Ben 10 Porn Story: Second Sight Chapter 1
Excerpts
from “Plunder and Lightning” by Mark Zaslove, Alan Burnett and Len
Uhley.P
SECOND SIGHT
PROLOGUE
The boy was
strange, there was no doubt about that.P
Knew more about airplanes that a kid that age had any right to –
especially about planes as old as Baloo’s Conwing L-16.P He had that tough guy routine working, too –
seemed bound and determined to keep the big bear at a safe distance.P Still, Baloo knew a little about that
routine himself…
Strange
enough to be worried abut that kid anyways, Baloo thought.P He had his plane to worry about.P And the kid was trouble.P Every instinct told him.P The big grey bear scanned the job board,
looking desperately for something distasteful enough to suit his needs – three
thousand bucks in one day.P Finally, his
eyes alighted on what he was looking for.P
“Ah-ha – here we go!” he grinned.P “A zoo delivery – Perfect!P
The Sea Duck’s as good as mine!”
The boy’s
face darkened, and he cast his eyes down.P
“Yeah – you and the Sea Duck!” he said softly.P “Well, catch ya around sometime… I
guess.”P As quickly as that, he
turned and started walking away.
“Hey –
whoa there!” the pilot said, before he had a chance to think about
it.P The boy stopped and turned, staring
at him expectantly.P Baloo stood
silently for a moment, unsure of what to say.P
What was he thinking?P Strange –
he felt suddenly nervous, as if he were caught in the midst of something larger
than he was, larger than he could control.P
The cub continued to stare at him expectantly…
PPPPPPPPPPP “Of all the words, of tongue,
or pen,
PPPPPPPPPPP PThe saddest are these… It might have been.”
PPPPPPPPPPP — John Greenleaf Whittier
PART I
The medical
office was clean, neat and smelled of antiseptic – a scent which filled the
hearts of all children with deep-seated unease.P Kit Cloudkicker was no exception – he squirmed nervously as he
absently leafed through a copy of “Gentlebruin’s Quarterly” in the
waiting room.P This visit wasn’t for his
benefit, however – he was waiting, as those in waiting rooms are wont to
do.P Baloo was inside the examining room
getting his annual physical.
Kit didn’t
fear much, as a rule.P He’d been through
too much in his brief life, seen far too much tragedy and pain to be afraid of
the things that haunted the dreams of most children.P He’d had more than his fill of doctors and hospitals lately
though, and his recent attack of appendicitis and subsequent surgery (which the
boy believed, in his heart, had taken him into far more dangerous territory
than the loving adults in his life would admit to him) had left him with a
heightened sense of how quickly and unexpectedly the body can break down.
Still, he
wasn’t really afraid for Baloo – surely the giant bear was indestructible.P He was a rock, a mountain.P If it wasn’t for Becky’s insurance company
these physicals wouldn’t even be necessary, the way he figured it.P Just the same, he’d be happy the moment the
grey bear appeared through the door and they could leave the office behind.P It smelled like sharp needles and painful
injections.
The cub
tired of the magazine – seemingly nothing but ads for some new clothing line or
cologne – and set it aside just as Baloo stepped through the examining room
door, followed by the doctor, a serious-looking bespectacled elephant of
perhaps fifty years.P When he saw the
boy, Baloo smiled and winked at him.P
Kit grinned back at him and stood, but the bear’s smile seemed a little
nervous to his sharp senses.
“Thanks
Doc.” the pilot said gruffly.P
“I’ll see ya in a year.”
“Take
care of yourself Mr. Baloo.” the elephant said sternly.P “Remember – I need you to lose thirty
pounds, and I’m very serious.”P
Baloo winced, clearly preferring not to have Kit overhear the doctor’s
advice.P “You’re at the age where
you need to start thinking about your heart, you know.P Start exercising and cut down on fatty
foods.P I’m going to have Martha set up
an appointment for you in three months.”
“Baloo-”
Kit started.
The pilot
draped an arm around his shoulder and led him towards the door.P “Don’t worry Kid.” he said
soothingly.P “Just call me with the
appointment, Doc.” he said a little irritably as they left the office.
“Baloo,
what was that all about?P Is your heart
okay?”
The grey
bear smiled down at his companion as he pushed the button for the
elevator.P “Ol’ Baloo’s fine, L’il
Britches.P Don’t you worry.P I’m as strong as an ox and twice as
smart!”
“But
Papa Bear!” the cub said dubiously, squeezing the pilot’s paw.P “Why did he say that, then?P What’s wrong?”
“Nuthin’s
wrong, Kiddo!” Baloo snapped.P
“You know doctors Kid – always lookin’ around fer somethin’ to
worry about, lookin’ fer repeat business if ya ask me.P He said I was just fine, Kit.P Just gotta drop a few pounderoos, that’s all.P You know me, L’il Britches – I kin take care
o’ myself, no problem.”
“I
guess.” Kit said softly as the elevator opened onto the lobby.P “Are you sure you’re OK?P He sounded-“
“I
_tol’_ ya, I’m fine!” Baloo grinned, squeezing the boy close to him.P “Don’t worry yer little head about it,
Kiddo.P And don’t tell Becky neither –
she’d just get all jumpy about it too.P
Now I got a cravin’ fer an ice cream sundae, L’il Britches!P Let’s head over to Honker’s Drugstore and
hit the soda fountain, whaddaya say?”
“Ice
cream?P But Baloo-“
“But
nuthin’!”P Baloo interrupted.P “One little sundae never hurt nobody
before.”P Kit looked up at his
father with concern, but the big grey bear was whistling merrily, not a care in
the world.P The boy, on the other hand,
felt distinctly uneasy.
Rebecca
Cunningham normally enjoyed doing the books at Higher for Hire.P She had a natural affinity with numbers, and
it always gave her a measure of satisfaction to know she was saving the little
company the cost of a hired accounting firm.P
That being said, she enjoyed it a lot more when the cargo business was
making money.P And that hadn’t been the
case often enough lately.
The reasons
were many – the Sea Duck was an old plane, and expensive to maintain.P And there was no way she could afford a new
one, even if she were willing to risk the wrath of her pilot, who loved the old
yellow aircraft almost as much as he loved his son.P The bank still owned most of the business as it was – she could
hardly afford to take on any more debt.
Given the
relatively high expenses the small company sustained, and the relatively small
number of regular clients on their rolls, it didn’t take much to push the
little firm into the red at any given time.P
War was coming – by this time it was obvious, and many firms who had
financial interests in Eporue were suddenly becoming much more conservative
with their funds.P It was costing Higher
for Hire business – business it could ill afford to lose.
Still, there
wasn’t much point in worrying about it – they’d have to make do, just as they
always did.P Looking backwards was
pointless.P She’d made her choices and
she’d live with them, just as she always had.P
With a sigh, she closed her ledger and gathered her papers
together.P Molly would be waiting for
her at school, and she didn’t want to be late.
The yellow
seaplane taxied away from the floating pier at Louie’s and lurched into the
air.P Inside the cockpit, loud voices
rang out in discord, as the big grey bear at the controls engaged in a heated
argument with his navigator, a small brown bearcub.P “That’s my final word on it, L’il Britches!” Baloo said
in the exceedingly calm and reasonable voice he often used when he argued with
his son, in spite (or perhaps because) of the way it infuriated the young
boy.P “That’s just the way it
is!”
“But
Baloo!” Kit scowled, his still-breaking voice a strained squeal.P “I really wanna do this!P I can handle myself – I know I can!P I’m fast, I’m agile-“
“Kiddo,
football just ain’t the game fer you!” Baloo said firmly.P “Yer just – well, yer just not big
enough Kid!P I don’t wanna see ya get
hurt, is all.P Maybe when yer
older-“
“Older,
older!” Kit seethed.P “Baloo,
I took care of myself with air pirates, street thugs – what’s a few big kids in
pads compared to that?P Football’s the
biggest sport at school and I wanna play!”
“Kiddo,
I’m yer Daddy, an’ it’s _my_ decision!” Baloo replied, a trace of anger
creeping into his voice.P “You got
yer flyin’ ta think about – ya need two good arms fer that, and what if
somethin’ happens ta yer back or somethin’?P
I’ve seen a lot of little kids who thought they were tough getP hurt-“
“I’m
not a little kid!P I’m almost
fourteen!”
“That
ain’t what I mean, Kiddo!” the grey bear sighed, exasperated. PWhy couldn’t the boy understand?P “Yer not a little kid – but ya _are_
little, Kid!P You ain’t hardly had a
chance to grow yet.P Some kids just
grows faster’n others is all.P
Football’s a serious business, L’il Britches.P I don’t wanna see ya get hurt, that’s all.P We’re a family, an’ bein’ healthy’s the most
important thing.”
The brown
cub threw up his hands, exasperated.P
Baloo was only too glad to apply rules to Kit that he’d never apply to
himself.P He’d had enough – he wasn’t
about to give the fat old fool the satisfaction of lording it over him any
further.P ~He can force me to do what he
says,~ the cub thought, ~but I’m sure not going to let him enjoy it!~P He folded his arms and turned to stare out
the window.
They flew in
silence for a few moments, until finally Baloo glanced over.P “Aw, c’mon L’il Britches!P There’s plenty o’ other sports…P Don’t be sore about it!”P The boy continued to stare silently out the
window.P “Fine, be that way!”
the pilot scowled.P “What would I
expect from a little kid anyways?”
“Takes
one to know one!” Kit muttered under his breath.P Baloo glared challengingly at him, but the boy continued to stare
balefully outside.P The rest of the
flight to Cape Suzette passed in awkward silence.
Rebecca
glanced at her watch and back at the door again.P An hour late, already.P No
one was more tired of the constantly repeating argument about promptness that
was sure to ensue when Baloo walked through the door than she was. She hated
Baloo for putting her in the same position, over and over – ignore his constant
tardiness and the effect it had on business, or subject all of them to the same
old fight.P Not to mention squeezing Kit
in the middle.P A poor set of options,
at best.
The familiar
drone of engines filled the air, and the plane splashed down for a landing
outside.P Rebecca braced herself and
sighed.P What would it be this time –
air pirates?P Sperm whales?P Didn’t Baloo realize he was insulting her by
heaping those lame excuses on her, over and over?P The door opened, but before she had a chance to open her mouth,
Baloo and Kit were inside, the cub slamming the door behind him.P Without a word, he stormed up the stairs and
another door slammed, this time the bedroom.P
“Baloo!” she gasped.P
“What in the world-“
“Mind
yer own business Beckers.” the pilot mumbled, settling into his
chair.P
She
frowned.P Get involved or not?P As if she didn’t have enough of her own to
worry about… “Baloo, Kit’s obviously upset – what’s the matter?”
“Nuthin’,
Boss-lady!P He’s just sulkin’, that’s
all.”
“Sulking?P That doesn’t sound like Kit.P What about?”
“Awww!”
the pilot grumbled, waving a hand dismissively.P “Kid just don’t respect me as his dad, that’s all.P Thinks he knows best, all the time.P Well, I’m his daddy, ain’t I?P I gotta decide what’s best for ‘im.P An’ every time I do, he gives me
grief…”
Rebecca
sighed.P This was a problem never seemed
to go away – it was born out of Kit’s independence and both bear’s
obstinacy.P Naturally she, as the lone
adult in the house, would have to set things right.P “Baloo, I don’t know what this is all about, but-” the
phone rang, and she frowned and reached for the receiver.P “Hold that thought!” she snapped
at Baloo as she picked up the handset.P
“Hello?P Yes, this is
Rebecca Cunningham.”
Baloo
scowled.P “Woman thinks she’s so
danged smart!” he mumbled under his breath.P “Tell me how to raise my kid…”P A note of alarm in Rebecca’s voice jerked
his attention to the desk.
“Yes!”
the bearess was saying.P “How did it
happen?P My goodness!P Yes, of course, or course!P I’ll be right there!”
“What
is it, Beckers?” Baloo said, standing.P
“Everything OK?”
“Molly’s
had an accident.” she replied quickly, reaching for her coat.P “She fell off the jungle gym, at school!”P She headed for the door quickly, a look of
intense concern on her face.
“Wait!P Is – is she OK?” the pilot asked,
grabbing his cap in his hands.P
“I’ll
let you know!” she called, racing out the door and slamming it behind
her.P Baloo started to say something,
then fell helplessly back into the chair.
“Does
it hurt much?” Kit asked sympathetically, as Molly sat next to him at the
table, her chin covered in bandages.
“A
little.” the yellow cub said softly, with a minimum of mouth movement. P”The doctor said I can’t have no real
food for a week!”
Kit squeezed
her shoulder and smiled.P “I guess
that means all the milkshakes you can handle, Pigtails!P Sounds pretty good to me.”
“Yer
just tryin’ to cheer me up!” the girl mumbled, stating the obvious.P
Kit
chuckled.P “C’mon Kiddo, it won’t
be so bad…”
“So
that’s that, Baloo.” Rebecca told the pilot, who sat across the desk from
her, staring at the two cubs.P “The
oral surgeon said that the procedure went fine, and her adult teeth should come
in without any problems.P She’s lucky
there wasn’t any damage to the nerves or anything.”
“That’s
good Beckers.” the grey bear said softly.P
“Bet the little gal was pretty scared, huh?”
“Of
course.P But she’s tough.P She’ll be fine.”P Rebecca sighed and sat back in the chair,
eyes closed.
“Whassa
matter Beckers?P Ya said ever’thin’
should be just fine-“
“I
know.” the bearess replied.P
“It’s just that this whole procedure isn’t covered under our
medical policy, Baloo.P It’s considered
dental work, and I don’t have dental insurance.”
“Never
thought about that.” Baloo mused.P
“Why not?”
“Of
course you haven’t.” the woman replied testily.P “I _have_ to think about it Baloo – _I_ have no choice.P Do you have any idea how expensive medical
insurance is for a company with only three employees?”
“Well…P no, actually.P I never really worried about that stuff-“
“Why
doesn’t that surprise me?” she laughed bitterly.P “Well, I’ll tell you this Baloo – it’s a good thing you were
covered when Kit had his appendicitis, because if you weren’t…P Well, I don’t even want to think about
it.”
The pilot
looked down guiltily.P
“Yeah…P Like I said, I
never thought too much about that stuff before – before Kit an’ all…”
“Well,
I’m glad we had the coverage Baloo, and I’m glad Kit’s better now.P But Molly’s dental surgery wasn’t covered,
and I have to find a way to pay for that, out of my own pocket.P Medical insurance was so expensive I
couldn’t afford dental.P I gambled, and
I lost.”
“How –
how much did Molly’s stuff cost Becky?”
“A
lot.” the bearess said grimly.P
“A lot.P And we’re not
exactly swimming in black ink right now, between you and me.”
“Jeez,
I’m sorry Beckers.” Baloo frowned.P
“I had no idea things were so bad…P But the important thing is, Molly’s gonna be OK, right?”
“Yes,
that’s the important thing, Baloo.” Rebecca sighed, glancing down at her
balance sheets.P “I need to go down
to the bank this afternoon.P Will you
watch Molly for an hour or so?”
“Sure
Beckers, no sweat.”
“Thanks.”
she said, rising.P “Oh, and what
time is Kit’s concert tomorrow?”
“Is
that tomorrow?P I thought it was
Wednesday!” Baloo frowned.P “I
fergot all about that concert…”
“Yes
it’s tomorrow Baloo!” she scolded.P
“He’s only been talking about it all week.P What time is it then – or don’t you even
know?”
“I
know, I know!” he scowled.P
“Seven o’clock, Wednesday, junior high auditorium.P Remember it clear as day!”
“What’s
the matter?”
“Oh,
just some old friends.P Giving me some
concern.”
“Old
friends, eh?P What do you mean?”
“Just
some personal favorites of mine.P Lot of
spirit, lot of determination.P But a lot
of pain, too.P They’ve suffered a lot,
all of them.P And sometimes they forget
what they have.”
“They
always forget.P It’s part of who they
are, you know that.P It never
changes.”
“They’re
not all the same though, and you know it.”
“Of
course not.P But they all share certain
things-“
“Of
course.P That doesn’t mean we can’t take
a special interest, though.P And it
gives me pain to see these ones in pain.”
“You
always were a softie, weren’t you?P So
what – are you gong to intervene?”
“I was
thinking about it…”
“Big
gamble!P You only get one intervention
you know-“
“Of
course.”
“Well,
you’d better be sure, that’s all.P
You’ve always been a little trigger-happy.”
“Maybe.P But these ones are fragile.P Let them drift too far and they might never
find their way home again.P And a lot of
threads run through them.”
“Well,
it’s your decision.P I know you’ll act
with your heart.”
“With
any luck, so will they…”
“So
then I says to Stinky, I says, ‘That’s the ugliest pig I ever saw!’P And Stinky sez, That’s no pig – that’s my
mother!'”
“Ha!P Baloo, you got a million of ’em!” the
tan dog laughed.P “You got more
stories than Khan tower!”
“You
know it Man!” the big grey bear chuckled.P
“Hey Louie – howzabout a couple o’ more mango fizzes over here, my
man?”
“Comin’
right up, Cuz!” Louie grinned, busily preparing drinks.P The dinner rush was in full swing, and the
club was rapidly filling with masses of laughing pilots.P On stage, the house band was swinging
through a rousing samba number.P “I
say Big Daddy – I don’t need no paid entertainment when I got you in the
joint!”
The tan dog
in the bomber jacket who shared Baloo’s table glanced at his watch.P “Holy cow – six-thirty!P Hold off on that mango fizz, Louie – I gotta
pull chocks.P Baloo, a pleasure as
ever!”
“Yeah,
you too Ace!” Baloo shouted at the departing figure.P “Say Louie – throw a couple burgers on
the fire for me too, wouldya?P Ol’
Baloo’s gettin’ a little hongry!”
Two more
pilots sat at Baloo’s table as the noise level in the club picked up even
more.P “Say Baloo – where’s that
pint-sized navigator o’ yours?P Usually
sticks to ya like glue!” the first asked.
“Kid’s
back in town, Pardner.” Baloo grinned.P
A frown crossed his face.
“Whassa
matter Big Guy?” the other pilot, a strapping panther in a Khan uniform
asked.P “You look like you
swallowed a bug!”
“Nuthin’,
nuthin’.” Baloo muttered.P
“Just think I’m fergettin’ somethin’…”
“Here
ya go, Fuzzy!” Louie bellowed, sliding two burgers and a mango fizz in
front of the pilot.P “Man, the
joint’s rockin’ tonight!P Ain’t had a
dinner crowd like this fer weeks!”
“Yeah
man, some blowout!” Baloo laughed.P
It felt good to kick back and relax like this.
The Khan
pilot’s companion, a red fox in a grey flight shirt, slapped Baloo on the
back.P “Hey Baloo – howzabout a
song before ya start eatin’ those burgers?P
Get the party really rolling!”
“Yeah
Cuz, why not?” the orangutan laughed.P
“Always give ’em what they want!”
“Sure!”
Baloo chuckled, lumbering towards the stage.P
“Play somethin’ boys, anythin’ with a beat!”
“Where
_is_ he?” Kit asked, pacing nervously and glancing at his watch.P The boy wore a blue suit that was slightly
too large for him and a red and white striped tie.
“I
don’t know, Honey.” Rebecca said gently, seated in the easy chair with the
sleeping Molly on her lap.P “You
know, we’re going to have to leave soon if you’re going to get there on
time…”
“No!”
Kit protested.P “I don’t – I mean –
I want Baloo to be there!P This concert
is real important!”
“I
know, Kit.P I’m sure he’ll be here…
It’s just that it’s getting late-“
“Doesn’t
he know how important this is?” Kit growled angrily, sitting at the
table.P “I worked really hard for
this, Miz Cunningham!P All that
practice…P Where _is_ he?”
Rebecca
sighed.P “I’m sure he’s – delayed,
for some reason.P Maybe he had engine
trouble or something…”P ~How
ironic this was!~ she thought.P ~The boy
won’t buy it for a minute…~
Kit pounded
his fist on the table angrily.P “I
worked so hard…P Doesn’t he
care?”
“Of
course he does, Sweetie-“
“Funny
way of showing it!” the cub growled.P
“Oh, man!P It’s after
six-thirty!P Why isn’t he _here_, Miz
Cunningham?”
“I
don’t know, Kit, I just don’t know.” she sighed, sliding Molly off her lap
and onto the chair.P She walked over to
the table and placed a paw on the cub’s shoulder.P Thank goodness she was here – what if Molly and herself hadn’t
been going?P She didn’t even want to
think about that.P “Honey, we have
to leave if you’re going to make it on time.P
Maybe he’s running late, and he’ll meet us there-“
“Maybe.”
Kit muttered.P “I worked so
hard…P Let’s just go.”P The boy grabbed his trumpet case and headed
out the door without another word.P
Rebecca scooped up her daughter in her arms and followed him outside.
Baloo
glanced at his watch – eight o’clock!P
“Man, this party’s got outta hand!” he muttered.P “Better head back – Kit’ll be
worried!”P He threw back his eleventh
mango fizz, wolfed down his fifth burger and headed for the door with a wave at
Louie.
“You
were wonderful Kit – just wonderful!” Rebecca grinned, squeezing the cub’s
arm as they rode back to Higher for Higher in a taxi.P “Your solo in “Ode to Joy” was just
terrific!”
“Thanks
Becky.” the boy said glumly, with a forced smile.
“Yeah
Kit, you were real good!” Molly echoed.P
“Can you teach me how to play the trumpet like that sometime?”
“Sure,
Pigtails.” Kit said softly, loosening his tie.P He stared silently out the window.P He’d been looking forward to this concert for weeks, but he felt
hollow now that it was over.
Rebecca looked
over at the cub.P “I’m sorry Baloo
didn’t make the concert, Kit.P I know he
would have if he could – he must have a good reason…”
“Don’t
bother Becky, it’s OK.” the boy sighed.P
“I guess it just wasn’t as important to him as it was to me.”
“Don’t
say that!P I’m sure-“
“Don’t
make excuses for him.P We both know what
he’s like, Miz Cunningham.P You say it
every day – irresponsible, childish, selfish-“
“Kit –
please!” Rebecca frowned.P He was
right, of course, she _did_ say it every day – and in front of Kit too.P She began to wonder about the wisdom of
that.P “I know what I say about
him, but when it comes to you he’s different, he really does care.P He’s just-“
“He
cares, huh?” Kit said bitterly.P
“He’s got a funny way of showing it.”
“Mom,
is Kit mad at Baloo?” Molly piped in.
