"Way to take it elsewhere, hedonist!". Silenus chided, then mused, "I wonder what your gestation will be? Is your feeling growing like yeast, or like lichen?"

"I can't say, "unc". This is another virgin experience for me, as you well know." Desiree considered.
"It feels a lot bigger than it did a few minutes ago," she allowed.

"Maybe it's just gas?" Snoddi asked, hoping.

Runni kicked him under the table again, & refrained from rubbing his knee, this time.

Louden lay on the floor, obsessively chewing his back feet.

Merrick irritably snapped at his canine brother as he attempted to
haul his massive Newfoundland body up onto the couch to look out the window.

Louden raised his head in alarm & began to whine.

"What's with the dogs?" Runni asked.

"I hear the wind increasing" Snoddi replied.

"All the plentiful hairs on my body, are standing at attention." Silenus added.

Stallion was at the ready, topping off each lantern. He muttered one word only:

"Storm."

Then came a knock on the door.
Runni rose to answer it, &, visibly excited, announced: "Look, everyone, it's Jim Cansore, with his slicker flapping!"
"Who?" was universal.
"Let's let him in & maybe he'll tell us weather (we need to retire to the root cellar)," The Cousin of Silenus suggested.
"You're persistently punny," Silenus grumbled.
"Let him be," Stallion rumbled, "I haven't seen Runni so excited since the last time she got to play the damsel in distress."

The Cousin Of Silenus grabbed a pound of butter and headed for the root cellar.

"Why butter?" asked three of the others in unison.

That reminded The Cousin of Silenus to double back for the salt and pepper shakers as well.

"I prefer my vegetables with tasty condiments, sillies. Oh, can someone else snatch
the parmesan?, my hands are full."

If the whetherman didn't sneak down elsewise, he was secure in the knowledge that he had what The Cousin required.

"I haven't felt this good since the last time I shed my skin!"

"I haven't felt this alert since my last retrogade!"

Their mystery shared, they relaxed, not knowing that the twins were sneaky.

Stallion grabbed his axe and headed for the woods.

"Please don't mistake my temporary leave of absence, for abandonment." he said.

"The cathartic incantations I'll be singing, will be the life of you all, trust me. I kneed to chop."

Snoddi went as far as the porch.

"You know we love you, Stallion?"

"I value your regard," Stallion returned, his words a bit muffled by the axe in his mouth, & his tears soundless as they can be.

"I'm sure he'll be alright," Runni declared, "but let's go listen to the weather report."

....meanwhile back in the root cellar...

Jim Cantore was fiddling with his flashlight; banging it against his thigh didn't help.

The Cousin of Silenus asked, "What do we need light for? just sit down and relax."

"But I might sit down on something dirty." the weatherman fussed.

Gym Cantorhe suddenly couldn't control his giggles: "Hey! That isn't what I meant by dirty, but thankyou."

"No problem," said The Cousin, "did I see a flash of white?"

Imagining themselves busted, the twins curtailed their surveillance, but paused:

"I'm bay!"
"I'm buckskin!"

"Perhaps we should protect them from their damn selves?"

"I'm with ya, sis."

The hubris of youth was about to receive its comeuppance.

"They can't damn us for our curiosity, can they?"
"No, or at least I don't think they'd do so. Let's hustle back to the table with innocent faces."

Rhodes and Desiree crept back up the stairs as quietly as they could.

Desiree shrieked and hit the floor. Rhodes froze.

Stallion was busy quartering the deer, he'd axed, earlier.

Snoddi and Runni kept busy with the mop.

"Isn't it bloody wonderful?' Silenus beamed.

Runni had a mysterious gleam in her eye: "Would you like the liver, Silenus? Or maybe the heart?"
"I'm not big on organ meats, except for one," (he can't help himself, you know) said.
"Fair enough," said Stallion, "here you go."
"I think I saw that on FEAR FACTOR, but you're a good mom-horse, Stallion."

Desiree smirked so hard she almost bit her lip, and then said,

"Hey, save a bite for my buckskin bro'. He's due for another initiation ritual."

Stallion nodded in agreement, and said, "Step up to the plate, son."

"MOM! I mean Dad. I don't watch TV, & if I tried to eat that I know I'd suffer an embarrassing response."

"Just testing you, son," said Stallion.

