“Maureen was very happy that we got the lease,” Ranua said three days later.  “It saved her a lot of headaches to have me sleeping on base rather than somewhere where I might talk in my sleep.”  He smiled across the desk at the older whitetail buck who had agreed to be his mentor and preceptor.
        That was an understatement, as the terrier’s superior at the base had insisted on him living there despite the fact that he was a native Spontoonie.  Rain Island had a reputation for being very laissez-faire about a great many things, but when it came to military security they could easily rival the Japanese or Germans.  Because of the size of the country and its position between several North Pacific powers, the caution was perhaps doubly justified. 
        Ranua wasn’t being singled out, either; all the analysts lived on the base.
        Since returning to Spontoon in late April, Ranua had spent a portion of each morning at the Meeting Island headquarters of the Spontoon Constabulary, receiving additional instruction (his mentor called it, with some understated wit, ‘post-graduate work’) on the fine and arcane art known as cryptography.  By prior arrangement he would return in the afternoons to the Naval Syndicate base and his usual job at the base’s Intelligence post.
        At first, he had been given a stack of encrypted messages and told – equally cryptically - to first figure out what they had said, and then what to do about the problem.  He had broken the code in a bit over two days, and after deciphering all of the intercepted messages he wrote up a full analysis.
        Realizing what the parties in the messages were up to had shocked him, and his immediate reaction was to suggest destroying Krupmark Island and slaughtering its inhabitants.  However, he managed to calm himself down enough to suggest that the person directly responsible for the crimes implicit in the messages be somehow lured off Krupmark so that he could be intercepted and dealt with.  To his surprise, his mentor had merely nodded and told him that was what had been done.
        Inspector Franklin Stagg nodded.  Although outwardly placid, he was very pleased with his young charge’s progress as an analyst.  Still some rough spots, to be sure, but time and experience would sand those smooth.  His thoughts returned to the subject at paw, his apprentice’s housing.  “Lieutenant Brown does have a point, Mr. Milikonu.  She is responsible for the security of what you might know, and is your superior officer.”  He sipped at a glass of water.  “So you’re all settled in now?  You and your fiancée, I mean.”
        Ranua nodded, grinning at the buck’s mention of Miri.  “Yes we are, sir.  Our families chipped in and gave us a few things to get the place furnished.”  He blushed, his ears dipping slightly.  “A single camp bed might be very close and romantic, but it’s really uncomfortable.”  He chuckled softly as the buck gave him a wry smile.  “Also, sir, I wanted to – well, invite you to dinner.”  Stagg’s eyebrows and ears went up as the wirehair terrier went on, “Miri and I discussed it, and she agreed that you should come.  She’s never met you, you see.”
        Stagg scratched an antler thoughtfully.  “I will have to admit that it’s a tempting offer, Mr. Milikonu, but I’m afraid I must decline.”  As the terrier’s ears dipped again he added, “I’m not able to scamper up hillsides as well as you can.”
        The young ensign gave a self-conscious laugh.  “That won’t be a problem, sir.  I can arrange some transportation for you, I think.”
        “Hmm.  Before I accept your generous offer, Mr. Milikonu, I will have to see about something,” and Stagg started to get up, plucking his hat off the corner of the desk.  “And I see it is almost lunchtime.  Would you care to join me for something at Luchow’s?”
        Ranua grinned as he stood and put on his dark blue ball cap.  His tail gave a short wag as he replied, “That’d be great, sir.”  He usually ate something at the base commissary for the noon meal before going to work, but had occasionally visited the small restaurant in Stagg’s company since May.

        Luchow’s saw a brisk business at lunchtime, as government workers and lawyers took a break from their jobs.  The attractively zaftig proprietress hailed them as they came around a corner and entered the enclosure she called a ‘biergarten.’  “Well, hello, you two!” Rosie Baumgartner exclaimed as she pointed to a small table off to the side with a RESERVED sign on it.  “Take a seat, gentlemen, and I’ll be with you both in a moment.” 
        Ranua noted that Stagg’s mood had brightened when Miss Baumgartner had greeted him, and he smiled as he thought of Miri.  The table was under a latticework frame that kept the summer heat off the diners while allowing the breeze to come through (an important point for Stagg, who had trouble tolerating the heat).  The wirehair terrier and the whitetail deer took their seats and the cheetah soon bustled over to them.  “So, what’ll it be today?” Rosie asked.
        “Just a chicken salad sandwich and a bottle of Nootnops Red, please,” Ranua said.