“No
Honey, he’s just upset that’s, all – aren’t you Kit?” her mother asked
pointedly.P The boy merely sat, staring
impassively out at the harbor as the taxi pulled up outside Higher for Hire.P Kit slipped out as soon as the vehicle
stopped and headed wordlessly into the building.P Rebecca slipped the driver a bill, scooped Molly into her arms
and followed him inside.
By the time
she was inside Kit was already seated at the table, chin in hands.P “He’s still not here, Miz
Cunningham.P Can you believe it?”
Rebecca sat
Molly, who by this time was nearing sleep, onto the easy chair and walked over
to join him.P “Kit, it’s after
eight-thirty!P He really should be here
by now… I hope nothing’s happened-“
“Come
on Becky!P This is Baloo we’re talking
about, remember?P It’s me!P I know what he’s like, it’s not like I don’t
notice.”
Rebecca
squeezed his paw and frowned.P It was
inexcusable – the fat bear should be here by now, concert or no.P “Kit, I just don’t think you should
talk about him that way – he _is_ your father after all.”
“You
talk about him that way often enough.” Kit whispered, eyes shining.P Silently, Rebecca hugged his head to her
shoulder and smoothed his fur gently.P
After a moment, the familiar sound of the Sea Duck’s engines finally
broke the silence and the old seaplane touched down alongside the dock.
“Howdy!”
Baloo grinned, loudly bursting through the door.P “Hey Beckers, Molly.P
What’re you doin’ here?”
“Hi
Baloo.” the yellow cub yawned.P Kit
and Rebecca sat at the table, glaring silently at the pilot.
“Hi
Pigtails.P Hope yer feelin’ better.P Man, you wouldn’t believe the party at
Louie’s, L’il Britches!P The place was
goin’ crazy!P It was – Kit?”P The boy shot one last glare at Baloo and
silently tromped up the stairs.P Baloo
watched his departing form until it disappeared into the bedroom.P “What’s with him, Becky?P And what’s with the monkey suit?”
Rebecca’s
jaw dropped.P “I can’t believe
this, Baloo!P I tried to defend you, but
now-“
“What?P What is it?” the pilot asked
irritably.P “I know I’m a little
late, it’s no big-“
“Baloo,
we talked about this yesterday, don’t you remember?P Have you forgotten already?”
“What?P Fergot what?P Why cantya just give me a straight answer-“
“The
concert!” Rebecca fumed.P
“Kit’s concert?P Your
son?”
“Concert?P That was Wednesday – I know it was!”
Baloo protested.
“Today
_is_ Wednesday!” she hissed.P
“You idiot – I tried to defend you, to Kit – and he was right all
along!”
Baloo
slapped himself in the forehead.P
“Damn!P I can’t believe – I
was sure that was tomorrow.P I’m sorry,
Becky, I just lost track-“
“I
don’t think it’s me you should be apologizing to, Baloo!” she said
pointedly.
“Yeah
yeah, I know.” he replied, looking up the stairs.P “It was an honest mistake, that’s
all…”
Rebecca
visibly controlled herself, casting a glance at Molly.P “Come into the kitchen, _please_!”
she hissed, walking into the small room, Baloo at her heels.P “You’re really something, you know that
Baloo?” she said quietly, but menacingly.
“Aw,
don’t pop an artery, Boss-lady!” the grey bear scowled.P “It was an honest mistake, ain’t that
big a deal-“
“No big
deal?P Baloo, it’s bad enough that you
missed something that you _knew_ was important to Kit.P Do you have any idea how hard he worked for
tonight?P How long he practiced?P Do you have any idea how heartbroken he was
when you didn’t show up?”
“I said
I was sorry…” the pilot said doubtfully.
“He
wanted to impress you, stupid!P He
wanted you to be proud of him!P No sir,
that’s bad enough.P But I’ll tell you
what’s even worse – do you know what time it is?P Do you have any idea?”
“About
eight-thirty I guess…”
“It’s
ten to nine, buster.P And you have a
thirteen year-old child!P That means if
there hadn’t been a concert tonight, if I hadn’t been here, he would have been
home alone, all night!P With no idea
where you were, of course, since you never called.P That’s not an acceptable option, Baloo.P It’s just not acceptable!”
“I
know-“
“And
let’s talk about the concert, shall we?P
What if we hadn’t gone with him – say I was busy tonight – what
then?P Your thirteen year-old son would
have had to go to this concert by himself – alone.P And make his way home by himself, afterwards.P Not to mention he’d have had nobody there
for moral support – before _and_ after the show.P What about that?”
“But
you _were_ here, weren’t ya Becky?” Baloo said defensively.P “So there’s no point in talkin’ about
what might or could-“
“Ooooh!”
the bearess raged, balling her paws into fists.P “Don’t you understand?P
Kit’s _your_ son!P He’s not mine!P I love him, but I have problems of my own –
a business, a daughter.P I’m not always
going to be there and it’s not fair for you to expect me to be!P You screwed up, Mister, any way you slice
it.P You screwed up big-time
tonight.P You let Kit down, and you left
me holding the bag – but never mind me.P
I’m a grown-up, I can handle it.P
You let your son down.P He wanted
you, he had every right to expect you, and you weren’t there.”
“I get
it Becky, you kin stop-“
“_Do_
you get it, Baloo?P Do you really?P This isn’t a game.P You can’t leave your son alone all night and not tell him where
you are.P What if I weren’t around –
what if you were just flying free-lance somewhere, on your own – what would
have happened then, when Kit got sick?P
Would you have thought about insurance, any of that?P Would you?P
I hope you understand, Baloo, I really do.P Now I think you should go up there and apologize to your
son.P I have to take my daughter home
and put her to bed.P Good night.”
Baloo
watched her, slack-jawed.P “Talk
about overreacting!” he grumbled as she scooped up Molly and headed out
the door.P “Just went to a little
party is all!”P With a deep sigh,
he started up the stairs.
He poked his
head into the bedroom, where Kit sat cross-legged on the bed, absently holding
one of his model planes.P He had changed
out of his suit and into his familiar green sweater.P “Hey, L’il Britches.” the grey bear said softly,
sitting down next to him.P The cub said
nothing, but almost imperceptibly slid a few inches away from the big bear.
“Sounds
like a great party.” the cub said softly.
“Aw, it
was OK.” Baloo chuckled.P “Hey
Pardner, I’m real sorry I missed yer show.P
It was an honest mistake-“
“Tonight
was important to me, Papa Bear.” Kit said bitterly.P “I worked really hard – it’s the last
concert at school.”
Baloo
grabbed his cap and squeezed it between his paws.P “Yeah, I know Kiddo.P
I’m real sorry.P I just lost
track of the days is all…”
“How?”
Kit asked, staring up at him for the first time, eyes shining.P “How could you lose track?P You must’ve known how much this… – I mean,
I talked about it every day!”
“Hey
Kid – I said I was sorry, don’t gimmee such a rough time, OK?P Let’s just go have an ice cream an’-“
“That’s
not good enough!” Kit hissed, squeezing out a tear.P “This was important to me, and it
should’ve been important to you too.P
All you ever think about is yourself!”
“Hey!”
Baloo scowled.P “That’s
enough!P I work hard, if I wanna go to a
party at Louie’s once in a while that ain’t no crime!P I _said_ I was sorry!”
“Is
that what’s important?P Your free
time?P Well, I’m sorry if the concert
was an inconvenience!”
“Kid,
that ain’t what-“
“Well,
_what_?” Kit shouted, hurling the model against the wall, where it
shattered with a deafening crash.P
“You always do this – you screw up and then you think you can just
apologize and everything will be fine, I have to forgive you!P Well it’s _not_ fine!”P The cub fell back onto the bed and rolled
over to face the wall.
The pilot
looked at Kit’s back, as the boy lay breathing heavily from his outburst.P “Kid, don’t ya think yer overreactin’
just a little?P Kid?P Yer not being very grown-up about
this…”P He put his paw on the
cub’s shoulder and squeezed gently.
“Go
away.” Kit said softly, without turning.
“Kit-“
“Just
go away.P I wanna be alone.” the
boy said sullenly.P With a shake of the
head the big bear stood and headed down into the kitchen.
“Yes…
Yes, thank you anyway.P I
understand.P Certainly.P You too.P
Good-bye.”P Rebecca hung up
the phone with a sigh and sat down at her dining room table, a swathe of
financial reports and ledgers spread out before her.
“Whassa
matter, Mom?” Molly asked softly, still unable to move her jaw freely.
“Nothing
Sweetie.P Just business is
all.”P Turned down for a loan, by
her own bank!
“You
look sad, Mommy.” the yellow cub said.P
“Is business bad?”
“No
Honey!” she laughed.P
“Business is fine, we’re just going through a little dry spell, is
all.”P She spread out the papers
before her – Molly’s dental bill, nearly $700, no insurance to cover that.P Barely enough shipments to cover her
expenses, and with the war coming on…P
She might need to start thinking about military contracts soon, as much
as she wanted to avoid them.P “Say
Molly – which would you’d rather do – the Junior Cubs trip to Royal Canyon, or
your piano lessons?”
“I
wanna do both!” the girl said quickly.
“I
know, Baby, but I don’t want you to have too much to worry about, you’ve got
school too – maybe you should pick one or the other.”
“We
don’t have enough money for both, do we Mom?”
Rebecca
forced a smile.P “Maybe we will
Honey.P Maybe we will, let’s just
see.P But just start thinking,
okay?P Just in case Mommy decides you
have to choose.”
Molly set
her jaw resolutely.P “OK
Mommy.P I don’t hafta do both, I’ll
decide.”
“Good
girl!” Rebecca whispered, squeezing the cub in a hug.P ~The girl shouldn’t have to choose, she
thought to herself.P ~I got to do what I
wanted, when I was her age.P I guess I
shouldn’t be surprised…~ She sat back down to go over the books again,
desperate to find a few dollars savings somewhere.P If anything were to happen to the Sea Duck now, a major repair…
The phone
rang, causing her to start momentarily.P
“Who is it now?” she said irritably.P “Too much work to do… Hello?”
“Hi Miz
Cunningham, it’s Kit.” the cub’s voice said from the earpiece.
“Hello
Kit, what’s up?” she sighed.P
“Is everything OK?”
“Yeah,
it’s fine.P Baloo’s not back yet.”
“Well,
I’m sure he’ll be back soon, Sweetie.P
What can I do for you?”
“Well…
I dunno.P I’m kinda – I guess I’m…
worried…”
“Worried?P About what?” she replied, trying to
keep the impatience out of her voice.P
She wasn’t in the mood for this now…
There was a
pause.P “Um – Baloo and I – we
kinda had a fight last night, after you left, and…P Becky, I – I don’t know.P
I just don’t feel right, it’s… Darn!”
She
sighed.P “Kit, I know you’re
worried, but everything will be fine, I promise.P Baloo just needs to think things through a little, and he’ll see
that he was wrong.P I’m sorry, I don’t
mean to rush you but I have a lot-“
“I’m
sorry!P I didn’t mean to bother you, I
know you’re busy.P I’ll go-“
“It’s
no bother, Kit.P It’s just that with
Molly’s accident and all, there’s a lot to do, and I’ve fallen behind on the
business paperwork.P I’ll see you
tomorrow, all right?P Everything will be
fine.”
“Sure.”
the cub said quietly.P “I’ll see
you tomorrow Becky.P Thanks.”
“Bye,
Kit.P See you tomorrow.”P She hung up the phone, feeling slightly
uneasy.P She_ had_ rushed the boy… But
she had too much to think about right now.P
He wasn’t her son – he had to work things out with Baloo, on his own,
sooner or later.P She wouldn’t always be
around…
Kit hung up
the phone with a sigh.P “Shouldn’t
have called her!” he mumbled to himself.P
“Didn’t even know what to say – bet she thought you were a babbling
idiot!”P He propped his chin on his
hands dejectedly.P He felt very alone,
all of a sudden.P Higher for Hire seemed
very big and empty.
Baloo
glanced at his watch, then back at the sky around him.P Only about ten minutes from home.P He felt no anticipation today, only
dread.P There would be long, awkward
silences, and he dreaded those.P
Complicated, that’s what life was.P
It used to be simple.P Now it was
complicated.P From one crisis to the
next.
“How
are things?”
“No
better.P Worse, even.”
“So
that’s it then, eh?”
“Not
necessarily.P They could still work
things out-“
“I know
you.P You’re not one to sit back.P You’ve gotten too involved with them to sit
back and watch them suffer.”
“Well,
as I told you they’re very fragile.P The
woman does my work for me, a lot of the time – but even she’s drifting into
choppy waters.P As for the others –
there’s so much pain there…P
Anything’s possible.”
“So
you’ll do what you have to do.”
“I
suppose I will.”
Kit finished
chopping the scallions and swept them into the salad bowl.P He was determined to make a real effort and
meet Baloo halfway – maybe a small gesture could help to smooth things over.P All he knew for sure was he’d hated his life
for the last couple of days – anything had to be better.
“Hey,
Britches.” Baloo said with a tight smile as he tromped through the door.
“Hey
Papa Bear.P I made dinner.P You hungry?”
“That’s
one question you never need to ask me, Kit!” the pilot chuckled, tossing
his hat onto the table.P “What you
got?”
The boy
carried several dishes to the table.P
“I made a salad, and some chicken and baked potatoes.” he
grinned cheerfully.
“Fried
chicken?”
“No –
just baked.P It’s healthier Papa
Bear.P Good for you.”
Baloo half
hid a scowl.P “Jeez, Kid – it’s
real nice of ya, to do that.P But salad,
baked chicken – that just ain’t Baloo food, Kid.P I gotta have somethin’ a little more… fillin’,
yaknow?”P He rose and headed for
the kitchen.P “I think I got some
pizza in here, and there was a cherry pie too-“
“Fine.”
Kit said, barely audibly.
“What?”
“I
said, _fine_!” the cub hissed.P
“Whatever you want, I’m just trying-“
“Aw,
what is it _now_?” the pilot sighed, arms loaded with food.P “It’s gettin’ so’s I can’t say nuthin’
around here without gettin’ jumped on!”
“What
about your doctor?P What about what he
said – less bad food, exercising?P Don’t
you care?” the boy said accusingly.
Baloo set
his feast down on the table.P
“Kiddo, like I tol’ ya, them doctors is just after repeat
business.P Besides, life ain’t worth
livin’ if ya don’t do the stuff ya like!P
An’ I like eatin’ pizza an’ cherry pie!”
“Fine.P That’s how it works, huh?”
“How
_what_ works?”
“Everything!”
Kit seethed, arms folded. P”When
it’s me, all you can say is ‘Bein’ healthy’s all that matters!P Can’t take no chances!’P But when it comes to you it’s too much
trouble, so you just do what you want?”
“Is
this about that stupid football thing again?” the pilot replied testily.
“It’s
about everything!P It’s – it’s… Don’t
you get it?”
“No!P I don’t get it!P So tell me!”
Kit stared
at the door, not wanting to look the big bear in the eyes.P “I shouldn’t hafta tell you,
Baloo.P But you don’t care about
anything that’s important to me – even if it’s you.P All you wanna do is whatever you feel like doin’.”
“How
many times I gotta say I’m sorry about that stupid concert?P I’m sorry!”
“You
just don’t get it!” the cub said softly, clenching his eyes shut.P “It’s not about the ‘stupid
concert’.P It’s about everything.P You just don’t get it at all…” the
boy stood from the table and headed for the stairs.
“Where
ya goin’?” Baloo yelled.P
“What about yer dinner?”
“Not
hungry.”
“Kit –
wait!P Look, I’m eatin’ your food,
see?P I’m eatin’ the chicken!P Kid?P
Damn!”P the boy disappeared
into the bedroom.P Baloo pounded his
fist on the table, setting the plates jumping with a clang.P “Can’t say anything around here!P I’m sick of it!” he growled, pushing
the chicken away.P He picked up his fork
and started on the cherry pie.
“Hey,
Ree-becca!” Wildcat grinned, storming through the door and into Higher for
Hire, greasy cloth in one hand and greasy wrench in the other.P
“Yes
Wildcat, what can I do for you?” the bearess asked testily, looking up
from her expense reports.
“Well,
it’s about the carburetor on the Sea Duck.P
Did Baloo tell ya about it?”
She closed
her eyes.P “No Wildcat, he
didn’t.P Perhaps you’d like to tell me
now?”
“Oh!P Well, that’s weird, y’know, ’cause we was
talkin’ about it this morning, and he was sayin’, ‘Wildcat, ,what are we gonna
do about this carburetor’, and everything.P
And then Kit walked by on his way to school, an’ Baloo said ‘Hey Kit’,
and Kit didn’t say-“
“Wildcat!”
Rebecca snapped.P “Please – just
tell me about it…”
“Tell
ya about what, Man?”
“The
carburetor!” she exclaimed.
“Oh
yeah!” the mechanic grinned.P
“You’re gonna need to buy a new one of those.”
“What?!P Why?”
“To
replace the old one.” Wildcat said seriously.
Rebecca
banged her head on the desk hard enough to cause a sharp pain.P Either that, or the conversation had caused
it… “WHY Wildcat?P What’s wrong
with the old one?”
“Well,
you got bad corrosion in the centrifuge on the carburetor on the starboard
engine Ree-Becca.P Only a matter of time
before we lose her, and then… Poof!”
“Poof?”
“Poof.P You lose the engine, the gas doesn’t go all
around to the little parts and the engine says ‘Help me, I’m thirsty…'”
“All
right, I get it…” she sighed.P
“How bad is it?P Why did you
let Baloo fly with it this morning?”
“Oh,
it’ll be OK for a week or so, I’ve seen it a jillion times.P But after that it’ll go out fer sure.P Gonna need a new one.”
Rebecca
buried her face in her hands.P “Thanks
Wildcat.P Please leave now, all
right?”
“Sure
thing Miz Cunningham.P You don’t look so
hot – you should take better care of yerself.P
Oh!P It’s two o’clock, time for
‘Space Rangers’!P See ya
later!”P With a cheerful wave the
mechanic breezed out of the office.
“This
is all I need.” she muttered.P
“New carburetor, that’s two hundred if it’s a dime.P Old plane, pilot who can’t deliver on time,
mechanic who can’t speak English, and a navigator…” she shook her head,
eyes closed.P “This is all too much.P Just too much…”
She stood
and walked over the safe.P She turned
the dial and slid the heavy door open to stare at it’s contents.P “Two dollars.” she chuckled.P “Two dollars and a sack of
peanuts.P Hey!P What’s a sack of peanuts doing in there?”P Shaking her head, she slammed the safe shut
and trudged slowly back to the desk.P
“A hundred thousand a year.P
Who needs that?P Certainly not a
single mother with a six year-old child…”
“Excuse
me – Rebecca Cunningham?” a soft voice called, jerking her attention to
the figure standing in front of her desk, a tall white hawk in a black suit and
tie.
“I –
I’m terribly sorry…” she stammered, flustered.P “I didn’t hear you come in-“
“Quite
all right.” the raptor smiled warmly.P
“May I sit down?”
“Of
course!” Rebecca smiled, sitting behind her desk as the man sat across
from her.P She couldn’t tear her gaze
away from his eyes – they were deep, dark and penetrating.P She felt distinctly uneasy, vulnerable.P “What can I do for you, Mr. –
Mr…”
“Bright.P Peter Bright.P A pleasure to meet you.”
“Rebecca
Cunningham.” she smiled, shaking his hand.P A burst of electricity shot through her body at the touch,
momentarily startling her.
“Are
you all right?” the hawk asked, sounding concerned.
“Y-yes,
I’m just fine.P What was it that I can
do for you, Mr. Bright?”
“Yes, I
was interested in your service, I have some business, and perhaps you will be
able to help me with it.”
“Of
course!” she smiled.P They could
use all the new business they could get right now… “What did you have in
mind?”
“Please
don’t think me forward Miss Cunningham, but – you seem distressed.P Is there anything I can help you with?”
Rebecca
arched an eyebrow, surprised at the question.P
“No, that’s quite all right Mr. Bright-“
“Call
me Peter.”
“Peter!P It’s Rebecca, by the way.P In any case, that’s quite all right
Peter-“
“Of
course, I don’t mean to pry.” the man grinned.P “It’s just that, in my experience, one always feels better
after discussing things, and I hate to start any new business relationship when
you’re feeling ill at ease.P And I’m in
no great hurry – I have all the time in the world.”
Rebecca
laughed in spite of herself at the man’s bizarre behavior.P There was something about him – she _did_
want to tell him her troubles.P It would
feel so good to tell someone – everyone was forever bringing their problems to
_her_.P And who better than a total
stranger, who she’d in all likelihood never see again?
No – it was
silly.P “That’s quite all right Mr.
– Peter.P It’s just been a rough couple
of days, my daughter had an accident…”
“That’s
a shame, Rebecca.P Children are a great
responsibility, are they not?P A great
worry, but a great joy as well.”
“Yes,
they certainly are!P Do you have
children, Peter?”
“Three,
Rebecca.P Is your daughter all
right?”
“She’s
fine.” Rebecca smiled, aware that she was slipping into a discussion of
her problems, but lacking the desire to stop.P
“She’s just had to have some dental surgery, but she’s fine.P Of course, we’re a very small company, and
we don’t have any dental insurance, so that was quite a financial hit.”
“I can
imagine.” the hawk said intently.P
“Surely there’s no planning for such emergencies?P They go hand in hand with children.P There’s nothing you could have done, is
there?”
“No,
no.” she replied, again a little surprised by the question.P “Of course, accidents happen with small
children.P It’s just…”
“What?”
“Well –
it’s just that sometimes I wonder if I’m giving her the best possible life, you
see.P It’s not easy running a small
business, as you can imagine, I’m sure.P
Especially in these times.P She
has to go without things, sometimes.P
Things I never had to-“
“I’m
sure it is difficult.P But you’re
providing the best possible life that you can for her, I’m sure.” he
smiled, grasping her paw reassuringly.
“Of
course.” she frowned.P She waited a
moment, but the man did not release her hand from his warm grasp.P “But I’ve made choices, you know.P For myself.P
And I wonder sometimes if I chose with her best interests at
heart.”
“How do
you mean?”
Rebecca
stared at the man, who returned her gaze impassively with his soft, dark
eyes.P ~What the Hell – in for a penny,
in for a pound~ she thought to herself.P
“I had other opportunities, Peter.P
Other options, that would have led down very different roads.P I just wonder if Molly wouldn’t have been
better off.”
“Hmmm…”
the hawk nodded.P “I can understand
that Rebecca, I know all about those other roads you describe.P I think everyone does, even if they don’t
always know they know it.P I’d be very
curious to hear more – as I said, I have all the time in the world.”
“How
very strange!” Rebecca laughed.P
“Why not?P My roads all
seemed to go through my father, I suppose…”
“Of
course.P So much of what we are we get
from our parents, I find.”
