"How hard would it be for you to fly over to Fisherman's Lake?"
He shrugged."I'm a little tired now.It was heavy carrying the bucket."
"Lunch box."
"Huh?"
"It's a lunch box."
Byrd frowned."It's not a bucket?"
"No, a bucket is more..."Eli showed something bigger with his hands."And with a handle.This is great though, we were talking about containers when you said it, so I figured it was what you meant."
Byrd looked at him for several long seconds, and Rosie watched them both.
"What do you want from Fisherman's Lake?"
"Do you remember what Joshua Fagan looks like?The man who was here with all the produce."
Byrd nodded.
"Could you fly to him and tell him there is a toll now.We don't know how much--" He glanced at Rosie to make sure she didn't, and she shook her head."--but as of today, there is a fee."
When Byrd didn't reply, Eli grabbed the basket with kitchen utensils."I'll pay one shiny."
Byrd's eyes lit up."I want the one with the arms."He snatched a winged corkscrew bottle opener, and Eli nodded his agreement.He grabbed his last money out of his pocket and rang up the purchase.He'd simply have to eat eggs tonight again.
Then he placed the bottle opener underneath the counter."I'll keep it until you've delivered the message.You can tell Thano when you've done it, and he can tell me tomorrow.You don't need to fly here.I'll bring it to The Moonlight Ranch."If he still was going.He believed he was.
Byrd rushed toward the door, then he hesitated."Can I leave my whisk here?"
Eli nodded and moved closer to take it."I'll keep it with the bottle opener."
"The what?"
"The shiny you picked.Do you remember the message?"
Byrd nodded."There is a fee now, you don't know how much."
"Yes, a fee to come to the dock."He hoped Joshua would understand what he meant.
Pushing the door open, Byrd stepped outside and more or less ran into the sheriff.The sheriff spluttered, but Byrd shifted and took to the air.
Eli watched in horror as the sheriff grabbed his gun.He released the safety and aimed at the sky, but before he could pull the trigger, Rosie rushed out of the shop and into him.
"Sheriff Ambrose."She tugged at his arm."There was a...a...naked man."
The sheriff looked at her, and Eli let out a shuddering breath as Byrd flew off, shielded by the mist rolling in from the lake.
The sheriff growled and shook Rosie off."What are you doing, woman?I'm holding a loaded gun."
"Oh..."She started to sob, and Eli watched in disbelief.He'd known Rosie all his life, and not once had he seen her shed a tear no matter what hardship she'd faced."I was so scared.He rushed into the shop, and Eli and I didn't know what to do."
Eli nodded, not sure how else to reply.She wiped at her cheek."Thank God, you came."
Sheriff Ambrose--Eli tried to memorize the name--stared at Eli in disgust."A second warning."He grabbed his notebook and wrote something, then he strolled off.
Eli stood frozen.