        Rosie nodded and smiled.  “Your usual, then,” she chuckled and turned to Stagg.  She spoke in a warm, low voice as she asked, “So, Inspector?  Something light for the summer heat, or - ?”  She swished her tail and winked.  Two regular diners covered their muzzles with paws or napkins in order to hide their smiles.
        Stagg obviously sensed there was something behind the question, and flushed red in his ears.  “A spinach salad, please.  And ice water.”
        “Gotcha,” and Rosie headed for the kitchen.  Stagg watched her, seemingly lost in thought.  After several minutes he turned back to Ranua.
        “Before I accept, I’ll need to ask Miss Baumgartner,” he said, pitching his voice lower.  “You see, she...I...well, it would be neither fair nor kind to go without her.”       
        Ranua nodded.  “I understand, sir,” and he kept himself from smiling at the older buck’s choice of words.  Stagg’s relationship with, and affection for, Rosie was obvious to everyone.  But since he seemed to want it kept discreet, everyone else went along.  “Bring Miss Baumgartner with you,” he said suddenly.
        Stagg blinked as Rosie walked up with two plates and drinks on a tray.  “Bring me with him?” she asked.  “Where?”
        “Mr. Milikonu invited me to dinner at his new home,” Stagg replied, “and I told him that it wouldn’t be fair to leave you behind.  He’s extended that invitation to you now, as well.”
        Rosie grinned as she finished placing their lunch on the table.  Ranua’s sandwich was piled high with the chicken salad and the bread toasted lightly, while Stagg’s salad was garnished with roasted acorns and sections of a tiny variety of orange imported in Japan.  “So, you got the place?” she asked.  “Franklin was telling me that you had applied for a sublease.”
        Ranua smiled.  “Yes, Miri and I have a place of our own now,” he said, “and we wanted to invite Inspector Stagg to dinner.  I’d like to extend the same invitation to you, Miss Baumgartner.”
        “Call me ‘Miss Baumgartner’ again and I’ll have you over my knee, Ranua,” the cheetah laughed.  “I’d love to come over, but isn’t this short notice?  Miri might not like having a fourth show up when only three are expected.”
        “Well, we had planned on having you both come over anyway,” Ranua said with a grin, “but I figured on asking the Inspector first.”
        Rosie’s ears dipped, and she looked at Stagg.  “Franneleh,” she said in a very low voice, “that boy’s too smart for his own good.”
        Stagg nodded.


August 14, 1937
1822:

        The buck and the cheetah were expected at the main entrance to the base, and the sentry nodded cheerfully at them as he opened the gate.  As they walked in Rosie looked around and said, “Nu, here we are, but where is he?”
        Stagg craned his neck as he looked around, and his ears twitched.  “I believe your answer’s coming, Miss Baumgartner.”  He pointed, and the cheetah blinked as the sound of an engine grew louder.  She suddenly grinned and waved as Ranua came into view around a corner.
        The wirehair terrier was riding a motorcycle, a slightly battered Great War-vintage Indian with a sidecar.  He pulled to a stop and removed the goggles that protected his eyes from the dust.  “Hello!” he said breathlessly.
        Stagg shook his head.  “You seem to be full of surprises, Mr. Milikonu.”
        “In more ways than one,” Rosie said.  “Where did you get that thing?”  She suppressed a frisson of nervousness, remembering being run over by such a machine the previous December.  Her tail wound protectively around one leg.
        “I borrowed it from a neighbor,” Ranua explained after he had shut off the engine.  “I explained what I needed it for and Jackie showed me how to use it.  I think there’s enough room in the sidecar for both of you – “
        “I dib the lap seat!” the cheetah caroled happily and practically dragged Stagg over to the vehicle.  He huffed at her and climbed into the sidecar, setting his cane on the floorboards. 
        “You’ll have to excuse me,” Stagg said to Ranua as he settled into the seat, “but I haven’t ridden in a sidecar since ’18.  Or had someone ride with me,” he added with a wry glare as Rosie arranged herself decorously on his lap, her legs dangling over the side of the car.
        “Hush, you,” Rosie purred, and put her arms around Stagg.  “We’re ready when you are.”
        Ranua set the throttle then switched on the electric starter.  The motor spat, caught and soon settled into an idle.  He fitted the goggles over his eyes and said over the sound of the engine, “Ready?”  At Rosie’s gleeful nod, he twisted the throttle with his left paw and they started off.  The cycle jerked occasionally as Ranua shifted gears, and the canine smiled apologetically at his passengers.
