He worked away and not wishing to delve too far into the past Trevalyan changed the subject asking “How did you manage to get such a sore nose, my friend?”
“I was just on my way to take the first steps in getting a new partner when I came across a Termite Tree and the temptation was too great. I just had to stick my nose in for a nibble,” he confided.
Percy snorted at the delicate way Tremane had described his near anialation of half the Termite tree but refrained from commenting.
Trevalyan ignored the snort and asked Tremane “How do you expect to reach those parts that are required to light a Tapir’s Touchpaper with a smile like that?” asked Trevalyan in a non-condescending manner. Even so poor Tremane felt rather embarrassed by the scrutiny he was being subjected to. He had no way of escape because Percy sat on guard outside and Trevalyan had him well pinned down. Anyway he realised that Trevalyan had a point although Tremane always thought that charm was enough to light any touch paper, Tapir or otherwise. Perhaps he had no concept of what the outside world thought about him and how he looked.
Pictures drifted through his head as the effects of the numbing salve kicked in and he found himself in The Shady Glade beauty parlour covered in all manner of lotions and potions. It was a sight he hoped was going to go away because it had to be said that it was not a pretty one and he shuddered.
Trevalyan looked askance and said, “Are you feeling cold, my friend, because that was a shudder from the grave?”
“Naargh,” mumbled Tremane and when Trevalyan had taken his paws out of Tremane’s mouth he added “I just had the most awful vision of *. The picture of a painted tapir is too much to contemplate.”
The dentist raised an eyebrow hoping he would elucidate because it was rather a big shudder but Tremane remained Mum and Trevalyan carried on the long task of the necessary tooth tinkering. This is going to be a long day, he thought and sighed but it was his job so he just switched off from the vision in front of him and carried on working. Trevalyan wondered what had made Tremane shudder in such a heart felt manner and maybe he would enlighten him at another time.
Percy fidgeted around outside and Trevalyan came back from his absence to concentrate fully on his patient's * after all he did not wish to be accused of failing in his cavity inspection. He wondered why Percy was making such a din when he was trying very hard to concentrate on the mouth in hand. “Is there something wrong, Percy?” he enquired.
“Yes, Trevalyan, how long are your going to be because I don’t have all day to waste. There are ideas that require going down on paper before they go forever and time is pressing on,” he admitted.
“What do you need committing to paper, my friend, because there is a note pad on the desk over there should you feel the need to jot something down,” said the busy dentist.
“Thank you, I will take you up on that, Trevalyan,” and Percy walked into the room to find the desk and paper. When he located it he adeptly scribbled down all those thoughts that had crossed his mind during the seemingly long and drawn out day. Percy found himself scribbling away like tomorrow was not coming and Trevalyan looked on in surprise between the grinding and drilling.
