voice . 6th attack

[inhell]

I can't just keep a lamb in my room.

Iris!

Comments

[routemistress]

Best kind, I reckon. 'Ow's she doing?

[inhell]

Bottle-feeding her now.

[ She turns on the video, to show the lamb in her lap, going for the bottle. ]

Reckon she wasn't weaned properly. I think she's starving, poor thing.

[routemistress]

Oh, bless! Well, she won't be for long. Make a list of owt you need me to request aside from the sheep pen.

[She grins.]

Well worth it.

[inhell]

You're an awful warden.

[ she luvs u ]

[routemistress]

[Theatrical finger on lips.]

Shhhhhhh, I'm trying to keep that quiet.

[inhell]

You're even worse at quiet.

[routemistress]

Pretty good at diversions, though, eh?

[inhell]

'Would a lady bend over for that', honestly.

[routemistress]

They didn't know I'm no lady.

[So pleased with herself she can't even.]

[inhell]

Well, I'm glad you had fun.

[routemistress]

Might's well bend over for a lamb as a sheep, eh?

[inhell]

She should be able to wander and graze. You'll let me into CES once in a while, won't you?

[routemistress]

'Course I will, I'm in and out of there all day with the dogs anyway. And there's the garden. She'll be fine.

[inhell]

Dogs might just decide to eat her, unless they're well-trained.

And I doubt everyone on this Barge trains their dogs.

[routemistress]

Mine won't. They're brilliant with Babs' cat. Keep 'er clear of Riddick's, maybe; 'e's a bit undomestic. The others are all either well-behaved or soppy or both.

Sometmes you've just got to steal a sheep. It's folkloric.

[inhell]

No magic beans, are there?

[routemistress]

Not in Chicago, I shouldn't think. I did pick up some interesting bits and pieces in Lakeside, mind.

[POKERFACE]

[inhell]

You know it was the first time I've ever been to the States?

And before 1900, imagine.

[routemistress]

[She sighs happily.]

It were brilliant, weren't it? I'd 'ad that fair on me list for ages. I'm glad I waited, now.

[inhell]

Got to go with the right people.

[routemistress]

That's what I meant.

[inhell]

That was why I didn't like it very much.

[routemistress]

[Iris doesn't wince. She's well aware how much Ellie has lost, how far from home she still is. It still hurts, brief and reflexively, but she inclines her head and smiles.]

We've all lost people. I'm sorry, love.

[inhell]

They're not lost. I know exactly where they are.

[routemistress]

So do I. At least some of 'em. The only answer that matters is not here. If I don't lash out at you for not being them, d'you reckon you could try and do the same? At least some of the time.