Anthrofiction Stories Web Site

Artemis stood in the street, watching the crews cleaning up the warehouse property. Since the approval of the city council she had spent several hours each day watching the progress, mentally encouraging them to work faster. She had even tried to help once, but gave up when she realized the workers stopped and stared instead of doing something. She sat on her haunches and wrapped her tail around her feet, envisioning the finished complex with a hint of a smile. Her reverie was broken by a small voice near her right foreleg. "Hi," it said brightly. Artemis snaked her head around to spy a little fox kit in a worn coat a size too small and ragged jeans at least two sizes too big looking up at her with a huge smile. "You’re a dragon, ain’t you."

Artemis started to smile back, then remembered her fangs and kept her lips closed. "Yes, I’m a dragon," she answered pleasantly. "What are you?" She examined the child more closely, spotting a blue ribbon tied in a bow around a soft shock of russet headfur and assuming it was female.

The girl giggled. "I’m a fox, silly," she responded. "I knowed you was a dragon. I readed a book once about dragons and it had pictures and you look just like ‘em." She looked Artemis over carefully. "I bet you’re one of them nice dragons."

Artemis raised an eyeridge. "Oh? Why do you think so?"

The little fox pulled at the too-short sleeves of her coat. "I seen you out here every day for a week, and I ain’t seen you eat nobody. So you gotta be nice." Artemis chuckled and the girl smiled. "Will you be my friend, Mr. Dragon? I don’t got many friends here."

Artemis blinked. "I don’t have many friends here either," she said softly. "I would be honored to be your friend, but I’m a girl dragon, not a boy dragon." She held out one talon in an offer to shake. "My name’s Artemis, but you can call me Artie if you like."

The kit wrapped both hands around the proffered claw and grinned. "I’m Keisha. Sorry I thought you was a boy dragon, Artie. You don’t wear no clothes, and you ain’t got no bumps, so it’s hard to tell." Artemis giggled and Keisha joined her. "So," Keisha asked, eyes sparkling, "can you really fly, and what do you eat if you don’t eat people, and where do you live, and how do you find a bathroom big enough, and…….."

* * * * *

Blanche arrived at the complex and was pleased to see that after two weeks of work the area was coming along nicely. The first three warehouses to be occupied now had windows and normal-sized doors, and through the windows in the front building she spied the sheetrock walls that would define the offices of the management area. The garbage that had littered the grounds was gone now as well, though the hard-packed dirt was still less than attractive. "One thing at a time," she muttered to herself and headed for a group of hard-hatted furs pouring over blueprints.

A grizzled beaver noticed her approach and stepped away from the rest of the group, meeting Blanche halfway to the building. "Ms. Du Chat?" he asked. At her nod, he introduced himself. "I’m Colin O’Malley, the foreman. We spoke on the phone."

Blanche shook hands with the head of her construction crew. "Nice work, Mr. O’Malley," she complimented. "Now, what was this about a security problem?" The beaver led her over to the building that was to be the computer lab and stopped. "I see…" Blanche said thoughtfully. The entire side of the building, as well as several piles of materials, had been painted with abstract spray-can art. The feline found herself admiring the artistic ability involved and shook her head at the foolishness of thinking vandalism was pretty.

"You’re going to need some sort of security here at night, Ms. Du Chat," O’Malley spoke up. "That big orange lizard-looking thing does just fine during the day, but somebody is getting in here after dark."

Blanche chuckled softly. "That ‘big orange lizard-lookin’ thing,’ as you put it, happens to be my business partner." The foreman’s eyes got big. Not wanting to make him any more uncomfortable, Blanche returned to business. "Let’s see… A fence around the entire property, with gates at each entrance, and someone to patrol it. Would that work, do you think?"

"That should do it," O’Malley responded. "I know a crew that can have a chain-link fence up by tomorrow afternoon."

Blanche nodded. "Set that up, then, if you would." She thought for a moment. "Can you recommend a security firm? I’m afraid I’ve never needed one before."

O’Malley squirmed slightly, causing Blanche’s eyebrows to lift. "I do know someone," he said slowly. "She’s very good, very reliable, and has a crew on call."

"But?" Blanche asked, watching him closely. "What’s the catch?"

