Tunnel Rat Chapter 105: Cheese Class

Milo felt a small bit of regret as Brutus tucked away his cheddar into a large pouch, but the sound of Larry begging for cheese was enough to convince him ten tis over that this was the right decision. "You ntioned so classes? I think I need those. But I've never been in a hollow before, can you give so advice on what to do or not to do." So far, people had seed friendly here, but there were friendly people in Shadowport too, along with quiet a few bad ones.

Brutus grinned at his question. "Sure thing! One of a guard's duties is to help new people fit in. Lots of small nests out in the caves send us their young whelps for so schooling, and lately we've had sothing called 'players' show up. They’re like cave whelps but not nearly as well trained. But we'll get them straightened out. Let's go introduce you to Master Bleusnout and then I'll show you around a bit."

The huge chef was cleaning his pots and pans, scouring the cast iron with sand and then oil, while Riftkin carefully washed the more delicate copper pots. Brutus swaggered up, put his nose up, and took a big sniff of the air. "My, sothing sure slls good around here."

Bleusnout snorted. "Tossing out complints in the hopes of getting the leftovers? I hope you can do better than that next ti." From an oven he pulled out a half loaf of toasted bread, spread butter across the top and sprinkled on garlic and the barest hint of grated parsan. The loaf was cut in quarters with a slice each going to Riftkin, Smiley, Brutus and Milo. Milo had never had anything so delicious. If only they made food like this in real life. Bleusnout watched him intently.

The chef looked Milo up and down. "I'm glad you enjoy my cooking, but maybe you enjoy it just a bit too much? Will I be seeing you in class tomorrow?"

Milo hesitated but Brutus spoke up. "You sure will. Tallsqueak just ca into town today. He already has so of his ti claid by Gilad as a punching bag...sorry, I an as an 'assistant instructor'. That will take up his ti until 5th bell."

"With Gilad? Well, you'll be hungry afterwards then, what is left of you. No, I jest. The Tail-Master will work you hard but he rarely breaks bones until he begins teaching regeneration. Co see at the 5th bell. You can eat and then help Rifkin with so chores before classes at 6th bell.”

“Make sure he understands the important rules Brutus. Now go, I have to deal with Larry."

"No trouble at all sir. C'mon Tallsqueak, lets show you around a bit."

The two of them walked out a different door, but Brutus imdiately took him to a window where they could look back inside. "I'm getting the feeling your nest didn't teach you all the basics so let's go over so rules you'll have to abide by in the Hollow."

"The most important rule is: Until Bleusnout gives you a passing grade in his classes don't even think about eating cheese outside of als in his ss hall. And only what he gives you. If soone offers you cheese, refuse politely, then tell , or Justin, or Bleusnout. People who do that aren't your friends."

"Secondly, if you catch wind of anyone smuggling in cheese from the outside, you let us know. Too much cheese in a Hollow will cause problems. I'm talking about Larry sized problems. So people are making a lot of gold bringing in cheese sohow from so other city. Might be humans, spiders, or gnos. There was even talk that the Collective was running illicit cheese."

"Lastly, everyone contributes, or they don't eat. Gilad paid for your als for three days. And you can bunk with and Justin. The guard shack has so extra bunks. After that though, you need to earn points for doing chores or contributing to the Hollow. The basic class on controlling your appetite is free of course. Other classes you'll have to pay for if you are interested in learning things."

"So, got all that?"

Milo nodded. He understood. He also knew he'd already smuggled in four large, twenty-pound wheels of cheddar, and several smaller ones. Did it count as smuggling if it was in another dinsion? Probably. The na of the ability seed to imply exactly that. Brutus's whispered voice brought him out of his thoughts and back to watching the scene unfolding on the other side of the window.

Three loud bangs shook the building. Bleusnout called out. "Hello, is soone at the door?"

"Yes, Larry is is at the door. Larry wants to co in. Can Larry co in?"

"Yes, Larry can co into my house today. Wipe your feet and promise to behave." Larry pushed open the door, wiped so of the mud off his feet and scampered into the room. Bleusnout encouraged him with soft words and got him to sit at a table. Rifkind brought out a plate with large mushrooms, carrots, and potatoes.

Larry looked at the plate. Larry sniffed the plate. Larry decided he'd rather have cheese and pushed it away from him. "Cheese for Larry?"

Bleusnout rapped Larry on his sensitive nose. "No! No cheese for Larry. Larry needs to follow the rules. Eat your dinner. No dinner, no cheese!"

Larry considered and then began stuffing the other food into his mouth and rapidly swallowing it. Bleusnout smiled at Larry, took the plate, and then placed a small sliver of cheese in front of Larry. Larry trembled, but didn't take it. After ten seconds the Cheese Master nodded to him and Larry put the small bit in his mouth, rubbing his belly and making happy noises. "More cheese for Larry?"

Bleusnout was firm. "No more. Chores for Larry at two bells. Breakfast for Larry at three bells." Larry got up sadly and walked out of the room, shutting the door.

Milo was horrified. "How long until he gets better?"

Brutus shrugged. "No one knows. Sotis it works, sotis it doesn't. Larry took so bad advice and tried to beco stronger. He wanted to be a great warrior. He outpaced all the other trainees in his group, but then the cheese took over. He's strong, but he lost a lot of himself. Now all he enjoys is eating cheese and fighting. Which is tough, since only Gilad, , or Justin can really fight him and not get hurt. So, when Bleusnout says Larry needs so exercise to help him calm down, either Gilad or I get so extra cuts and bruises."

"But enough about that, you have any questions? We can do the grand tour, or if you're tired, we can head to the guard shack. You need to be up early. If you get up at two bells you can grab sothing quick in the ss hall and then be at Gilad's arena by third bell. You want to be on your toes and tail for him."

Between fighting and learning about the pitfalls of too much cheese, Milo was actually quite tired. He let Brutus show him to the guard shack where he fell into a bunk and imdiately went to sleep in the ga, his body in the pod already doing the sa.