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]