The beaver hesitated, took a deep breath, then blurted out, "She really needs the work." He took off his hardhat and scrubbed a paw through his headfur. "Her last employer expected her to provide other services, if you know what I mean." Blanche nodded slowly. "She ended up having to do some physical damage to convince him no meant no, and he had her blacklisted."

Blanche tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Give me her number," she finally said. "Everyone deserves a second chance."

* * * * *

Keisha screamed "Wheeeeeee!!!!!" as Artemis cupped her wings and dropped her tail, coming to a perfect landing on the apartment house roof. The dragon folded her wings and curled up, letting the fox kit slide from her shoulders. "That was great!" Artemis smiled and nudged her into the circle made from her body and tail, sheltering her from the chill wind. "You’re the bestest friend ever!"

Artemis laid her head on the roof so that she and Keisha could be eye to eye. "You’re a pretty good friend yourself," she smiled. "I’ve had more fun in the last week than I have in the last fifteen years." The girl smiled back and snuggled against the warm, scaly bulk surrounding her. Artemis closed her eyes in thought for a moment, then opened them again. "Tell me about your family, Keisha."

Keisha shrugged. "It’s just Mama and Antoine and me," she said, a serious expression on her little face. "Antoine’s daddy was killed a long time ago, and my daddy wasn’t a very nice man. He used to hit Mama and take all her money to buy drugs and never did nothing else. He went away ‘bout a year ago and took the TV and Antoine’s radio and some other things." Keisha looked sad for a moment, then brightened. "Mama says that’s okay, though. She says he left behind the bestest things – me and Antoine. She says we’re better than all the money in the world."

Artemis tried to keep the sadness from her voice. "Your mama is right. I think you’re better than all the money in the world, too." She thought a moment more. "Can I ask you something else?" Keisha nodded, curious. "Why is everything in your apartment always broken?"

Keisha frowned. "Most of it was like that when we came here. It’s all real old. Mama said that Mr. Miller – he’s the super – won’t fix anything unless we give him extra money and Mama said she barely makes enough to keep body and soul together. She works in a daycare, and they don’t give her much money even though she works all the time and never drops no babies. Mr. Miller must be really rich, though."

Artemis’ eyes narrowed. "Why do you say that?"

"Everything in his apartment works," Keisha answered. "And he has a huge TV that gets a hundred channels and a big stereo with lots of CDs and fancy clothes and tons of food and stuff." She tugged at the too-short sleeves of her coat, trying to keep her thin wrists covered. "Sometimes he invites the big girls in to watch TV or listen to music, and sometimes he gives them jewelry and stuff. But sometimes they’re crying when they leave, and once Taffy came out and she had a black eye and her clothes was torn. Mama said that I should never go in there, not even if he offers me ice cream or candy. She says he’s a bad man."

The dragon’s eyes drifted closed once more. "Your mama is a very smart person," she said softly. "You’re lucky to have her." A comfortable silence held for a few minutes, then Artemis popped one eye open. "It’s getting dark, fuzzball." Keisha giggled at the nickname. "Your very smart mama will be home soon, so you should be too."

Keisha hopped up and threw her arms around the dragon’s neck as far as they would go. "Okay, Artie," she giggled. "I’ll see you tomorrow." Artemis gently mussed her headfur with one talon and gave her a little shove toward the roof door. "I love you!" Keisha called as she skipped merrily home.

Artemis watched her little friend disappear through the door, then dropped her head to the roof again, eyes closed. "I wonder…" she murmured to herself, lost in thought. Twenty minutes later she opened her eyes, stretched, and dove off the roof, her expression one of fierce determination.

* * * * *

Blanche immediately spotted the security expert when she entered the restaurant. Even seated, the khaki slacks and white blouse did nothing to soften the black jaguar’s muscular physique. Blanche approached the table, noting that the feline sat with her back to the wall and continuously scanned the room. "You must be Ebony," she said, holding out her paw.

"Ms. Du Chat," the jaguar responded, standing and taking her paw in a firm grip. Blanche motioned to the chairs, and both sat as a waitress scurried up to take their orders. When the girl had left, Ebony leaned back in her chair. "I understand you’re looking for a security team," she began.

Blanche nodded, then waited until their drinks had been delivered before continuing. "That’s right. I’m startin’ up a business and the site needs a lot of work. We’ve had a little trouble with some graffiti, and I want to make sure that it doesn’t turn into somethin’ truly destructive."

