A Scripta

Frosty and Masonry manhandled the last crate into the truck. Frosty turned and looked at Wombat, dressed in normal civilian clothes. His eyes were bright blue and clear for once, as he assessed the packing of the truck. He nodded to the driver. "I hope ya c'n use it."

"I'm sure Gregor will, Mr. ..."

"Ricketts. Matthew Ricketts."

The driver nodded and climbed into the truck. The two men watched the truck pull away, then Frosty turned again to Wombat. "Are you going to be all right?"

He smiled slightly at him. "Frosty, I c'n go back home an' do wha' I wanted t' do."

Masonry leaned back against the wall of the building. "Study coral?"

"Marine biology," Wombat snapped, "is more'n studying coral."

Frosty nodded. Masonry said, "Sheesh, I was just kidding."

Wombat glared for a moment, then looked away. "'m sorry." Womby looked at the two of them. "I wanna thank y'both."

Masonry nodded once, and Frosty smiled. "Konichiwa,” “Dozo,” he said with a bow.

wombat glanced up at a clock tower across the way. "I gotta get goin'." Then he looked down for a moment, raised his head, and held out his hand to Frosty. Frosty knew the man did not want to be touched, and looked confused for a moment. Then he took Wombat's hand and shook it firmly.

Wombat did the same toward Masonry, who also shook it hard enough to make Wombat wince. "I think y'broke sum'in."

Masonry smiled. "You'd know if I did."

Wombat only nodded sagely. "It's goodbye. Say g'bye t' the girls for me."

"Sure will."

Wombat snorted and smiled. "Sure ya will, mate." Then with a quick leap, the blond man was up and away.

Masonry played with a glass test tube in his hands, glancing for a moment at Frosty. The tube held a crimson, almost black liquid that swished back and forth within it. Frosty nodded to it. "Is that what I think it is?"

"My blood. He collected a little at a time whenever I was here."

"Oh."

Masonry threw the tube down, smashing it on the asphalt. He crushed it under his boot for good measure.