Stephan and the old lady, still disguised as middle-aged men, led Jeff out through the door at the side of the auction ring into the animal enclosure. Here buyers were coming back to collect their animals after they had settled payment at the cash desk. The three of them waited next to three large male donkeys which Jeff recognised to have been John, Walker and Seth. Stephan patted John on the back and rubbed his muzzle.
Their new owner, a elderly man, walked over hurriedly. Initially he had a look of concern on his face, and possibly anger at seeing Stephan stroke his animals, but it faded to a vacant and goofy smile. Madame Illusia’s piercing eyes had been staring at him intently, and Jeff had little doubt that she was reading his mind and altering his thoughts for him.
“You sure have a good eye for jackasses,” he/she complimented the new owner. “These are three mighty fine animals you’ve bought yourself. We’ve saw all three born and their ma was a strong ol’ beast ”
He took the bait. “Sure was good of you to put them in the sale. I haven’t seen any this good for years.”
“And their all so smart as well, all three of them,” chimed in Stephan. “Why, you could almost believe that they were thinkin’ sometimes. Young Jeff here knows them all uncommon well, jus’ like they could be his friends.”
“Only one problem with this sale and that was that the hiring fair was cancelled,” continued the bald man. “I coulda really have done with getting meself a new boy to help around the farm. What with my youngest leaving home to go to the city, there’s only me and my lady wife to keep the place now.”
Jeff had a sinking feeling that this is what the old lady was hoping for. Worse, going by her staring eyes and the man’s blissful indifference, he suspected that she was controlling his mind.
“Well there’s a fine thing,” put in Stephan. “We’ve been looking for a new job for young Jeff. He’s getting too big to hang around at home. Getting too many strange ideas filling up his head. How do you say you take him on as a farmboy… from tomorrow? He’s a bit slow in the head but will talk to those jackasses like he knows them as people. And don’t you worry about a bed, young Jeff here can kip down in the barn. Just keep him on the farm, he won’t need wages.”
So Jeff was bound to the old man as a live-in donkey handler. After finding out the address of the man’s farm, Madame Illusia and Stephen bade him farewell until the next day. They got back into the transporter truck and drove away. For security, Jeff was frozen in place again in the middle of the front seat.