Seconds after Grouche raised the device; a low hum

seemed to be everywhere,  Lady Sweet felt it vibrate through her very

bones.............and it grew.   The humming became a buzz...........Then

even stranger sounds filled the air, sounds the Lady had never heard

before, and could not identify.  "M'Lord, ...is this as should be?" asked

the Lady, not knowing  what to expect.    “All is well, M’lady ...  She

comes.........watch closely,  'tis a sight to be-hold."
 

             The Lady's eyes widened in surprise as before her, some 5 foot

above the  ground,  something  formed  in  the air.   At first, it was

merely  a spot.   But as seconds passed, seemingly in layers,  it resolved

itself... first,  hair,  blonde.....then part of a face.......and continued to

the ground. "Ahhhh,” the Lady gasped,  "‘tis wondrous!"
 

            Standing before her was a woman , the likes of which the Lady

had never seen.   The woman’s hair was shoulder length, and uncovered.

Her face was quite attractive, but she seemed to have painted her lips

and eyes ... and her garb!   A tight fitting shirt of some sort,  unfastened

to show an ample bosom,  and tied at the bottom, showing the woman’s

stomache ... and incredibly, no skirt at all ...... merely tight fitting short

breeches!  The Lady Sweet averted her eyes in dismay ... the woman was

practically unclothed!  ... Immodest indeed!
 

            The woman glanced at the Lady, grinned mischievously, and ran

to Grouche, grabbing him and kissing him ... hard.   "Hiya, Grouche!"

said Modem, then laughed  uproariously  at the  stunned  expression on

Grouches face.  Grouche couldn't decide where to look ... at his Lady,

who appeared ready to slay this woman ... or at Modem,   who totally

dumbfounded  him  at  every chance.   "Aahhhhh ... M’lady Modem,

we hath need of thy magic," Grouche ventured, staring off somewhere

between the two women.   Grouche quickly told Modem of their plight

with  the  Aussiemum,  the Lady  Sweet  adding  her own thoughts.
 

              Back upon the path, they could hear the Aussiemum thrashing

about, searching for them.   “Where arrrrrrrrre theeeee?"   It would call,

adding,  "I will haaaave theeeee!"  Then more thrashing.    It was obvious

the  creature was drawing nearer with each passing second.  Time was

running out.
 

            "Damn Grouche," Modem swore, "You had to run into her, I

know her."   "She was once the same as you.   She was a vicious  person,

attacking people   without cause.......like a bird pecking at everyone."

"So I fixed her," Modem said.  Walking to a  nearby  stump,  Modem

sat and  as  with  her appearance, a shape took form on her lap.   A

flat, rectangular object, featureless on the outside.   Modem raised the

top, and inside were many  buttons, runes upon each..............the top

contained  a  window  which  glowed  with  more of  the strange

runes.    "This is not a problem, you two,"  Modem assured them,

"I'll just do a quick re-progr ...er .........I'll do a quick spell."    Modem's

fingers flew over the buttons.   "While I'm at it............. That  mouth

on her has to go..."   "And I think I'll  take  you  two  with  me,  just

in case," Modem   grinned, "just a couple more  commands....."
 

            At  that  moment,  Aussiemum  leapt  in  front  of Modem.

 "THEE!" it screamed, preparing  to  drive its  beak through  Modem's

head.    "PISS OFF!"  shouted  Modem, and  struck  a  button.    The

Aussiemum  froze  in mid-motion ........then straightening, it shook its

head.  "AUK?" it exclaimed, .........shaking its head ... "AUK?...

 ... AAAUUUK!"   It cried  plaintively.   The  Aussiemum,  plainly

distressed  at the  loss of its  speech,  turned  and ran  from the

group..... still screaming, "AUK! AUK!"

                Grouche  and the Lady Sweet, astounded by the turn of

events,  looked  at each other, then burst into wild laughter, Modem

joined  in.   “Well...........that is that,"  said  Modem, "now  for  you

two."    “Exit,"  whispered  Modem.   For Grouche and his Lady, the

world went dark.
 

            The Aussiemum  traveled  far,  always trying  to recover  its

lost  speech, he  plaintive  call  echoing over the  land.   It  went to

the  Southern Lands, where  it also lost its  name, being  remembered

only for its call.  And for generations  after,  the legend  was  told  in

the Southern reaches..........
 
 

the "Legend of the Great Auk"