St Muckymuck, Season III: The Sybelline Books, part VI

At the River Clyde
Glasgow

"You've got to brew very slowly -- let it simmer for a good six hours before you imbibe it.  And don't let it scorch, whatever you do!" said Grannie Bell.

"Yes, ma'am," replied her granddaughter.

"We stop here!"

She raised her walking stick and began swirling it in the air toward the steely-black water of the river, mumbling under her breath, at a swirling flock of seagulls floating under the suspension bridge.

"Where did you learn all this?" asked Myra.

"Well," continued Grannie Bell.  "Mostly from the Vestal Virgins.  You know, I was one!"

ST MUCKYMUCK

Season 3

WRITTEN BY STEVEN GORMAN

WHAT YOU READ IS:

IRRELIGIOUS, IRREVERENT, AND IRRELEVANT.

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND EVENTS CONTAINED IN ST MUCKYMUCK ARE COMPLETELY FICTIONAL. ANY AND ALL RESEMBLANCES TO REAL PEOPLE, REAL PLACES, AND/OR REAL EVENTS PAST, PRESENT, OR FUTURE IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL.

"You WERE?  I didn't know that!" said Myra, in astonishment.

"Aye, I was.  Welp, I still am technically.  You're a Vestal Virgin for life, you know.  Bellona Sabinia Tellus...that was my initiated name.  After the goddess of war."

"And how old were you then?"smiled Myra.

"Oh, good heavens, I was just a slip of a girl.  Something like 320."  They both laughed.

"Look, something's happening..." said Myra, pointing at the birds.  They had begun to move toward each other -- and then to bow their heads at each other.  Then they formed two lines of six gulls each.  From beyond the bridge came six black ducks.

The seagulls parted as the ducks approached and then moved between them.  The gulls glided so they were facing out and began to form two arches, which joined to create a circle of white birds with a row of black ducks separating it in half.  But then, they began to move as well, as the gulls swam in circle.

The circle of seagulls stopped swimming as four of the ducks slid into a line pointing to a single white gull -- the other two were pointing at a seagull four spaces down.

"Ah ha!" shrieked Grannie Bell .  "There you are...drink that potion at 5:05!"

Myra wasn't sure she understood how her great-great-great-grandmother had read this information, but she replied, "Yes, ma'am," just the same.  (c) 2013 Steven Gorman.  All rights reserved.