Chapter 18 - An Honest Ferret's Day's Work
 
Christofert headed out of the prison to find the keys to the fairy's
cell.  It was easy for him to slip out through the bars and past the
sleeping guards.  He followed the fairy's directions and quickly found
the correct apartment.  Getting into the apartment was easy.  There was
just enough room under the door for a flat ferret to slip through.  He
got stuck for a moment, but with a little bit of wiggling popped out on
the other side.
 
Sleeping on the floor was the demon.  Amazingly, it was ugliest demon
Christofert had seen.  Apparently status in Hell was given to the most
hideous.  The demon was sleeping in a pile of...well, let's just say it
was unpleasant.
 
Christofert searched the area for the keys.  He found lots of grizzly
things, but no keys.  Only after he had searched the entire room, did he
turn his attention to the demon.  There, on the demon's belt was a ring
of keys.  He went over and examined the keys.  They were clipped on with
a very simple mechanism that Christofert was easily able to spring free.
He carefully grabbed the keys and tried to take a step.  The keys didn't
move.  The demon was lying on a few keys.  Christofert pulled a little
harder, but to no avail.  He was afraid to pull harder for fear of waking
the demon.
 
Remembering what Odysseus had told him, Christofert located a tender
spot in the small of the demon's back.  He gently nipped the demon,
then disappeared with all haste to a hiding spot.  The demon grunted
and jerked, but remained asleep.  Christofert carefully returned to
the sleeping demon and found that the creature had moved just enough to
free the keys.
 
Christofert carefully wrapped the keyring in a scrap of cloth that
appeared less foul than most.  He definitely didn't want any jingling
keys to give him away.  Using his best super stealth techniques, he
returned to the prison and the waiting fairy.
 
(to be continued)
 
            Bryan P. Coffey - Boston, MA
      Weasel Warriors - Albi, Esef, Merri, and Mint
        http://www.gis.net/~bpcoffey/furball.html
[Posted in FML issue 2834]