“Yes –
yes, I think that’s quite true.”
“And
yet, there’s always a desire to make our own way, to forge our own path.P It’s not easy to seperate one’s emotions
from such decisions, is it?P We confront
them from such an early age…”
“Quite
right.” she nodded.P “At least
with me it was.”
“How
so?”
“Well,
my father was – is – a very successful businessman.P He’s owned his own company since I was a very young girl.P Younger than Molly.P And of course, since I was his only child, I
was always very involved in the business.P
The fact that I had a natural affinity for it made that even easier.
Of course, I
was very flattered, he was my father, I loved him, and he wanted me to be
involved in his life.P Who wouldn’t
be?” Rebecca continued, finding herself getting caught up in a story she
had never repeated aloud before, as though she were listening to it as she was
saying it.P “So I helped out in the
business until I went to college – Hartmouth – and I spent six years – well,
five and a half, I graduated early – getting a Master’s degree in business
administration.P And then I went to work
for Dad – for real.
I met my
husband David not long after that – he worked for Dad too.P Molly came along soon after.P So I worked when I wanted, David was
successful, and everything was fine for a couple of years. Then David died.P That changed everything, of course.P I kept working for Dad, when taking care of
Molly allowed, but after a while I started to ask questions…
Molly was
abut five by this point, and I knew that something had to change in my
life.P I felt that I’d been building to
something – that I had something to contribute.P I’d taken some time off, during the summer, traveled around, just
to assess things, give myself time to think.P
Or so I thought.P But one of the
places I visited was Cape Suzette, where I was born.P It held a special magic for me, an attraction…
After I came
home to Winger City, I was pretty confused to say the least.P I was having dinner at my parents house, it
was a Saturday, I remember…”
“Looks
like Molly’s asleep.” the black bear said, smiling at the small yellow cub
curled up on the easy chair in the Cunningham’s living room.P “Are you sure you’re feeding her well
Rebecca Darling?P I mean, if-“
“Oh
Mother!” her daughter said testily.P
“You see how she bounces off the walls!P She’s
five years
old.P Of course she falls asleep.”
“I
suppose.” Kayla Cunningham sighed.P
“I’m a grandmother, it’s my perogitive to worry.”
“Don’t
be silly, woman.” her husband scolded, seated between the two ladies on
the couch.P “Save your worrying for
matters that deserve it.”
“Whatever
you say, Gregory.” she chuckled.P
“Rebecca – you’ve been awfully quiet all evening – is something
bothering you?”
“No.”
her daughter said quietly.P “I
suppose – well, never mind.”
“What?P What is it?” her father asked.
She squeezed
his arm.P “I don’t know,
Daddy.P I suppose I’m just feeling
restless.P Bored.P I worked so hard for so long, in school –
and now I don’t put any of it into use…”
“You
just need a man in your life.” her father said confidently.
“Greg!”
his wife scolded.
Rebecca
arched an eyebrow wearily.P “I
don’t think so Dad.P I think I need some
new challenges, new goals, new… _something_.P
I need change.”
“My
business isn’t challenging enough for you?”
“Of
course it is!P That’s not what I
mean…P But you know, Dad – you always
make the important decisions for Cunningham Holdings.P You always have, and you do it well.P You could find anyone to push papers around that office like I
do-“
“That’s
not true!” Gregory protested.P
“You’re very a unique and vital part of the team, Rebecca.P Not to mention your future stake in the
company-“
“Of
course, of course…” Rebecca sighed.P
“Unique and vital…”
“What
do you have right now?” Rebecca asked, phone in hand.P Through the kitchen window, she watched
Molly playing in the back yard sandbox.
“Well.”
the voice on the earpiece mused.P
“There’s a dry cleaning business – foreclosure imminent.P 2000 square foot space-“
“No –
that’s not me.P What else?”
“Rollison’s
Delicatessen.P Let’ s see… Twenty-five
years at the location, gross income last year of-“
“No.”
Rebecca interrupted.P “What
else?”
“What
exactly are you looking for, Miss Cunningham?P
Perhaps it would help if-“
“I’ll
let you know when I hear it.P Keep
going, please.”
The voice
sighed.P “Very well.P Let me see… Bearington, a small securities
firm – perhaps, given your father’s business, that would be a possibility?P No?P
Two more restaurant spaces… Hardware… An air cargo service…
Haberdashery… Steam-“
“What
was that last one?” Rebecca interrupted.P
“Haberdashery?P A hat shop-“
“No
no!P The one before that… Cargo?”
“Hmmm.P Yes, ‘Baloo’s Air Service’.P An air cargo firm, I wouldn’t recommend this
one though.P Finances look terrible,
virtually no customer base.P It’s a
terrible industry too – air cargo is a fad, they’ll all settle back on trains
and steamships once the novelty wears off, it’s common knowledge-“
“That’s
the one.” Rebecca said confidently.P
“Air freight.P That’s the
one.P What are the specifics?”
“Miss
Cunningham, surely-“
“Please!P The specifics?”
Another
sigh.P “Yes.P As I said, the finances are terrible.P The bank will be foreclosing on the property
and the airplane as well.P 15 Harbor
Drive, Cape Suzette.P Oh dear, a Conwing
L-16.P Hardly state of the art, Miss
Cunningham.P There’s a three thousand
dollar lien on the deed, you’d have to have your decision by Thursday – that’s
when the bank puts the deed for sale.”
“Thursday?P That’s it Mr. Speendecker.P That’s the one.P You’ve already approved me for the loan?”
“Yes,
yes or course, Miss Cunningham.P But
surely, given your father’s financial resources you’d rather-“
“Mr.
Speendecker.” Rebecca said impatiently.P
“You said, did you not, that my credit had been approved?P And three thousand is within the limit’s
that you’ve authorized?”
“Yes
Miss Cunningham.”
“Fine,
fine.P I’ll let you know by Wednesday,
Mr. Speendecker.P Thank you.”P With a small smile, she cradled the
receiver.P This one felt right,
somehow.P Air cargo – there was a future
there… Her future?
“What?”
Gregory Cunningham shouted in disbelief.P
“Cape Suzette?P Air
cargo?P Becky, have you been
drinking?”
“Daddy!”
Rebecca shouted in reply.P “Be
calm!P I think it’s a very good business
opportunity-“
“Opportunity!P Opportunity for disaster…”
“Rebecca,
this is awfully sudden.P Why now?”
Kayla asked gently.
RebeccaP fell back on the sofa with a sigh.P “It just feels like the right time,
Mom.P A new start, a new life.P Something that I can grow – that can grow
with me, and Molly.P I just love Cape
Suzette, it’d be like going home, in a way…”
“Rebecca.”
her father said, with exaggerated patience.P
“Surely you realize that your future is here.P This company is well-established,
successful.P It can provide for you,
provide for Molly.P For the rest of your
lives.P Why risk all that for some pipe
dream, some nebulous kind of ‘new start’…”
“Because
I want to, Dad!P You built this company,
you made your dream happen!P Don’t I
deserve the right to do the same?”
“I
built this company because I had nothing!P
I built it to survive, to provide for Kayla, for you.P I nursed it through a war, a
depression.P It’s _here_, now.P For you to risk Molly’s future-“
“Greg!”
Kayla warned.
“She’s
_my_ daughter!” Rebecca hissed.
“Yes,
yes she is.” her father nodded.P “But
she needn’t ever have to worry about her education, her future.P You had all of those things – what right do
you have to risk her access to them?P
Don’t you owe her the same privileges that you had?”
“Don’t
I owe her a future she can believe in, Daddy?P
Don’t I owe her a mother who feels proud of what she’s doing with her
life?” Rebecca said dubiously.
“Rebecca
Darling… I think it’s time I formalized your position with the company.P David is – he’s been gone a few years, Molly
will be going to school… How about a vice-presidency, a seat on the board of
directors?P You’re ready for that,
you’ve proved it here today-“
“Oh
Daddy, can’t you see that isn’t what this is about?” she sighed.P He merely cast a puzzled frown in her
direction.P She looked for support, as
she so often had, to her mother, but was met with only a weak smile.P She didn’t understand, neither of them
did.P It was her life, didn’t they see?
Her life –
and Molly’s too.P There was no net, not
where she was thinking of jumping.P Did
she have the right?
“Hello
Mr. Speendecker.P It’s Rebecca
Cunningham.” the bearess said softly.
“Yes
Miss Cunningham, how are you today?” the banker’s voice replied.
“Fine,
just fine…”
“I’ve
taken the liberty of drawing up some loan papers for you, and made some
preliminary inquiries about the lien on the air service you were
considering.P While I still advise you
to consider carefully, I am prepared to make a formal offer as of tomorrow.”
“That –
that won’t be necessary.” Rebecca sighed.
“Indeed?P A wise choice, I must concur.P A very promising small clothing company has
recently come to my attention-“
“No,
Mr. Speendecker.P I’ve decided to stay
on here in Winger City… I appreciate your assistance, but I won’t be pursuing
the loan at this time.”
“Very
well, Miss Cunningham.” the banker replied, a little smugly.P “Of course, should you reconsider I
would be most pleased to assist you.”
“Yes,
I’m sure.P Thank you very much.P Good-bye.”P Rebecca gently set the receiver down and closed her eyes.P Molly sat at the table, messily devouring a
bowl of cereal.P Rebecca opened her eyes
and watched her for a moment, too tired to stand.P Her limbs felt listless, heavy.P
“Whassa
matter Mommy?” the five year-old asked, milk caked on her cheeks.
“Nothing
Molly, nothing at all.P Mommy’s going to
be starting her new job at Grandpa’s office tomorrow, isn’t that
exciting?” she sighed.P “My
first day.P My first day…”
The office
was a colossal mess – dirty clothes, rotting fruit, old pizza boxes and
newspapers were everywhere.P A large
grey bear reclined in what passed for furniture – a large red easy chair.P The bear was snoring gently, a half full
drink clutched in one paw.
He shared
the office with a companion this morning – a small brown bearcub, twelve years
old and dressed in a worn green sweater.P
The boy reclined in a hammock, legs dangling over the sides.P When the alarm went off, the boy was the
first to hear it – he jerked awake with a start, unused to such domestic
conveniences.
“Wha…
Hey Baloo!P It’s ten o’clock!” the
boy said sleepily, rolling out of the hammock, slipping a red and blue baseball
cap on his head backwards and heading over to the chair where the big bear
still reclined, cap pulled over his eyes.P
“Nuthin’s
gettin’ me outta this chair…” the bear mumbled.
“The
TREA-sure…” Kit sang softly into the pilot’s ear.
“Tah-reasure?!”
Baloo exclaimed, jerking awake.P He
patted the grinning boy on the head and stood.P
“Kid, you just said my two favorite words!P Now lessee… first, we’ll get us a bite to
eat, then-“
“Baloo!”
Kit scolded his new friend.P “If we
don’t get to Louie’s soon, the bank’ll shut you down!”
“Re-lax!”
the grey bear grinned, picking up and biting into a hamburger of indeterminate
vintage.P “The bank wouldn’t send
anybody _this_ early!”
There was a
loud knock, causing both bears’ attention to jerk to the door.P “You hope!” the cub said, with a
hint of smugness.
Baloo
tiptoed over and peered through the small window in the door.P “Heh-heh!P It’s just a customer!”
The pilot
opened the door to reveal a well dressed opossum.P “Good morning, I’m-“
“We’re
closed, Mister!P Come back when the
sun’s warm – like June!P Bye-Bye!”
Baloo snapped, slamming the door.
“Wait!”
the opossum called weakly.P “I need
a pilot… Oh well…”P Tucking his
briefcase under his arm he departed with a shrug.
“Do you
always treat your customers that way?” the cub asked, frowning.
“Only
when I got a tah-reasure to fetch!” Baloo chuckled.P “C’mon Kit – Louie’s is
callin’…”
“And
we’re gone!” the boy grinned, slapping the grey bear’s hand and following
him out to the yellow seaplane.P Baloo
easily leapt up into the cockpit, then reached down to help Kit in after him.P “Thanks.” the boy smiled,
strapping into the navigator’s chair.
Baloo looked
out of the corner of his eye at the boy, who’s gaze was darting about the
cockpit, busily registering the location of the controls and instruments.P He smiled, involuntarily, and a feeling not
unlike pride crept into his chest.P
“Uh – care to start ‘er up, Kiddo?” he asked slyly.
“M-me?”
Kit gushed.P “Boy – thanks
Baloo!”P He bounced out of the
chair and tentatively reached for the controls, his small paws trembling a
little.P “Um… Magnetos on… Set
mixture… Throttle up… Okay?”
Baloo
laughed and scratched the beaming cub on the head.P “Yer an Ace – L’il Britches!P Real good!P Now let’s hit
the skies!”P The pilot backed the
plane away from the dock and into the open waters of the harbor, then sped into
his takeoff.
Kit felt the
lurch of the plane as it left the water with a thrill that ran through his
entire body.P He was flying!P He peered out the window, amazed again, as
he had been the day before, by the overwhelming splendor of Cape Suzette.P He’d never seen anything like it in his
young life, and he’d seen far more than most twelve year-olds.
The cub
stole quick glances at Baloo, who whistled softly as he guided the yellow
seaplane towards the cliffs that guarded the city.P ‘L’il Britches’ – what was that name?P The big fellow had used it yesterday too… It was weird!PP Strangely though, he found himself liking
it – a lot.P The pilot had a manner, a
way about him – it was different than anyone he’d ever known.P Baloo glanced over and caught the cub
staring.P “Boy, this sure is a
great plane, Baloo!” he said to cover his embarrassment.
“Sure
is.” the pilot chuckled.P “How
come you know so much about airplanes, anyways?”
The boy
glanced quickly down at his feet. P”Oh, uh – I dunno.P I
guess I read about it, y’know, in books…”
The grey
bear frowned, puzzled by the cub’s sudden nervousness.P “Some books!P You wanna try the stick again fer a little while?”
“Can
I?”
“Sure”
Baloo grinned, that same unfamiliar feeling growing in his chest as he watched
the boy gingerly take hold of the wheel.P
“Easy, easy now L’il Britches!P
Just feel ‘er respond, Kiddo.P A
little touch is all ya need…”
Kit’s
fingers were beginning to ache from gripping the wheel so tightly.P He forced himself to relax his hold a
little.P “Which way is Louie’s,
anyway?”
“Heh
heh!P Made the trip a thousand times,
Kid.P Turn twenty six degrees port and
hold ‘er steady.P Y’know, I could teach
ya to read maps an’ such sometime, if ya want Kiddo-“
“Thanks!”
Kit replied, smiling a private smile, gently banking the plane to port.P “Thanks – fer lettin’ me fly – or even
just steer.P You don’t know how long I’ve
dreamed of this…”
“No
sweat.” Baloo grinned.P “You
got a real natural touch, Kit.”
“Thanks!”
the boy beamed, beginning to relax a little.P
He flew in silence for a few moments, revelling in the feeling of the
massive aircraft beneath him and wrestling with feelings he’d never felt before.P “Baloo, I – thanks fer savin’ me yesterday.P You didn’t even know about the treasure, or
anythin’-“
“Hey,
I’da done it fer anybody, Kid!” the grey bear answered.P Kit looked a little crestfallen.P “But yer special, Kit – even an ol’
fool like me could see that!” he added, squeezing the cub’s shoulder
gently.
Kit smiled
sheepishly and glanced over at the pilot for an instant.P “Thanks.P Anyways, you didn’t even know about the treasure, and you still
stood up for me.P Even though it coulda
cost you yer plane.P Um… why?”
“I
dunno, Kid.” Baloo said thoughtfully, placing his feet leisurely on the
dash.P And, in truth, he _didn’t_
know.P “Just seemed like the thing
ta do, Kiddo.P I – you… I dunno.”
“Well,
thanks!” Kit said gratefully.
“Yer
welcome.” Baloo said softly.P He
watched the cub for a moment, admiring the ease with which he seemed to grasp
the feel of the plane.P “L’il
Britches, I gotta ask – how’d ya get that ol’ jewel?P I mean, the air pirates is chasin’ ya for it an’
all…”P Kit’s face froze into a
hard glare, and he watched the sky straight ahead, not looking at the
pilot.P It was the same mask Baloo had
seen on the boy when they’d first met, at Louie’s.P Somehow, the pilot could see past it at a glance.P “Kid?P
I think I gotta right ta know after yesterday, huh?”
The cub
sighed deeply, and Baloo was momentarily stunned – the brown cub looked, for
that instant, like an old man, all of the innocence and vitality drained from
his face.P The sight was like a hard
punch in the gut to the big bear.P
“Please… I can’t tell you.P
Don’t make me tell you-“
“It’s
OK.” Baloo blurted out.P He was
overcome with a desire to comfort the cub, an unfamiliar, puzzling
feeling.P “No big deal-“
“Don’t
make me tell you, OK?” Kit pleaded, eyes shining.P “Please…”
“Hey –
you tell me when yer ready.” Baloo said reassuringly.P He unstrapped and put the autopilot – a
large crowbar – on the wheel.P Guided by
instinct, he knelt next to the boy.P
“I dunno what’s goin’ on with you an’ those pirates, but you tell
me when yer ready, OK?P Don’t you worry
about them, L’il Britches.P They can’t
hurt ya now.P We’re buddies, pals –
we’re a team!P From now on, you’re with
me – OK Kiddo?”
Kit released
the wheel, tears welling in his eyes, his instincts at war, feelings of
gratitude to this strange man overwhelming the shell he’d erected around
himself.P He wrapped his arms around the
pilot’s neck and rested his chin on the bear’s huge shoulder as Baloo nestled
his arms around him.P It felt like the
most natural thing in the world, even though he’d only known the pilot for a
day.P “Thanks… Papa Bear.”
he whispered, revelling in the warmth and strength of the grey bear’s embrace.
“S’okay
L’il Britches.” Baloo chuckled, startled to find the boy trembling a
little.P He held him tightly for a moment,
sensing Kit’s need for his closeness.P
He unwrapped his arms from the cub and stepped back, startled again to
see the boy’s eyes moist with tears.P He
smiled awkwardly.P “Uh – guess I
better take the wheel, huh Kid?”
“Yeah!”
Kit whispered, discreetly wiping his eyes.P
“Guess we’ll be at Louie’s soon, huh?”
“Sure
will.” Baloo echoed, unsure just what exactly had transpired.P “Sure will.”
“Little
boy Baloo!” Louie called gaily as the big grey bear swept through the
bamboo doors of his club.P “What’s
shakin’, Man?”
“Not
much Louie.P Howzabout a couple Krakatoa
specials fer me an’ my friend here?” the pilot grinned, approaching the
bar.
“Howzabout
you pay yer tab, Cuz?” Louie laughed.P
He saw Kit’s small form behind Baloo’s back, and his friendly eyes
flashed hard for a moment.P “Uh –
who’s yer pal, Baloo?”
Baloo
hoisted Kit onto a bar stool and placed a friendly hand on Louie’s
shoulder.P “This here’s Kit
Cloudkicker.”P Kit held his hand
out gingerly.
“Listen,
Kit…” Louie began, stiffly, “I run a nice friendly club here – I
don’t like trouble, and after yesterday-“
“He’s
with me, Louie.” Baloo smiled, hand still on Louie’s shoulder.P Kit held his breath.P “He’s with me.”
The two old
friends locked eyes for a moment, then the orangutan cracked a smile and looked
down at Kit.P “Well, any friend o’
Baloo’s is a friend o’ mine, Shortstop.”P
He clasped the cub’s paw gently.P
“Two Krakatoa specials comin’ right up.”
Kit exhaled
at last, and smiled at Baloo.P
“Thanks, Papa Bear.”
“No
sweat Kid.”P Baloo leaned over and
whispered in the cub’s ear.P “Now –
where’s that ol’ treasure?”
“Follow
me!”P Kit beamed, hopping lithely
down from the stool and leading the pilot up the stairs.
“Oh
man, I feel a fortune comin’ on!” Baloo grinned as the boy reached inside
one of Louie’s tiki masks and grabbed the box Baloo had seen him carrying the
day before.P
“Ta-daa!”
Kit said proudly, opening up the box and showing it’s contents to the pilot.
“Well,
pop my peepers!” Baloo gasped, as Kit beamed.P “She’s a beaut!P
C’mon L’il Britches, let’s go show this rock ta ol’ Louie.”
“Right!”P Kit agreed, and followed the big bear down
the stairs and back to the bar, where the ape was happily singing to himself as
he placed two lit sparklers in each of the mammoth ice cream sundaes he was
preparing.
“Here
ya go, Cuz!P Two Krakatoa
specials!”
“Thanks,
Louie.P Say, could you give us a bead on
this bauble?P Like, what’s it
worth?”
“Sure,
Cuz.” the ape replied, taking the jewel from Baloo.P He whipped out a magnifying glass and
proceeded to study the rock closely.P
“Oooh!P Aaaah!P Yowza!!”
“Yeah,
yeah?” Baloo asked eagerly.P
“How much is ‘yowza’?”
“Yeah!”
Kit chimed in.P “In round
numbers!”
“Nothin’,
Cuz.” the ape answered, tossing the jewel to Baloo.P “Nada.P
Zero.P Zilch!P It’s _man_ made, Man!”
“Aw,
nuts!” Baloo growled, hurling the shiny red stone into the wastebasket.
“Aw
Baloo – I’m _sorry_!” Kit said sheepishly, hanging his head.
“That’s
OK Kid.” Baloo said gruffly, grabbing the two sundaes and trudging to a
table, where he sat with a pained sigh.
Kit sat next
to him, eyeing the sundae hungrily.P
Despite his disappointment, he stared at the ice cream as if hypnotized,
then picked up the spoon and began devouring it rapidly.P “Whoa – slow down L’il Britches!”
Baloo chuckled ruefully.P “Yer
gonna swallow the spoon if you ain’t careful.”
“Sorry
Baloo.” the cub said, mouth full.P
“It’s just – I haven’t seen ice cream in a real long
time.”P Baloo arched an eyebrow and
stared at the boy thoughtfully, slowly eating his own sundae.P
After only a
moment the boy had devoured the entire Krakatoa special.P He pushed the dish away and put his chin in
his hand glumly.P “I still don’t
get it, though.P If the rock’s _worthless_,
why did Karnage steal it from Shere Khan?”
Baloo jerked
his head up at the mention of the richest man he – or anybody else in Usland –
knew.P “Shere Khan?P Is that a fact…” He stepped over the
wastebasket, which by this point was emitting a pulsing red glow.P He reached inside and grasped the
stone.P “Yeeooww!” he
bellowed, as a blinding flash lit the room and he was thrown back several feet.