        The road up the hill was fairly smooth and well-maintained, since trucks needed to travel the road while taking supplies up to the gun emplacements on the ridge. 
        Ranua thought that it was a lot smoother than all of Rosie’s bouncing really justified, however.  
        A small side road branched off almost midway up the ridge, and Ranua brought the motorcycle to a halt in front of the third in a line of seven identical buildings.  “Here we are,” he said as he switched off the engine.  He waved at a collie woman seated on the porch of a neighboring bungalow and turned to see Rosie helping Stagg out of the sidecar. 
        “Who’s that?” Rosie asked.  “She’s cute.”
        “Jackie.  Jackie Mays-Smith,” Ranua amplified.  “She’s one of the people in charge of the motor pool.”  With another wave to his neighbor he ushered his guests toward the home.  “Miri!” he called out.
        “Ranua?” and the object of his affections came out onto the porch, rubbing her paws on an apron.  Miri was a canine, with short black and brown fur and long black headfur.  Her pregnancy was the result of Ranua’s ‘apology’ in early May, following a rather abortive (and embarrassing) emergency call to help a drifting yacht.  “Hello,” she said, smiling a little shyly at her guests.  “I’m Miri.”
        “I’m Rosie Baumgartner,” the cheetah said as she walked up to Miri and hugged her.  She drew away and linked her arm with Stagg’s.  “And this is – “
        “Franklin Stagg, Miss Kalani,” the buck said gravely, doffing his hat as he stepped up onto the porch.  Miri smiled and dropped a curtsy before taking Ranua’s paw. 
        “Won’t you come in?” Miri asked.  “Dinner will be ready pretty soon,” and she switched to Spontoonie and spoke to Ranua.  “The outlander woman with spots is very pretty, Ranua, so keep your paws to yourself,” she admonished.
        Ranua laughed.  “Have no fear, love.”  He cocked an ear as he noted that Rosie was listening with a grin on her face.
        “Good.  Show them around while I get the meal ready,” and Miri headed inside.
        The wirehair terrier smiled, nodded and turned to his guests.  “Let me show you around.  Miri will have dinner ready soon.”
        The grand tour took all of ten minutes.  The bungalow, shaded by two massive trees, consisted of only four rooms – living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.  The kitchen had room for a table and four chairs, and while all of the furniture was sound it was obviously used.  The back yard was small, with a washing machine just outside the door and a clothesline standing ready. 
        “Looks like a nice place,” Rosie remarked.  “Snug and cozy, isn’t it Franklin?” she asked Stagg, her tone slightly insinuating as she squeezed his arm.
        “It looks very nice – Ranua,” Stagg said, and the younger man smiled widely.
        Miri called out from the kitchen, “Dinner’s ready,” and they stepped back into the house.
        The dinner was simple, but filling; a rice dish dotted with small pieces of vegetables for Stagg, with baked fish for the rest of the group, and salad for all four.  A pitcher of iced tea sat on a counter within easy reach of the table.  “Everything looks good, Miri,” Rosie said enthusiastically as they all sat down.
        “Thank you, - may I call you Rosie?”  At the cheetah’s nod, she added, “I don’t plan on staying here while Ranua works.  I start school next week.”
        “Really?” Rosie asked.
        Miri nodded.  “I’ve been accepted as a student nurse down at the base hospital.”  She smiled.  “We can use a little more money, of course,” and she grinned at Ranua, who blushed slightly, “and I like helping people.”
        “It sounds like an excellent idea,” Stagg said, “for a couple just starting out.  This is really quite delicious, Miri,” he remarked, touching his fork to the rice on his plate.
        “I’m glad you think so, sir,” the young woman said.  “I tried hard to get it right.”
        After the meal Ranua asked Stagg and Rosie to sit out on the front porch while he and Miri cleared the table and washed up.  “There’s a nice breeze off the water at this time of day,” he said.  “You’ll be cooler out on the porch.”  Rosie thought that it was a sensible idea, and she and Stagg went outside.
        “They seem like a happy couple,” the cheetah whispered to the buck, and snuggled close as he nodded.  Stagg gave her a fond smile.
        Later the four of them sat down in the kitchen as Miri brought out a deck of cards.  They played seven-card rummy (the only game all four of them were familiar with) until Rosie started to notice Stagg smothering a yawn.  It only took a few suggestions for Stagg to acquiesce, and Ranua drove them back to the water taxi stand just outside the gate.


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