Episode 70
- Part III
... from the Files of Hydrogen Guy
The Story So Far: Hydrogen Guy and Deuterium Boy are called upon to transfer a dangerous prisoner - Captain Toronto's former arch-nemesis, the Mutant Maker - from "the Soil" (a maximum security prison for supervillains called) to a lower security facility. However, our heroes are not the only ones with an interest in moving the blubbery git: Hans-Raoul and Dr. Emmanuel Lewis Hawking also want the Mutant Maker, to restore the Crustacean to his super-lobster self. When we last left our heroes, they had been literally snatched off the road by Battle Cyborg Bob and friends.
Meanwhile, back at the Soil, the centaur Camus received an unexpected visitation.
Joseph Wilberforce Switchboard, Jr. flew through the air in panda-shaped battle-armour, carrying one half of a minivan full of agitated superheroes, and reflected on his career.
His current position, he thought, beat the hell out cracking his knuckles in front of the CFO's of Ottawa-area high tech firms, and saying what a pity it would be if anything were to happen to their state-of-the-art fabrication facilities. On the other hand, he was playing straight man to the two biggest loonies on the Canadian hench-scene - Pu Wing Fu, who occupied the panda-armour supporting the other side of the van; and the mostly-mechanical Battle Cyborg Bob, responsible for running interference.
The panda-armour was Bob's work. Galerkin, the ICBC rep who had contracted this job - that's not how it originally looked, but in this biz you got used to finding out your employer wasn't who you thought - had brought Bob in as the heavy equipment. When they were introduced, Bob practically fell all over himself - imagine a ten-foot robot doing this - going ga-ga over Pu Wing Fu. She had inspired his latest line, he'd said, and he was just dying to have them try it out.
He'd been skeptical looking at the things - imagine "Hello Kitty" meets "Gundam Wing" - but they were satisfactorily high performance. He'd yet to try out any of the weapons, which Bob admitted weren't their primary focus - "It's the gripping and holding. They're physical, dynamic even! Taking brute force back to it's roots!" Whatever. But as far as gripping and holding minivans went, they were working out swell.
Inside the minivan, Hydrogen Guy and Deuterium Boy were less sanguine.
Deuterium Boy
What do we do? What do we do?!
Hydrogen Guy
I don't know, this was never in the handbook!
Special Agent Parker, sitting behind the wheel of the van, had a cell phone to his ear. He glared at the Diatomic Duo.
Parker
Pipe down, you two, I'm calling CAA.
Hydrogen Guy
CAA? Forget them, call for back-up!
Deuterium Boy
Can we float the van out from under them?
Hydrogen Guy
Even if we could fill every cubic inch with hydrogen, we'd still be too heavy! This thing's not made of Mylar!
Parker
This is Jack Parker, member number 10976 --
Deuterium Boy
How about if we roll down the window?
Hydrogen Guy
And do what, poke at them with our swords? That's not going to help.
Deuterium Boy
Well then YOU think of something!
Hydrogen Guy
We could start rocking back and forth, maybe they'll drop us.
Deuterium Boy
Bad idea!
Hydrogen Guy glanced over at their co-passenger, Dr. Brandin Marlowe. Just as he had been before the ordeal began, he was fast asleep.
Hydrogen Guy
How can this guy keep sleeping? My late, deaf grandmother would have woken up by now.
Parker
-- yeah, battle armour ... Uh, looks like -- yeah, we're just over the 401, about twenty minutes from Belleville. You got any trucks in the area? ... How about small fighter jets?
Hydrogen Guy
Parker's got the right idea. I'm calling Captain Toronto...
Deuterium Boy
Actually I think he's AUGH!!
Marlowe
zzz *snrk*
The blue streak Deuterium Boy had spotted dead ahead of them slammed directly into Battle Cyborg Bob, knocking him wildly back into the two panda mechs. Big Joe went one way, Pu Wing Fu went the other way, and between them, they dropped the van.
The van fell.
Parker had actually looked alarmed as his hat went into freefall, when the van was rocked as someone underneath had caught it. Craning to see who it was, while trying not to look at the ground several hundred feet below, Hydrogen Guy saw with disappointment that it was one of the panda mechs. Deuterium Boy spotted Captain Toronto and Battle Cyborg Bob overhead, engaged in a mid-air man-to-bot dogfight. He couldn't see the other panda mech.