“You OK
Baloo?” Kit gasped, bending over the pilot’s prone figure.
“Whew-eee!”
Baloo whispered, holding out his throbbing hand.P “Mebbe that night light is worth somethin’ after
all…”P The stone had ceased
emitting the glow, and the pilot gingerly reached in and picked it up.P Feeling no shock, he pocketed it.P “C’mon Kit – let’s head on back to
town.”
“Sure,
Baloo.” the boy answered, still a little shaken from the events of the
last few moments.P With a wave at Louie,
the two bears departed the club and headed for the Sea Duck.
“When
we get back to Cape Suzette, we’ll pay Mr. Khan a visit!” Baloo said
thoughtfully.P “Maybe there’s
reward moolah…”
“Right
Papa Bear.” Kit smiled.P Baloo
looked at the cub’s face thoughtfully as he lifted him into the cockpit.P ‘Papa Bear’?P That would take some getting used to… Still, it had a nice ring
to it. PHe liked the way it
sounded.P Both bears strapped in and
within a few moments the Sea Duck was a tiny dot on the horizon, disappearing
into the distance on it’s journey to Cape Suzette.
From the
opposite direction, _several_ tiny dots were appearing on the horizon.P Within a few moments they were revealed to
be small aircraft – CT-37s, armed with machine guns.P They were all biplanes, except for one – the plane that flew at
the head of the formation, a black tri-wing craft.P At it’s controls sat a red wolf in a striking blue uniform.
“Here
we are, my plundering wonders – Louie’s!P
Mad Dog!P Search the area for
that accursed yellow seaplane!” the wolf barked into his radio.
“Right,
Cap’n!” a droopy-faced weasel whined in reply and banked his plane to fly
a low loop around Louie’s place.
“Find
them!P Find them!” Karnage hissed
maniacally as he circled high above.P
” I want that boy…”
“They
aren’t _here_ Cap’n!” Mad Dog whined into his radio.
“Curses
and _more_ curses!” Karnage snarled.P
“Very well.P We will search
every port and every city in the south Pacific until we find them, yes-no?P San Flamingo, New Fedora, Cape Suzette – I
want them found, my men!P I want that
stone – _and_ the boy…”
The yellow
seaplane splashed down alongside the dock at Baloo’s Air Service.P “Home again, Kid!” Baloo whistled
cheerfully as he delicately landed the old craft under Kit’s admiring eyes.
“Home?”
Kit whispered, feeling the fur on his neck stand up a little as Baloo said the
word.P He hadn’t used that word for a
very long time – hadn’t even heard it…P
The grey bear stepped out of the cockpit and lifted Kit to the dock.
“Hey
Baloo!” a cheerful voice called from one of the small buildings adjoining
the main structure.P A smallish lion in
a filthy white coverall walked over to them, carrying a wrench.P Kit watched him curiously.
“Hey,
Wildcat!” Baloo grinned.P “I
wantcha to meet a new buddy o’ mine – Kit Cloudkicker.P He’s gonna be joinin’ us fer a while.P Kit, this is Wildcat – best mechanic on the
seven seas!”
“Pleasure
to make yer acquaintance, Kit!” the lion said with a friendly smile.P He enthusiastically shook Kit’s paw in his
greasy one.
“Uh –
thanks, you too.” the boy smiled, looking for somewhere to discreetly wipe
his hand.P His mind still rang with
Baloo’s introduction – ‘Joinin’ us for a while’…
“Hey
Baloo, some guy was here ta see you.P He
left this, Man.” the mechanic said, handing Baloo an envelope and
disappearing back into the little building.
“Oh
man…” Baloo hissed, ripping open the envelope as Kit wiped his paw on
the grass.P “Oh no!P ‘As you did not make your minimum payment
this morning, your deed was officially put up for public sale.P If a buyer is found before you make the
payment, all rights of ownership will pass to that person.’P Holy shamolies…”
“Well,
that’s what the guy told you yesterday, Baloo.” Kit said gently.P “All we can do is go see Khan first
thing tomorrow and hope there’s a reward, and then go to the bank.P No offense but… I don’t think they’ll be
lined up around the block to buy this place.”
“I
resemble that remark…” Baloo said gruffly.P “Still – mebbe yer right, L’il Britches.P Only a crazy person’d wanna buy this
business.P C’mon, ol’ Baloo’ll rustle up
some grub, let’s head inside…”
Baloo tossed
the dirty dishes on the pile in the sink, shooing a few flies out of the
way.P Kit sat at the table, silently
finishing up his dinner.P Baloo watched
him curiously, from a distance.P
~Haven’t been around a kid in ages.~ he thought to himself.P ~ Sure is weird.P Kid’s kinda skittish – spooked-like.P Lotsa stuff he’s not tellin’ me, too… Still, this morning, on the
plane… What was that all about?P Poor
kid, he really almost started cryin’ there, didn’t seem to wanna let me go when
I was huggin’ him.P Let’s just see how
it goes…~
Kit sensed
the pilot watching him and turned.P
Baloo smiled and winked at him.P
“How’s that sandwich Kiddo?”
“Oh,
it’s.. fine, Baloo, thanks!” the cub smiled.P In truth, the sandwich was quite – disconcerting… but the big
bear was trying to do his best.P ~This
is weird.~ Kit thought.P ~Bein’ here,
with him like this… Does he want me here?P
He asked me to stay… It’s not like last night – today he acted like he
wanted me here for good – but what did ‘for a while’ mean?P Don’t get too caught up, you don’t know this
guy!P You don’t know what’s gonna
happen, just play it cool.P Sure was
nice though, on the plane… He just let me alone, didn’t make me tell him…
He even seemed worried about me!P Let’s
just see how it goes…~
The grey
bear whistled into the living room and slapped the needle on the record on the
gramophone.P A jazzy beat filled the
room, and the pilot snapped his fingers and danced a little jig.P The cub laughed at the sight.P “Oh – so ya think that’s funny, do
ya?” Baloo challenged jovially.
“No!”
Kit giggled.P “You just seem to be
enjoying yourself…”
“That’s
what it’s all about, L’il Britches.” Baloo sighed, sinking down into the
easy chair.P “Havin’ a good time,
that’s what life’s all about.P Good
plane, good food, good tunes, good friends.P
That’s all Baloo needs.”
“An’
three thousand dollars.” Kit said wryly.
“Well –
that too.” Baloo admitted, closing his eyes and stretching out.P Kit stood and carried the dishes to the
sink, holding down a shudder of revulsion as he did.P He stood and silently watched Baloo for several moments as the
bear reclined, softly snapping his fingers to the beat of the music.
Finally, the
boy slowly walked towards the big bear, feet moving as if under their own
volition.P “Um… Baloo?” he
asked tentatively.
“Yeah
Kid – what is it?” Baloo yawned without opening his eyes.
“Um –
can I squeeze in?”
Baloo opened
his eyes, a look of surprise momentarily flashing across his face. PHe studied Kit impassively for a moment, as
the cub stared sheepishly down at his feet.P
Finally, he smiled.P “Sure
L’il Britches – plenty o’ room!” he said gently.
Kit slid
into the chair next to the grey bear, still looking down at his feet.P “Thanks, Papa Bear.” he smiled, as
the pilot draped an arm around his shoulder.P
Kit rested his head on the crook of Baloo’s arm and closed his eyes as
the music filled the room.
Out on the
harbor, shards of mist filled the sky, partially blocking out the crescent moon
that hung above.P On the gently lapping
water a small gondola approached the cliffs, three figures inside.P The standing figure, a red wolf in a striped
shirt holding a long pole, was singing off-key.P “O, solo MI-o, O so-do YOU-o…”
Suddenly the
boat was bathed in bright light, and a voice boomed from the darkness.P “Who goes there?”
“O the
police-o, stay very calm…” the wolf sang softly.P
In the stern
of the little boat, a large dog in a top hat grinned upwards, a stunningly ugly
weasel in a long dress in his arms.P
“Er – uh – Good evening, officers!” he shouted in a thick
Dandiscavian accent.
“Scoozi,
Signori!” the wolf grinned.P
“The younga lovers – the need their _privacy_ – Si?”P The searchlight clicked off.P “Grazie, Signori!”P
He propelled
the boat along with the pole for a few moments, then reached under and engaged
the motor, and the craft sped towards the city.P “Arrividerci, Coppers!” he snarled.P “Now, to find that plane!”
“Aw,
but there’s a million of ’em in Cape Suzette, Boss!” the weasel whined.
“Then
we will search every one!” the wolf snapped, slapping him across the
face.P “Until we find that
boy…”
Kit was
dreaming of Krakatoa Specials when a gentle hand on his shoulder shook him to
wakefulness.P He blinked his eyes and
looked around, momentarily disoriented, then saw Baloo’s smiling face looming
over him.P “Rise and shine, L’il
Britches!” the pilot grinned.P
“It’s the early bird that worms the best deal!”
“Oh
yeah… Shere Khan.” the boy yawned, stretching his arms as he realized he
was in the hammock.P ~How did I get
here?P I fell asleep in the chair.P He must have carried me…~ he thought.P He rolled out of the hammock and nimbly
jumped to the floor.
Baloo pulled
the red stone out of his pocket and stared at it greedily.P “I’ll bet we get two hundred bucks fer
this sparkler!”
“D’you
think it’s smart just walking into Khan’s office with it?” Kit asked
dubiously.
Baloo
hesitated.P “Say… Yer right, L’il
Britches!”P He headed towards the
kitchen.
“Whatcha
doin’?” the cub asked, following close behind him.
“Better
leave the jewel here.” the pilot said slyly, slipping the red stone into a
drawer.P “Wouldn’t wanna tip our
hand to soon!P C’mon L’il Britches, we
got a date with a typhoon!”
“Right
Baloo!” Kit giggled. following the grey bear out the door.P The man had a …_way_ about him – somehow
everything he did felt like an adventure.
“Say,
uh… ain’t kids supposed to eat breakfast or somethin’?P You hongry L’il Britches?”
“I’m
fine Baloo, thanks.” the cub grinned.
“Well,
we’ll stop and get ya somethin’ after we see ol’ Khan.P Hopefully we can get ya somethin’ really
expensive…”
The sun was
creeping into the eastern sky, illuminating the Sea Duck in a glowing light,
when a small boat putted through the water towards the yellow seaplane.P “Look!” Karnage gasped.P “This is it!”
Shere Khan’s
office was stunning – like nothing Kit had ever seen in his young life.P It was a mass of thick, leafy foliage
resembling an indoor jungle.P Adjacent
to the door were two sculptures built into the walls, which fed water out into
large fountains.P Opposite the door a
seemingly impossible distance away was a massive window, which provided a
sweeping view of the city spread out beneath them.P In front of the window was a huge desk.
And behind
that desk stood Shere Khan himself – every bit as impressive and intimidating
as his office.P The tiger was huge – as
tall as Baloo, with a barrel chest.P He
wore a perfectly fitting blue suit and an expensive-looking red tie.P At this moment, he stood facing the window
impassively, hands behind his back, as Baloo related their story.
“So you
see, Mr. Khan Sir – if we _could_ get the stone back, what _might_ it be worth
to ya?”
Kit’s attention
fell to the desk, where an extremely sharp-looking silver letter opener
sat.P Reflexively, the boy picked it up,
tossing it about in his hands, feeling it’s heft.P It was almost like a little sword.P Playfully, he shadow-jousted with it, striking out at invisible
enemies…
“Well,
Mr. Balloon…” Khan was saying.
“That’s
_Baloo_.”
“Mmmyes.”
the tiger said softly.P He grabbed Kit’s
thin arm in a huge paw, grabbing the letter opener away from him with the
other.P The cub, startled, sought shelter
behind Baloo’s massive back.P “That
‘stone’ as you call it is actually an electrical alloy, developed by my
scientists.P I’ll make it worth your
while to return it…P What would you
say to a hundred?”
“Only a
lousy hundred bucks?” Baloo scowled.
Khan arched
an eyebrow imperiously.P “A hundred
_thousand_ lousy bucks!”
“Dollars?!?”
Baloo and Kit gasped simultaneously.P
“Just sit tight, Shere Baby!” the pilot grinned.P “We’ll be back faster than you kin say
‘Sea Duck’!”
The tiger
leaned back impassively on his desk, watching the two bears rush out of his
office and onto the elevator.P “Heh
heh.P It’s worth _fifty_ times
that…”
Kit and
Baloo were dancing on air as they sped back to Baloo’s Air Service.P “We did pretty _good_, huh?'” Kit
beamed proudly as they approached home.
“Haha!”
the grey bear chuckled.P “A hundred
thousand smackers!P Now I can buy my
plane back and get that bank off my case!”P He held the door open for Kit regally.P “Let’s grab that sparkler and-“
“Baloo!”
Kit gasped as he stepped into the building.
“Wha?”
Baloo hissed.P “My gosh!P What happened?”P The place was an even bigger mess than usual
– boxes overturned, drawers emptied, windows smashed.P “Uh oh!” the pilot snarled, dashing into the
kitchen.P “Damn!”
“What?”
Kit whispered.P “The – the-“
“The
stone’s gone.” Baloo growled.P
“Musta been those dang pirates…P
How am I gonna get my plane back now?”P Kit sat glumly on an overturned box, burying his face in his
hands as the pilot stormed angrily about the room.P “Blasted pirates… scourge o’ the skies …P Kit!P
What’s the matter?”
“Oh,
this is all _my_ fault!” the cub moaned.
“Whaddaya
mean?” Baloo asked, puzzled.
“Aw…
those pirates were chasing _me_, Baloo!P
I led ’em right to the stone, I never should’ve got you
involved…”
“Don’t
sweat it Kid, it’s only money!” Baloo said gently.P
“But
what about your plane?” Kit whispered.P
A look of determination crossed his face.P “Come on!”P He
grabbed the big bear’s arm and dragged him towards the door.
“Whoa,
whoa!” Baloo yelled, grinding his heels.P
“Just where we goin’, Kit?”
“To get
the stone!P We’ll steal it back from
Karnage, and then you can get your plane back-“
“Steal
it back?P What’re you talkin’ about L’il
Britches?P We don’t even know where they
took it!”
“I
do!” the cub sighed.P “Their
hideout – Pirate Island.P I know where
it is.”
Baloo’s jaw
dropped.P “Pirate Island?P Holy propwash… Kid, no pressure but – you
ready to tell me about you and the pirates?P
I think it’d be better if I knew-“
Kit sat back
on the box and closed his eyes.P
“Oh, Baloo… If – if I tell you, you’ll-“
“Jus’
hold on!” Baloo chuckled, kneeling next to the cub.P “Like I tol’ ya Kiddo, it don’t
matter.P Yer with me now.P Just tell me about it, I promise it’ll be
OK!”
Kit said
nothing for a long moment as he stared into the pilot’s eyes, his mind a
whirl.P Finally he closed his eyes and
took a deep breath.P “OK…”
he whispered, almost inaudibly.P
“You promise?”
“Scouts
honor!”
Kit grinned
weakly.P “I got no family…P No home…P
I hooked up with Karnage’s gang about a year ago.P But I got sick of em…”P A look of anger crossed the boy’s gentle
features as Baloo listened intently.P
“So… when I saw that stone, I figured, ‘Hey – make your
move!’P That’s when I ran into
you…”
The pilot
wrapped an arm around the cub’s shoulder gently.P “Man, that’s some story L’il Britches… If I hadn’t seen
the last couple days myself, I wouldn’ta believed it!”P The cub said nothing, staring silently at
the wall.P “Hey, like I said Kit,
the past is the past.P We’re buddies
now!P None o’ that stuff matters-“
“Really?”
Kit whispered.
“Really!”
Baloo grinned.
“Thanks,
Baloo, I – I…”
“Don’t
mention it, Kid.P S’okay.” Baloo
grinned, tousling the boy’s hair.
“But
Baloo – I know where their hideout is, we can steal the stone back-“
“Slow
down, Kit!” Baloo laughed.P
“These are _bad_ guys you’re talkin’ about!P They play hardball, Kiddo.P It’s only money – it ain’t worth risking –
well, it just ain’t worth it, that’s all.P
We ain’t goin’ to no Pirate Island, L’il Britches.”
“But
Papa Bear!” the cub said desperately.P
“What about your plane?P
You’ll lose it, and it’s because of me-“
“Hogwash!P It’s not yer fault, Kiddo.P I been slackin’ off payments ta that bank
fer a long time.P I never even had a
crack at that sparkler till you showed up anyways.P Don’t beat yerself up!”
“I
still think we could get that stone-“
“NO,
Kit!P I tol’ ya, I ain’t gonna let you
risk yer neck on that ol’ rock.P Fergit
it.P We’ll just hafta think of somethin’
else.”
Kit folded
his arms angrily, but at some level he was strangely happy too.P He couldn’t explain it, he had no context
for it – but Baloo seemed genuinely interested in _him_ – money or not.P Was it possible?P Suddenly, inspiration struck.P
“Baloo!P I got an
idea!”
“What
is it?” the big bear asked dubiously.
“What
if we go back and collect your gorilla birds?P
We can find ’em, and deliver ’em to the zoo!P You’ll get your three thousand dollars – it’s not a hundred,
but-“
“Good
idea, Kit – but _how_?P I don’t even
know for sure which island we landed on – and there’s a million of ’em round
there.P Not to mention findin’ the
danged birds once we get there…”
Kit grinned
sheepishly.P “Uh -well, there’s
something else I didn’t tell you, Papa Bear.P
I know how to navigate.P I can
find the island, I was kinda watching the navigation equipment while we were
gettin’ away from the pirates… Old habit I guess.”
“Huh?”
Baloo interrupted.P “Kid – what’re
you talkin’ about?P You don’t
hafta-“
“It’s
true, Baloo!P Haven’t you figured out by
now that I don’t make stuff up?P I can
handle compasses, maps, sextants – I know how to do all of it.P I can find anyplace, anywhere!”
Baloo looked
the boy over appraisingly.P Clearly,
there was a lot more to him than met the eye.P
It was undeniable – every seemingly preposterous thing the cub had said
had turned out to be true – why not this?P
“Boy, L’il Britches – I didn’t think when I asked ya to be my
navigator I was gettin’ a fully trained one!” he chuckled.
Kit’s face
lit up like a Christmas tree.P “So
we go get the birds, then?”
“OK,
Kiddo – we go get the birds!” Baloo sighed.
“Ha
ha!P Kit, I gotta hand it to ya – ya
really know yer way around a map!”P
Baloo grinned, counting a thick was of bills.P “Ya led us back ta that island like you was born ta do
it.P Yer an ace, L’il Britches!”
“Thanks!”
the boy beamed at the big bear’s praise.P
“But it’s a good thing gorilla birds stay in flocks, or we’d never
have found ’em all.P Now you can keep
your plane, huh?”
“You
betP Kiddo – thanks to you!”
“I just
wish they didn’t stink so bad!” Kit winced, sniffing the sleeve of his
sweater.P “I’m gonna have to take
twenty baths just to get the stench out!P
An’ I hate takin’ baths…”
“You
an’ me both L’il Britches!” Baloo chuckled as they entered the bank.P “But it’s a small price ta pay knowin’
the Sea Duck’s safe an’ sound.”P He
approached the nearest teller with a broad smile.P “Hallo, Baloo Bear here to make a payment on his aircraft
loan!”
The teller
unsmilingly looked up Baloo’s name in his files.P “Ah yes, Mr. Baloo.P
You’ll need to see Mr. Kroner.P
That desk over there.”P He
pointed to a stern-looking walrus seated at a cluttered desk.
“Kroner,
right.” Baloo nodded, walking over to the desk.P “Hiya Pal!P Name’s
Baloo.P Here to-“
“Ah,
Mr. Baloo.” the walrus said primly, looking at the pilot over the top of
his glasses.P “We haven’t seen you
for quite a long time, have we now?”
“Er,
no, sorry about that.P I, uh, lost my
organizer.P But I got the three thousand
dollars fer my loan payment right here, nice an’ neat.”
Kroner
arched an eyebrow in surprise and counted the money.P “Indeed – it’s all here.P
You’re a very fortunate man, Mr. Baloo – we’ve had no offers to take
over your loan.P As such, we can now put
you back on a normal payment schedule-“
“Great!”
“Indeed.P But I warn you, Mr. Baloo – we have been
more than patient with you.P The next
time we won’t bother with all the notices, couriers… Do I make myself very
clear?”
“Clear
as daylight.” Baloo said grimly.
“Very
good.P Here is your receipt, Mr.
Baloo.P Have a very nice day.”
“Sweet
guy.” Baloo muttered, leading Kit out of the bank by the hand.
“You
know Baloo – you’re gonna have to be more careful!” Kit said
thoughtfully.P “If someone had
bought out your loan, you’d be outta luck!”
“Yeah,
I know Pardner.” Baloo sighed.P
“But ol’ Baloo’s a changed bear, Kit.P From now on, I’m gonna be a reg’lar Cornelius Van Der Bruin.P I’m gonna watch my pennies like a hawk.P Yessir, things are gonna be different – I’ve
learned my lesson!”
Kit was a
little dubious, his impressions of the pilot after knowing him for a few days
lending some skepticism to his outlook.P
Still, he was already incredibly grateful to the big bear – why not let
him have his moment?P They walked in
silence for a few minutes towards Baloo’s Air Service.P Finally, the cub squeezed Baloo’s paw gently
and looked up at him.P “So – what now,
Papa Bear?”
“Whaddaya
mean, Pardner?” the pilot smiled back at him.
“I
dunno… You got yer plane back, an’ everything…P I don’t think the pirates are gonna bother you anymore-“
“Kid –
like I tol’ ya, I was thinkin’ of addin’ a navigator, an’ you obviously got the
talent fer that job.P I like the way ya
handle yerself in a jam, too.P As far as
I’m concerned, we’re partners if ya want.P
What say – gonna stick around?”
Kit was
overcome by relief.P “Really?”
he whispered.
The grey
bear wrapped his arm around the boy’s shoulder.P “Whaddaya say, Kid – Partners?”
Kit chuckled
and looked down at his feet.P
“Um… sure, I guess I could stick around.P I don’t have any other plans right
now…”
“Great!”
Baloo grinned, playfully punching him in the jaw.P “Looks like we’re home, Kid.”
Kit looked
up – they were standing just outside Baloo’s Air Service.P They were home.P Suddenly, a large black limousine screeched to a halt and strong
hands grabbed him and tossed him into the back seat.P “Hey!” he managed to shout indignantly.
“Wha-?”
Baloo exclaimed as he flew into the car next to the boy.P The car screeched into motion and sped
towards downtown.P “Just what the
heck is this?!?” Baloo shouted indignantly.P “Who are you?P Where
we goin’?”
