Mistress Oneko watched with amusement as Madame Tomoko secured Leyla to the back of the pony cart; a reserve 'powerplant' for the Mistress' cart on her long journey home.

She smiled a they set off, bumping over the uneven stones that lead away from her 'dojo of suffering' and wondered how long it would be before one of the ponygirls flagged under the cracking pace their mistress would set them and what would happen when that occurred.

Yet all that Leyla could think of was: 'Don't trip... For God's sake, DON'T MAKE ME TRIP OVER!'