Three suns had set. Still — no sign of Mia.
Tick.
The sound came from the door, though it did not sound quite like it. Oliver was eager when he dashed towards the front door expectantly. But that was not Mia’s scent, for she smelled of sandalwood, fresh paper, and berries.
No – it was the scent of crushed pine and sweet alcohol that reached Oliver’s nose. He barked once, then twice, then again, raising his ears defensively. He was dressed in a similar manner to the human men that Oliver would often see at Mia’s workplace. Who was this one? Why was he here?
Was he an intruder?
“I know, I know — not who you were waiting for.” The man closed the door behind him. Oliver stopped barking, but did not relax fully. The man did not seem like an intruder, but this was Mia’s home. Who was this man? Where was Mia? Is he here to find Mia? Why the sound?
Tick.
“Yes…well, they will know. The lady next door will soon inquire with the Enforcers regarding the case…which will prompt them to look into it and realize that your human is missing.”
Like all dogs, Oliver naturally understood human intentions, even if he couldn’t understand their weird barking. But he tried to communicate with this one and ruffed inquisitively. Where was Mia?
The man set his hat on the coat hangers before kneeling down and holding Oliver’s face in his hands. “My condolences,” the man whispered gently.
Oliver looked into the man’s kind eyes and then puffed out of his nose. Pulling himself away from the man’s gaze, Oliver trotted to the kitchen where he busied himself by lapping at his bowl of water.
The man hung up his jacket before following Oliver into the kitchen. The man knelt down next to Oliver before gently reaching for Oliver’s tag and reading off of it.
“Oliver, huh? Well, pleased to meet you, Oliver,” said the man as he gently gave Oliver head pats. “My name is Kolo. I’m here to extend your time.”
Tick.
The man that called himself Kolo walked to the cabinet (which Mia never let Oliver touch) and reached in to retrieve the bag of food. Despite his slight misgivings with the stranger, Oliver couldn’t help but wag his tail appreciatively as he poured the kibble into his empty bowl like grains of sand falling in an hourglass.
The man busied himself with the machine that was set to dispense the kibble while Oliver focused on eating. He had been hungry.
“There — it just needed a resupply. I will be visiting you to make sure you don’t starve. The lady next door will eventually call the Enforcers and the Chief’s daughter has been asking about a dog.”
Oliver wasn’t sure if he understood. He only wanted to know. Where was Mia? What happened to her? Why hasn’t she come back in three suns?
“Your … human made a choice,” the man spoke, but Oliver failed to understand this either. Why would Mia do something that would cause her to miss their daily walks? “It is probably tough for you to understand, Oliver.”
Oliver ruffed and panted, then whined again, before scratching as his ear. Dogs only cared about one thing: their pack. He only wanted to know where his pack-mate was. And was she safe? She was his only pack-mate. She was the only one who took him out.
The man sighed and pointed at the leash hanging near the door. “Would you like to go for a walk?”
But Oliver did not want to. Not with this man. He was not part of the pack. Oliver turned around and padded silently to the study to scratch at the door. Perhaps Mia was still inside? He looked at the man, silently asking him if he could open this human door.
“No one is inside, Oliver. But I can show you.” The man walked over and opened the door for Oliver, who bounded inside.
The familiar scent of sandalwood was musky in the afternoon air as Oliver sniffed around Mia’s workplace. Eventually satisfied that it was undisturbed, he walked over to his cot and laid down.
The man walked in after him and the scent of crushed pine wafted into the study. Oliver ignored him as he walked around, looking at the various diagrams and designs hung up on the walls. He sat down in Mia’s seat, and Oliver considered barking at him, but laid his head back down again. The man was not here to steal from their home.
“I wish she never completed it,” the man spoke to Oliver as he delicately looked through the piles of papers on her desk. “But I suppose, Adam wants and therefore Adam gets.”
Oliver scratched at his ear and then coughed at the man. He felt that the man had come in and seen enough. While the man was not an intruder, he was also not part of the pack. Why was he here? Where was Mia?
The hand that rubbed his head with affection was gentle and firm but unyielding. Oliver licked at the man’s fingers, waiting for a response. Why was he here?
“Mia asked me to see to it that you are taken care of, Oliver.”
But Oliver did not understand. Why could she not do it herself?
Dogs could never understand the human preference for confusing actions.
“It’s not thunder, but it is loud.”
Oliver barely heard the man close the door today. Since the sun had risen, the thunderous noise had assaulted his ears, and he could only cover his ears with his paws.
He felt as the man’s gentle hand rubbed his head and the scent of crushed pine wafted over Oliver’s nose before the hand’s pressure lifted.
Snap.
