Salty and Cara – Purple Peak 6
Love and crime in a world of fruits and vegetables – a juicy fable.
Third story, sixth episode: Everyone is on the move again. Meanwhile back in New Valley…
What is this all about? [Overview and Table of Contents]
True
Cara had kept her job at Hanano’s Spot. Even though she no longer needed to work there, now that she had her grandmother’s inheritance, the place felt right. More than ever.
Of course, Hanano would not return for some time. So many things had happened lately and she still needed some time to process everything. Hanano a secret agent. She chuckled. The awkward, moody banana, always a bit chaotic and more lost than anyone else … A high-ranking spy? Nevertheless, the facts spoke for themselves and her colleagues Alpha and Beta had obviously known all along. They had admitted it with a grin when circumstances had demanded the truth. And she also knew now that the two pears were not really the simple bar tenders they had pretended to be. In fact, Beta’s real name was Claire de Charneux. Alpha’s true name was Alphonse, and he came from a line of high-bred pears by the name of Bergamotte. His uncle was one of the leading doctors at the New Valley Hospital. So they had been a veritable juice bunch all along without even knowing it.
She knew very little about Salty’s activities at the moment. There had been a message sent via the aquatic railway from Big Valley. It had been forwarded from the palace and Hanano’s signature had been added to it. Her Majesty’s agent had returned before the other two who were still on Purple Peak. She did not fully understand the message, for it said that Salty was still in conference with the supreme leader of the eggplants. Something about a serious situation that needed to be handled in both the valleys and on the peak at the same time. Therefore, the young investigator would go home through Big Valley and talk to the king and queen there. It seemed that he had made quite a career for himself. With the help of a mysterious benefactor.
It all sounded so nice. But somehow she thought it might be too good to be true. Something was wrong. She knew it by the fact that Salty had not contacted her personally. He only did that when he was really worried and did not want to upset her. Or get her guessing. And he was probably in trouble. He had told her once that she would make a great investigator, and she could tell how proud he was of her abilities to solve enigmas and connect loose ends. But he had also expressed grave concern about her appetite for risk. She had the heart of an adventurer, a treasure hunter for the truth. But she lacked the experience and training to deal with the unexpected. “So train me,” she had suggested half-jokingly, and he had smiled. But then he had added with a sad expression on his face: “You don’t know how hard it is to work next to someone you love when things get dangerous.” And she understood. Her lover had lost his father, a former New Valley police officer, under mysterious circumstances. Greenwald Cumberman had founded the insurance investigation agency where his son Quentin still worked. And now she was beginning to be concerned about him.
The door to the bar opened and her two coworkers entered, engaged in a boisterous banter. He teased her. “You’re not going as a pineapple again, are you? Common. Last year you lost all those little spiky things all over the place. There was literally a trail to follow where you went. Tiny glittering geometric shapes in a line that got less and less straight over the course of the event.”
“You were supposed to be the one joking, right? Your pumpkin coat fell apart and you looked like you were carrying a striped cage around. With a very strange specimen locked inside.” Beta laughed and slapped Alpha gently.
“So why are you so jolly, you two. Going to a party?” Cara inquired.
“A party,” Alpha replied, “you could say that. Just the biggest party of the year. We are going to the Festival of Colors, of course. Like every year.”
“The Festival of Colors. But that’s in Turnip Town. Only residents of Turnip Town can go.”
“So…?” Alpha made an innocent face and Beta playfully smacked him again.
“We live in Turnip Town, sweetheart. We do.”
“How is that possible?”
“Well, for one thing, it is a wonderful place, exciting, colorful, and always different. Not like Ole Snoozetown. And because we chose it. It can be extremely nerve-wracking to live with your own high breeds. I know you understand the concept.”
The young starfruit could easily relate to the idea. She had decided to move out of her parents’ mansion some time ago.
“You know what,” Beta said, looking at Alpha with a smile, “why don’t you and your darling cucumber come to the festival with us. I’m sure you’ll both love it. It will take your mind off all these serious goings on. At least for a little while.”
“What a great idea,” Alpha joined in her excitement, “you won’t have any problems getting in as our guests. We’ll just put you on the list.”
“But you’re going to need a proper cloak. A really classy disguise coat. It might be a little difficult to find something nice on such short notice. … . Wait. We are about the same size. I could lend you my costume from last year. And there are plenty of sparkly geometric shapes left over, I am sure,” she added with a cocky glance at her pear companion.
Her young colleague wasn’t sure: “I don’t know, Salty’s so involved in all this… . He may not feel up to it. Besides, I don’t know when he’ll be back”.
“Oh, don’t be such a lettuce. You could leave him a message and meet him there.”
And they both continued to tease her until she finally raised her arms and cried out in mock drama, “All right, all right. I’ll go with you. It should not be too hard to leave a message. After all, the festival is still six days away, right? He should be on his way by now. I’m sure he’ll enjoy a little harmless fun after all that earnest statesman stuff.”
And then she packed up to leave the rest of the night for her two merry colleagues to rock and roll the place.
“A party,” Alpha replied, “you could say that. Just the biggest party of the year. We are going to the Festival of Colors, of course. Like every year.”
“The Festival of Colors. But that’s in Turnip Town. Only residents of Turnip Town can go.”
All rights reserved. Copyright ‘Salty & Cara’ by Mag M. Schaper 2023-2025
Side Notes:
- If you’re curious about what happens next, well, …. Surprise! This time you won’t have to wait until the last Friday of next month. Because right after this post you will find the second half of the year-end double feature. And a little clue as to what’s going on in next year’s new story.
- You have no idea what is going on? Well, maybe take a look at the [Salty and Cara – Info Page], the [Salty and Cara – Who is Who] page or the [Salty and Cara – How About] page.
Needless to say, the stories about Salty and Cara are pure figments of my imagination. No resemblance to any person or place – present or past – is intended. But I am sure you have already figured that out 😉