The Armadillo Files, Episode 24 — Featuring Lauren Scott

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Saturday, February 26, 2022

You’ve reached The Armadillo Files.  Stand by for a wild and… psychedelic ride.  We’ll have mushrooms one more time.

“Stop children. What’s that sound? Everybody look what’s going down…” Stephen Stills

I usually like 1960s original recordings best.  But I do love some good swamp blues, especially when it’s Tab Benoit.  Thanks for indulging me in this digression. It does relate to the story. That’s where I got the titular question for this chapter.Lauren Scott More than Coffee

Random Reader Things

Today’s random reader things are from Lauren Scott at Bay Dreamer Writes. Her latest book is “More than Coffee.” Do click over and learn more.  The things from Lauren that guided this chapter are fun.  That made the Time Manatees fun-loving beings. Stand by for pineapple, puppies, and ping-pong.

Previously in The Armadillo Files

Henry Apesly accidently changed history. However, what our heroes don’t seem to realize yet, is that somebody was already messing around with the timeline, else Prime’s disgraced operative, Henry Apesly wouldn’t have been in 1877 in the first place.  Anyway, the trio set out for Sweetwater, Tennessee and the Lost Sea, in search of the Time Manatees.  Although Fang is literally fading fast.  Will they summon the illusive creatures in… time? No pun intended. You can find all the past chapters by going to the categories on the right side of the screen.  Click on Armadillo Files.

This is an extra-short episode.

All aboard!

24 — What’s that sound?

The Armadillo Files image by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene
The Armadillo Files image by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Dilly

My mind had wandered.  I only had a bite of the strangely colored mushroom, but I felt funny.  A noise gradually wriggled into my consciousness.

“What’s that sound?” I asked, turning to look for its source.

Fang and Henry sat cross-legged at the edge of the underground lake.  They made all sorts of whistling sounds, trying to summon the Time Manatees.

“It’s not working,” Henry Apesly growled.  “Did you bring an offering?  Don’t give me that disparaging look.  You were near-on a hundred years into the future before coming here.  You had access to more of their favorite things than I do.”

Fang searched his pockets.  He pulled out a packet of dried pineapple.  Henry glared at him.  Fang shrugged, and then turned to ask me if I had anything “fun.”

I mumbled the word “Fun?” back to him and tried to focus.

“Regular humans don’t have much of a tolerance to the mushrooms, Pinky.  They affect her differently than us,” Henry stated.

The odd sensations dissipated as suddenly as they had begun.  I shook my head.  The warped shapes ordinary things had taken on went back to normal.  It had been a big tickle seeing the world that way, but I was glad to be back to myself.

Lions Mane Mushroom Wikipedia
Lions Mane Mushroom Wikipedia

Henry and Fang continued making all sorts of whistling racket for a little while longer.

“I think the trouble is that we don’t have the right offering to attract them,” Henry grumbled.  “Sometimes they act almost like puppies, wanting a treat.  Umm, no offense,” he added with a sidelong glance to the vast lake.

Apesly took out the stopwatch, grimacing at the amount of time remaining.  I wasn’t sure that Fang had even as long as the amount of time Henry had said we should allow for the manatees.  He picked up Fang’s penlight and moved to an adjoining area of the cave.  We followed.

He looked at Fang and gave him a tight smile, upon noticing that the erstwhile armadillo was barely visible.  Henry only seemed to have three facial expressions, that tightlipped smile, a toothy grin, and a pinched frown.

“The last time I was here, it took days before the manatees arrived.  The operative I was partnered with set up a ping-pong table so we had something to do.  But we can’t wait for them to show up at their leisure,” he added quietly with a glance at Fang.

“Anywho, the manatees were fascinated with the ping-pong.  Maybe the sound of the ball bouncing back and forth will help attract them.  Ah!  There it is!  The net’s useless, but the paddles and some of the balls are okay,” he exclaimed and picked up the items.

We played the game, standing at the edge of the lake.  Half the time the balls went through Fang, and he had difficulty holding the paddle.  I was no good at the game, so Henry played against the two of us.

Abruptly Fang stopped.  The ball splashed into the lake.  He looked Henry up and down, and put his fist to his chin thoughtfully.

“Maybe since your transformation got stuck more on the chimpanzee end than on human,” Fang eyed Henry and began.  “Well, maybe there isn’t enough humanity in our frequency.  Maybe we need to add Dilly.”

“Three is a good number.  The Time Manatees tend to travel in threes,” Henry commented, seeming to evaluate me.  “But I think her affinity is more toward plants than animals.  Still, I guess there’s no harm in trying.  Care for a snack, Dilly?”

Reluctantly, I took the stringy, brightly colored mushrooms that Henry held out to me.

♦ ♦ ♦ 

Manatee Vocalization Research

“Manatees have no vocal cords and yet they vocalize with audible squeaks and whistles. An Xaviar University research team, led by AAAS member Charles Grossman, has recorded thousands of manatee squeaks from animals held in captivity and in the wild.”

Now I’m starting to wonder about those Time Manatees, if magic mushrooms have to be used to “get on their frequency.”  Do we anybody at this point?  Tune in for more next weekend. 

♦♦♦

Elsewhere in the Teagan-verse…

I know that I keep saying “coming soon,” but I’m still working on “Dead of Winter: Journey 13,” doing the best I can to climb over the mounds of PTSD.  Yes, even that remark is a repeat.  Sorry. Yeah, believe me I’m sorry that’s still true.  I actually managed to get some sleep the past two nights. I didn’t think I remembered how.