The finger snap lingered a bit too long in Oliver’s senses, but the sounds stopped. All of a sudden, it was as though everything had gone silent.
Tick.
Oliver shook his head and snorted. All silent except that one.
The man knelt near Oliver and beckoned. The soothing scent of crushed pine wafted over to Oliver’s nose, causing him to feel calmer now that the cacophony of screaming machines had fallen silent. He decided this man that went tick was not that bad after all, and trotted up to him and rubbed against the man affectionately.
“Even with all their technology, the sound of construction can never be muffled, especially when it’s just next door. No licking.”
Oliver’s tongue fell short of the man’s face as the man’s hand held his collar firm.
“I have determined that we should go for a walk, Oliver. So we can be far away from the sound, okay?”
Oliver thought about it, then sneezed once in agreement. He had decided that this man would be useful to the pack. Walking towards the door, Oliver pulled down the leash and deposited into the man’s hand, then licked the man’s fingers expectantly and looked at him.
“Okay, less licking, can we do that?” asked the man as he knelt down to fasten the leash to Oliver’s collar.
Less licking? Oliver thought about it. Did the man not want to be part of the pack? He leaned forward at the man, but the man jerked Oliver’s collar back gently.
“And most certainly not the face. Now, let’s go for a walk, away from all the sound of building a Garden.”
Oliver decided that he could greet this new potential addition to the pack some other time. A walk came first.
It had been five suns since Oliver was allowed outside, and he was looking forward to being able to relieve himself in the great outdoors instead of near the machine inside that ate it all.
And so Oliver dutifully followed the man outside their den made of gray stone and metals.
It was several blocks before Oliver understood what was wrong, and sat near the man’s feet and laid his head on the man’s knee. He whined. The metal monsters that whirred on the streets were all stationary and none of the people moved and the scents were all faded and the sounds were all gone and the wind did not blow and the …
“It can be disconcerting, yes,” the man observed Oliver’s distress. “I suppose we are far enough from the construction.”
Snap.
The sounds of the city washed over Oliver in a tidal wave, causing him to shake himself throughout as though it would lessen the impact. He looked around at the busy people walking to wherever humans needed to go. Some humans talked at each other, and some humans barked loudly. Passing metal monsters sounded their warning calls at other monsters and humans alike.
Oliver lifted his nose and sniffed at the air, taking in the scent of the city and the sounds carried by the wind.
“Oliver, come.”
He turned around to look at the tall building they had come from.
“The Garden’s construction is near the Tower. Let’s walk away from the noise, okay?”
Oliver ruffed and then followed obediently. Perhaps this new potential pack-mate would take him to Mia.
The scent of alcohol wafted heavily around the man today. But unlike when Mia was surrounded by that scent, he did not teeter or totter while walking.
As usual, the thunderous noise became silent as soon as they left. Oliver allowed the man to fasten the leash on his collar for the walk before they left the den. They swiftly walked down the road where the metallic monsters stood frozen. Upon leaving the location, Oliver’s ears picked up sounds from where they had left, but he was too busy sniffing at everything that he passed to make sure he did not miss any markings left by others that have passed.
Oliver’s spirits rose as they entered a shop that brimmed full of coffee. Mia had come here with him many, many times, where he had sat patiently with her while she pored over a book or drew her designs for hours.
Perhaps she was here? The possibility rose as the man sat down, and Oliver sat near his chair, tail wagging. Was he waiting here for Mia?
An inquisitive whine.
“I apologize, Oliver,” the man scratched Oliver’s head gently, “I am here for someone else.”
Oliver’s sneaky attempt to lick the man’s fingers were gently rebuked with a firm tap on the nose.
“One iced Irish coffee,” the man smiled at the waitress.
Tick.
“Oh! and…” he continued, causing her to pause as Oliver watched her narrowly avoid bumping into another patron’s hand. “With an extra shot of brandy.” The man smiled at her. “Light ice, as well.”
And they waited. It wasn’t long before his drink arrived and the man was sipping pensively at his drink while Oliver waited impatiently, tail thumping against his seat. Oliver sniffed at it curiously. It wasn’t anything like the drink Mia normally ordered.
“I couldn’t help but overhear your order. My friend used to make an order like that,” a soft voice observed. Oliver looked at the source of the voice. “May I pet your dog? He’s adorable.”
“By all means, please,” the man’s voice was warm to Oliver’s ears. “Though it’s not my dog — I am simply looking after him for an acquaintance.”
“Aww. He’s a good boy,” the woman commented, leaning down to give Oliver head pats. “You’re so nice to help your friend out!”
Oliver closed his eyes and enjoyed being the center of attention. She was good, this human. Got all the places that were hard to reach with his leg.