“Shut
up!” a uniformed panther growled from the front seat.
Baloo tried
the doors only to find them locked.P
“What the heck – who are these guys?”
“I
dunno.” Kit hissed, looking around him worriedly.P “But it looks like we don’t have a lot
to say about where we’re going…”
Within a few
moments the car skidded to a halt in front of Khan tower.P Bear and cub were hustled out of the limo
and roughly herded into the building and onto the elevator, which deposited
them in the familiar surroundings of Shere Khan’s office.
“Ah, so
glad you could stop by.” Khan’s voice purred from across the huge
room.P A small white rabbit in a lab
coat stood nervously next to the desk.
Baloo rolled
up his sleeves and marched angrily towards the desk.P “Oh, so it’s _you_, huh?P
Listen Khanny, you can’t just grab somebody of the street like
that!”
“I
dislike being told what I cannot do.” the tiger said a little
angrily.P “Now – where is the
stone?”
Baloo
glanced nervously down at Kit, who shrugged.P
“Er, yeah, about that stone…”
“Well?P Do you have the stone or not?” Khan
purred impatiently.
“Well –
er – the thing of it is… No.”
“Mmmyes.P If this is some sort of cloddish attempt to
extort more money from me-“
“We
dont have it.” Kit said suddenly in a loud, clear voice.P “Don Karnage does.”
Khan glared
at the boy in surprise.P
“Indeed.P Don Karnage, you
say?P I am displeased, Baloo.P You have let me down.”
“Yeah
well – sorry Khanny, but believe me I’da been happy to take a hundred thousand
shaboozies fer that night light.P We did
have it, but that ol’ pirate stole it from us.”
“He
stole it from _me_.” the big cat said ominously.
“Just
what’s so important about that rock anyways?” Kit interjected.P “It’s not a jewel – but you, Karnage,
everybody’s after it.P It’s an
electrical alloy, you said.P What’s the
big deal?”
Khan arched
an eyebrow thoughtfully at the boy, then turned and glared silently at the
rabbit for a moment.P “Well – you
see-” the rabbit began.
“That’s
enough, Doctor.” Khan hissed, grabbing the rabbit by the ears and holding
a paw over his mouth.P “If you are
hiding something from me – working with Karnage…”
“I hate
Karnage!” Kit spat venomously.
Baloo
glanced nervously down at the boy, surprised by the vitriol coming from his
innocent face.P “It’s the truth,
Khanny.P I’d love ta give you that
sparkler right now, but we don’t have it.P
The kid don’t lie.”
Khan
continued to hold the squirming rabbit absently by the ears as he eyed the bear
and cub cagily.P Finally, he set the
scientist down and turned towards the window.P
“You are all dismissed.” Baloo and Kit stared at each other,
then at Khan, then back at each other.P Finally,
they turned and walked out of the office and onto the elevator.
“So –
whaddaya think, Baloo?” Kit asked, smiling, as Baloo stumbled out of the
easy chair with a yawn.
The pilot
scratched his head and looked around the office.P “Geez, Kid – when’d ya do all this?P What time is it?”
“Almost
eleven.P I’ve been up for a few hours,
and you’ve been so nice an’ everything…P
I just thought I’d clean up the place a little, you know.P Get rid of some trash, and stuff.”
Baloo looked
around, jaw slack.P “Looks real
nice, Kiddo, but I had a system!P I knew
where ever’thin’ was-“
Kit
frowned.P “I know… But that
doesn’t make a very good impression on the customers, right?”
“Ain’t
been much of a problem lately.” the big bear muttered.P “Kit – you didn’t throw out my sandwich
collection?!?”
“Um…
Most of ’em were pretty, well – green, Papa Bear.P I didn’t think-“
“Well,
it’s OK Kid.P I appreciate you wantin’
to help out, but next time check with me before you do any household chores,
OK?”
“Sure
Baloo.” the cub said sheepishly.P
“Uh – since I’m, y’know, gonna be stayin’ for – well…”
“Yeah?”
Baloo grinned.
“Yeah.P Well, I noticed there’s a bedroom upstairs,
even though it’s kinda full of junk right now.P
I was thinkin’ maybe we could get some furniture somewhere, a garage sale
or something.P Some beds, tables… I feel
bad, I kicked you outta yer hammock an’ you hafta sleep in that chair-“
“Don’t
sweat it L’il Britches.” Baloo frowned.P
“That’s no big deal – I could sleep on a pile o’ rocks if I had
to.”P ~I hadn’t though about
furniture, cooking… School!P What about
school?~ the big bear mused.P ~There’s a
lot more to this than I realized…P
Gotta make this place more like a real home now, I guess…~
“What’s
the matter?” Kit asked timidly, a little taken aback by the pilot’s
silence.
~Kid’s
sensitive – gotta remember that!~ Baloo mused.P
“Nothin’, L’il Britches!” he grinned, tousling the cub’s
hair.P “Just thinkin’ about how
much fun we’re gonna have, that’s all.P
Haven’t had another face around the ol’ dump for… well, ever!”
“Fun?”
Kit smiled tentatively.
“Yeah –
it’ll be a blast!” Baloo laughed.
Deep in the
heart of a volcano, in a remote quarter of the south Pacific, a beehive of
activity droned, unseen by the outside world.P
Pirates of all shapes and sizes scurried about Pirate Island, preparing
for what promised to be the biggest job in their plundering lives.
“Get it
loaded, my men!” Don Karnage shouted as a band of buccaneers pulled a
strange looking machine along a set of railroad tracks towards the waiting jaws
of the Iron Vulture.P “We are
leaving in ten menudos!”
Karnage
rubbed his paws with anticipation as he saw the preparations taking place
around him.P Soon, he would finally have
the power, the respect he deserved – those Cape Suzette snobs would cower at
the very sound of his voice!P It was a
shame he hadn’t recaptured the boy – he would have liked to have shown his the
finest hospitality that his dungeons had to offer.P Still – the stone was the main thing.P There was an entire city to think about, after all.P And there would be opportunities later, for
revenge… A dish always best served cold.
The unusual
contraption was loaded into the airship, and Karnage’s men scurried to secure
their places on the historic voyage.P
Karnage grabbed the ship’s wheel, a cold glint in his dark eyes.P “Ready or not, Cape Suzette… Here I
come!”
“Yes.”
Shere Khan said softly, a small grin on his face and the telephone in his right
hand.P “Of course…P Yes.”
“Mr.
Khan!P Mr. Khan, Sir!” a voice
called, jerking his attention towards the door.P It was that disturbingly emotional scientist, Dr. DeBolt.P “I just figured it out!”
“In a
_moment_, Doctor!” Khan said irritably, hand over the mouthpiece.
“Yes,
but this is important!”P To Khan’s
amazement the rabbit disconnected him from his phone call.
“It had
_better_ be!” Khan said menacingly, slamming the receiver down on the
scientists hand, prompting a wail of pain.
“Nnnngggg!P Ouch…. I’ve been studying a list of what
the pirates stole from you over the last week!”
“The _point_,
Doctor?” Khan hissed, grabbing the unfortunate DeBolt by the ears again.
“W-well…”
the rabbit stammered, “It’s possible that the pirates have built a machine
that can focus the energy of the stone-“
“And?”
“Well –
basically, Don Karnage could now have in his possession… a lightning
gun!”
The tiger
dropped DeBolt to the desk and folded his arms imperiously.P “Absurd!” he hissed with a
scowl.P As soon as the words left his
lips, a tremendous explosion lit the night sky behind him.P He turned to the window with a start and
observed a great fireball where the cliff guns had previously been.
The security
forces manning the guns scurried for cover as a bolt of light pierced the sky
and the air around them was filled with flying scraps of metal.P “What’s going on?”
“Who’s
firing?”
“Air
pirates!”
On the Iron
Vulture, the long-snouted hound known as Ratchet sat at the controls of the
lightning gun, which was perched precariously in the open beak.P He fired shot after shot at the helpless
battlements below.P Karnage surveyed the
scene with a small hand-held telescope.P
“Hee hee!P Lookity-look –
they scurry like the little ants!P Once
more, with _feeling_, Ratchet!”
“Aye-aye,
Cap’n!” Ratchet replied, squeezing the trigger on the lightning gun.P The red jewel crackled, sparkled, and grew
brighter and brighter, until finally a beam of light shot out from the tip of
the gun and sent men and metal flying through the air below them.
“There!P See?P
I told you!” Dr. DeBolt yelled, pointing at the destruction visible
through the massive window in Khan’s office.
“Yes.P I believe you.P Thousands wouldn’t.” Khan replied calmly.P He picked up the phone on his desk.P “Get me the airfield!”P
“What
is it?” Baloo gasped, stumbling out the door and into the evening cool
after Kit.
The boy
stared upwards, binoculars in hand.P
“I dunno, Papa Bear!P It’s
the pirates – the Iron Vulture!P They
got past the cliff guns somehow!”
“Impossible!”
Baloo insisted, grabbing the binoculars.P
“Damn – yer right L’il Britches!P
It’s Karnage all right… Looks like ol’ Khanny’s sendin’ his entire
fleet up there after ‘im!”
“D’you
– will they be able to stop him, Baloo?” Kit whispered, a sinking feeling
in the pit of his stomach.P The sight of
the Iron Vulture filled him with a terrible foreboding.P Involuntarily he nuzzled against the big
bear.
Baloo felt
the trembling cub next to him and absently wrapped an arm around him.P “Khan’s pilots are aces, Kiddo –
they’ll cut that fool pirate to shreds, you watch.”
“Hee
hee!P How you do like them mangoes,
Citizens?” Karnage shouted gleefully as the airship sailed through the
cliffs and over Cape Suzette harbor.P A
scruffy pirate in a flap-eared hat whispered unintelligibly in his ear.P “What?” Karnage bellowed.P “They think to stop me with their
puny-type planes?”
A volley of
machine gun fire cut through the beak, causing Karnage and the other ruffians
to scurry for cover.P Karnage seethed,
his paws balled into fists.P He jumped
onto the lightning gun and tossed Ratchet to the deck.P “Off!P
Off, off – now!” he snarled.P
He aimed the lightning gun and fired shot after shot into the swarm of
oncoming planes.P “Take that!P And that! and even _that_!!” he howled.
Explosions
lit the sky, and soon a forest of parachutes slowly descended towards the
harbor as the lightning gun decimated the fleet of planes.
“My
gosh!” Kit whispered, binoculars in hand.P
Wildcat had joined them on the dock and all three of them stared skyward
as Shere Khan’s elite pilot corps was slowly cut to ribbons.P “They’ve got some kind of…
weapon!P The fighters don’t stand a
chance!”
The
remainder of Khan’s fleet retreated, knowing full well that they were
hopelessly outgunned.P Karnage calmly
stepped down for the controls of the lightning gun.P “Now then, where was I?” he mused, picking up a
microphone.P “Ah, yes…P Attention!P
Attention!P Hallo, wonderful
people of Cape Suzette!P Allow me to
introduce myself…P A man who needs
_no_ introduction…P The plundering wonder,
Don Karnage!”
From his
office, Shere Khan listened impassively.P
His claws shot out from his paw, and he dragged them across his desk,
sending curls of wood snaking into the air.
“For
years I have tried to visit your fair city…” Karnage continued,
“But you have always _shooted_ at me!P
Ahem.P However, now that I am
here – You will hand over all of your money and valuable knickety-knacks to me!P Okie-dokie?”P He listened for a moment, hand at his ear and a small grin on his
face.P “I do no’ hear a
yesss….”
“We
shall have to soften them up a bit!” he grinned.P “Barbecue a few more buildings, Ratchet!”P The dog complied, and the terrible reign of
destruction continued, as building and bridges were turned to piles of rubble
in seconds.
“Baloo
– we gotta do something!” Kit whispered as the big bear dragged him inside
and pulled him under the stairs.P
Wildcat followed and the three of them cowered there as explosions
filled the night sky.
“Do
somethin’?P Do what, Kit?P You saw what those pirates did to Khan’s
planes!P They wiped out a whole
fleet!P What can _we_ do?”
“Roast
marshmallows?” Wildcat asked helpfully.
“I
know…” Kit sighed.P “But you
heard him!P He’s gonna destroy the whole
city!P An’ it’s my fault…”
“Naw!”
Baloo said reassuringly.P “If
anythin’, yer little caper delayed ’em a couple days.P Ain’t nothin’ we can do now, ‘cept wait an’ hope, L’il Britches.P That weapon up there eats planes, an’ I
don’t wanna be dessert!”
From his
office, Shere Khan watched the devastation going on in the city around him with
growing apprehension.P Clearly, this
would not do – not only was the city – _his_ city – being smashed to bits, if
word ever escaped about the real source of Karnage’s weapon, Khan himself would
be blamed.P His reputation, at the very
least, would be tarnished, and at worst he could be forced to pay for
damages…
“What
are we going to do?” Dr. Debolt gasped as he watched the lightning gun rip
through another building.
“Cut
our losses.” Khan hissed, picking up the phone.P “Yes – radio to Don Karnage, aboard that – thing.P Inform him that I wish to meet him on the
roof in five minutes.P Tell him it’s to
discuss terms…”
“The
explosions have stopped…” Wildcat said softly, as he and the two bears
sheltered under the desk at Baloo’s Air Service.
Kit was
wracked with despair as he leaned his head on Baloo’s shoulder.P “Maybe they’re reloading, or
something…” he whispered.P
“Oh Baloo – this is terrible!P
I used to help him, work for him… How could I?P I don’t deserve to be your partner-“
“Hush,
Kit!” Baloo scolded.P “That’s
all over now, I tol’ ya a hundred times.P
Yer a good kid – I know ya are!P
We’re partners an’ that’s that.”
“Ya
seem nice to me!” Wildcat grinned.
“But
Baloo-“
“But
nuthin’!” Baloo said firmly.P
“The past is the past, I don’t wanna hear no more about it!P Somebody’ll find a way to stop Karnage, I
know they will.P And if he tries to hurt
you – well… he’ll have to go through me first!P And that won’t be easy, I promise…” he said menacingly.
Kit was
baffled.P He’d never seen anyone behave
like the grey bear.P “Why?P Why are you doing this?P Why do you care about me anyways?”
“Because
yer a good kid.” Baloo said challengingly.P “An’ anybody who says different is gonna be sorry!”
“Still
no explosions…” Wildcat said hopefully.
“Well
well, if it is not the biggest-type fish in the Cape Suzette sea!” Don
Karnage said derisively as he stood on the roof of Khan Tower, a dozen yards or
so from Shere Khan himself.P Each was
flanked by several armed associates, and the Iron Vulture hovered
overhead.P “What is it, you
financiering fool?P I am wasting
valuable pillaging time…”
“I
propose a deal, Karnage.”P the
tiger said coolly.P “One that will
serve both our best interests.”
“I do
no’ see that you are in a position to discuss a deal, my stripe-ed
friend!” the red wolf sneered.P
“When it comes to the cards, I am the one who is doing all of the
holding, yes?”
“So it
may appear, my good Sir.” Khan purred.P
“However, a thorough review of the facts would seem to indicate
otherwise.P Indeed, you have the upper
hand as of this moment.P However, you
have seen only a tiny portion of what Khan Enterprises has to offer.P I have hundreds of planes, all over the south
Pacific.P They have been summoned and
are on their way here even as we speak.P
You may shoot down a good many of them Sir, but there are limits even to
the technology you have – acquired – from me.P
Sooner or later you will be overwhelmed.”
“You
are bluffing, my feline friend!” Karnage growled, a little tentatively.
“I do
not _bluff_, Mr. Karnage.P And if that
were not enough, I have my very best scientists at work even now developing a
response to the weapon in your possession.P
The same scientists who developed the weapon itself.P They will have several options shortly, I am
certain.P Again, only a matter of
time.”
“Then I
say, be taking your best shot, yes-no?” the wolf sneered.P “If all this is true why are you doing
the negotiating with me?”
Khan looked
at the pirate with disdain.P
“Because you are indeed in a position of strength – at this
moment.P Because I would prefer this
matter settled sooner rather than later – for several reasons.P I am certain you are aware, Sir, that Khan
industries is worth several billion dollars.P
I might perhaps be persuaded to – purchase – the lightning gun back from
you, in addition to certain other concessions.P
It is either that, or you see how much you can stuff in you pockets
before your weapon is destroyed and you flee the city in flames.P I think my way is better, wouldn’t you
agree?”
“Why,
stripe-ed one?P Why should I trust you –
and why should you want such a deal?”
“Why
indeed?P I always keep my promises, Mr.
Karnage – and I never go back on a deal.P
Besides…” the tiger said, almost whimsically, “In this
instance I believe that I could pay cash.P
And, given the extensive nature of the damage you have already caused,
someone will need to be contracted to rebuild, will they not?P Someone, perhaps, who holds monopolies on
all of the constructions and building materials companies in Cape
Suzette?”
Karnage
smiled in spite of himself, beginning to wonder which man on that roof was the
real pirate.P “You have captured my
attention, Mr. Khan.P Now then – as they
say, wine and dine me – sweep me off my feet, yes?P Excellamundo!”
“Indeed.P Before we begin, Dear Sir, let me make one
thing clear – As I told you, I never go back on a deal.P However, any deal that is broken by the
other party, well… That’s no longer an agreement then , is it?P I dislike broken deals, Mr. Karnage.P They make me angry.P I am not a good man to anger, my friend.P Am I making myself clear?”
“Clear
as the freezing-type ice, my feline friend.” Karnage hissed.P The two men strode closer to each other,
each wearing an expression hard as diamonds on their faces.
“Baloo!”
Kit scolded, checking his pocketwatch.P
“If we stop at Louie’s we’re gonna be late delivering the canned
peas to Port Leseur!P It’s the first
delivery we’ve had in a week!”
The yellow
seaplane began to descend towards the small, palm-dotted isle that housed
Louie’s Place.P “Aw, take it easy
L’il Britches.P A little delay never
hurt anybody.P Besides, I need to get me
a good breakfast in the mornin’ ta face the day!”
“Breakfast?P It’s almost noon!”
“Kin I
help it if I overslept?” the pilot yawned.P “Besides, flyin’s a lot harder what with all those pirate
attacks around here the last few weeks.”
“Yeah…P Ever since that business in Cape Suzette,
the air pirates just seem – _bolder_, somehow…”
“Yeah
well, least they ain’t pounding the stuffin’ out of Cape Suzette.P Be grateful fer small favors, I say.”
“Well,
here we are.” the boy sighed as Baloo made his final approach to
Louie’s.P “I sure hope you know
what you’re doing, Baloo…”
“Aw,
Kid!P Ya gotta learn ta relax, loosen
up.P Have fun!P All you worry about is workin’, responsibilities.P You gotta learn my secret o’
relaxation…”
“No way
to run an airline!” Kit said softly.P
“Whaddaya
mean, I don’t get paid?!?” Baloo bellowed.P “I got a contract right here, fella!”
“Yes,
Mr. Baloo.” the shipping clerk, a large spotted jackal with a clipboard,
said patiently.P “But if you’ll
read your contract, you’ll see that it states clearly that your responsibility
is to deliver forty crates of canned peas to our location by three P.M.,
November 22, 1937.P You have not done
that, Mr. Baloo – it’s currently five P.M..P
Clause six states that if you do not complete your delivery by the specified
time your payment is forfeit!”
“Tol’
ya!” Kit scolded.
“Lemmee
see that!” Baloo growled, grabbing the contract.P “Clause six, clause six…P
You sneaky son of a – you guys planted that clause to trip me up!P I delivered the goods, I should get
paid!P I got held up, is all – it was…
air pirates, I tell ya!”
“I’m
very sorry, but that clause is standard in all of our shipping contracts.P Perhaps the next time you’ll make certain to
deliver on time?”
The grey
bear glowered at the clerk for a moment, looking as though he were
contemplating physical violence.P
Finally, he grabbed Kit’s paw and led him to the cockpit.P “C’mon, Kid – let’s get outta here.P Last time I deal with these crooks!”
“I’m
sorry, Baloo.” the cub said softly, strapping into his chair.P “But I warned ya that stop at
Louie’s-“
“All
right, all right, don’t rub it in!” Baloo growled.P “Don’t gloat Kiddo.P Nobody likes a gloater…”
“Sorry.”
Kit mumbled.P “Do – do you have any
more deals lined up, Papa Bear?”
“Don’t
you worry, L’il Britches.P Ol’ Baloo’s
the best pilot in these skies – ever’body knows that.P They’ll line up from here ta Thembria ta hire me, I just gotta
decide which jobs ta take, that’s all.P
Don’t you worry.”
“I sure
hope so…” Kit whispered, staring out the window.
“So
then I put ‘er into a reverse Immelman, flew straight into the waterfall and
all three o’ the pirates crashed into the mountain!P Even gave the Sea Duck a free wash in the process.P How’z that fer a story, Kiddo?”
“Pretty
amazing, Papa Bear!” Kit laughed.P
He wasn’t sure if half the stories the grey bear told were true, but
even half would still make him the best pilot Kit had ever seen.P “I sure hope I can learn to fly like
you someday.”
“Hey –
with me teachin’ ya, yer gonna be an ace!” Baloo grinned.P “Besides, yer already the best danged
navigator I ever seen.P Fer a kid yer
age, that ain’t bad!”
“Thanks!”
Kit beamed, as ever feeling a little thrill when the big bear praised him.P He stared out the window for a few moments,
taking note of the large fluffy cumulonimbus clouds gathering outside the
plane.P He decided it was time for an
admission.P “Papa Bear – um,
there’s something I haven’t told ya…”
“What’s
that Pardner?” Baloo asked, curious about the hesitant tone in the cub’s
voice.
“Well –
you remember that first time we met, at Louie’s?P How I kinda… flew in and landed on top of you?”
“Heh
heh!P Not like I’m gonna fergit an
entrance like that!P What about it,
Kiddo?”
Kit reached
under his sweater and pulled out his airfoil.P
“Well, I was riding on this, maybe you noticed-“
“Yeah,
I guess so.P I been meanin’ ta ask ya
what that was, Kid, but I figgered – well, it’s yer business, you’ll tell me
when yer ready.”
Kit
swallowed hard.P “Well, I think
it’d be easier to show you than tell you… Ya got any rope, Baloo?”
The pilot
frowned.P “Yeah, winch in back, by
the tail.P Why, Kit?”
The boy
smiled sheepishly.P “I don’t think
you’d believe me if I told you…P Open
the cargo hatch and I’ll demonstrate what this board does.”
“The
cargo hatch?!?”P Baloo was
completely baffled.P “Kid, I-“
“Trust
me.” the cub said, staring directly into Baloo’s eyes.P “Please?”
