Taking Me To Task

"Why am I here?" We were climbing a mountain, we being me and Oshujon. The mountain was part of my task, I was told at the top the other part would be waiting for me, I was not so sure about that, but being that I was assigned to do this so I could go home I figured I'd take it on faith.

"Because I needed someone to talk to and the only person in the village who could speak our language was some kind of elder." Oshujon the newer (or the forgotten or whatever!) was a lot more of a complainer than his former incarnation.

"Well I don't see what this does for me."

"Gets you out of the cage you ungrateful little jerk." Sure I made him carry most of my supplies, but you know I did get him out of the damned cage, the least he could do was appreciate that fact! I tell you some people just don't appreciate you going out of your way to help them out if only briefly! We continued on quietly for a time. The mountain which I hadn't noticed was super tall, was very very tall, so tall in fact it took us several days to get to the peak. We made camp that night in a small grotto, couple of trees and a small indent in the rock was all we got for protection. I brought (and by I I mean Oshujon carried) some food and supplies for a fire. It wasn't much, but it was better to cook it than the natives cooking it (they under cooked everything). I tried my best with what I had, but it was basic fruits and meats, and we didn't have any cooking instruments outside of skewers. Conversation was fairly light during dinner, more griping from Oshujon, but that was what I had come to expect.

"So..." We were laying down, Oshujon lead off with so and let it hang there, one of those pregnant pauses you know is a lead up to something you don't want to answer.

"If you are going to complain about the meal again you are going hungry next time."

"No no, I was just wondering when you were going to admit to me we're being hunted."

"Oh that, how's never working for you?" Yeah we were being hunted, it wasn't the natives, it was actually what I had been tasked to deal with, but you know I wasn't really talking very much with Oshujon so its not like I was going to let him in on every aspect of our mission! He's a rude jerk!  Unlike me, a cultured gentleman!