The van shook again as it roared past. Beneath the van, Big Joe cursed into his comm link.
Big Joe
Jeezus, Pu, watch it! I almost dropped the van!
Pu Wing Fu
Sorry, Joe. I'm gonna go play with Bob and the superhero! I'll grip him and hold him 'til's he's all mucky! Unless you want to play "Catch the Van"?
Big Joe
I barely caught this thing the first time! Leave Bob to deal with Captain Toronto, and come help me here...
Pu Wing Fu
Aw...
Meanwhile, Battle Cyborg Bob continued his fight. He was angry - not only had this Toronto pinhead dented his chest-plating with his high-speed mid-air tackle, but he was ignoring all of his choice one-liners. It showed very poor sportsmanship, to his way of thinking.
He was having little success in shooting at him - although he'd socked him with a couple of satisfying energy blasts. The bullets weren't evening mussing the Captain's suit, though he knew he could wound him that way if he could just find a weak point in the kevlar body suit...
The two opponents looped around each other, sometimes firing energy blasts at the other, occasionally getting close enough to wrestle. Captain Toronto found Battle Cyborg Bob nearly matched him for strength, and without a convenient lever point (like the ground) he wasn't able to make many gains through physical combat. And Bob definitely had the edge in energy weaponry -- the Captain's energy blasts were limited by his own super-human power reserves, as opposed to Bob's alien-designed energon batteries.
Out of the corner of one eye, Captain Toronto spotted the two panda mechs making away with the minivan. He feinted a dive for Bob's waist, and as the 'bot reacted, blasted his eye with a flash of bright blue energy. Bob struck out blindly, listing a bit in mid-air, as Captain Toronto took off after the minivan.
He swooped down and grabbed the first suit of panda armour that came to hand. Immediately he could tell they didn't have Bob's strength. This time using the van itself as a lever, he yanked the panda mech off and hurled it up towards Bob, who was just clearing his vision and heading in his direction. The two smacked together and tumbled out of the sky.
With one support gone, the van slipped and nearly fell from the other panda mech's grasp. As the van dangled on its side - its occupants looking more than a bit green - Captain Toronto grabbed it from underneath and heaved it away from the second mech's grip. The panda mech lashed out at him with its arms. Captain Toronto dodged easily and responded with a powerful kick, sending it tumbling back. It struggled to right itself as it began to fall, then, without looking back, turned and flew away in the direction they had come.
Captain Toronto flew through the sky with the minivan, and spotting an access road off the 401, started his descent. He gently set it down at the side of the road.
He yanked open the side door, and Hydrogen Guy and Deuterium Boy nearly fell out. They sat on the ground, moaning and looking nauseous. Parker opened the driver's door and staggered out of his own accord, leaning heavily on the side of the van.
Hydrogen Guy
Uhhhh...
Deuterium Boy
Gravol...
Captain Toronto
Is everyone all right?
Hydrogen Guy waved his hand weakly at the Captain.
Hydrogen Guy
Nothing some fresh air and a lie-down won't cure... thanks for the help, Captain Toronto...
Captain Toronto
I had an extra-sensory flash of danger just after we arrived in Kingston. I headed straight back as soon as I could, just in time to stop the ambush.
Deuterium Boy
Bush? It felt like a whole forest...
Captain Toronto
I don't know how they figured out the dummy caravan...
Deuterium Boy
It was ICBC...
Hydrogen Guy
They probably had someone on the inside. Or they expected the tactic and we weren't as clever as we thought.
Captain Toronto
So their nefarious scheme is laid bare! They arranged Marlowe's transfer so they could hijack him on the way... Luckily we foiled their plans.
Hydrogen Guy
I wouldn't say "we" exactly, unless you considered our screaming and yelling was vital to your strategy.
Captain Toronto
Never mind, Hydrogen Guy. The victory belongs to all of us.
Deuterium Boy
Parker, are you alive?
Parker
Just straightening my tie.
Inside the van, Marlowe shifted in his seat, and lazily raised his eyelids. He looked over the two prostate heroes, Parker, and the grim Captain.
Marlowe
Gentlemen... if you would be so kind as to keep the noise and roughing about to a minimum, some of us are attempting to nap.
Big Joe met up with Pu Wing Fu and Battle Cyborg Bob back at the rendezvous. Pu was sulking next to the remains of her panda armour, which Bob was tutting over. Big Joe landed his nearby, released the servos and stepped out as chest creaked open.