Baloo stared
thoughtfully.P The boy _had_ earned a
little trust, he supposed.P He opened
the cargo hatch, an uneasy feeling in his stomach.P “OK, L’il Britches, but I still-“
“Thanks
Papa Bear!” Kit grinned, cuffing the bear’s neck.P “Just fly straight on and don’t worry,
OK?P I know what I’m doing!”
“What?P Kid-” Baloo started, but the boy had
already darted back into the cargo hold.P
Baloo watched over his shoulder as he grabbed the end of the tow rope
and tied it into a loop.P With a
cheerful wave at the pilot he bounced twice, slid the air foil under his feet
and was out the back of the plane, floating in midair.
“Kid!”P Baloo shouted, momentarily panicked.P He put the autopilot on and dashed to the
hatch, but to his amazement the boy seemed in no distress – he was scudding along
the top of the clouds, sending great plumes of vapor flying in his wake.
The boy
grinned a mile wide and waved at Baloo, who stared, mouth agape.P “Wa-HOO!” Kit shouted, an
exclamation that sounded as close to pure joy as anything Baloo had ever heard
in his thrity-seven years.
“Where’d
he learn that?” Baloo whispered to no one in particular as he stared at
the unbelievable spectacle before him.P
Kit continued to gleefully skim the tops of the clouds, arcing left,
than right with seemingly little effort, the wind whipping through his
fur.P After a few moments he gave a
tugging signal to Baloo, and the pilot snapped out of his daze and began
turning the winch that retracted the tow rope.
As soon as
the cub was safely in the hold Baloo picked him up and squeezed him
tightly.P “Kid, I – I can’t believe
it!P Yer crazy!P How could you do that without warnin’ me
first?”
“If I’d
told you, would you have let me do it?” Kit grinned sheepishly.
Baloo set
the boy down and walked slowly back to the cockpit, shaking his head.P “Can’t say’s I would’ve, Kit, but still
– that can’t be safe!P Where in the
world did ya learn how to do that?”
“It’s
safe, I promise!” Kit puffed, breathing heavily as he strapped into his
seat.P “I’ve just always known,
Baloo – even I’m not sure how.P But
that’s how I escaped from the pirates.”
“Ain’t
never seen anythin’ like it…” Baloo mumbled.
“Told
ya you wouldn’t believe me!” Kit grinned.P
“Baloo, I promise you, it’s safe – I know what I’m doing.”
“Kiddo,
I just dunno – all that’s holdin’ ya up is that rope, I just dunno…”
“Papa
Bear!” Kit said earnestly.P
“Y’know how you feel, when you do a reverse Immelman, and lose a
bunch of pirates?P Or a pretzel twist,
or any of the amazing things you’ve done?P
Well, I don’t know what that feels like, not exactly.P But I have an idea…P Baloo – that’s how I feel, when I
cloudsurf!P It really means something to
me, it’s part of who I am, somehow.P Do
you understand?”
Baloo shook
his head slowly and stared over at the strange cub sitting next to him,
wondering what he’d gotten himself into.P
There seemed to be a new surprise every day with him.P “I dunno, L’il Britches – You sure are
somethin’ else…”
“So
that’s when we jumped across the lake of alligators and onto the plane, and
within a few moments we were off the island and escaped the pirates.P The end.”
“Very
nice Kit.” Mrs. Pomdreck nodded approvingly, as the class applauded.P “I’m very impressed with your
imagination.P I think your essay
reflects a bright future for you in my English class.P But in future, I’d like you to try writing about something from
your real life, all right?”
“Uh,
right Mrs. Pomdreck.” Kit said sheepishly, taking his seat.P
After the
bell, a young hyena from Kit’s class caught up with him in the hallway.P “Hey, I liked your story – it was
really neat!” the boy said.
“Thanks!”
Kit grinned.
“I’m
Ernie, by the way.” the boy said, extending his paw.
“Kit
Cloudkicker.P I’m kinda new around here,
I don’t know too many people.P Seems
like a nice school-“
“It’s
OK, I guess.” Ernie said dissmissively.P
“How do you think that stuff up?P
It’s like one of those Saturday serials down at the paragon!”
“Uh –
that was all true, Ernie!” Kit smiled slyly.P “My… the guy I live with is a pilot, so we see a lot of
action – pirates, y’know.P But I didn’t
wanna tell Mrs. Pomdreck that, she’d never believe me.”
“_That_
was real?” Ernie scowled.P
“C’mon Kit… really?”
“Really!P It happened, I can show you our plane and
stuff sometime, if you want.”
“That’d
be neat!” the other boy grinned.P
“Say Kit – you know, we’ve got a little club, some friends and I –
well, I’m the president actually.P The
Jungle Aces Secret Midnight Club!P All
you have to do to join is have an adventure – and if that story of yours is
true, I think that qualifies!P You wanna
join?”
“Sure –
that’d be great!” Kit smiled, pleased to have found a new friend.
“Great!P We’re goin’ over to the malt shop now, if
you wanna come.”
The cub
glanced at his pocketwatch.P “Sorry
– I can’t right now, I have to work.P
Maybe next time?”
“Work?P You have a job?”
“Sure!”
Kit grinned, thoroughly enjoying himself.P
“I’m Baloo’s navigator – that’s the guy I live with.P We’ve got a flight this afternoon.”
“Wow!”
Ernie gasped.P “Some kind of
top-secret mission?”
Kit laughed
and clapped the boy on the back.P
“Naw – delivering lamps, I think!”
“Oh.”
Ernie replied, sounding a little disappointed.P
“Well, I’ll tell you all about the club an’. everything tomorrow,
OK?”
“OK
great, see you later!” Kit grinned, and started back for home.P He’d had his reservations about starting
school, hanging around kids all day – he hadn’t done that since he was nine
years old… But this school wasn’t as bad as the orphanage, and he’d even made
a friend now, joined a club.P Cape
Suzette was starting to feel like… well, no place he’d ever been.P He could get used to it, that was for sure.
“Put on
that ol’ boggie-woogie tune o’ mine, willya, L’il Britches?” Baloo called,
tossing the pile of dirty dishes into the sink, knowing full well that Kit
would wash them before they piled up too high.P
The boy never complained, and Baloo was never much for housework.
“Sure
thing Papa Bear!” Kit replied, heading over to the gramophone and sliding
Baloo’s favorite tune onto the turnstile.P
He jumped as Baloo grabbed him from behind, tickling him under the chin,
a weakness the pilot had discovered not long after Kit had joined him.P “Stop!” Kit screeched, doubling
over in laughter.
“Gotcha!”
Baloo laughed, tossing the cub into the air and catching him.P He fell back into his easy chair and set the
boy down next to him.P “Not such a
tough guy now, huh?”
“You
_know_ I hate that!” Kit said irritably, punching the pilot in his ample
gut.
“Oof!P Get the number of that bus, Pardner?”
Baloo laughed, holding his belly in mock agony.P Kit settled in next to him, resting his head on the grey bear’s
shoulder. He loved this part of the day best – just sitting next to Baloo,
after dinner, neither saying much of anything.P
For Kit, the comforting closeness of the big bear was more than enough.
Kit snuggled
closer to the pilot, feeling happier than he could ever remember.P “I love this.” he smiled sleepily.
Baloo
grinned amicably down at him.P
“What’s that, Pardner?”
The boy
blushed furiously.P “Nothing, never
mind.” he whispered.
“Me
too.” Baloo chuckled.
“Don’t
forget my parents night assembly tomorrow, Baloo – I’m reading my essay to the
whole school, remember?P The teacher
said it was the best one in all of her classes.”
“Oh
yeah, Tuesday, right?”
“Tomorrow
_is_ Tuesday!” Kit replied.P
“I have to be there at six-thirty, OK Papa Bear?”
“Sure
Kid, six-thirty Tuesday, gotcha.” Baloo yawned.P “No problem…”
“Oh
Baloo, I almost forgot, there were two phone calls today while you were
out.P They both sounded like pretty good
shipping contracts, I took down all the information.P One of them was some outfit called ‘Fandango Mango’, a delivery
for June 5th-“
“My
schedule’s pretty full right now, Kid.P
I dunno if I kin fit any more customers in…”
“Baloo!”
Kit said, a hint of worry creeping into his voice.P “You’ve hardly delivered anything this last month – how are
you gonna pay the bills?P What about the
bank?”
“You
let me handle that stuff, L’il Britches.” Baloo said confidently.P “I’m the grown-up here, not you.P I think I know how ta run my own
business-“
“I
hope!”P Kit seethed a little, as he
always did when Baloo dismissed him.P
“I just think it’s a bad idea to turn away work-“
“Work
work work!” Baloo grumbled.P
“That’s all you think about.P
Flyin’s what it’s all about, Kiddo.P
Just remember that.”
“As
long as you’ve got your plane…” Kit whispered.P He pushed those thoughts out of his head, not wanting to spoil
the euphoria he’d felt a few moments earlier.P
He yawned and rested his head contentedly on Baloo’s chest, and the big
bear grinned and scratched his ears.P
Within a few moments bear and cub were asleep.
“Where
_is_ he?” Kit said to no one, looking at his watch nervously.P “It’s after six… where could he
be?”P He sat at the table and
rested his chin in his hands, listening desperately for the telltale sound of
the Sea Duck’s engines as it approached for a landing.P Nothing.
Finally, at
six-fifteen, he pounded his paw on the table angrily.P “Papa Bear – where _are_ you?” he shouted at the empty
room.P Should he go to the
assembly?P Was Baloo hurt, had there been
an accident?P He’d get in trouble if he
didn’t go to the assembly…P “How
could he?P Where is he?” the cub
whispered.
He could
wait no longer – he had no money for a cab, he’d have to ride his bike… Ride
his bike wearing his suit.P To go to
parents night, with no parent.P
“Where are you?” he whispered softly, heading out the door.
The parent’s
night assembly passed in a blur in Kit’s mind.P
Except for the questions about why he was alone – where were his
folks?P A few judicious lies stopped the
questions, but Kit couldn’t miss the thinly veiled looks of pity in the eyes of
the other parents, or the whispers and glances in his direction.
Even reading
the essay to the assembly was a blur in his memory.P He’d read the words off of the paper in front of him, but they
were meaningless to him.P All he felt
was nervousness and hollow disappointment as he looked out over the impassive
faces staring up at him, and eagerness for the night to be over.P Just be over.
He rode his
bicycle home in the dark, staring straight ahead, trying not to think about
what he’d say when he got home.P He
pulled up at Baloo’s Air Service, where the Sea Duck was docked in it’s normal
spot.P He stashed his bike behind
Wildcat’s workshop and headed inside.
“Kit!”
Baloo exclaimed when he appeared through the door.P “Where the heck were ya?P
I was startin’ ta get worried!”
Kit stared
back at him, mouth slightly agape.P He
turned away and discreetly wiped away a tear.P
“I was at my assembly.P
Where were you?”
“The
assembly?P That’s Tuesday!”
“Today
is Tuesday.” the cub said quietly without looking at Baloo as he sat at
the table.
The pilot
scowled.P “Oops!P Sorry about that Pardner – I got my signals
crossed, there was a real jumpin’ crowd at Louie’s, figgered you’d be OK…
Forgot about your assembly.P Sorry
Kiddo!”
“That’s
OK. ” the boy said huskily, staring at the wall.
“What was
that assembly for, again?”
“Parents
night.” Kit whispered.
Baloo’s jaw
dropped for a moment.P “Aw,
that’s… – I’m real sorry Kit.”P
He sat next to the cub and set a paw on his shoulder gently.P “How’d ya get home an’ all?”
“Rode
my bike.”
“In the
dark?” the pilot frowned.
“I
didn’t have money for a cab.” Kit replied, a hint of anger creeping into
his voice.P He choked back a tear and
stared balefully at the wall, determined not to meet the pilot’s gaze.
“I – I
– ” Baloo stammered.
“I tol’
ya I’m fine!” Kit snapped, trying to come to grips with his feelings.P He’d come to rely too much on the grey bear
– it was obvious to him now.P He
wouldn’t have thought Baloo could ever be so insensitive to something he cared
about, but the facts were the facts.P It
was his own fault for not seeing it sooner.P
He’d looked forward for days to meeting Baloo’s eyes as he looked out
over the audience, seeing the big bear smile and wink at him…
“OK.”
Baloo whispered, staring down at his feet.P
“Say Kid -howzabout we go fishin’ tomorrow, you an’ me?P We can fly over ta Veronica Lake, I’ll even
let you steer-“
“It’s a
school day.” Kit hissed, hurt more by the pilot’s last offer than by
anything else in this long night.P A sob
escaped his chest, then another.P
“It’s a school day, I can’t miss school…”
Baloo shrank
back, withdrew his hand from the boy’s shoulder as if it were burning hot.P “Whatever you say… L’il
Britches.” he whispered.P He stood
and walked slowly up the stairs, glancing furtively back at the table, where
the cub sat, partially hunched over.P
The pilot walked into the bedroom and Kit sat up and wiped his
eyes.P He looked around the room, but he
was alone.
“_Sold_
it?P Whaddaya mean sold it?” Baloo
yelled into the phone.P “You didn’t
send nobody, I never-“
“Mr.
Baloo, we sent you several notices.” Jules Kroner’s voice droned at the
other end of the line.P “If you’ll
look at your statement of August 25, 1938, labeled ‘Final Warning’-“
“But –
but… How?P Dontcha have to send
somebody out, like before?P I-“
“Mr.
Baloo, as I recall you were explicitly told that in future we would not extend
you the same courtesies that we did the last time.P You have missed three consecutive payments, and your last
statement indicated that if we had not received your payment in the sum of two
thousand dollars by September 1st we would put your deed up for sale.P That is exactly what we did, and it has been
sold.P I’m sorry.”
“But…
but… I gotta kid – responsibilities!P
How…”
“I’m
sorry.P We have given you every
opportunity, Sir.P The new owner is a
Mr. Stern – he holds the deed to both the airplane and the buildings.P I would imagine he will be contacting you
shortly.P Now, I believe that I have no
further business with you.P Good day,
Sir.”
“Wait!P Hello?” Baloo called desperately, but
there was only silence on the line.P He
dropped the receiver to the desk with a thud and collapsed into his easy chair.P He glanced up sharply as the door opened and
Kit walked in.
“Hey
Papa Bear!” the boy said cheerily.P
“Wildcat an’ I finished tuning up the port engine, he’s showin’ me
how – what’s wrong?” he asked worriedly, seeing Baloo’s expression.
“Aw,
Kid…” the pilot whispered.P
“Kid, I – I – “
“What
is it?” Kit gasped, walking over to the chair.P “What’s wrong, Papa Bear?”
The big grey
bear pulled the cub onto his lap and looked away.P “Kit, I – they sold the business, Kid.P And the plane.”
“What?!?”
“The
bank, L’il Britches!P I guess I missed a
few payments, an’ after last time-“
“I
can’t believe it!” Kit gasped.P
“Why – why didn’t you tell me Baloo?P Why didn’t you let me know things were that bad?”
Baloo
laughed bitterly.P “I guess I
didn’t know they was, Kit.P I missed
payments before, didn’t think it was that big a deal… I didn’t… didn’t even
read the statements, L’il Britches.P
It’s my fault, I screwed up!”
Kit wrung
his hands anxiously, his secure world collapsing under him.P “Maybe it won’t be that bad…” he
whispered hopefully.P “Oh Baloo –
your plane!P I’m sorry…”
“Naw,
_I’m_ sorry Kit!” Baloo hissed angrily.P
“I got nobody to blame but myself fer this…P The new owner’s some guy named Stern, I
guess he’s gonna contact us…”
“Well –
maybe he needs a pilot?P Maybe he’ll let
you fly for him…”
“Maybe.”
Baloo sighed, pummeling himself mentally.P
~How could you do this – it ain’t just yer life yer screwin’ up
now!P Ain’t you ever learned nothin’?~
“It’ll
be OK.” Kit said softly, wrapping his arms around Baloo tightly.P “We’ll be fine…”
“Sure
Kiddo.” Baloo whispered.P
“It’ll be fine…”
Kit and
Baloo both wore morose faces as they sat at the table at Baloo’s Air
Service.P Baloo drummed his fingers on
the table nervously, and Kit glanced at his watch.P “Wonder what this new owner’s gonna be like…” he said
anxiously.
“Dunno
L’il Britches.” Baloo replied.P
“I’ll betcha he don’t give a darn about flyin’, though – prob’ly
some snot-nosed businessman who only cares about makin’ money.”
“You
don’t know that…” Kit said dubiously.
Wildcat
strolled into the office, greasy rag in hand, his visage bearing no visible
trace of anxiety.P “Hey guys!P The new owner here yet?”
“Naw,
he said two o’clock, Wildcat.P Should be
here any minute.” Baloo replied glumly.P
“May as well stick around.”
As if on
cue, there was a knock on the door.P
Wildcat pulled it open to reveal a well dressed leopard with a
briefcase.P “Hey, Man!” the
mechanic said cheerfully.
“Hello.P Are you Mr. Baloo?” the leopard said
dubiously.
“I’m
Baloo.” the pilot called, rising from the table with a sigh and extending
his hand.P “Pleasure to meet
ya.”
“Cosmo
Stern.” the leopard said, unsmiling.P
“Has the bank informed you of my purchase of your assets?”
“Yessir.P They called me a few hours ago.”
“Very
good.” Stern nodded, looking about the room appraisingly.P “Not much of a space here, but I
suppose it’ll do for an office.P What’s
upstairs?”
“Oh,
uh, that’s the bedroom.P Me an Kit live
here y’see-“
“Indeed.”
the big cat said dubiously. “The bank said that you had two employees, Mr.
Baloo?”
Baloo
frowned.P “Yeah – this is Wildcat,
he’s our mechanic.P Wildcat, Cosmo
Stern, the new boss.”
“Hiya!”
Wildcat grinned, sticking out a greasy paw.
“Mr.
Wildcat.” Stern nodded, casting a look at the mechanic’s hand.P “I’ll pass on the handshake, under the
circumstances.”
Kit had
risen and stood next to the grey bear.P
“And this is Kit Cloudkicker.”
“Your
son?”
Baloo
coughed.P “Er – that is… I kinda
look after the boy, he don’t have any folks.P
But he’s also my navigator-“
“Navigator?”
Stern laughed.
“That’s
right!P Darn good one too!” Baloo
said defensively.
Stern shook
his head vigorously.P “Mr. Baloo,
I’ll get right to the point – I’m obviously going to need a pilot, and since
you’re already here I’m prepared to keep you on for that purpose rather than go
to the trouble and expense of finding a new one.P Are you interested?”
“Sure –
I guess.” Baloo sighed.P
“Least I’ll still get to fly my baby…”
“And
Mr. Wildcat – I don’t see any reason to bring on a new mechanic – you know the
plane already, and antiques like that are notoriously temperamental.P Pending your work being satisfactory I’m
prepared to keep you on as well.”
“You
don’t hafta worry about Wildcat’s ‘work’, Mr. Stern.” Baloo said
irritably.P “He’s the best mechanic
in Cape Suzette, you’ll find out-“
“Baloo!”
Kit hissed.
“Yeah
sure, like I’ll stick around.” Wildcat smiled.P “Where am I gonna go, anyways?”
“Fine,
fine.P So that’s settled.P But this business about the boy being the
‘navigator’-“
“His
name’s Kit Cloudkicker!” Baloo interrupted.
“Yes.”P Stern frowned at Baloo, then at Kit.P “In any case, I’m sure there’s some
sentimental value to this arrangement, but I will not have a child on board my plane
for official business.P Do you have any
idea what effect that would have on insurance rates?”
“Wait –
you can’t!” Kit pleaded.
“I’m
sorry, but this is an air cargo service, not a day care.P The child is officially barred from all
flights.P Most cargo firms don’t have a
navigator at all and I don’t see that this one should be any different.”
“Papa
Bear, do something!” the cub whispered, grabbing the pilot’s arm.P “Please!”
“Now
see here Cosmo-“
“Mr.
Stern.”
Baloo
sighed.P “Mr. Stern.P You gotta understand, Kit ‘n I – we’re a
team!P He’s a good navigator, Mr.
Stern.P He helps me a million ways til’
Tuesday – I need him up there!”
“I’m
sorry.P On top of everything else we’d
be a laughing stock in the industry.”
“Nobody
laughs!” Kit said indignantly.P
“Not more than once anyways!”
“Mr.
Stern – we’re a team, like I said.P If
Kit don’t fly I don’t either!”
“Well –
in that case, I guess I’d better start looking for a new pilot then, hadn’t
I?”
Kit grabbed
Baloo by the arm.P “It’s OK.P We’ll do it this way, Papa Bear.P I don’t hafta fly, it’s not that
important.”
“But
Kid!” Baloo protested.P “We’re
a team, you and me!P If yer
grounded-“
“That’s
the way it’s gotta be.” the cub sighed.P
“And
there’s one more thing.” Stern said, walking over to the desk.P “I presume from your earlier remarks
that you and the child live here.P As I
have no specific plans for the upstairs area I’m prepared to allow you to stay
on, but you’ll have to start paying rent of course.”
“Rent?”
Baloo shouted indignantly.P “Ta
live in my own place?”
“It’s
my place now.” Stern said calmly, sweeping a load of papers into the
wastebasket.P “I’m sorry if this
all seems a bit harsh to you, but you must understand that this business has
consistently lost money for years.P I’m
only doing what must be done to turn it around and that will be to all of our
benefits.P Now Mr. Wildcat – perhaps
you’d like to give me a tour of the maintenance facilities?”
“What’s
that, Man?”
“The
workshop.” Kit said softly.
“Oh!P Yeah sure, Mr. Stern, you just follow me,
I’ll show you all my gizmos and doo-hickeys and maybe even the
thingamajigs.”P The mechanic led
the new owner outside, leaving the bear and the cub alone.
“What a
sweetheart.” Baloo said sarcastically.
“I
can’t believe it!P I’m not gonna be able
to fly…”
“Dangit
Kit, that ain’t fair!P Mebbe I oughtta
just tell that guy where he can stick his lousy job!”
“Baloo
– you can’t.” Kit sighed, sinking into the easy chair.P “If you quit, you’ll never be able to
fly the Duck again.”
The pilot
snatched his cap off his head and twisted it in his hands.P “Don’t you worry, Kiddo.P I’ll figger out a way to get you in the air
again.P And I’ll figger out a way ta buy
back the Duck back too.”