“Ma’am, would you like a refill?” asked the waitress as she passed by.
“Another iced latte with no sugar please,” rattled off the woman as she scratched Oliver behind the ears. “And a new straw.”
They watched as the waitress hurried off with the order.
“I have been waiting for you.” The man broke the silence nonchalantly.
The woman paused and stared at him, but did not neglect Oliver’s ears. “You have? Have we met?”
“We did just now,” replied the man cheekily. “You asked to pet the dog. His name is Oliver, by the way.”
“That I did,” the woman conceded, chuckling. “And then I ordered my latte.”
“Yes you did,” the man replied in tandem, “And then you are looking to meet the Time Merchant.”
The woman’s eyes flickered as she tried to understand the mixing of tenses. She then tentatively asked, “I am?”
“You will,” the Time Merchant smiled. “Pleased to meet you, Belle. I am the Time Merchant.”
Tick.
Oliver paid no heed to their human words for it was boring, choosing instead to gnaw at the wooden table leg in front of him.
Tick.
Gentle fingers brushed at Oliver’s ear-tips, causing him to reflexively nip at those fingers.
“I will only say this: probable and possible are two different things,” said the Time Merchant. “And therein lies the difficulty of adjacent possibilities.”
The woman’s voice was a defeated whisper. “I can’t.”
The man hooked the leash onto Oliver’s collar and gently tapped on Oliver’s nose for trying to lick his fingers. Oliver snorted at that, then tried to walk towards the woman but stopped for a new pair of legs.
The waitress was back. “Here ma’am, your ice latte with no sugar and an extra straw!”
The man stood up and tugged gently on the leash. “I look forward to when you have decided between the impossible and the improbable. Come, Oliver.”
Oliver looked at the woman, then at the man. She gave good head pats, but this man was the one Oliver trusted now. Oliver gave an encouraging bark for the woman before turning around and following the man out.
It became a routine with the man. He would arrive unannounced at different times every few mornings, heralded only by the scent of crushed pine and occasionally accompanied by the scent of alcohol to rescue Oliver from the cacophonous sound of construction and to refill the machine that dispensed kibble.
And though the occasional human would stop to give Oliver friendly pats on the head, Oliver noticed that few on the streets stopped to talk to the man or even paid him any heed. He wondered if the man was not accepted into the man-pack society. But it mattered not, Oliver decided. He licked at the man’s fingers, causing the man to give him head pats. Oliver was patient — the man had so far declined to allow Oliver to accept him into the pack with the ritualistic lick on the face, but it will happen.
They would stop at different places each walk and the man would order a drink. Sometimes, the conversations would last a long time. Other times, the conversations seemed to end just as they started. It was all very, very confusing for Oliver.
During one of these conversations Oliver found out the man had a tag too. It was golden and connected to his chest pouch by a thin, golden chain. And it was the thing that went tick. Oliver watched as the man showed off his tag to the other man and allowed the other man to touch it. A very generous offer, though Oliver. Collars are granted by the ones that love us to symbolize the special pack-bond.
Just like the one Oliver had with Mia.
Oliver looked for pack-mate Mia everyday. Oftentimes, he would pull the man in directions they had not yet traveled, causing a tug-of-war between the man’s all important “schedule” and Oliver’s need to search for his missing Mia.
Pulling the man’s hand along the leash, Oliver sniffed everywhere, looking for the scent of sandalwood and berries.
“No, Oliver,” the man pulled back gently, “That is a perfume shop. And no dogs are allowed.”
Oliver whined, pacing to and fro. He gave the man a pleading look.
“No.”
Oliver gave the shop one last look, sneezed, and then followed the man again, sniffing to and fro.
Mia. His pack.
“No, little one.” The Time Merchant smiled at the little girl. “A lesson for you, from an elder: you either value your time or value your money — and only one of these is worth anything.”
Oliver leaned his head back and sneezed.
The little girl named Nettie seemed confused, tugging at her ponytail and then shaking away a loose strand that was the color of caramelized brown sugar. “But so much time. No money! Hmph.”
“Not now, certainly. We all think ourselves to be rich in time until we realize we can never earn any more.”
“So… no have wish? Tragic! Am sad.”
Oliver snorted and bumped his head against Nettie’s black overalls softly. He recognized that word. Mia used it a lot. She used it whenever her pack-family called.
The Time Merchant laughed at the little girl’s precociously correct word-choice. “I can assure you, little one, that wishing for stuffed animals is not what the future you would like to remember. The regret would last for a lifetime.”
“No care. Future me will wub stuffies too. Hmph.”
Oliver panted happily. Whatever they were discussing, she stood her ground. A fierce human female. An addition any pack would be proud of.
