The Name's Oliver - Ben Oliver. Ch. 159: Duty vs Ethics, Pt. II

[ladybug53]

Oh.....you had me really fooled . I never guessed it was an April Fools Day update .    This update was so unexpected . Princess is a dog ! Sorry Ben....no flirting this time around . Those two boys really do look rough, look out Ben . Great photos Schip . This was a great update !   

[Beezy]

Funny how that guy barked at Ben when the only person who should bark is Patricia! So cute!

I have a bad feeling about those two biker-like guys...

[Swirl-Girl]

hm, a dog, and not a schipperke? (yes, I did copy and paste from your username, no shame )
I was so thinking an Arlo Toddler! But I quite like Patricia, not really sure why.

[Louise56]

It look like a very interesting case! Can't wait to find out more.
Ben must be disappointed that the princess is a dog.

[smartburn]

I don't understand.  Those two guys look familiar to you?

Gwendy's referring to the hosts of Mythbusters, and come to think of it they do look like a more sinister version of them, especially "Jamie" (the one with the beret and mustache).

I love that she's a dog - I also figured she wouldn't be your average princess but beyond that I was barking up the wrong tree...

[Schipperke]

Gwendy's referring to the hosts of Mythbusters, and come to think of it they do look like a more sinister version of them, especially "Jamie" (the one with the beret and mustache).

Oh, I see!  I've never seen that program, so thanks for explaining it.

I love that she's a dog - I also figured she wouldn't be your average princess but beyond that I was barking up the wrong tree...

Heh, heh!    Nice one.

Yeah, a Schipperke would definitely have been more up my alley.  There's a reason the princess is a bloodhound.  But on that point my lips are sealed for now. 

[cndneh]

Oh, I see!  I've never seen that program, so thanks for explaining it.

GASP!  never seen Mythbusters... tsk tsk. 

Love the April Fools joke, I read/glanced at it while at work and was all " WHAT???"  When I properly read it at home I was " phew!"  like others I just thought you wrapped it all up and was done with it.

[Schipperke]

GASP!  never seen Mythbusters... tsk tsk. 

Not only have I never seen it, I've never even heard of it and don't know what it is (other than assuming it's a television show of some sort).  What shocking depths of ignorance! 

[Dextra2]

Not only have I never seen it, I've never even heard of it and don't know what it is (other than assuming it's a television show of some sort).  What shocking depths of ignorance! 

It's a TV show where they "Bust Myths" AKA see if some urban legands are true. It often has things blowing up in it.

[cndneh]

Not only have I never seen it, I've never even heard of it and don't know what it is (other than assuming it's a television show of some sort).  What shocking depths of ignorance! 

It's a TV show where they "Bust Myths" AKA see if some urban legands are true. It often has things blowing up in it.

its a fun show, worth taking a peek at.  They often pick scenes from movies and see if it'll actually work.  One of my favorite was the exploding toilet scene from Lethal Weapon... turns out Mel Gibson would have actually saved Danny Glover from certain doom. 

sorry we're totally off topic now...

[Schipperke]

The Magic Town Express, Part I

Diary Entry

There was something romantic about riding an old-fashioned train through the night. 



Even though my "princess" was a dog riding in the baggage car, I could have enjoyed this trip.  But my fellow passengers were distinctly unfriendly and the atmosphere in the little passenger compartment was tense.  I was glad when I could see the lights of town coming into view through the window.  Sunset Valley, where the train would stop for an hour and a half to give the passengers time to dine at the bistro.



The train shuddered to a stop and I got up to go check on Princess.  The woman and her "colleagues" watched me.



After feeding and walking Princess, I hurried over to the bistro to grab dinner. 



I had been hoping I might see my friend Jamie Jolina but she wasn't among the townspeople eating outdoors.  So I watched my fellow passengers as I ate.  The woman named Abigail was absorbed in her plate of frogs' legs.  I wondered what sort of woman would tattoo a money sign on her shoulder.



The two nameless colleagues made short work of their dinner, eating standing up.



They then engaged in a heated discussion.  I was too far away to hear what they were saying, but from the way they kept glancing at me out of the corners of their eyes, I suspected whatever they were so worked up about had something to do with me.



Abigail finished her dinner and walked over to me.  She asked why I was travelling on the Magic Town Express.



I told her that I was taking a purebred dog to her new home in Monte Vista.

"Oh, you're a dog trainer?" she said.

For some reason I thought it might be best not to tell her I was with the military.  I just shrugged and asked what line of work she and her colleagues were in.



"We're importers," she said.  I was going to ask what it was they imported but she didn't give me a chance.  "And what do you do when you're not training dogs?" she asked.

I told her that I had been studying alchemy and that I was learning to make all sorts of potions.  I thought that was an interesting subject but I hadn't expected her reaction.  She pulled back, gave me a sharp look, and said abruptly, "Really.  Is that so.  My, look at the time.  We'd better get back to the train."



While we had been eating, the conductor had made up the berths.  We settled in for the night as the train pulled out of the Sunset Valley station.





It seemed my head had hardly touched the pillow when I was wakened by loud barking coming from the baggage car next door.  Princess.  What on earth was she barking at?  I sighed wearily and hauled myself out of bed to go quiet her down before she woke everyone.

I walked into the baggage car and found Princess barking fiercely at a large brown trunk.



I wondered what it was about the trunk that had her so worked up.  I remembered what the breeder had told me about bloodhounds - they were scent hounds, with an extraordinarily acute sense of smell.  What could she be smelling from the trunk?  I decided to have a look.  The trunk was locked, but my training as an agent had equipped me to pick locks, and this lock wasn't too complicated.  I managed to get it open and raised the lid of the trunk.

Suddenly the lights went out, something hit me on the back of the head, and everything went dark.

[Blayzen]

And if you're still angry with me for pulling this wee trick, don't be afraid to say so!  ... the devil made me do it.

Which one of your little black devils is responsible for this post? I wouldn't want to blame thank the wrong one....LOL

Looking forward to more! 

[RainBeau]

Ah! This is why I love this story! So much intrigue! I have the feeling that someone didn't want Ben to see what was in the trunk.

[MarianT]

I love your photos of the train. My first thought was "How did she do that?" but then I figured it out.

[Audren]

Whatever's in that chest better be worth getting sturck behind the head. What kind of person would do that to a nice young man wearing a kilt, I don't want to know.