>>5204099Nursing your aching head, you turn towards the driver’s seat to ask Eddie where you’re headed.
“<span class="mu-b">CALACA STREET,</span> right?” Eddie half-answers, half-asks! “Figured that’d be the best place to start.”
Sure, you huff, if you want to get <span class="mu-i">AMBUSHED!</span>
“Take it easy, Stan,” Art says in a placating tone, “We’ll stop just outside the area to form a better plan. No rushing this time, yea?”
“And I’ll keep watch for any… <span class="mu-i">unwanted guests</span>.” Sybil adds as she closes her eyes and starts muttering incantations.
“Great, you mutter as your fuzzy sister watches you from a half-eaten bag of chips in a nearby <span class="mu-g">ZOOMMART CRATE.</span> Oh good, at least <span class="mu-i">she’s</span> happy!
“So what <span class="mu-i">is</span> the plan here anyways?” Mitzi asks as she stuffs her reading material back into her pocket. “Going door-to-door? Giant Mousetrap?”
“Well,” Tucker replies, “The street itself is pretty long–might not be a bad idea to choose a landmark and go from there.”
“Didn’t you mention that bar earlier?” Eddie asks as he swerves around the remains of a burnt-out ice cream truck. “<span class="mu-b">’THE CLOWN’S NEST’</span> or whatever?”
“<span class="mu-b">’CROW’S NEST.’</span>” Replies his roommate. “Nautical-themed. Pretty big in the local music scene, too.”
“The one with the ship riggings, right?” Mitzi asks with growing interest. “I think my friend took me there once–barely remember it, so that’s a good thing, I guess?”
“There’s also a <span class="mu-g">PARK,</span>” Tucker continues, “nothing huge, of course, but big enough to skulk around in.”
You nod–if you’re gonna skulk, a park’s a good place to do it!
When your remark earns a round of concerned glances from your gang, you quickly add a ‘in <span class="mu-i">Blades of Zamarka</span>!’
“What the hell’s a <span class="mu-i">Blade of Zama-</span>”
Anywhere else of interest,, you ask, deftly interrupting Talbot!
“There’s the <span class="mu-g">HAPPY HOUND DOG HOTEL,</span>” adds Eddie’s copilot, “a grooming place <span class="mu-i">and</span> a kennel. Might be a good place to store missing people?”
Just when you’re about to do the ole ‘<span class="mu-i">Green Choices and a Write-In</span>’ thing, Tucker’s face lights up as Kiki whispers something else in his ear. “Right, there’s also the old <span class="mu-g">ART GALLERY!</span> Haven’t been there in ages!”
“The one with the weird sculpture out front, right?” Art asks with a snap of his fingers! “Yea–one of my art classes gave extra credit if we went there!”
“You went?” Sybil asks with a raised eyebrow.
“Nah…” Art shrugs, “I was, uh… too busy. Yea.”
Sure, you scoff, playing <span class="mu-r">WEEB GAMES,</span> no doubt!
Dodging the balled-up chip bag he chucks your way, you contemplate the best option:
>SET SAIL FOR THE CROW’S NEST!>PARK AT THE PARK!>CHECK IN TO THE DOG HOTEL!>GET THAT EXTRA CREDIT! TO THE ART GALLERY!>YOU REMEMBER THERE BEING ANOTHER PLACE AROUND THERE… (WRITE-IN!) 