Bath Time

By Coldwin

 

It was a large bathroom, the marble floor polished to a dull gleam, and the inset rose-quartz tub spoke of the wealth and opulence enjoyed by those of house Aldar’ach.  Watched discreetly by slaves stationed in the room, the first son of the house splashed happily in the warm water.

 

Young Cossack (the already kinda terrible but not nearly as terrible as he would be when grown) laughed uproariously at the antics of his newest toy, a small yellow duck his mother had brought back from one of her trips off planet for him.  He had named it Quackers and almost right away it became his favorite toy of the moment.

 

That day Quackers was amusing his friend by shooting out of the water after Cossack held him under it.

 

"You’re my best friend Quackers," Cossack’s young voice said in a piping tone.  He squeezed the duck and it quacked in response causing him to break into a dopey grin.

 

"Lunch, Master Cossack," a slave said bowing.

 

"Ok, float it over."

 

The slave retrieved a plastic tray made for dining in the tub or pool and placed the young master’s food on it.  The boy’s standard lunch was a sandwich, several hard candies, and a small cup full of spiked grape juice.  He made a face at the sandwich, took a big drink of juice, and grabbed a handful of candies.  With typical childish greed he shoved the whole handful into his mouth and started chewing.

 

"Quackers thes iz..." He broke off choking.  One of the candies had escaped his rapid chewing and had begun to choke him.

 

The slaves around the room looked at each other and rushed toward the distressed child.  Their lives as well as his were at stake.

 

Tears of pain and fear streamed down the child’s face in rivulets.  "Quackers," he managed past the obstruction as he curled over the duck.

 

The stiff rubber beak of the duck pushed firmly into his stomach.  Already upset thanks to the highly emotional condition of the boy, the contents of his stomach surged upwards forcing the offending candy out of his throat.  The jets of the tub began carrying the vomit away while Cossack floated backwards inhaling deep lungfuls of air, still sobbing.

 

"Did you see that?"  One slave asked another.  "That toy saved him."

 

"Of all the luck."

 

"Yea for us," another said in clear relief.

 

"Quackers," Cossack said affectionately hugging the duck to him, and causing it to quack again.  "You’re my lucky rubber duckie!"

 

 

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