Alright. I've got the containers in here, and I've chewed up enough wax to make my insides even more runny than normal. But I'm here, and it's time to do the job. Or not do the job.
The bird is still of two minds, as it stands on the floor looking all around. Do it? Don't do it? Do something else? Time to canvass the place and make a decision. The bird then flies around looking at all the objects, attempting to make moral judgements based on the state of the cutlery and miscellaneous household objects. Is it evil to have a wooden spoon? Is it good that the rain barrel is made of ash? Is it good or bad that the spices are somewhat loose and haphazard? What is the moral relativity of an unmade bed? Can one make judgements based on the style and quality of the crafted window decorations?
This is stupid, even for me. There has to be a better way.
And with that, the bird stops. The light dawns.
I was hired to mix the stuff into the rennet.. and to bring back the results. I was not hired to leave the adulterated stuff here. I can just pour a portion of it into the jar, and fill the vial from that, and I'm done! It was implied to mess things up, but that's not what Sala actually said!
And at that, the bird proceeds. Place the empty glass jar on the floor, facing vertically. Struggle the full rennet jar off the shelf. Fortunately, there are several, and the bird is very thankful for the slight increase in size. This rennet container is too large to carry, but the bird can fly it down for a relatively soft landing, only spilling some of the contents.
Down on the floor, the bird tips the rennet container over, spilling some of the contents into the smaller jar. He then picks the jar back up before it all escapes, although a majority of it does. Fortunately, there are a lot of rennet jars on the shelf, so the loss of this much shouldn't be too important. Hopefully. The bird's strange pseudo-conscience gives a twinge at this moment.
I don't know if this is the right thing. Dammit. I need to get some straight answers from Sala next time I see her. I can't let myself be bribed by food again.
Anyway, put the vial inside the new jar. Force it open by standing in the jar, one leg holding the vial and one leg standing outside. And pry, pry pry with the beak to get the cork out. Cork comes out, the clear liquid mixes with the milky liquid, and the bird tips it over and stirs the mixture with its foot, until all is cloudy. Vial back in, peck, peck, peck and in goes the cork, leave the mess on the floor, and back up the water drain, out into the free air once again. And very thankful the cheesemaker didn't come home at an inappropriate time.
One day I'll get interrupted and have to explain myself. But I got away with it that time. ..That was really painful, but it didn't take that long, maybe under an hour all told. Still, another thing to change. Usually I know what someone's habits are before messing with them. I should have watched the cheesemaker longer to make a better guess. Instead, I was so mad at the jar I decided to go through with it on a whim. Next time.
The self-rationalizations are perhaps the most sure sign of human intelligence to date. Yes, even more than the talking. But anyway, although short, the experience was very tiring.. so the bird takes a rest during the day, coming to sleep on the top of a watchtower, perhaps the safest place in the city.
Zzz..
"Hey you! Flying thing! Wake up!"
Crap, that's Lucille!
Alright. I've got the containers in here, and I've chewed up enough wax to make my insides even more runny than normal. But I'm here, and it's time to do the job. Or not do the job.
The bird is still of two minds, as it stands on the floor looking all around. Do it? Don't do it? Do something else? Time to canvass the place and make a decision. The bird then flies around looking at all the objects, attempting to make moral judgements based on the state of the cutlery and miscellaneous household objects. Is it evil to have a wooden spoon? Is it good that the rain barrel is made of ash? Is it good or bad that the spices are somewhat loose and haphazard? What is the moral relativity of an unmade bed? Can one make judgements based on the style and quality of the crafted window decorations?
This is stupid, even for me. There has to be a better way.
And with that, the bird stops. The light dawns.
I was hired to mix the stuff into the rennet.. and to bring back the results. I was not hired to leave the adulterated stuff here. I can just pour a portion of it into the jar, and fill the vial from that, and I'm done! It was implied to mess things up, but that's not what Sala actually said!
And at that, the bird proceeds. Place the empty glass jar on the floor, facing vertically. Struggle the full rennet jar off the shelf. Fortunately, there are several, and the bird is very thankful for the slight increase in size. This rennet container is too large to carry, but the bird can fly it down for a relatively soft landing, only spilling some of the contents.
Down on the floor, the bird tips the rennet container over, spilling some of the contents into the smaller jar. He then picks the jar back up before it all escapes, although a majority of it does. Fortunately, there are a lot of rennet jars on the shelf, so the loss of this much shouldn't be too important. Hopefully. The bird's strange pseudo-conscience gives a twinge at this moment.
I don't know if this is the right thing. Dammit. I need to get some straight answers from Sala next time I see her. I can't let myself be bribed by food again.
Anyway, put the vial inside the new jar. Force it open by standing in the jar, one leg holding the vial and one leg standing outside. And pry, pry pry with the beak to get the cork out. Cork comes out, the clear liquid mixes with the milky liquid, and the bird tips it over and stirs the mixture with its foot, until all is cloudy. Vial back in, peck, peck, peck and in goes the cork, leave the mess on the floor, and back up the water drain, out into the free air once again. And very thankful the cheesemaker didn't come home at an inappropriate time.
One day I'll get interrupted and have to explain myself. But I got away with it that time. ..That was really painful, but it didn't take that long, maybe under an hour all told. Still, another thing to change. Usually I know what someone's habits are before messing with them. I should have watched the cheesemaker longer to make a better guess. Instead, I was so mad at the jar I decided to go through with it on a whim. Next time.
The self-rationalizations are perhaps the most sure sign of human intelligence to date. Yes, even more than the talking. But anyway, although short, the experience was very tiring.. so the bird takes a rest during the day, coming to sleep on the top of a watchtower, perhaps the safest place in the city.
Zzz..
"Hey you! Flying thing! Wake up!"
Crap, that's Lucille!