"Wise precaution," Ebony responded. She handed a thin folder to Blanche. "Here is my resume and a few references." Blanche flipped through the papers, scanning the resume quickly but reading each reference carefully. Their meals arrived as she read, and Ebony dug into her steak with ravenous appetite.

Blanche finished reading and watched her dinner companion over the top of the folder for a few moments as the food on her plate quickly disappeared. She set the papers down and asked with a smile, "Tryin’ to get as much of that eaten as you can before I ask why you haven’t worked in two months?"

Ebony swallowed and set down her knife and fork. "Something like that." She shrugged. "I had a bit of a disagreement with my last employer."

"So I heard," Blanche interrupted. "Colin O’Malley gave me your number, and he told me why you needed work." Ebony looked up, defiant, and Blanche quickly added, "I understand you were asked to provide services not covered in the contract. I don’t blame you for doin’ what was necessary to convince your former employer that you were not available for that sort of employment." The jaguar relaxed slightly, but still looked suspicious. Blanche picked up a slim portfolio from beside her chair, drew out a contract, and handed it to Ebony. "I have a complex of ten warehouses that needs to be patrolled while they’re bein’ remodeled," she explained as Ebony scanned the contract. "The property will be fenced by tomorrow afternoon, I’m told. I want the grounds watched day and night, but I’d prefer no dead bodies if you can help it." The jaguar glanced up and smiled slightly. "This contract is good for two weeks at what I understand is slightly above the going rate. After that, we’ll see about further employment. You’ll see that accordin’ to the contract you will be answerable to only myself and my partner, Artemis."

Ebony finished reading the contract and set it on the table. One corner of her mouth quirked up. "I’m sure we’ll get along just fine. When do we start?"

Blanche smiled. "Tomorrow evenin’ should be fine. Welcome aboard, Ebony."

* * * * *

Artemis landed on the street in front of The Idea Factory and flapped her wings a few times before folding them. The scattered trash along the road still annoyed her, but she hadn’t figured out a way to get rid of it. A pile of rags against a building caught her eye because it continued to move and twitch even after the wind from her arrival died down. Curious, she padded over to investigate. As she lowered her head toward the cloth, she heard a small squeak. To her surprise, three pairs of eyes peeked out at her from the bundle of rags. "Don’t be scared," Artemis whispered soothingly. "I won’t hurt you." The rags settled a bit to reveal an adult mel skunk and two little ones. "What are you doing out here in the cold?"

"We don’t have anywhere to go," one of the small ones answered in a squeaky voice. "Daddy doesn’t have a job and we don’t have a house any more." The father looked torn between terror and shame.

Artemis cocked her head in thought as the father shushed his child. "Well, it’s far too cold to be camping out tonight," she said with a ghost of a smile. "You don’t bite, do you?" The two children giggled and shook their heads as the father looked on wearily. "In that case," she continued, "you could stay with me tonight. I’ve always wanted to have a slumber party. Do you like pizza?"

* * * * *

Blanche looked over Artemis’ new abode. The plain walls of the warehouse had been hung with big swatches of gold, yellow, red, and orange fabric, softening the stark lines, and thick, chocolate-colored carpet cushioned the floor. A big pile of pillows in the same colors filled one corner as a bed, couch, or whatever was needed. Half of the big building had been walled off to form a private research laboratory for the dragon, who just then padded through the doorway. "Very nice," Blanche complimented. "Very comfy."

Artemis smiled. "Thanks. Here…" She reached behind one of the wall hangings and pulled out a card table and a folding chair which she set up in front of the pile of cushions. Blanche sat and set her briefcase on the table. "So, how are we doing?"

Blanche opened her case and pulled out a stack of papers, which she handed to Artemis. "These are resumes from the scientists that have applied to us so far. See what you think. Oh, and I hired a security firm to keep an eye on the grounds. They start tomorrow night, so I want you to say hello."

"Sure," Artemis mumbled, looking through the pile of resumes. Blanche leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, resting while Artemis read. Ten minutes passes with no sounds but the rustle of turning pages. The dragon sighed and sorted the papers into three piles. "These won’t work," she announced. Blanche opened her eyes and leaned forward. Artemis tapped a claw on the first pile. "These pride themselves on doing what they call ‘pure’ research, which means they spend a lot of time and money on things that have no practical application whatsoever." She moved her attention to the middle pile, much larger than the other two. "These are followers, not leaders. They would be fine as assistants, but they don’t get anything done unless they’re told exactly what to do." She picked up the third pile and shredded it, much to Blanche’s surprise. "These don’t set foot on the property," she said with finality.