“I know
you will.” Kit said glumly, not sounding as though he believed it.P “We’ll be OK.”P It was amazing – his entire world had fallen
apart in one day.P He couldn’t even
imagine not being able to fly…
Kit cleared
the dishes off of the table and carried them to the sink.P The last week had been the longest he could
remember.P Every time he watched the Sea
Duck take off, leaving him behind, he thought he’d break down.P The first time had been the worst, knowing
that there’d be no flight for him tomorrow, or next week.P Who knew when -or if- he’d fly again?P
The worst
part, though, was that he found himself feeling angry and bitter towards Baloo
– why couldn’t the pilot have just kept up on his loan payments, taken all the
businesss he could have had instead of lying around on his duff?P He hated Baloo for screwing up his
happiness, and he hated himself for hating Baloo.
The strain
between them was obvious, but neither wanted to talk much about it.P Baloo had reasons enough to be depressed,
and Kit wasn’t going to heap any more on top of them.P Baloo, as was his wont after dinner lately, sat in his easy
chair, eyes closed.P He’d been staying
there without speaking until bedtime.
Kit watched
him for a moment, then walked over to the gramophone and set Baloo’s favorite
tune on the turnstile.P The
boogie-woogie strains begin to fill the room, but Baloo didn’t open his
eyes.P “I ain’t much in the mood
for music L’il Britches.” he said irritably.P “Go ahead and turn it off, OK?”
“OK
Papa Bear.” Kit sighed, complying.P
He stared at the grey bear, who sat impassively, not returning his
gaze.P All of a sudden Kit didn’t care
about flying any more.P Impulsively, he
walked over and climbed into the chair, throwing his arms around the pilot
tightly.
“What’s
that for?” Baloo asked, surprised.
“Just
cause you’re my pal.” Kit grinned up at him.P He rested his head on Baloo’s chest and sighed.
“Yer
the best, Kiddo.” Baloo said quietly.P
“I miss
you…” Kit whispered.
Baloo patted
the cub’s back silently.P “I’ll get
ya back on the Sea Duck somehow, L’il Britches.P I’ll find some way…”
“I
know.”
Kit sat on
Wildcat’s workbench, silently watching the mechanic tinker with an old radio
set.P It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy the
mechanic’s company – the lion had never been anything less than kind to Kit,
and had never treated him as anything less than an equal, unlike most adults in
the boy’s experience, even Baloo.P He
was learning more about aircraft design and mechanics than he’d ever known
before.P But it wasn’t where he wanted
to be.
That being
said, it was better than the alternative.P
He certainly wasn’t going to hang around the office all day – Cosmo
Stern was not what Kit would call good company, and he seemed to view the boy’s
daily presence at his place of business as an annoying intrusion.P So Kit’s days were mostly spent in the
company of Wildcat, absently watching him tinker and toil at his various tasks,
and waiting for Baloo to arrive back from his deliveries, which were becoming
more frequent as the days went by.P Kit
had to at least give Stern that much credit.P
He found himself almost looking forward to school starting in a few
days.
“See,
Kit?” Wildcat said, seemingly glad to have a protege in his workshop for a
change.P “The defragulator’s all
jinked up.P That causes all the static
on the lower frequencies.P So you gotta
tie off the illioscope, and patch it through the Gibson inputs.P Pretty neat, huh?”
“Yup!”
Kit grinned.P Wildcat’s world seemed so
simple, so predicable.P Did the lion see
it that way, the cub wondered?P The
familiar drone of the Sea Duck’s engines filled his ears, and he checked his
watch.P “Oh boy – he’s late
again!” he said worriedly.
“Know
how he can fix that?P Get back
earlier!” Wildcat added helpfully.
Kit walked
out onto the dock just as Baloo brought the plane to a stop.P As soon as the pilot jumped down to the
wooden planking Kit ran to him and leapt into his arms.P It was the only truly enjoyable part of the
day, lately.P “Hey Papa Bear!”
he beamed.
“Hey
Kiddo!” Baloo smiled wearily.P
“Howz tricks?”
“I
missed you today.”
“Me too
Kiddo, me too.” Baloo sighed, setting the boy down gently on the dock.
“You’re
late again Baloo.P Mr. Stern’s not gonna
be too happy-“
“I know
Kid.P How the heck am I gonna be on time
without my navigator to plot the fastest course?”P To Kit’s surprise Baloo winked at him.P They walked to the main building and Baloo
opened the door, taking a step inside.
“You’re
late again, Baloo!” Stern hissed.P
“What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Better
wait outside, L’il Britches.” Baloo sighed, gently shoving Kit out the
door and closing it behind him.P The boy
walked over to the dock and sat glumly, chin in hands.
From inside
the building he could hear Stern’s occasional shouts, although he couldn’t make
out what the leopard was saying.P This
continued for several minutes as the cub sat, absently tossing stones into the
water and seething with anger.P
“Who the heck are you to treat my friend that way?” he muttered
angrily.P “Big jerk…”
Finally
Baloo emerged from the building and slowly walked over to where Kit sat,
clenching and unclenching his fists.P
“You OK, Papa Bear?” Kit asked in concern.
“I’m
fine, Britches.P That guy’s just a big
bag o’ hot wind, that’s all.”
“Don’t
let him get to you.P He’s not worth
it.P He doesn’t deserve to even be in
the same room as you-“
“Yer
right Kiddo – he ain’t worth it.P But I
got a little plan to get you back in the air, Kid, and I’m settin’ ol’ Sterny
up like a bowlin’ pin!” Baloo chuckled.
“What
kind of plan?” Kit asked warily.
“Look –
I’m just gonna keep comin’ back late, see? And I’m gonna tell ‘im that it’s
cause I don’t have my navigator.P I
can’t chart the course _and_ fly without losin’ time, right?P I gotta have my navigator and that’ll fix
the problem!”
“Baloo,
I don’t know…”
“Wait
Kiddo – it gets even better!” Baloo grinned.P “He already said cargo firms don’t have navigators,
right?P And he ain’t gonna wanna pay fer
one.P So, I tell him we already got a
great navigator right here, and he’ll work fer free!P It can’t miss, Kiddo!”
“He
gets so mad when you’re late, Papa Bear – I dunno if it’s a good idea-“
“Hey –
I can take a few minutes o’ gettin’ yelled at if it’ll get me my navigator
back.P Trust me Kiddo – I know what I’m
doin’.”
“Your
new boss sounds like a real jerk!” Ernie scowled, taking a long slurp of
his milkshake.
“He’s
not really _my_ boss, I guess.” Kit sighed, sipping his chocolate
phosphate.P “He treats Baloo real
mean, and the worst thing is he won’t let me fly!P It’s killin’ me Ernie – me an’ Baloo love to fly together.”
“That
stinks!” Ernie said sympathetically.
“I
haven’t been able to cloudsurf either… It was so boring I was almost glad
when school started!”
“Ugh!P Don’t _ever_ say that!” Ernie
cried.P “It’s been two weeks and it
already feels like a year!”
“It’s
not so bad…” Kit smiled.P “I
like junior high better – the teachers are better, the stuff in the classes is
more interesting… and we’re gonna be doing music soon, that sounds like
fun.”
“Not as
fun as flyin’, I bet!”
“Not
even close!” Kit sighed.P “I
gotta go Ernie – Baloo’s gonna be home in a little while and he needs me after
Stern gets through with him.”
“OK.P Don’t forget the Jungle Aces meeting on
Friday!”
“I’ll
be there.P See ya Ernie.”P Kit left the malt shop and headed for home –
no longer Baloo’s Air Service, but now ‘Usland International Express’, the name
chosen by the new owner.P Kit hated it –
it was cold and impersonal, just like Stern.P
Baloo’s Air Service was simple, friendly, and not too clever – just like
Baloo.
~I used to
love walking home from school – even the _idea_ of walking home from school.~
Kit thought.P ~Now it feels almost like
I’m back in the orphanage…P The place
gives me the creeps now – especially when that creep is there…~
Kit saw the
Sea Duck approaching off in the distance as he walked along the harbor towards
home.P “Late again.” he
muttered.P “Gonna get yelled at for
sure.”P His feet felt like lead as
he walked the last few hundred yards along the water.P Warily he approached the door and stepped inside.
“What?P You can’t!” Baloo exclaimed as he stood
in front of Stern’s desk.
“I’m
afraid I already have, Baloo.” Stern said calmly.
“F-fired?”
Baloo gasped.P “Y-you can’t _do_
that!P I got a kid, Man!P What about that?”
“Fired?”
Kit asked in disbelief.P
Baloo spun,
unaware that the cub had been present.P
“Kid, I-“
“You
can’t fire him!” Kit said indignantly, marching on the desk. “He’s
the best pilot in Cape Suzette!P In
Usland!P How can you-“
“Baloo,
please keep the child under control, if you would?P I’m trying to discuss this calmly…”
“Easy
Kid.” Baloo consoled, wrapping an arm around the boy’s shoulder.P “Let me handle this-“
“You
planned this all along, didn’t you?P
You’re nothing but a…a…”
Stern shook
his head sadly.P “It gives me no
pleasure to do this.P I simply cannot
have a pilot on staff who’s subject to chronic lateness – it’s an intolerable
inconvenience to our customers.P I have
given you numerous warnings-“
“But I
_tol’_ ya Man, it’s just cause I need my navigator!” Baloo hissed.P “If you’ll just let Kit fly with
me-“
“I
hardly think letting a child fly on your deliveries is going to fix the
problem.P There are plenty of pilots out
there who can execute a simple on time delivery without any navigator.P I’m sorry Baloo, but the decision is made.P I’m not unsympathetic – I intend to pay you
a week’s separation pay.”
“A
week?P Yer a real prince!” Baloo
laughed bitterly.
“As you
have no contract, I’m not even obligated to give you that.” the leopard
said coolly.P “Of course you’ll
have to vacate the living quarters.P A
week should be sufficient for that as well.”
“Move
out?!?P In a week?P What about Kit?P Don’t you have any heart at all, Stern?”
“Again
Mr. Baloo, as you have no lease, I’m not even obligated to give you that.P This is a place of business and having an
ex-employee living here with his _child_ is hardly professional.P Now I trust that you will not continue this
emotional outburst or I shall be forced to reconsider my generosity.”
“You
sleazy jerk!” Kit seethed.P
“This business is gonna fail, you’ll see!P Cold-hearted nosewipes like you always do!”
“C’mon
Kid.” Baloo said gently, pulling the boy away from the desk.P “No point in talkin’ to that guy any
more.”
“But
Baloo-“
“C’mon
Kiddo.P It’s his business, there’s
nothin’ we can do about it.”P All
the anger was gone from the pilot’s face, replaced by a look of resignation
that Kit didn’t like at all.
Baloo sat on
the bed silently, staring at the wall.P
~What’ve I done differently in the last year than I always did?~ he
thought bitterly.P ~Nothin’ – that’s the
problem.P Nothin’ like havin’ a kid
around ta show ya what all yer faults are…~
Kit walked
in and sat next to him silently.P He
grabbed the pilot’s paw and squeezed gently without looking up at him.P “All packed, Kit?” Baloo asked him
softly.
“Yeah.”
Kit whispered, fighting to keep his emotions in check.P This had been the only home he’d ever known,
and it was hard to leave.P Being with
Baloo was the main thing, he knew, but it would still be hard…
“Kit –
I’m sorry about all this.P It’s my
fault.” Baloo blurted out.
“No
it’s not – Stern’s a jerk, that’s all-“
“Naw,
it is Kid.P I’m so stupid – it’s my
fault I lost the business and the plane in the first place.P And then that stupid plan, bein’ late – it’s
my fault.P I wouldn’t blame ya if-“
“Never
mind!” Kit said urgently.P “As
long as we’re together, that’s all that matters.P I don’t care about any of the other stuff, it doesn’t make any
difference at all-“
“L’il
Britches… What kinda… I had a responsibility, to look after ya-“
“Yer
doing great!” Kit interrupted, eyes shining.P “You’re the only real friend I ever had.P You’re all I care about.P You’re doing a great job taking care of
me.”
Baloo looked
down at Kit, wondering if the boy could possibly believe what he was
saying.P Kit only smiled up at him.P “Right back atcha, Britches!” the
grey bear whispered, tousling the cub’s hair.P
“Let’s get goin’, no point in stickin’ around here, right?”
“Right!”
Baloo
hoisted two heavy knapsacks over his shoulder.P
“We’ll just stay at the hotel fer a few days Kid, until I find
somethin’ better.”
“Sure
Baloo.” Kit grinned, lifting his suitcase.P He had more stuff in Baloo’s bags too – more stuff than he’d ever
owned in his entire life.P “Just
for a few days.P It’ll be fun…”
The slowly
trudged down the stairs, grunting under the weight of their bags.P Kit looked around him as they walked through
the office, trying to form a mental picture of the place that he could take
with him, wherever he went, and treasure.P
He didn’t want to forget the first home he’d shared with Baloo.P
He was
almost at the door when his eyes fell on the well-worn red easy chair, sitting
in the corner.P A flood of memories
rushed into his head, and a gusher of pent-up emotions broke through to the
surface.P He sobbed several times and
set down his bag to wipe his eyes.
“Whassa
matter, L’il Britches?” Baloo asked gently.P It always came back to this – that strange, compelling desire to
comfort the boy, protect him.P It was
the only constant in his life anymore.P
“Whassa matter?”
“N-nothin’,
I’m fine.” Kit sobbed, the tears flowing freely.P Baloo knelt next to him and gently embraced the boy, saying
nothing as the tears slowly subsided.P
Kit buried his face in the big bear’s chest, waiting for the spring of
emotion to dry.P After a few moments he
had no more tears left, and wiped his eyes as best he could.
“You
ready?” Baloo asked delicately.
“Ready.”
Kit whispered, picking up his bag and being careful not to look back over his
shoulder.P Baloo hoisted the duffel bags
and Kit followed the grey bear out the door.P
His eyes fell upon the Sea Duck, and his emotions threatened to well up
again.P To his surprise, the pilot kept
walking towards the street and the waiting cab.P “Baloo!” he sobbed.
“Yeah
Kid?” the big bear asked without turning.
“W-what
about – your plane?P The Sea Duck?P Don’t you want to-“
“Never
mind Kiddo.” the big bear said huskily.P
“It’s just the way things are, that’s all.P No point in – in-“
“But
Papa Bear-“
“Fergit
about it L’il Britches.” the pilot sighed.P Wildcat walked over to them, wearing a more somber expression
than Kit had ever seen.
“So –
you guys is takin’ off, huh?” the mechanic asked awkwardly.
“Guess
so.” Baloo replied, setting down the bags and extending his hand.P “Thanks fer everythin’ Wildcat.P You – you take good care of my Baby, you
hear me? Make sure she gets ‘er oil changed, and her engines tuned up… And if
this new pilot treats ‘er bad, you give him what for, you hear me?”
“Sure
thing Baloo.P You can count on me,
Man.”
“I
know.” Baloo smiled, and resumed the trek towards the taxi.
“So
long, Kit.P Take Care!” Wildcat
grinned.
Kit felt
tears welling up again and gave the surprised mechanic a quick hug.P “You too.P I’ll miss you… Thanks for everything you taught me.”
“Like,
no problem.P Don’t be too sad, OK?”
“OK.”
Kit replied, forcing a smile.P “I’m
sure we’ll see you around, we’re just gonna be downtown… Bye.”
“Bye,
Kit.”P With a wave, the lion turned
and walked back into his workshop.
Kit grabbed
his suitcase in both hands and wrestled it over to the cab, where the driver
took it and stashed it in the trunk.P
Kit slid into the back seat next to Baloo.P “We’ll get the Sea Duck back, Baloo.P We’ll get some money – you’ll find a great
job, somewhere, and we’ll buy the Duck from that weasel Stern.P You’ll see.”
“Sure
we will Kiddo.” Baloo smiled wearily as the taxi pulled away from the
curb.P Kit was tempted to take one last
look behind him, but he just couldn’t make himself turn his head.P He silently grabbed Baloo’s paw in his own
and they headed towards downtown.
The sky was
a dingy grey as Kit left school and headed for the hotel that served as his
temporary home – or, at least, so he hoped.P
The ‘few days’ Baloo had promised had turned into almost three weeks,
and the pilot hadn’t had any luck in finding free-lance piloting work.P He’d trudged dutifully down to the job board
every morning (at least at the start), but what few jobs that were listed
called for pilots with their own plane, and Baloo no longer fit that category.
There had
already been more than one scary moment at school when Kit had been asked for
his home address, and rather than face the certain embarrassment and
explanations that would have accompanied the truth, he’d given his old address
at Baloo’s Air Service.P Hopefully there
wouldn’t be anything to mail, and if there was, maybe Stern would forward it,
if it wasn’t more trouble than the old scoundrel was willing to put himself to.
The streets
became gradually more deserted as Kit approached the hotel.P The women with shopping bags and men in
business suits were gradually replaced by haggard looking faces that reminded
Kit of his days in Port Wallaby and San Flamingo, after the orphanage.P It wasn’t a comfortable memory – Kit had
buried it somewhere deep, and only rarely during his time in the little
building on the harbor had it reared it’s ugly head.P Finally, he stopped in front of the old grey building and looked
up at the sign -P ‘Victor Hotel –
Transients Welcome’.P He hated the sign,
hated the place.P He missed the signal
buoy and the calls of the sea birds outside his window.
The lobby
was no better than the outside, maybe worse.P
It smelled of moldy floorboards, dusty carpet and unwashed bodies.P Kit’s gentle features looked strikingly out
of place amongst the coughing old men and tired-looking women, faces cracked by
age and cigarette smoke.P The boy was
acutely aware of the stares that greeted him as he walked through the lobby to
the old elevators, and was extremely self-conscious every time he did so.P It felt like he was running a gauntlet.
The elevator
operator was a grizzled looking black bear well past fifty who looked as though
she hadn’t smiled since the great war.P
She was always friendly to Kit though, a fact that was not lost on
him.P He’d learned to treasure kindness
from strangers, no matter what their circumstances – it was the exception
rather than the rule.P “Hallo
Mister Cloudkicker.” she chuckled gruffly as he stepped on to the
elevator.P “You have fun at school
today?”
“School’s
not supposed to be fun, Reba.” he grinned.P “You have fun workin’ the elevator today?”
“You
know better than to ask me that, Shorty.P
Ain’t seen yer Pop all day today.”
Kit
winced.P He’d suspected that the big bear
had lost what little energy he’d had left.P
“I think he has a cold, Reba.P
That’s what he’s stayin’ in.”
“Sure
he does.” the woman said sympathetically.P
“Lot o’ colds goin’ around.P
You have a nice evenin’, Young Fella.”
“Thanks
Reba, you too.” Kit sighed and disappeared down the hall.P The old bear shook her head sadly as the
elevator doors closed.P “Boy like
that shouldn’t oughtta be in a place like this…”
Kit walked
down to the end of the hall and stopped in front of a door – room 4306. PHe pulled out his key and unlocked it.P “Hi Baloo.” he said, as cheerfully
as he could, as the big bear reclined in his bed, reading the sports section of
the ‘Tribune’.
“Hey
Britches.P How was school?”
“Fine,
thanks.” the cub replied, tossing his books onto his bed.P He was surprised to see his suitcase sitting
on the table, propped open.P
“What’s goin’ on?”
“Siddown
Kiddo.” Baloo sighed heavily.P The
boy warily stepped over and sat next to the pilot, who draped an arm around his
shoulder.P “Kit, we’re gonna have
to move on… I’m about out of money, y’know how it is…”
Kit felt his
heart jump into his throat.P “Out
of… I can get a job, Baloo.P Maybe I
can work at a grocery store, or-“
“Naw,
that ain’t right Kiddo.P It wouldn’t be
enough dough anyways, ta live on.P Kid,
there’s just no jobs out there for an old pilot without a plane…P Times are tough, a lot of shippin’ with
Eporue is dryin’ up, what with all the bad stuff in Alemania an’ all-“
“That’s
OK – you’ll find something soon!” Kit said with a forced smile.P “I know you will.P I never liked this dump anyways.P Uh – so… where will we go?”
Baloo
squeezed the cub tightly in his grasp and stared straight ahead.P “Well, that’s just it, L’il Britches –
I ain’t got no money, so I don’t rightly know where we _can_ go…”P Kit could see terrible pain etched on
Baloo’s face – he looked as if he’d aged ten years in the last month.P “Like I said, there’s no money.P I was thinkin’ of crashin’ at Louie’s fer a
while, he won’t mind.P Prob’ly where I
woulda gone in the first place, if it weren’t for – for…”
Kit
brightened at the suggestion.P
“That’s great!P I love
Louie’s, it’ll be fun.”P He was
jarred by a realization.P “What
about school?P I mean… What-“
Baloo sighed
deeply.P “That’s the problem,
Kiddo.P There ain’t no way you can stay
at Louie’s with me an’ go ta school.”
Kit stared
at Baloo, but the pilot would not meet his gaze.P “Well – if that’s what we need to do, then I don’t
mind.P I can always pick up later, when
you’ve got a job an’ everything.”P
He felt very frightened.
“Yeah.”
Baloo whispered.P “Kid – it ain’t
right, you droppin’ out of school an’ everything now, just when yer gettin’
settled-“
“We all
have to make sacrifices sometimes, Papa Bear.”
“Kid, I
– school is important.P Believe me, I
know.P When I was yer age…P Kiddo, it’s just… You gotta have an
education, or you’ll end up like – like me.”
“What’s
wrong with that?” the boy asked fiercely.
“Kit,
don’t be stupid!” Baloo hissed.P
“I got no choice but to go to Louie’s.P I ain’t got nowhere else ta go.P
I was thinkin’ maybe you, maybe you should….”
“What?”
Kit asked warily, heart in his throat.
“Maybe
you oughtta stay here, Kit.P Maybe I
could-“
“No!”
Kit shouted.P “No way!”
“L’il
Britches, it ain’t no life fer you, following an ol’ failure like me around,
livin’ at some bar…P Maybe I could
make a call, find some place for you-“
“No!”P Kit cried, feeling the tears welling
up.P “Don’t you want me around,
Papa Bear?”
Baloo rubbed
his eyes wearily.P “More than
anythin’, L’il Britches.P More than
anythin’, but I’m no kinda – father, fer a bright kid like you.P You deserve a life, a chance to be a
success-“
“I
don’t care about that!” Kit sobbed.P
“I don’t want anything else!P
I want you!”P The cub buried
his face in Baloo’s chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
The pilot
silently smoothed the fur on Kit’s head, tears welling in his own eyes.P “You deserve a real home, L’il
Britches…P I can’t give ya that, I
thought I could but-“
“Stop!”
Kit sobbed in a muffled voice, face still buried in Baloo’s shirt.P “Stop saying that!”
“But
Kid-“
“Don’t
you get it?” the boy cried angrily, staring up at Baloo’s face.P “My home is wherever you are,
Baloo!P I don’t care about places or school
or anything else!P You’re the only
person I’ve ever really cared about, and the only one that’s ever – ever cared
about me either.P I just wanna be with
you, and I don’t care what else!P I’ll
never leave you!”
