“What’s new with you today?” said Falcao, the Mystic of Cascadia.

Hagar looked down and to the right, tipping off that he was about to lie. He looked Falcao in the eyes.

“Nothing, eh?” said the Mystic. It was clear to him that Hagar was lying. “So,” the Mystic thought to himself, “There is something new, he just doesn’t want to share it at this point. I’ll give him some time to decide that he wants to be honest with me.”

The Mystic then said, “You will tell me the truth when you’re ready.”

Again Hagar looked down and to the right. “I won’t force you to tell me the truth,” Falcao said. He sat down next to Hagar and pet his thick, luxurious fur the Viking Beaver was covered in. Falcao then picked up Hagar’s helmet and fingered the bear claws the helmet had instead of horns. Falcao had made the helmet when he’d come across a bear’s paw having been recently cut off by a poacher. When the Mystic had caught poachers he made sure they’d not be cutting off anymore bear claws.

“I guess we’re at an impasse, my friend, ” the mystic said. “Next time I come I’ll bring some bamboo shoots, the ones you like so much. Maybe I can bribe the truth out of you.” And of course, once again, the Ragar looked down and to the right.

“I’ll see you soon, my friend, ” Falcao said, and then picked up his walking stick and walked off down the beaver pond trail. “I’ll crack that egg yet, ” the Mystic said to himself. “And when I do we can make an omelette.” Falcao laughed to himself, as he often did when making such stupid jokes.