"Whyever not?" Blanche asked, eyeing the remains of the resumes. "You do realize you’ve just said no to every single applicant we had, doncha?"

Artemis sank back into the cushions and pushed one of the wall hangings aside, revealing a computer terminal on a wheeled cart. She pulled it around so that the oversized keyboard was in a comfortable typing position and peered over the monitor as her talons blurred over the keys. "The folks in that last stack would sell their best friend for a cup of coffee, Blanche. Even the worst of the scientists that were holding me wouldn’t work with them." Artemis pushed the computer cart off to the side a bit as the quiet hum of a laser printer came from behind another hanging. "We agreed in the beginning that you would handle all the financial and legal stuff and leave the science to me," she pointed out. "There’s no point in starting out with idealists, plodders, and spies. You’ll be broke within six months if we do." The printer noise stopped and the dragon fished out a small stack of paper and handed it to Blanche. "These are the scientists we want. They’re imaginative, practical, and among the best in their fields. Believe me, I’ve followed all their work closely."

The cat began to read the top sheet, then gasped and stared at her partner in disbelief. "This one’s in jail on five counts of manslaughter!" she exclaimed.

"Involuntary manslaughter," Artemis corrected. "He was the only one of the group they caught, so he took the punishment. He didn’t actually do the crime."

Blanche turned to the next page. "And this one is suspected of makin’ the bomb that killed ten and wounded over a hundred at that elementary school last month!" she exclaimed.

"They lied to him," Artemis insisted. "He was told the bomb would be detonated when the school was empty."

Blanche flipped through the remaining pages, then looked at Artemis. "You’re askin’ me to hire terrorists and criminals, Artie. Have you lost your ever-lovin’ mind?"

Artemis leaned forward, resting her head on her crossed front legs. "No," she said quietly. "I’m telling you to hire talented scientists who have made some bad choices but are the best in their fields. They are the type of people we need, Blanche. You do want to make a profit, don’t you?"

Blanche considered for a long moment as Artemis’ eyes drifted closed. "Okay, fine, Artie," she said finally. "I’ll see what I can do." She shook her head wearily. "Anythin’ else?"

"Do you have a few minutes to talk, Blanche?" Artemis asked. Without waiting for a response, she continued, "Why are the people who live in those buildings across the street so poor? Some of them work very hard, but they don’t have much of anything."

Blanche settled back and tried to figure out how to explain the nasty side of reality to the relatively innocent dragon. "Well," she began, "some of it is drug and alcohol abuse. Some of it is all this downsizin’ goin’ on. People who had upper level jobs have been laid off and are takin’ the lower level jobs, forcing those without much trainin’ or education out of the workforce. And some of them are just lazy, Artie. It’s not pretty, but it’s the way things work."

Artemis thought about this for a few minutes. "I guess I understand," she said. Another silence stretched, then she asked, "You buy a lot of stuff, don’t you?"

Blanche smiled. "I sell a lot, too. Why?"

The dragon, eyes still closed, replied, "If you see something you want, but you don’t know if it’s for sale, or even who owns it, how do you find out?"

"Depends on what it is, Artie."

"A piece of property. Say, a building, for instance."

"Oh, buildin’s are easy," Blanche said with a grin. "Just look up the address at city hall. That’ll tell you who owns it. But Artie, buyin’ a buildin’ takes money, and I’ve got most of my capital tied up in the Factory."

Artemis shook her head. "This is personal, Blanche, not business. You just told me what I needed to know. Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow."

Blanche stared at her partner. "What are you fixin’ to do, Artie?" she asked, worried.

"Nothing you need to worry about," she answered with a grin. "Just a little project to keep me occupied. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to call it a night."

Blanche stood and headed for the fur-sized door set in the larger, dragon-sized one. "Okay, Artie. Just don’t get in over your head. G’night."

"Good night, Blanche. And don’t worry, everything will be fine."

"Famous last words," Blanche muttered as she stepped out into the night.