Baloo closed
his eyes tightly, squeezing a single tear out of each.P “Aw, L’il Britches, I just dunno..P I don’t know what’s right, I don’t know what
to do…”
“Don’t
you leave me!” Kit wailed.P
“Don’t you leave, Papa Bear!P
If you do, I’ll – I’ll…”
The big bear
squeezed him tightly in his arms.P
“OK L’il Britches, you win.P
We’ll go to Louie’s, fer now.” he sighed, greatly relieved that he
wouldn’t have to part ways with the cub.P
Even that relief brought him fresh pangs of guilt.P “Just fer a while, I’ll find somethin’,
somewhere…”
“Papa
Bear!” Kit sobbed, the tears drying up at last but the feelings of fear
and rejection no less cutting.P
“How could you even think about leaving me?P How could you?”
“I’m
sorry.” Baloo sighed, rocking the boy slowly in his arms.P “It’d kill me, Kit.P I was just tryin’ ta think about you, L’il
Britches.P Why do you wanna hang around
with a loser like me anyways-“
“Stop!P Just stop!” Kit shouted.P “Stop saying that.P You’re the best person I ever knew.P How could you be a loser?”
“All
right, it’s OK, it’s all over.” the grey bear said softly.P “Things’ll get better, somehow.P I know they will.P We’ll head ta Louie’s fer a little bit, and I’ll find
somethin’.P Everything’s gonna be fine,
L’il Britches.”
“I
know.” Kit whispered.P
“Promise me you won’t leave me, Papa Bear.P Promise!”
“Kid,
I-“
“Promise!”
Kit said urgently.
Baloo stared
down at Kit’s face for a moment silently.P
“OK L’il Britches.P I
promise…” he sighed.P The words
cut him deeply as he said them, but the look of relief on Kit’s face made the
pain disappear, just for a moment.
“Thanks
fer the lift, Wiley.” Baloo said, slapping the other pilot on the back as
they walked up the dock to Louie’s Place.
“No
problem, Baloo.” the grizzled dog smiled.P
“What’re friends for?P
Anybody kin be yer pal when yer on top o’ the world, Baloo.”
The old
pilot held the door for Baloo and Kit as they lugged their bags inside.P Kit looked around – thankfully, it was early
and there were almost no customers around to see them.P “Hey, Baloo!” Louie called
out.P “Welcome to da club,
Man!P My dive is yer dive!”
“Thanks
Louie.” the pilot smiled grimly.P
“Yer really comin’ through fer me in the clutch…”
“No
prob, Cuz!” the ape grinned, leaping athletically over the bar and grabbing
Kit’s suitcase easily in his hand.P
“Welcome to my place, Shortstop!P
I ain’t never had a kid stayin’ here before, so mebbe you better try not
to listen too much late in the evening, after the drinks have been flowin’ fer
a while…P Follow me, I’ll show ya
where you’ll be beddin’ down.”
“Thanks
Louie.” the cub smiled, following the orangutan up the stairs, Baloo right
behind him.P The ape led them down a
hallway through a part of the big building Kit had never seen before, finally
stopping in front of a bamboo door.
“It
ain’t the Ritz, gang!” Louie smiled, leading them into the room.P A rickety-looking bed sat in a corner, and
an army cot had been set up next to it.P
“I figger Fuzzy kin take the bed, an’ the cot fer you,
Kiddo…”
Kit looked
around.P For all it’s humility it was
much more pleasant than the smelly room at the Victor.P “It’s great Louie.P Nice view, too!” the cub mused, looking
out the window at the blue Pacific below them.
“Louie
ol’ pal, I dunno what to say.” Baloo smiled.P “You sure came through fer me when I needed it-“
“Ain’t
nothin’, just like I said, Cuz!P Glad to
have the company.P Now why don’t you
boys come downstairs and have some coffee?P
Just brewed up a fresh pot!”
“Sounds
good.P Kit?”
“I’ll
be down in a few minutes Papa Bear.” Kit smiled tiredly.P “Just wanna unpack a little, OK?”
“Right
Kiddo.”
“You
just holler if ya need anything, OK Kit?” Louie said jovially.
“Thanks,
will do Louie!” Kit grinned as the two adults left the room.P He lay back, hands behind his head.P He checked his watch – ten A. M..P English class would just be starting
up.P It felt strange, not being in
school while all the other kids were.P
He’d never thought he’d miss it – how many times had he silently yearned
for his days of ‘freedom’ living on his own , while he sat in class as the day
droned on?
In his heart
though, he knew that was a sham – he knew the alternative was far worse.P He hadn’t even said goodbye to Ernie – it
would’ve been too embarrassing.P His
friend was probably wondering where he was…
“Have
some joe, Fuzzy!” Louie grinned, sliding a steaming mug in front of the
big bear.P “You look like you could
use the pick-me-up!”
“Thanks
Pal.”
“Man,
gonna be weird havin’ a kid around the place, ain’t never spent much time with
a sprout.P Course, Kit’s a pretty
unusual kid I guess, huh Cuz?P Pilots
got used to him right quick enough when he started comin’ in here with
you!”
“He’s a
great Kid Louie – the best.P Got a heart
as big as Usland.P Real guts too – he’s
an ace in a fight!” Baloo said softly.P
“I love ‘im, y’know Louie?”
The ape
raised an eyebrow.P “Ya think I’m
gonna be surprised, Cuz?P It’s pretty
obvious!”
“How
so?” Baloo said, surprised.
“Aw,
c’mon Fuzzy!P Ever’ time he’s in here
with ya he’s all ya see!P I ain’t never
seen ya like that, Baloo.P Yer a
different guy since Kit showed up.”
“Am
I?” the grey bear sighed.P
“What’s
witchoo, Fuzz?P Never seen ya like this
before!”
“Don’t
ya see, Louie?P I ain’t got no business
havin’ a kid – ‘specially a great kid like Kit!P I thought I could… I dunno, be a real father to him, but I
screwed it up.P Just like
everythin’.”
“Yer
nuts, Baloo!P That kid would follow you
to the ends o’ the Earth, Man!P He’s as
crazy ’bout you as you are about him!”
“That’s
his one fault!” Baloo laughed bitterly.
“Cuz-“
“I
hadda pull ‘im outta school to bring ‘im here, Lou.P What kinda father does that?P
I lost my job, lost my plane.P I
can’t even make a livin’ anymore, can’t even support ‘im.P I tried to think o’ some way to leave him in
Cape Suzette, I really did.P I didn’t
think I should bring him here.P But he
went to pieces when I brought it up-“
“Of
course he did, Stupid!” Louie scolded.P
“Yer the only family that boy’s ever known, Cuz!P How the heck do you expect him to get along
without you?”
“Howz
he gonna get along _with_ me?” Baloo asked bitterly.P “I can’t give him a home, an education,
anythin’ he needs-“
“Ceptin
the one thing he needs most of all, Fuzzy.P
Just think about it fer a minute.P
Don’t worry, somethin’ll come along.P
We got pilots comin’ through here all the time, they’ll spot somethin’
for ya.”
“Kid’d
be better off without me…” Baloo sighed, stirring his coffee.
“Yeah
Cuz, you keep sayin’ that every five minutes you’ll believe it in a year or
two…”
Kit whistled
to himself as he wiped down the table, an apron much too large for him tied
around his waist.P He collected the
glasses and carried them back over to the bar, where Louie was busily preparing
several drinks simultaneously.P
“Hey, L’il Cuz – I tol’ ya you didn’t hafta do any o’ this, y’know
I-“
“Naw,
that’s OK Louie.” Kit smiled, setting the glasses in the tub under the
bar.P “We been stayin’ here three
weeks, and I know you’re not charging Baloo anything… I just wanna help out,
that’s all.”
“Well,
yer a helluva busboy Shortstop, I won’t deny that!” the orangutan
laughed.P “At least let me pay ya
what my guys make-“
“No!P I said I was just helpin’ out.P Just say I’m earning my keep, that’s
all.”
Louie shook
his head.P “Whatever you say,
Shorty.P Yer a real dynamo, Kid.”
“Thanks!”
the cub smiled.P “Are those drinks
ready?P I can take ’em.P Table eleven?”
“Eleven
Kid, go ahead.” Louie laughed.P
“And don’t you try an’ give me yer tips, hear me?”
The ape
shook his head and spotted Baloo coming down the stairs.P “Hey Fuzzy!P What’s yer poison?”
“Just a
mango fizz, Louie.” the pilot sighed wearily, sitting at the bar.P
“Comin’
right up, Cuz.P The kid’s a real good
worker, y’know Baloo?P I keep tellin’
‘im he don’t gotta work off his keep but he won’t listen.P He’s some kid.P Yer a lucky guy, Baloo.”
“Yeah,
lucky.” Baloo said sadly.P
“You can’t tell that kid not to work, I’ve tried…”
“Heh
heh!P He didn’t even wanna let me pay
‘im… but just between you an’ me I snuck upstairs and stuck ten bucks under
his pillow.P Figger he’s earned it.P If he asks just tell ‘im the tooth fairy had
a little extra in petty cash.”
“Thanks,
Pal.” Baloo sighed.
“Aw,
cheer up Cuz!P Somethin’s gonna come
along, you’ll see.”
“Let’s
quit pretendin’, huh Louie?P I had one
job in three weeks.P I ain’t movin’ back
to Cape Suzette on that pay.P Without a
plane I’m no good to anybody, can’t earn any damn money.P And without any money I can’t get a
plane.”
“Somethin’s
gonna come up…” Louie said dubiously.
Baloo closed
his eyes.P “I gotta do
somethin’…P It’s wrong, what I’m doin’
to that boy.P He deserves better.P He’s a smart kid, Louie – way smarter’n
me.P I didn’t get no education and look
how I ended up.P What kinda life is this
fer ‘im?P All he sees all day are pilots
gettin’ drunk, no other kids around…P
I ain’t got no right.P I gotta do
somethin’!”
Louie
clapped his shoulder gently.P “I
dunno, Cuz.P I wish I could tell ya what
to do, but I dunno.P Just seems right
that you an’ Kit should be together, that’s all.”
Baloo
watched as Kit busily cleared another table and wiped it down.P He caught the pilot’s eye and grinned warmly
at him.P “Kid deserves
better…”
“Hey
Louie! PHiya Baloo.” a deep voice
called out from behind Baloo and a hand slapped him on the back.P He turned and saw a Khan pilot, a strapping
panther – were there any other kind of Khan pilots?P “How’s tricks boys?”
“Lionel,
my main man!P What’s shakin’ Cuz?”
Louie grinned, slapping the panther’s paw.P
“What’s yer poison?”
“Krakatoa
Special, Louie.” the panther grinned.P
“Hey Baloo – heard about you losin’ the Sea Duck.P That’s rough skies, Friend.P Sorry to hear it.”
“Thanks
Lionel.” the big bear said glumly, sipping his mango fizz.P “What’s new in Khan’s world?”
“Khan’s
world never changes, Pal.” the panther said coolly.P “I couldn’t help overhear you were
looking for work.P You should go to
Grimscape Island – there’s a lot of stray gigs for pilots there, what with all
the cargo companies.P I pass through
there every few weeks and I hear about stuff occasionally.”
“Grimscape?”
Baloo said distastefully.
“It’s
not gonna make you rich, Baloo, but without a plane it’s your best shot.P You could stay in the pilot’s barracks
there, dirt cheap rent.”
“I
can’t take Kit to Grimscape!” Baloo said softly.P “That’s even worse for ‘im then here!P The place is a dump.”
“Hey –
I’m just offering a suggestion!P Without
a plane, beggars can’t be choosers.P You
could get pretty steady work, doesn’t pay much but-“
“What
about Khan’s air corps, Lionel?P They
supply the planes… You know I’m the best there is!”
“Sorry
Baloo!” the panther laughed.P
“You’re a hundred pounds too heavy – not to mention over the age
limit!”P The panther grabbed his
Krakatoa Special and turned to head for a table.P “Thanks Louie.P Good
luck to ya Baloo.P See ya around.”
“See
ya.” Baloo muttered.P “Too
old, too fat…P Grimscape?P Can’t take Kit there…”
“Hey
Papa Bear!P What’re you mumbling
about?” Kit smiled, squeezing his arm.
“Nuthin’,
Pardner…” Baloo said softly, brushing the hair out of the boy’s
eyes.P “Nuthin’…”
Kit was
asleep, curled up in a ball on the old army cot, both arms wrapped around his
pillow.P Baloo sat on the edge of his
bed, silently staring at the cub’s peaceful form.P A few rays of early morning sun filtered in through the window
behind him.
The moments
crept by, the boy’s chest slowly rising, falling under the grey bear’s wordless
gaze.P He sighed in his sleep and
shifted position slightly.P Baloo
smiled.P “I’m a lucky guy.” he
whispered.P “Best break anybody
ever got and I screwed it up.P Best
break o’ my life…”
Baloo’s soft
voice crept through Kit’s veil of sleep, and he stretched and opened his eyes
blearily.P “Baloo?” he yawned,
surprised to see the pilot looking at him.
“Go
back ta sleep, L’il Britches.” the big bear said with a melancholy
smile.P “It’s only six, go back ta
sleep.”
“Are
you OK?” Kit asked softly, without lifting his head from the pillow.
“Ever’thin’s
fine.” Baloo said softly, falling back on his bed with a sigh and closing
his eyes.P Kit looked over at the pilot
with concern, but weariness soon overcame him and he slipped back into slumber.
“This is
great, Louie, thanks!” Kit grinned, finishing off the last of his
pepperoni pizza.P “I wish you’d let
me-“
“Stop
that, Shortstop!” Louie laughed.P
“You earned it.P Take the
night off, relax.P Have a little fun fer
once.”
“Kid –
hey Kid!” Baloo motioned from one of the tables, which he currently shared
with a friendly-looking black dog with greying temples, who looked to be about
sixty-five.P Kit walked over, smiling
expectantly.P “I want ya to meet a
friend o’ mine, L’il Britches – Kit Coudkicker, this is Henry
Wizzleswite.”
“Hi
Henry!” Kit grinned, shaking the man’s hand and sitting at the table.
“Hello,
Son, pleased to meet you.” the dog replied jovially.
“Henry’s
the guy that sold me the Sea Duck, Kid – years ago.P That and Baloo’s Air Service.”
“Wow!P That was some great plane, Sir.P Did you buy it new?”
“Sure
did, Kid!” the man laughed.P
“Right out of the factory.P
Couldn’t really afford her, huge bank loan.P Loved that yellow paint job!P
She served me well, I’ll tell you that…”
“Us
too.” Kit smiled sadly.
“Henry
retired after he sold me the plane and the business, Kiddo.” Baloo smiled,
a little too broadly, Kit thought.P
“He retired to Cape Suzette, still lives there, ain’t that
right?”
“Sure
do.P Love it there!”
“He’s
got a big old house, right on the water, him and his wife.” Baloo grinned.
“Is
that right?” Kit smiled nervously, a feeling of unease creeping into his
mind.P Baloo looked over the boy’s
shoulder towards the bar.
A moment
later Louie stepped over to the table.P
“Say Kid – there’s somethin’ I wanted to show you, upstairs.P Some of my collection, thought you’d get a
charge out of it.”
Kit looked
at Baloo.P “Sure, go ahead
Kit.P Me an’ Henry’ll kin catch
up.” he said cheerfully, not meeting the boy’s gaze.
“OK…”
Kit said dubiously.
“C’mon
Shortstop, you’ll love this.P I got a
whole room full o’ memorabilia from the great war.P You’ll love it.”P The
ape didn’t sound happy, and Kit didn’t like the look in his eyes.P He peered back down the stairs, where Baloo
and the black dog were talking, unsmiling.
Kit was
lying in bed absently leafing through a magazine when Baloo finally came
upstairs.P “Hey Kiddo -still
up?” the big grey bear said with a stiff smile.
“Yeah.”
Kit responded, feeling distinctly uneasy.
“I’m
glad, we can talk about a few things…”
“What’s
up?” the cub asked, sitting up in bed, a large lump forming in his gut.
Baloo sat
next to him and stared at his feet for a long moment.P “Kit – it’s time we stopped pretendin’ things are gonna get
better.”
“Baloo-“
“Kit –
please.P Just lemme talk.P I ain’t gettin’ no work Kit, you kin see
that.P Without a plane there’s nothin’
for me here.P I’m just markin’ time and
that ain’t fair to you.”
“Stop!”
Kit pleaded.
“Kit…P You need somethin’ better.P I heard there’s some work on Grimscape
Island, even for guys without a plane.P
It ain’t much but at least it’s work.P
I can’t take you there, it’s no life fer a kid.P Not like this is-“
“Baloo,
stop!” Kit pleaded.P “We’ve
been through this before – anywhere you go is good enough for me.P I don’t care-“
“Stop
it!” Baloo yelled, causing the boy to jump.P “Just stop it, Kid!P
We tried.P We tried it, an’ it
just didn’t work.P It ain’t your fault,
it’s me – I just ain’t up ta takin’ care o’ you.P I had my shot, an’ I blew it.P
It’s time to face facts.”
Kit shook
his head, willing this not to be happening.P
“You can’t do this, Baloo.P
You can’t walk out on me now, you promised-“
“Kit,
this is the first good thing I ever did fer ya!” Baloo hissed, a tear
rolling down his cheek.P “I talked
to Henry, an’ he’s willing to look after ya.P
You can go to school an’ everything.P
He’s a good man, Kit-“
“You
can’t make me!” Kit threatened.P
“You can’t force me, Baloo!P
If you try, I’ll run away, leave.P
I’ll find you-“
“No!”
Baloo hissed.P “Kit, if ya – if ya
love me half as much as I love you you’ll go.P
I can’t live with myself any more, ruinin’ yer life-“
“_Ruining_
it?!?P You saved it!”
Baloo wiped
his eyes and pounded the bed angrily.P
“I was just gonna go, Kit.P
I knew you’d fight me on this, I was gonna sneak off, not tell ya.P I knew I’d be doin’ you a big favor.P But I didn’t have the guts to do it,
Kid.P I couldn’t do it-“
The tears
began to flow from Kit’s eyes now.P
“I don’t care about anything except being together!” he
sobbed.P “I’ll follow you, I’ll
track you down.P They couldn’t hold me
in the orphanage and this Henry guy can’t hold me either.P I’ll follow you!”
“L’il
Britches, please!” Baloo begged.P
“I can’t do this anymore – I can’t live with it!P I can’t take ya to Grimscape, I can’t take
ya to that place, I just can’t.P Maybe I
can come for ya someday, if I earn enough money…”
“I
don’t care about Grimscape!” Kit sobbed.P
“I don’t care about school!P
You’ll teach me to fly, and I’ll be a pilot. I don’t need school, I need
you!”P He threw his arms around the
pilot and clung to him with a strength which surprised the big bear.
Baloo tried
to push the boy away, tried to open a distance between them, but couldn’t bring
himself to do it.P His arms found
themselves enveloping the cub instead, holding him gently.P “Kit – don’t do this to me!” he
sobbed, his own tears of frustration and shame flowing.P “Don’t make me live with this
anymore.P Go, Kid – let me have a little
peace, do this fer me, I’m beggin’ ya!”
“No!P Never!P
I’m never leaving!”
“Kit,
_please_!” the grey bear begged.P
“I can’t force ya, I can’t make ya do it, I’m not strong
enough.P It’s gonna kill me either way,
but if ya go I’ll know I did right by ya at least once.P Go!P
Don’t make me live with this anymore…”
Kit tried to
find his voice but couldn’t.P He felt
the weight of the world pressing down on him.P
“B-Baloo… I can’t do this!P
Don’t make me choose, don’t do this to me!” he sputtered.
They
embraced wordlessly for several minutes, the boy’s sobs gradually diminishing
as the big bear continued to cry silently.P
Kit clung to Baloo’s fur tightly, wishing that he never had to let go,
to open his eyes.
“Yer a
good boy, Kit… Such a good boy…P I
can’t force ya, L’il Britches.” Baloo whispered.P “I can’t force ya…P
But I’m beggin’.P Please, do
this.P Do it fer me.P Let me have a little peace.”
“I
can’t!” Kit sobbed without tears, knowing in his heart that he was
incapable of facing the decision before him.P
“I can’t Baloo, don’t make me choose… Don’t make me choose, I
can’t live with this…”
“No!P No!” Rebecca mumbled softly, head on
her desk, tears on her cheeks.P
“Don’t…”
“Ree-becca,
wake up!” Wildcat said, gently shaking her shoulder.P “Ree-becca!”
“Wha…”
she mumbled, lifting her head groggily.P
“Where’s Kit?P Baloo?”
The mechanic
was alarmed to see tears on her cheeks.P
“Uh… You was dreamin’, Miz Cunningham.P You were yelling and everything-“
“Dreaming?”
she gasped, looking around her, disoriented.P
“That’s impossible…” a wave of memory swept over her.P “Where’s Mr. Bright?P Peter?”
“Who?”
Wildcat asked quizzically.
“The
client, the man who came in after you left…”P She was alarmed, confused.P
How long… What had happened?
“Uh –
there was no one here but me, Ree-becca.” the mechanic smiled
crookedly.P “I just fergot my
wrench is all…”
“Your
wrench…”
“Yeah,
I’m gonna go listen to “Space Rangers” now, it’s just starting-“
“What?”
she hissed, another memory flooding over her.P
“How – how long were you gone?”
“I
dunno, a minute or two, I guess-“
“A
_minute_?!?”
“You
OK, Ree-becca?P You look kinda
pale…”
“I’m
fine, I’m fine.” she whispered, head in hands.P “Go listen to your program…P Wildcat!”
“Yeah,
Ree-becca?”
“Wildcat
– who’s the owner of this business?P And
what’s it called?”
“Oh, I
get it!P It’s, like, a game!P OK – it’s Higher for Hire, and _you’re_ the
owner!P What do I win?”
“And
Baloo… and Kit – they live here, right?”
“Sure
they do!P You sure you’re OK,
Ree-becca?”
“Fine,
fine thanks.” she smiled weakly.P
“Go listen to your program.”P
The mechanic left with a shrug and she buried her head in her hands.P One or two minutes?!?P How was it possible?P And Peter – how could Wildcat have missed
him?P
How could
she have… _experienced_ all that?P It
was so real!P So real…P So real.P
The tears on their faces, the pain in the eyes…P Tears came to Rebecca again, and started
flowing freely down her cheeks.P She
wanted more than anything for Kit and Baloo to be there, to see them safe, but
they were gone, and she was alone.P
To be continued