Short Story: Let The Dog See The…

Short Story: Let The Dog See The Rabbit

The Rainbowseeker was taking a mid morning rest on the main street of a market town. His thoughts were turning to the prospects for lunch when a young woman came out from one of the shops and approached him.

“Are you a Rainbowseeker? Can you answer a question for me?”

“I am, ma’am, pleased to make your acquaintance. What might your problem be?”

“I have two young men pursuing me and I cannot choose between them. One is steady and decent and would make a fine husband for any woman. The other is handsome and a bit dangerous and excites me just to look at him. How do I choose, Rainbowseeker, do I follow my head or my heart?”

“That is a weighty problem, you have there, young lady. I might need to cogitate a little on that one. Whilst I give it my full consideration, would you do me the favour of taking my best friend here for a walk into the fields over there?” And he handed her a lead attached to his eager little dog, whose eyes lit up and he began dancing around her feet.

“Sure,” she said, smiling at the hound, “See you in half an hour? Oh, what’s his name?”

“Her name is Fiain croi* and take as long as you need,” said the Rainbowseeker and as soon as she was gone he found a local café and perused the menu.

It was over an hour later that the young woman returned, flushed around the cheeks and chatting away to the dog as if it was her closest confidante. The dog was carrying dead rabbit in her mouth and had the gait of a returning conqueror.

“How was your walk? I see you made the trip worthwhile.”

“You never mentioned she was such a little rabbit hunter, old man, nor how wilful she is. No sooner had we got into the first field than she saw a rabbit and dragged me off through a hedge chasing it. It took me ten minutes to control her.”

“I see then what did she do?”

“Well, she sulked because I kept her leash so tight and stopped her chasing anymore rabbits. But then in the next field, I felt sorry for her and let her off the lead completely. I thought at least I would not get scratched by thorns when she went scooting off again.”

“And did she go scooting off again?”

“You know she did! Almost immediately, she was off after another rabbit. She chased it around for half an hour and it was only exhaustion that let me get her back on the lead in the end.”

“So, how did you come by the prize she is carrying, then?”

“Well, the next field was full of rabbit holes, so I set her down one of them whilst I waited by another. Sure enough, after a few minutes a rabbit came bolting out and straight into my arms. She followed it and despatched it like a true hunter. We both want to give it to you.”

“Really? That is very kind of you both, but what have I done to deserve such a gift?”

“Well, you have answered my question, old man and as for your dog, well she doesn’t know the recipe for rabbit stew.”

[* “Fiain croi” roughly means “wild at heart”.]