Page 19 - Fables volume 3

Delayed Results

Now there was trouble. The race had ended in a dead heat, rare in
a track event with only two runners. Trainers, supporters and
bystanders milled around the finish line, loudly contesting the
outcome. The competitors, apparently exhausted, had collapsed
beyond the fray, no longer the center of attention.
The officials sat anxiously at their table, studying the photo finish
images and awaiting further reports.
“Anything, in fact,” hooted Owlish McFletcher, to his fellow judge,
Cappy Kangaroo. “And it better be quick. Those ravening wolves
and howling hyenas out there will have us for lunch if we can’t come
up with a clear winner. Nobody wants to face the facts.”
The third official, Fancylegs Froggle, nodded her warty head.
“What happens to all the jack those punters put down on their
favorite?”
“That’s between them and their bookies.” Cappy had been in the
ring. “I’d want my vigorish, regardless, if I were holding a purse. And
those guys have a lot of hired teeth and claws to back up that claim.
We’ll get the complaints, and fast, no matter whom we declare the
winner. I hope our investigators get something we can use.”
McFletcher consulted the rulebook. “The first option in this case is
supposed to be a rematch. We couldn’t possibly get that done today:
it’s late afternoon and the race time was 7:18:23.7. Give everyone a
chance to cool down, and rerun it tomorrow: maybe that would fly,”
he ended, less than optimistically.
“What’s the second?” croaked Fancylegs.
“Says here that we toss a coin.”
The marsupial was hopping mad. “That’s crazy: do we have to
send away for an honest coin from the mint? The public just thinks
we’re window dressing, has no idea of our probity. If I had thought
this could happen, I would have stayed home.”
As they heard the crowd’s collective sonic output change from
outraged screaming to ominous muttering, a ferret broke through the
underbrush behind them. It was panting.
“What is it, Gnasher?” Fancylegs darted her tongue in and out
nervously. “Catch your breath later!”

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