Battle Cyborg Bob
Well, I'm glad someone was able to keep their suit in one piece. Honestly, that Captain Toronto is such a pinhead. I'll take Hydrogen Guy and Deuterium Boy any day, at least they respect a fashionable suit of armour...
Pu Wing Fu
No fair, I didn't get to do any crushing...
Big Joe
Cheer up, Pu. We'll stop at Tim Horton's on the way back.
Pu Wing Fu
Crushing drive-through employees just isn't the same...
Battle Cyborg Bob
I called the truck, they'll be here in a jiff.
Big Joe
Great. I already radioed the boss. He was pretty cool about it - said things were goin' like clockwork. I think we'll still get our bonuses.
Bob continued looking over Pu's destroyed armour. His optic sensor dilated thoughtfully.
Battle Cyborg Bob
Clockwork, eh? Hmm... not a bad idea... maybe something, I don't know, Bavarian for the spring...
Pu Wing Fu brightened up.
Pu Wing Fu
You mean like lederhosen?
Battle Cyborg Bob
Lederhosen, feathered hat, the works. Maybe an alpine horn that spits fire.
Pu Wing Fu
Yay!
Big Joe shook his head. Still, beat workin' for Nortel.
But then so did temp work.
Camus slowly regained consciousness, aware first that he was lying in a very awkward position - although, there aren't really any ways for a centaur to lie after fainting that aren't awkward - and second, that someone was calling his name.
The voice was coming from the window.
"Camus! Camus, are you all right? Wake up, dammit!"
Camus opened his eyes. He was still in his cell. He looked up hesitantly towards the window and winced when he saw the face of a young Japanese man looking back at him in concern.
Camus
Kentaro?
Kentaro
Jesus, Camus! Don't do that, you had me freaking out up here...
Camus
Please tell me you're alone.
Kentaro
I'm alone.
Camus
Georges isn't with you?
Kentaro
No. Are you okay?
Camus
Ah... give me a minute.
Kentaro
Hurry it up, before I'm spotted.
Camus awkwardly managed to right himself and get to his feet. He gently prodded his left flank.
Camus
Ow! That's going to be a nasty bruise... Kentaro, what the hell are you doing here? I thought you were dead.
Kentaro Ishida grinned.
Kentaro
Yeah, so did a lotta people.
Camus opened the window as far as it would go and looked at Kentaro through the steel grid. He was crouching beside the window. He was dressed in a grey-and-white arctic fatigues. Two large bird-like wings, their plumage also mottled grey and white, were folded on his back. For once they actually contributed to making him less conspicuous on the snowy, rocky ground.
Camus
What are you doing here?
Kentaro
I'm breaking you out of here. I've been watching this place for a couple months --
Camus
What?!
Kentaro
As Georges would probably say, I'm getting the band back together.
Camus massaged his face with his hand.
Camus
You'd better start at the beginning.
Kentaro
Sure. Here it is in a nutshell - I was on the gondola up in Rousseau Bay when the thing exploded. I wasn't killed, but I was really badly burned. I can't remember how, but I managed to crawl to cover so that they didn't find me. I should have died.
Camus
So how did you go from broken and bleeding in the Alaskan wasteland to peeping in my window?
Kentaro
You remember my accelerated healing? How when I nicked myself shaving, the cuts healed up in less than five minutes? That's what saved me.
Camus laughed.
Camus
Well at least one of us was put together correctly.
Kentaro
I found out something else I can do. Camus, I can talk to birds.
Camus
You can talk to birds.
Kentaro
Well okay, not really talk, but I can give them really simple commands, like "bring food" or "bring water". Sometimes I can tell what they're feeling.
Camus
You really are a bird brain, aren't you? So your feathery woodland friends nursed you back to health, did they?
Kentaro
Don't knock it, I'm alive. But I'm pretty sick of nuts and berries. Anyway, after a couple weeks I was completely healed, and I made my way into town. Eventually I was able to get to Juno and hook up with the local yakuza.
Camus
So why not stay there? It sounds much safer than lurking around ne plus ultra maximum security prisons. You could settle down with a bevy of Eskimo beauties...
Kentaro
We've got a lotta unfinished business, Camus. There are scores that need settling. I want to make those guys who screwed over us pay. Hydrogen Guy and Christopher Ford. Especially Ford.
Camus
All right, you're an assassin, have at it.
