The Story of Samo-Chapter One, Part Ten
“You’re not going to try something stupid, are you?” Kia leaned forward to look around Kiara as Samo drove down the road, at a less careening rate than before.
Samo said, “Now why would you even need to ask that?”
“Because I know you’re not an idiot, but that you really want that book.” He added, “However, the last time Tarat confiscated something from you, you broke into his house and sat on his stomach until he gave it up.”
“That is not what happened!” Samo wrenched the steering stick back to brake. As some pedestrians walked across the street, he said, “I did not sit on his stomach. It was his legs. Besides, that was different. He didn’t confiscate that.”
“Oh?”
Kiara looked up from the swordsman manual Samo had bought and said, “He’s right. Tarat just swiped that book from him as a prank. It wasn’t even banned.”
“Well, you’re just lucky he hasn’t thrown you in the dungeon.” Kia huffed and leaned back. “And couldn’t you at least have let me come in? Those people scared me out there.”
Samo said, “Oh, calm down. They didn’t hurt you. And besides, Tarat would never arrest me. He has some sort of secret reason for wanting to keep me around. I haven’t figured it out. Maybe I give his job meaning.”
Kiara snorted. “That’s right. You’re his arch-nemesis.”
“Nah,” Kia shook his head. “I think it’s because Kiara wouldn’t talk to him if he did.”
Samo kicked the steering stick forward, starting the wagon rolling and sending Kia and Kiara against the backs of the seat. He said, “She hardly talks to him as it is. Why would he care?”
As they turned a corner, Kia tried grabbing for some part of the frame, but instead grabbed Kiara’s arm and nearly pulled her out of the wagon with him. When they were both righted in their seats, he said, “Oh, it’s just because he likes her.”
“What’s not to like?” Kiara blushed at the compliment, and started to say something, but was interrupted by Samo. He said, “I still don’t see why that would keep me on Tarat’s good side.”
“Ugh, are you that oblivious?” Kia held his forehead in his hand. He said, “Tarat’s attracted to her. If he arrested you, she’d be mad at him.”
Samo said, “He’s attracted to her? Why?” Kia started laughing as Kiara smacked Samo on the back of his head. The wagon turned sharply as he tried to escape her wrath. “Ah! No hitting the driver!” he shouted. “No hit the driver! No hit driver!” He turned into a plaza and stopped the wagon in front of a large red-brick building with a stone staircase going to the large wooden doors. Jumping out of the wagon, he said, “Okay then. We’re here. The Academy. Can you stop hitting me now?”
“Hmph.” Kiara stepped out of the wagon and glared at Samo. “Sure. Maybe you could eventually find why someone would be attracted to me.”
As she turned and stalked away, up the staircase, he said, “What did I say?”
Between laughs, Kia said, “You are oblivious.”
End Chapter One
Tales of the Inventor's War 