| "It never ceases to amaze me," Quirida-Xac smiled benignly at the occupants of the little boat, watching as their faces reddened with every movement of lactic filled muscles, "what it is about a simple activity such as fishing that causes so much stress and strain." Qui-Gon stared up at him as if the man were completely mad. But then again he couldn't be that mad: he was the only one of the boat's three occupants who was doing precisely nothing in the way of work. "I mean," he waved his hands around expansively, "take you, young padawan Jinn." "Me sir?" "Yes. You like fishing. I heard you tell Dexter this morning that you found it a pleasant mixture of challenging stimulation and pleasurable relaxation." "I did sir." Qui-Gon felt the sweat begin to pour off his Sunkist face. "And yet I saw you some twenty minutes later protesting that the whole thing was a waste of time, throwing your rod into the bushes and storming off in a big sulk." Qui-Gon's face reddened further still, only this time it had nothing to do with his exertions. "The fish weren't biting, I presume?" Quirida-Xac asked as he lay back and watched the two boys as they pulled repeatedly in the oars. "The fish WERE biting," Dex grumbled, "they were just to smart for him." "I resent that!" Qui-Gon shot the younger boy a sideways glare. "Aww, c'mon Qui! They were all floating around in the background laughing at you." Dex wiped at his face with a sweaty hand and nearly dropped the oar. "I was doing fine until that stupid pike turned up." Qui-Gon snapped. "It scared all the other fish away!" "No, it was because you are just a rotten fisherman." Fourteen year old Berlingside grinned, "I am not!" "Yes, you are! You just can't admit it!" "Not true!" Quirida-Xac smiled as he lazily closed his eyes. "I rest my case." He smirked. "See how relaxing fishing is?" This time Dex was the one that eyed his master who was sitting, tunic opened to the chest and his full head of wavy hair blowing gently in the breeze with every stroke the boat made. "YOU look fairly relaxed, master." Dex observed. "Thank you, young Dexter. I feel very relaxed." Quirida-Xac grinned lazily. "Sure you don't want to change places for a while?" The master opened one blue-grey eye and fixed it upon the golden haired padawan. "Oh, no. No, no no no no no!" He shook his head. "That would never do. I'm thinking of you two really. I have your best interests at heart." "How would that be, master?" "Because I am strengthening your muscles with all this exercise and fresh air." The man took a deep, enraptured breath. "There's nothing like the lakes of Korrassi. Beautiful place, don't you think?" "I might be able to enjoy it more if I could concentrate on the scenery and less on the rupturing of my vertebrae." Dex answered hopefully. "You'll thank me for this one day." Quirida-Xac grinned infectiously. "Maybe not today…" "Too right." Qui-Gon groused. Quirida-Xac raised a single eyebrow, the smile still very much on his lips. "How big was that fish you nearly caught, Jinn?" he asked curiously. "If you believe him, it was twice the size of your average Gabali pitch and as wide as a Bantha." Dex grimaced as he pulled the oars. "It was massive!" Qui-Gon shot back testily. "It was way bigger than the one that you managed to catch." "At least I managed to catch one." "A crèche baby could have reeled that in…even Mace could have reeled it in!" Qui-Gon pronounced smugly. "Size isn't important, is it master?" Dex looked to Quirida-Xac for guidance. "I heard Master Shellac say that to Master Sheedi last week." Quirida-Xac decided to make a hurried inspection of his fingernails. "Padawan Jinn, I think you've done enough hard work. I will be taking over the oars from you. I think you deserve a rest." Dex looked at his master, feeling suddenly hurt. Surely if there was a case for favoritism, now would be the time? "Thank you, Master Montal." Qui-Gon bowed gratefully. "Oh, don't thank me." Quirida-Xac shrugged. "I just want you to take something important away from this trip that's all. A lesson, as it were…" Qui-Gon stared over the side as he feathered the oars. "How deep do you think it is down there?" he frowned pensively. "Dunno." Quirida-Xac yawned, flicking his hand idly at the padawan. "You can tell us when you get back." The shock of seeing Qui-Gon suddenly being propelled headfirst over the side of the boat almost caused Berlingside to loose the oars completely, but Quirida-Xac swiftly grabbed them with a simple tug upon the force just as they were on the verge of disappearing the same way that Jinn had. "Very careless, young Dexter." Tutted Quirida-Xac. "But…" Dex's green eyes widened impossibly. "Hmmm? Oh, him." The man ran a hand through his dark, bohemian hair. "Don't worry. See? There he is now just breaking the surface." Quirida-Xac gave Qui-Gon a casual wave. "I'm still thinking of you. See, after a nice long row what could be more refreshing than a swim in lovely, cool water? Builds up strength wonderfully, does swimming. Budge over Dex, there's a good fellow." He said as he took Qui-Gon's oar. Jinn looked a very sorry state indeed, with his hair plastered right back from his strong face…a bit like a seal covered in engine grease. "That lesson I mentioned." Quirida-Xac called through one hand. "The moral of the story is that there is always a bigger fish." He winked at Dex. "And in this boat, that bigger fish is me!" |
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| The Bigger Fish By Jemmiah |