Kentaro
Camus, rule number one where I'm from is, you stay loyal to the firm. I'm not leaving you and Georges behind bars.
Camus
I appreciate the thought, Kentaro, but it's not really practical. The good old Soil here is --
Kentaro
-- so unobservant that they're letting me stand here for ten minutes talking to you. They're all wrapped up in some big-name prisoner transfer out front.
Camus
So what are you going to do, break the glass, cut the titanium alloy mesh with your Swiss army knife, and pull me out through this little window?
Kentaro
Well... I've been working on something, but...
Camus
I bet it's rotten. Listen, Kentaro, I appreciate the effort, but just leave me here.
Kentaro
What?! Camus, are you crazy?
Camus
No, I'm thinking of our mutual self-preservation. For one, a lithe and nimble man like yourself with a good pair of wings is far more mobile than if were dragging an out-of-shape centaur with back problems around with him. If you want to mingle with the populace, all you have to do is throw on a coat. The best I can do is rent a pantomime horse's head from a costume shop. Not to mention that those expensive sports cars you like weren't built for towing horse trailers. In short, I'd not only slow you down, I'd bring you to a complete halt.
Kentaro
We can work around it.
Camus
No, we can't. Not in a situation where we're running from SHVD dragnets.
Kentaro
Well, what do you want me to do?
Camus
I have a few ideas, but I want you to pass on the idea of opening up the Soil's centaur quota for now. What about Georges, have you given any thought about how to get him out of the Facility? It makes this place look like a day camp, you know.
Kentaro
Yeah, I've had some friends of the family working on it.
Camus
Your father's people?
Kentaro
You could say that.
Camus
In which case I have greater confidence in you. Ah... there's one other reason I'd prefer to remain here.
Kentaro
Oh, you mean that the Old Man's lawyers plea-bargained you in here while Georges got stuck in the Facility?
Camus
Among other things... Georges and I parted on less than amicable terms.
Kentaro
What do you mean, "less than amicable"?
Camus
He shot at me and threatened to kill us all, after which I literally stabbed him in the back.
Kentaro
Christ, Camus!
Camus
Well, we were both under rather a lot of stress at the time...
Kentaro
Hang on, I hear somebody coming.
There was a flurry of feathers, and he was gone. Camus tried to hear what was going on, but heard nothing. He waited.
About twenty minutes later, Kentaro reappeared.
Kentaro
Sorry, new shift coming on duty. I haven't figured out their scheduling yet, I think they vary it at random.
Camus
They do.
Kentaro
Anyway... so you think Georges might be little, I don't know, unhappy with you right now?
Camus
There's that possibility.
Kentaro
You're a piece of work, Camus... all right, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll go get Georges first, and while we're down South I'll go to San Francisco and arrange a funeral. Meanwhile I'll talk Georges out of ripping your throat out with his teeth.
Camus
Thanks.
Kentaro
I'll come back and get you after that.
Camus
Okay. After which I shall reveal to you a simple and obvious way to get me out of here.
Kentaro
Perfect.
Camus
Kentaro, there's one other thing.
Kenatro
Yeah?
Camus
There's a man, I think, who can help us. All three of us.
Kentaro
What do you mean?
Camus
That prisoner that was transferred today was Brandin Marlowe. He used to be called the Mutant Maker, but he's a world expert on meta-human physiology, pathology and bio-engineering.
Kentaro
I've heard of him.
Camus
He's brilliant, Kentaro. He worked on my back a little while we were here together, and it's actually improved. He's the only one who hasn't looked at me like I was a freak since... well, since I can't remember when.
Kentaro
Really.
Camus
Yes. What's more, I think he might be able to help find out what happened to us.
Kentaro
Really... where did they take him?
Camus
When I talked to him last he didn't know, but I overheard some guards saying he was going to a place called the Cloud Falls Halfway House in Kingston. I think even Georges would agree with me that it was worth a shot...
Kentaro
I'll see what I can do, Camus... Guard's coming back. Take care of yourself, I'll be in touch.
He disappeared again, sweeping his wings over the snow where he'd been standing.
Camus turned away from the window and went back to his pacing. He smiled. Things were about to get interesting again.
