me after breakfast, she answered. I still haven’t quite taken it in. I mean, Vadryzka! Josei and I thought Rodick and Anya would be chosen. They graduated before me and Josei.

You two got the promotion, didn’t you? Not Rodick and Anya, and not before time either, in my and Larya’s opinion. You’ve been leading the Second Vadryz these past twenty days and very well too.

We thought it was only an interim arrangement …

I didn’t, interrupted Josei.

Well I did. You could have bowled me over with a feather when Malkum told us.

You are the best vadeln-pair for the job, Artem said, still smiling, and with the changes coming and the way things are going …

What changes? asked Thalia.

Forget I said that, answered Artem. You’ll find out soon enough.

Artem’s ‘soon enough’ had an ominous tone to it but before Thalia could ask him, the man began talking about something else. Thalia enjoyed talking to Artem and he managed to divert her easily.

We didn’t expect to find you here, continued Artem. Thought you’d be talking to the members of your Vadryz, getting to know them.

Thalia laughed. I already know them Artem. Josei and I have been with the Fifteenth Ryzck and the Second Vadryz for simply ages!

No, but there’s a difference between being a part of and leading. Who have you got? I never got the chance to ask Malkum.

Thalia mentally picked their names off with her fingers. Rodick and Anya of course. I thought Malkum might have transferred them but Josei says Anya wanted to stay. Rodick’s friendly with the twins.

Artem nodded. Rodick and the twins, Jack and Jon’s friendship was an old one, predating their vadeln-pairing and joining the Vada. The three could often be found partaking of an unspecified number of alcoholic beverages in the pub the ‘Lindar’s Paws’ of an evening so he wasn’t surprised. "Who else?’ he prompted.

Ail stays too. He and Iya only transferred in a couple of tendays ago. Ail’s nice. I like him a lot. Then there’s Zeb and Vya.

Artem whistled. So you’ve inherited that imp of imps? You’ll know him pretty well after that adventure you had back on Rybak. Is old Hael staying on too? He was making murmurs about retiring a while back.

He’s in with the bricks. I’m glad he decided to stay. He and Mariya are just about the most experienced vadeln-pair in the entire Ryzck.

He’s broken in a few Vadryzkas in his time, agreed Artem. Listen to what he says.

I fully intend to. Don’t worry.

Who’s worrying?’ he riposted with a chuckle. That’s seven. Who’s your eighth member?"

A transfer in. Christel and Samei.

They’re not long out of the cadetship.

They went to the Thirteenth originally, Thalia informed him, but they weren’t happy there.

That’s a very close knit Ryzck. Takes a long time to be accepted. Not the friendliest bunch.

I believe she found things … difficult, agreed Thalia. Hopefully she’ll settle in with us.

If anyone can do it I’ll bet my best dagger it will be you.

For a while they stood in companionable silence enjoying the view. The nice thing about being with Artem, and Thalia had thought this since the first day they had met, was that there was no need for her to fabricate bright conversation.

And the other thing? Artem prompted delicately.

I’m starting to get over it, she answered an instant later. She had expected the question. Her voice however, sounded brittle and it told him that she wasn’t over it yet.

I’m here if you want to talk about it.

Thalia looked at him. Her eyes were moist with unshed tears.

I know Artem … and thank you but not yet awhile. Soon. Perhaps.

She looked away and so didn’t see Artem’s face.

Why didn’t he tell her then, all those years ago, he was thinking viciously, when he started dangling two women at once instead of waiting so long? Right when she needs all her wits about her too. I’d like to get him into a dark corner. The two of us, no witnesses.

He said none of this to Thalia. Now was not the time and he knew his Larya wouldn’t approve either. He wouldn’t do anything to disappoint her.

Let me know through Larya if you want some company, any bell, day or night.

Thalia turned and smiled. As usual, his heart missed a beat.

I will.

With that nebulous promise Artem had to be content.

* * * * *

Tavin Karovitz was twenty-five years old.

He was a tall, gangly man, dark complexioned with unruly, mousy brown hair. He had always been the good, obedient boy within the small Karovitz family unit and that hadn’t changed when he grew up. The eleven-year-old Mikey was the one who got into fights and scrapes. Charles was the clever one if not always obedient. He had passed the leaving exam with top marks a year earlier than he was supposed to. Charles was leaving school at the end of this semester and was heading for the university where he intended to study science and medicine, a dream Tavin shared.

Tavin was an artificer by trade, at the moment he was working on a top-secret project for ‘those in charge’. Unfortunately for his dream of becoming a doctor his education had, until recently, left a lot to be desired, which was why he and an aggrieved Mikey were walking home from school together. Mikey was full to the brim with news about his day and was chatting nineteen to the dozen. It was doubtful whether Tavin could have got a word in edgeways even if he had wanted to. He didn’t, being quite content to listen to the gossip.

Mikey had been the reluctant recipient of a three bell detention. When Tavin asked why he told him, with eleven-year-old relish, how he had placed no