Hugs on the wing!

 The history, particularly military aspects of this story probably make it difficult… However, this story isn’t really about religion or politics. So, please remember that this is my sanctuary — a place for all of us to be safe and away from political and religious commentary.  Kindly keep that in mind with your comments.

♦♦♦

Journey 12 of Dead of Winter is now available.  

Dead of Winter — All the Journeys

DoW 13 Harbor

 

Universal Purchase Links

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Journey 1, Forlorn Peak

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Kobo:  Dead of Winter: Journey 1, Forlorn Peak eBook by Teagan Geneviene – 1230004446033 | Rakuten Kobo United States

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This is a work of fiction.  Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2021 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved. 

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or provided by free sources, unless stated otherwise.

 

…

79 thoughts on “The Armadillo Files, Episode 24 — Featuring Lauren Scott”

  2. I immediately thought of the song Three is a Magic Number, lol. Now I’ll have that and Stop Children playing in my head all day! Hope those manatees show up – we can’t lose Fang!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you kindly, Mary. It’s funny, at first the Time Manatees were just a thing for Fang to “swear” with, “Holy Time Manatees!” Then they actually swam into the story. LOL, I don’t know why they travel in threes, but suddenly they do. Thanks for your good wishes. Hugs on the wing.

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  5. Now, let us see what happens to the mushrooms! I am glad that Fang is still around, I hope he hangs on, I do not want to see him go away! Thank you for continuing this great story, until next time! !

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. Hey, they are so happy with the magic mushrooms, i fear they will stuck in time forever, unless they run out of mushrooms. 😉 Indeed, i love the the interaction of the two characters Fang and Henry. Thanks for sharing another great episode, Teagan! Have a wonderful rest of the weekend! Big hugs! xx Michael

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        1. Haha. Crystal gets to keep her electric blanket even in the summer. This “human servant” doesn’t dare take it away, even though the blanket doesn’t get the electricity turned on very often in the summer. She’s snoring happily now. Take care, my friend.

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  11. An fab episode, Teagan. The story is mushrooming. Pardon, I couldn’t resist!
    Those Lions Mane Mushrooms are quite gorgeous.
    I always look forward to your Saturday posts! {{{hugs}}}

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. This is a wacky story, Teagan. Love it. The video on the manatees vocalizations was fascinating. There’s so much that we don’t understand about animals, and each piece of new information opens more questions. I’m suspecting that the time manatees are going to make an appearance shortly. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. Glad you got some sleep, Teagan 🙂 I’m wondering about these Manatees and the need of the mushrooms to get them to come, but I hope they do soon! Another great episode and gorgeous picture of the lions mane. Sending hugs xo

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I’m glad you enjoyed it, Denise. Yes, they have to be on the right frequency to communicate with the Time Manatees. 😉
      Ha. If I could sleep like that every night, I might conquer the world. One or two nights a week like that is more than I usually get. So I’ll count them as blessings. Hugs on the wing!

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  18. Oh, dear! Here’s hoping the Manatees arrive in time to help poor Fang. I had to giggle just a little at the three of them attempting to play ping pong and Dilly indulging in magic mushrooms. Fun segment, Teagan, well, all except for the quickly disappearing Fang’s predicament. Anxiously awaiting Journey 13. I’m all caught up with you. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you kindly, Jan. I’m glad you had fun here. That’s the main thing I try to do in these difficult times — give a few smiles. There really isn’t much left to do with #13. If I could just hold myself together. Hopefully soon. Best wishes with your latest. Hugs on the wing.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  19. You are creative, Teagan! Thanks for featuring my blog and using my three random things so seamlessly. I’m ready for a game of ping pong now (which I’m pretty good at). 🙂 And those manatees are fascinating and hope they show themselves soon. That lion’s mane mushroom is incredible, too. Wonderful! ❤️❤️❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  21. Teagan, manatees are fascinating creatures and it’s fun learning about them here. I hope they arrive soon. Poor Fang is fading fast. Hope they don’t have Dilly eating too many mushrooms. She may disappear before
    Fang!

    The lions mane mushroom is awesome.

    Have a restful, healing, pleasant weekend. Be well. Be happy.
    Ginger

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  23. I hope those delightful creatures get here in time to help Fang. I’m worries about Dilly having too many mushrooms. I’m imagining bright-colored paisley manatees 😮

    Thanks for giving us something fun to read this weekend, Teagan. I hope you get some rest. I look forward to Journey 13, whenever it lands. I can wait. Take care of you.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  28. Wow! I hope the manatees make an appearance soon! I love the mushrooms, and now I’m thinking Alice in Wonderland as well. I didn’t know about the manatees’ vocal abilities and I am also rubbish at ping pong, so I am with Dill on this one! Thanks, Teagan, for this wonderful episode and for keeping us posted. Cheering you on!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I’m in that boat too, Olga. I was never any good at any kind of game.
      Yes, the part about the manatee vocal cords surprised me. I started thinking about how the characters might try to communicate with them… Then wondered what sounds manatees made. Research led me to that video.
      Stay safe and well. Hugs on the wing.

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    1. 😀 I’m so glad you could visit, Tim. I do love me some Tab Benoit. “Shelter Me” from the Power of the Pontchartrain album is probably my favorite from him. Admittedly, I haven’t heard any new music in quite a few years… Anyhow, have a terrific Caturday. Hugs on the wing.

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