Hmmm. Yeah, I've seen plenty of these out on the ranch. It's an egg alright. *Apil hefts the heavy thing up off the ground and knocks on it with his knuckles producing a loud THUMP, THUMP, THUMP* Yep, in my expert opinion, this one's gonna be born pretty big too.

Doubtful of his expertise, Neotne looked askance at him and joked, Yeah? Is it gonna be right-winged or left-winged?

Taking her quite seriously, Apil picked up a bronze spoon, measured down to a spot 5 inches from the narrow end of the egg, held his ear to the thick end, and rapped on that spot three times. He looked back at her and very seriously answered, It hasn't developed quite enough yet. I won't be able to tell you for 6 more hours.

Neotne's jaw dropped half way down to her bowl of kash. You.... That........ You don't really mean?????

Starting to laugh, Apil tried to set the egg down carefully, but it fell about 3 inches to the floor. I got ya on that one Neotne. *LOLOLOL* *ROFLMAO*

Unknown to the two of them, about 20 miles away, a mother ostrich had finally settled down to take a breather. Tomi gradually raised himself up to a sitting position, cleared his mind and began untieing the belt....quite naturally, cursing the whole time. True, he was wearing armor, but even a chariot ride at that speed, over that kind of terrain, can knock the senses outta you. Ostriches may have terrible night vision, but they have excellent hearing. This one pricked its ears up at the sound of somebody knocking on its egg (yes, dear reader, even at 20 miles...this one had super-hearing). She began walking back in the direction of the Kash Bowl, pulling Tomi and his partially untied knot along with her. Then she heard the sound of somebody knocking on her egg with a bronze dagger....No, on second thought, it was a spoon. She started hurrying a bit more.

Tomi was desperately trying to get the rest of the knot untied. Easy....Easy girl.....Nice ostrich.....Lookit that nice lizard over there, scrumptious eh? Whoa, whoa girl..... The ostrich heard the egg fall on the floor and broke into another panicked run. WHOA!!!!!

Back at the Kash Bowl, Apil had recovered from his laughing fit, and was checking the egg for any wounds from the fall, Aah, it looks ok. Lotus may still get a chick from Herme yet. Shucks, I was in the mood for some scrambled eggs.

Just about the time he said this, a somewhat out of breath ostrich burst through the door, giving Apil a very threatening look as he verrrrryy carefully set the egg back on the floor in front of the towering bird. Herme sniffed and prodded at her egg with her beak. Then she looked down at Apil, prodded at his head with the same beak, and finally just whacked him on the forehead with it, till he backed away from her and the egg.

Neotne noticed the now frail and worn leather belt, which no longer had Tomi tied to it. She walked to the door, puzzled and concerned. Where do you suppose Tomi got loose?