Theo and the Leader

Glad you could join us for the next tunnel-vision episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

The voles came out of hiding when the Ambassador and the lieutenant arrived at the Watercress Ford.

“Thank you for meeting with us,” Lieutenant Terrance said as he shook Theo’s hand. “I’m sorry you’ve suffered such a hard loss. I understand Chester was very young.”

“Just a boy,” Theo said. A soft chorus of, “A fine boy,” “None better,” “So much promise,” and the like rose with nods from the surrounding voles.

“We aren’t as many as the wasps,” Theo acknowledged, “but we want to be part of the Alliance army, and make Chester proud. We just don’t think we’ll be much help on the battlefield.”

“Actually,” the lieutenant said, “I thought you might be interested in tunneling.”

“That is our primary skill,” Theo concurred. “We would be honored to use it to serve the campaign. Just tell us where you want us to begin, how wide the passages need to be, and where you want the exits. Our best planners can finalize the details and we’ll start digging.”

~~~

Leaving the voles to their work, Arturo and Terrance set off for their next meeting.

The Ambassador looked back over his shoulder. “I suspect everyone else we meet will be more difficult to enlist. None of the other tribes has personal experience of the Rebels. Maybe we should ask Theo to come with us.”

“Arturo,” the lieutenant said, “Theo’s job is to lead his people. Yours is to lead the Alliance.”

The Ambassador’s feet froze in mid-step. His eyes opened wider than they were meant to as he inhaled a gasp. He blinked and turned to face Lieutenant Terrance. “I hadn’t thought of it that way. It was just… I was only… All these people…” His voice limped to a stop.

Terrance laughed. “Look at it this way. You invented this job. You’re already doing it. You know your goal. As long as you make the goal clear to everyone you lead, and keep them moving forward, we can win this.”

Arturo took another step. “But no pressure, right?”

To be continued. . .

Previously, on Elliot’s Adventures ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Next time . . .

Author: Sue Ranscht

Having survived valve repair surgery and an experimental cardiac bypass at age 5, three years before it was an accepted medical procedure, Susan grew into the size of her overworked and enlarged heart. Maybe she thought she had enough to give it away -- twice. Both times, she had to retrieve the shattered pieces and puzzle them back together. She thanks her Dad for the only advice of his she ever followed to the letter: "Never get married. Learn to take care of yourself." So of course she is a writer. Susan has co-written a YA SciFi novel, and has three more novels in various stages of evolution. She's had several short stories published in other people's anthologies, some of which were contest-related. Let her tell you a story... View all posts by Sue Ranscht