The Cloudy Falls Halfway House was a 19th century mansion a few kilometres north of Kingston. The house and grounds - which comprised a fair-sized private park, now walled off to discourage unscheduled departures - had been donated by the family of a former millionaire. Sir Albert Featherstoneaugh Euchridge was a lumber magnate, who, in his late fifties and suffering from over-work, decided to remake himself as "Baron Insidious" and bend the London-Kingston area (and, ultimately, the world) to his iron will. After a rather embarrassing defeat by a boy reporter, his dog, and their plucky female companion, he entered retirement, switched to a strict vegetarian diet, and renounced his life of crime for a more spiritual existence. On his death, however, he was mostly broke, and his family, partly out of lingering embarrassment over his earlier crisis and partly to avoid crippling death and property taxes, donated the Cloudy Falls estate to the province for its present use, as a place where regretful and reforming super-villains can re-integrate themselves into society while enjoying a meatless, high-fibre diet.
An armoured tow-truck and battered mini-van pulled around the crescent driveway in front of the house and came to a stop. Captain Toronto, flying escort for the second time that day, touched down in front of them as Deuterium Boy and Special Agent Parker climbed down out of the tow truck. The Captain pried the door off the minivan and stood by as Special Agent Parker helped Marlowe out. Hydrogen Guy tumbled out stiffly after him.
Marlowe
Well. Isn't this a pleasant little cottage.
Hydrogen Guy
I'll say. Whatever you did to deserve a move to this place, Brandy, well done.
Marlowe glared at him.
The house was in a rambling English colonial style. A wide porch - in fact, an amused Deuterium Boy noted, a verandah - stretched across the front and around the side of the house.
Captain Toronto
Let's finish this off quickly and get out of here.
Hydrogen Guy
[shrugs] Onward ho.
Captain Toronto led the way as Marlowe was escorted up the steps, across the verandah and through the front door. The inside matched the antique hominess of the outside - the front hall opened onto a sitting room that wouldn't have been out of place in a tea house or a bed and breakfast.
A young Asian woman sat at the reception desk. She looked up at the eccentric procession and smiled. Hydrogen Guy smiled back.
Hydrogen Guy
Good afternoon. We have a delivery?
Receptionist
Oh. Dr. Marlowe? Welcome to Cloudy Falls.
Marlowe
My pleasure, my dear.
Receptionist
Just a moment, please, and I'll let the steward know you're here.
She picked up the phone and dialed an extension. She delivered the message in a few brief words, then put down the phone.
Receptionist
I'll take the paperwork from you, Special Agent.
Parker
Thank you, ma'am. You'll find an incident report enclosed. In triplicate.
Receptionist
Oh my. You had some problems on the trip.
The heroes shared a mutual grimace as the Mutant Maker chuckled.
Marlowe
I fear a few of my admirers may have been a tad over-enthusiastic. I can assure you it will not happen again.
A young man in a ranger-like uniform appeared from down the side hall.
Receptionist
Dr. Marlowe, this is Brian. He'll show you to your room. We'll send someone out for your luggage.
Marlowe
Thank you, my dear.
Steward
This way, Dr. Marlowe.
Marlowe
Gentlemen, I thank you for a... stimulating journey. Good day.
He inclined his head towards Hydrogen Guy and Deuterium Boy, then left with steward.
Receptionist
Special Agent, I have some more paperwork here for you...
Parker
Ah, bliss.
Deuterium Boy
It seems pretty quiet here. Do you have many residents?
Receptionist
We have just under twenty right now. Most of them are on an outing this afternoon.
Captain Toronto
An "outing", miss?
Receptionist
The weekly trip to the race-track. Word was that "Schenectady Lady" was a sure thing at 100-to-8... Gentlemen, perhaps I can ask the rest of you to wait outside while we finish here. We still have a few of residents in the house and several of them get a little nervous around men in costumes.
Hydrogen Guy
Of course. We'll see you outside, Parker.
Parker
Hm. How do you spell "Schenectady"... ?
The three superheroes stepped outside onto the verandah. The tow truck driver was leaning against his truck smoking a cigarette. Hydrogen Guy looked at the battered minivan.
Hydrogen Guy
Well, that didn't turn out too badly... now all we have to figure out is how to get back to Toronto.
Deuterium Boy
Parker's probably requisitioning a car as we speak.
Hydrogen Guy
We have a good working relationship with Parker. I'm not sure I want to test it further by making him spend another three hours in the car with us.
Deuterium Boy
Good point. I'm not sure I want to spend another three hours in the car with you.
