>>5388041“Now I may be an’ old fart,” Pete remarks over the chopper’s intercom, “but if I didn’t know any better I’d say you were plannin’ something.”
Yea, you huff as you make your way to the cabin with Lil’ Stanley and your duck in tow, and he’s not gonna like it one bit.
“The FORT, huh? Well I can’t say I like it, but…”
Hang on, you sputter, he KNEW!?
“Well NOW I do!” Pete laughs as he continues to wrestle with the controls, “I’m guessing the others don’t know, do they?”
It’s complicated, you sigh as you try to sit up straight as the wind buffets you around, but if this is gonna work-
“I getcha… after what happened at that Drive-In everything Cliff did finally made sense.” Interrupts Pete in a serious voice. “Poor son of a bitch…”
Yea, you hiss, you’ll get revenge for him… for ALL of them!
“Atta’ girl. Sit tight, then, because something tells me I ain’t gonna be givin' ya’ a comfy landing!” Rising higher through the clouds, the old man shoots you a reassuring grin!
Why… why is he taking this so damn well anyways? For all he knows he’s gonna die doing this!
“Well let’s just say I’m a people person.” Pete replies in a matter-of-fact tone. “I’ve been talkin’ to people all over since this whole thing started, but no one boasted more about ya’ than ole’ Burton did… well, maybe some of the other JOPLINERS came close, but…”
Seeing you bite your lip, Pete gives your shoulder a light, but welcome, shake. “Aw hell, kid, me an’ my big mouth… here I am tryin’ ta’ encourage you and I’m just makin’ ya’ feel WORSE…”
No, you stammer, shaking away the feelings like a pack of mosquitos off your face, it’s fine!
“Well in any case, let’s just say I also owe you kids for saving my ass back in the desert.” He concludes. “Giving you a lift is the least I can do.”
Yea, well… before you can respond, your flying chariot fights through the blizzard with whining motors and roaring engines before finally busting into the EYE OF THE STORM…
And in the center sits your destination: TIM’S FORTRESS!
>CONTD. 