Chip rucked the whole way into town. "You know aunt carol must have gotten like two stones worth of fish," Chip said. "Har de dar," Stone said, "She paid four clams for the lot." 'I'm not kidding," Chip said as they began to climb the inner steps to the top of the mesa. Five floors, one hundred steps and Chip was about to feel the wrath of what four clams could buy. "I think that if we have to sell this much, I'm going to get pretty strong by the end of the festival," Chip said. A bead of sweat passed down his face, threatened his eyes and dropped over his nose to the ground. Clearing the hundreth step to get back onto solid outdoors, Chip was greeted by the most handsome otter he'd ever seen. This malehad to be only a year older than him as mos, but he looked like coiled muscle and that uniform he wore, it looked tailored to his specifications. Even his belt looked official as if he's broken it in over a while. He radiated confidence as his eyes scanned around. Seeing Chip approach, he smiled. "Hey, fish daddy," the otter said, "You got any good ones today?" Chip turned bright red as he meekly said, "You can come and take a look when we serve lunch." "I'll be there for lunch, I hope you make mine," the male otter scrunched his face, "spicy..." Chip almost involuntarily shuddered at the dry wine of the otters voice. In front of him, Stone and Brit exchanged a knowing glance. "First time?" Brit said. "First time for what?" Chip said, arriving at the cart. He took a second to get into position them slowly lowered himself to the ground, until the baskets sat upon their own. Standing up, he stretched and then jumped a bit. "Don't be dense, nephew," Brit said slapping him right where he'd been carrying the yoke. "He was hitting on you, son," Stone said. "Oh," Chip said, "OH!" Stone and Brit both shook their heads and then began prepping. "With your father here to help me prep, I need you to go get me a sampler of the spices they have up here," Brit said. He tossed the eager young otter two clams. "Don't spend anything you don't have to, but we need to try both savory and sweet," Brit said. "And wouldn't it be sweet if Chip could bring an otter like that mercenary home?" Stone said, "Maybe start his own raft?" Stone and Brit looked at Chip as if too spur him on to movement.