Hydrogen Guy
Thanks, DB... Captain, you seem pensive.
Captain Toronto was gazing out at the snowy grounds past the vehicles, his chin in his hand.
Captain Toronto
I'm wondering about those friends of yours. The ones in the battle armour.
Hydrogen Guy
Ah. You think they might try again?
Captain Toronto
They would be ill-advised. This facility may look serene, but it isn't without defenses. You noticed the topiaries lining the drive? They conceal several CAW 630 pop-up auto-turrets.
Deuterium Boy
And they work so elegantly with the landscaping.
Hydrogen Guy
You know, we should get their guy's number.
Captain Toronto smiled, surprising both of them.
Captain Toronto
I'll tell Rodrigo you're interested next time I see him. Sorry, fellows, I still have what you might call an uneasy feeling. Maybe it's this facility's seemingly relaxed atmosphere, or just left-over tension from the incident this afternoon. But we've done what we set out to do, and all's well that ends well.
Hydrogen Guy
That's the spirit, Captain... seriously, though, you think we're in the clear?
Captain Toronto
Rest assured, I'll be keeping a vigilant eye on Cloudy Falls in the coming weeks. But I'm confident we have little to fear.
Parker dotted the last "i", crossed the last "t", and signed on the final dotted line, made a quick call to a rental car company in Kingston, then said his good-byes and joined the others on the verandah. The receptionist stayed at her post, filing Parker's forms, glancing occasionally at the front window where the SHVD agent stood talking to the three superheroes. The steward Brian came and went, bringing Marlowe's baggage in from the minivan. Finally, Captain Toronto left by air, and the others caught a ride back to Kingston with the tow-truck.
She made a brief phone call. Half an hour later, a car pulled up in front of the house. Two men got out, and came inside. She looked at them wearily.
Hans-Raoul
Well?
Robyn
I thought they'd never leave. And by the way, next time you stuff me into some undercover operation, make it something where I don't have to be perky and cheerful, okay?
Hans-Raoul
Good girl. You're a trooper.
Dr. Emmanuel Lewis Hawking looked around excitedly.
Hawking
Marlowe - is he here?
Robyn
Upstairs. Remember, if you run into the steward, you're from NAFTAPOL.
Hans-Raoul
Thanks for that, you know how often I forget my own cover story.
Robyn
Bite me.
Hans-Raoul
Later. Doctor, shall we meet our distinguished guest?
Robyn
Stairs at the end of the hall, second floor, first room on the right. Number 26. Hurry up, I'm hungry and my "shift" is almost over.
Hans-Raoul and Hawking made their way down the hall. Hawking prattled on nervously.
Hawking
And -- the heroes. They were fooled by our ambush?
Hans-Raoul
I think so. As they see it, they've foiled our evil plans and accomplished their mission. Something a lot of amateurs don't understand, Doctor, is that sometimes you have to give up a wasteful battle or two to convince your enemy that he's won, after which you can do whatever you want so long as you're careful.
They reached the end of the hall and climbed the stairs. The upper landing was dark, but a light shone from the crack under the door of room twenty-six. Hans-Raoul knocked twice. Receiving no response, he shrugged, and tried the door. It opened. He and Hawking stepped into the room.
They were greeted by a blast of winter air. The bedroom window was wide open, and the curtains billowed in the breeze. Hans-Raoul's jaw dropped open, and he stepped forward. He stumbled over the body of the steward, who was lying at the foot of the unrumpled bed. Hawking's luggage stood in the corner of the room by the closet.
As Hawking stood gaping, Hans-Raoul knelt down to examine the body. He turned it over. There was a single gunshot wound to the chest; blood stained the carpet underneath.
Hans-Raoul
Looks like a .45. Robyn didn't hear anything, he probably used a silencer...
Hawking
What? He's gone? But how... a man of Marlowe's size...
Hans-Raoul silenced him with a wave of his hand. He stood.
Hans-Raoul
ROBYN! ROBYN!!
Her footsteps clattered up the stairs, and in a minute she rushed into the room.
Robyn
What?
She saw the steward's body and stopped.
Robyn
Holy shit... what happened?
Hans-Raoul looked at her ruefully.
Hans-Raoul
Marlowe's escaped.
Next episode: A merry chase! A dramatic confrontation! And the chilling conclusion, in Part IV of...
The Lobster and the Fat Man
Same Hydrogen Time... Same Hydrogen Website!