THE BLUE FEATHER
397
Things were not going well with Bardala and Officer Billy Bob,
either.
“Officer, the light was green when I started through the
intersection.”
“I just go by the facts, ma’am. By the way, you wouldn’t be
traveling with the Ford truck behind us, the one who has broken
multiple laws? My little brother, A.J., probably will be taking
them into the jail. Now, let’s see, everyone’s got their seat belts
on correctly. Hey, wait a minute, roll down your back window
ma’am—those two in the back seat...they’re...they’re monkeys!
And, I guess you have an animal permit for them?”
Both Moka and Eegh started chattering and hissing at the
officer.
“Officer, they are good friends of ours. They’re from Vivia,”
Viviana answered trying to keep Moka and Eegh from attacking
the overfed officer.
“Friends, or no friends...little lady, they have to have papers.
You are not going to tell me you don’t have papers on those
creatures, now are you? And, I hope you have brands and papers
on your livestock in the trailer. I’ll need to see those also. Shall
we go have a look in the trailer for problems?” The officer just
smiled and wondered if he would have room enough on one
traffic ticket to put down all the infractions this woman had
committed.
“Tital, I think we have a...big problem,” Jonathan whispered
over the radio.
“Officer, I’m going to tell you the truth. We’re on a Mission!”
Bardala said with an honest face.