The Time Merchant opened his mouth to reply but then suddenly—
Tick.
“Actually — well, yes, you are correct,” he blinked, “How surprising to learn that some things do not change.”
The girl shook her hands free from her turquoise shirt’s sleeves and crossed her arms triumphantly. “Mhm!”
Oliver sat down near her feet and looked at the man and barked in assent. He liked this little human.
“Now you cast the situation on me such that I come off as the oppressor,” the Time Merchant shook his head at Oliver’s behavior, wagging a beckoning finger at Oliver. “Come.”
Oliver considered it for a moment, and then sneezed and licked at the girl’s fingers.
“Doggy!” she giggled, kneeling down to squeeze her arms around Oliver’s neck. He licked at her cheeks happily and wagged his tail excitedly. Oliver decided that this one was a much friendlier pack-mate.
“Is warm and fluffy doggy. Like cute doggy! Squishy.” She laughed as Oliver continued to welcome her into the pack. “Cute doggy.”
“Soooooo?” she turned around to stare at the man.
He leaned backwards and pulled down his hat, covering his eyes and murmuring to himself.
Panting excitedly, Oliver licked at the girl’s face again. He was not sure what was happening, only that something was, and that it was not a bad thing. And that is all dogs need.
The day came when the door opened but it was followed by the scent of smoke and metal. Oliver barked repeatedly at the people that entered. Only when the lady next door also came in and pet him reassuringly did Oliver stop barking, but he was still adamant. Why were so many people invading their den?
Where was the man that smelled of crushed pine and sweet alcohol that went tick?
They swarmed the house, causing various rooms to flash brightly as they observed the state of the room. Oliver barked as they broke down the door to Mia’s workplace, taking Mia’s precious drawings of other stone and metal dens and two trees with perfectly round fruit.
The lady held him back and fed him treats, and Oliver licked her fingers, but he could not help feeling that everything was the beginning of the end. That he had waited but Mia had never returned.
That he was alone now. Without a pack.
Oliver missed Mia. Oliver missed the man that had come by to walk him.
He whined as the humans searched their home, but Oliver knew the humans did not care.
A woman detached herself from the group and knelt next to Oliver. Oliver wanted to bark, but her fingernails scratched his ears just right and he closed his eyes to enjoy it.
“Hey good boy~” said the woman soothingly. Oliver couldn’t understand the sounds but could understand that she was trying to let him know that everything was alright. It wasn’t, for her pack was currently sifting through Mia’s study, but Oliver was outnumbered by this woman’s pack numbers and the man that ticked was not around.
“I’m surprised the dog’s still alive,” another man said as he walked in. Oliver decided that this man was this pack’s alpha, based on how the other humans reacted. “We don’t know how long the occupant’s gone missing, but the dog doesn’t look emaciated at all. Only a couple of days then?”
“Chief!” the woman stood up and greeted the man. “The lady next door was the one that filed the missing persons report — said she hadn’t seen Ms. Caine in a long time.”
“Do we know where she works?” asked the alpha leader. Oliver did not understand completely, but understood that they were talking about Mia and yipped hopefully.
“Hush you,” the woman petted his head and then responded to her leader, “Mia Caine was contracted to Eden Corporation. The documents found in her study correspond with her previous project, Babel Tower, and her current project with Eden.”
“Eden?” the alpha human’s voice seemed wary. “David Solomon’s company?”
A name that Oliver recognized. Someone that worked with Mia. He yipped excitedly, but the woman knelt down and held him until he whined.
“Yes Chief. I apologize for the dog, we’ll have him sent to animal control’s custody until we either find Mia Caine or-“
“No, it’ll be fine. My daughter’s been harping about a puppy for so long that this will be a good chance to let her have a test run. Give it here.”
Oliver looked at the man’s gloved hand approach and almost bared his teeth. But all he could do was whine. Where was Mia? Who are these people? Where is the man that goes tick?
Luckily for this human, Oliver decided that he gave decent head pats. Even though it was a gloved hand.
Oliver never saw the man who called himself Kolo again. But on the second moon of his time in his new pack-family, pack-mate Nicole took Oliver on a nighttime walk and they passed his old den that he had shared with his old pack-mate, Mia.
Oliver’s nose picked up the scent, causing him to look towards a dark corridor.
It was enough to cause Oliver to approach the corridor. But then Oliver stiffened as he approached.
Tick.
The unmistakable scent of crushed pine and sweet alcohol.
Oliver relaxed and peered around the corner, but he saw nothing.
The scent lingered in the air, drifting lazily into nothingness.
Oliver’s lifted his nose to the air and huffed, then turned back to Nicole.
She was waiting; and Oliver knew what that felt like.
Monadic Storytelling 