It was a dark hour for any man, particularly this hour as it was just that bit off midnight. A long pause occurred between ‘Snowy’ and dell’ Aqua.

“En garde, Monsieur!” Dell’ Aqua smirked and slashed horizontally at ‘Snowy’ with the precision of one who can tell the difference between ordinary butter and ‘I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter’. ‘Snowy’ leant backwards so as to let the slash skim the skin of his nostril hair and, in a rather cool and modern manner, extended the toe of his leathery left-boot into the soft testicle of dell’ Aqua.

At such a moment one might expect an exclamational yelp.

This time was different.

‘Snowy’ raised an eyebrow as one does who is extremely surprised yet extremely cool.

“I think you are somewhat lacking in something” He stated.

“Au contraire,” replied dell’ Aqua. “Through many years of diligent training I have attained the Iron Balls technique.”

‘Snowy’’s (If punctuational law will permit that) eyebrow rose even further. Without further wasting of any time whatsoever unlike this rather long and unnecessary sentence is doing right this moment in time and not to mention space although, in the ignorance of this author, it is uncertain as to whether a few blips of data on a computer screen really take any space at all, ‘Snowy’ swiftly but certainly surely sprang off his standing leg, crescenting it round until the heel struck the rather snakey face of dell’ Aqua.

The aforementiomed dell’ Aqua was unpleasantly surprised and presently flew crash bang and wolloping into the red face of the alleyway wall. He landed upside-downedly on the ground against the wall. A few canaries and stars circled his head as his incredibly lengthy snakish tongue lay across the oddly bliss-filled expression on his face.

‘Snowy’ stood with no slouch but an overall sense of cool. He turned his head at an acute angle to the left and unblinkingly called “It’s rude to follow people.”

From behind the wall tip-toed Aislinn and blushingly said to ‘Snowy’ “I just wanted to say thank you for saving me from that horrid man back at the Red Wanderer.”

She looked on ‘Snowy’ as if expecting a heroic or perhaps even a profound reply. He stood as a champion, the wind lightly swayed his shining white hair, the pure light of the moon seemed to be absorbed by the intense blackness of his long clothing. His thin lips unsealed, the cold air sucked passed through his mouth into his lungs where it remained frozen, his word was uttered, and unto the sky it lingered. He said:

“Whatever.”

He turned his back on her. Her lush red lips yabbered wordlessly not unlike a fish in a haystack. As he moved away she ran up to him and gripped his arm. His cold eyes sat behind his frozen round-shades and shot their cool gaze at the young lass.

“If you want a place to stay you can stay at mine, it’s not far-off” She told him.

“No charge?” He inquired.

A puzzled look zipped across her face. “Well, no.” She replied

A slight smile skimmed his lips, then was chased off by the passionately neutral face that ‘Snowy’ seemed to be well acquainted with.

“Where is it?”

***

Aislinn paced in her liv-in-room. “What am I doing? I don’t even know his name! He might be a murderer, or a snail-farmer for all I know. Well, I guess I owe him. But why did he want all that ice?” Aislinn stopped abruptly, realizing that she was crazy to bring him here and even more crazy for talking to herself. So she decided to continue her conversation to herself in her head.

Meanwhile ‘Snowy’ reclined in the tiny little wooden bath tub. It had been a long time since he had a bath, never mind one with the luxury of ice cubes in it. He sighed and sank deeper in the sea of ice. He floated there for a few moments then began to swim upwards to a light. He swims higher and higher yet the light seems to disappear upwards like a chimney cleaner that specializes in upside-down chimneys does. The darkness from the depths tangles his bare ankles and tries to pull him down. The light disappears completely and he is aware that he is alone. Alone. And his guts are freezing. Alone. He is choking.

“HEY! Get out of there!” Aislinn’s face appeared in front of his. “You almost drowned in this bath tub! Oh, there’s ice in it!” She looked down into the water and saw his pale body.

“Do you mind?” ‘Snowy’ said, opening his once closed eyes.

“Eek! Sorry!” Aislinn clasped her eyes with her hands pulling ‘Snowy’’s hair along with them.

With his head sideways ‘Snowy’ sighed a breezey sigh.

“I’m going to bed” He stated and somersaulted out of the tub into his clothing, dry as a drunkard’s toast.

Aislinn turned to him, eyes still sealed. “You know it’s a big day tomorrow,” she called. “The festival of the ‘Event’.”

‘Snowy’ smirked.

“It’s going to be spectacular”

Then he slipped on a dog.