"That's the first time you called me that," said Rhodes.

"Don't go all emo on us, Rhodes!" said Desiree, "I think I'm about to pop."

Snoddi wanted to celebrate early.
He slirked beneath the stairwell in search of the Dom.

His hand began to unwind the cork's cage.
A muffled audible 'pop' from above, coincided with the champagne's first breath.

Snoddi quickly guzzled a little, to calm his nerves, but when he got back upstairs, he fainted dead away.
"I'm worried about him," said Runni.
"Me too," said Stallion.
"I'm not," said Silenus, "he can man-up, or get off the horse."
"But I was hoping he'd be here for this," cried Desiree.
"Me, too, Sis. His fainting makes me question my own fortitude."

T.C.O.S. & Gym Cansoray came up to the theater of operations, sidestepping poor Snoddi.
"Should I boil some water?" asked Gym.
"I'll get some towels," said Cuz, "& call 911, just to be on the safe side."

"Do something with all that venison, will you?" he added

Desiree took advantage of the ensuing chaos.
She quietly slippered her way down the back porch stairs,
and headed for the pond.

Cantwhorie couldn't help himself & followed, thinking, "Why do I feel the need to change my name again?"

Desiree relaxed: a few bubbles ensued. A smoke-likeness floated off above the pond, & Gymmy suddenly knew: "My name is now Cansporey!"

He ran back into the house, feeling enlightened & exhilerated.

"Where have you been?" Cuz asked, "EMT's are on the way, & I brought the towels. Did you manage to boil any water?"

"Not yet," the whateverman shamefacedly admitted, "but I saw something similar, as I responded to circumstances."

"Where is she?"

"In the pond."

"Still breathing I hope", The Cousin Of Silenus said, eyeing James suspiciously.

"She's not only still breathing, she's emitting spores left and right,
most of them downwards though." Jaime quickly tried to explain.

"She sent me to fetch some white watercolor paper,
what do you suppose that's all about?" Cansporey breathlessly panted.

"Maybe she wants to make a spore print? Be careful, mon ami!"

"You do french, too?" gasped Mr. Wonderful, "when I get back..."

"IF you come back," sighed T.C.O.S.

Jimminy opened his arms beckoning wide.
The Cousin of Silenus, moved in for a hug.

As they embraced, James whispered into The Cousin Of Silenus's sweet ear-hole.

"Does this mean I can call you my, 'Little Taquito', now?"

Cousin replied:

"I'd be fine with 'Taco', por favor."

"Just send the help down to the pond, mi amigo. I'll take the towels. Rhodes, you might want to serve as a witness to your sister's deliverance. Runni, paint another picture; I think Snoddi might have provided the material." Cansporey wondered at how quickly his thoughts were flowing, but the rest of them responded to his tone of voice, &, towels in hand, he headed back down to the pond, trailed by Rhodes, who looked worried, & Stallion, knickering softly, disappointed @ having been excluded.

Rhodes taunted Stallion lovingly:

"Buck up Mom, uhhh....Dad."

Stallion patiently suffered & appreciated the youth's effort, as Rhodes kept it up.

"Your EMO knickers are bunched, aren't they?" Rhodes whooped.

Stallion nosed him in the ass.

Desiree was in her element, visibly enjoying her parturition.
"I apologize for infecting you, man-who-I-have-not-yet-met, but I think I haven't hurt you, yet. I appreciate your ministrations."
Jism Cansporay went so far as to blush, but recovered his composure & control of his slicker @ the same time: "The EMT's are coming, miss. I don't know nothing about birthin' no babies, but I'm here for you."

"As are we," the others chorused.

TACO began to build a privacy screen for Desiree.

She waved his efforts away and reassuredly told him,

"It's not nice to hide Mother Nature."

Taco dropped the blanket,
and said, "Okay then, bloody wonderful indeed."

James went all 'Jungle Book' and began to sing.

"We're not in the jungle, anymore, but no less with the rhythm of the world, we await the birthing of something new, & enjoy the interlude," & then hummed a few bars.
Desiree said, "That was lovely. Will you serve as step-father to whatever appears?"
"Miss, you don't even know my name! Your invitation inflames me, but the weather has calmed down. I'll serve as midwife."
"I'll need to do a background check," said Rhodes.
"You took the words right out of my mouth," said Stallion.
"Yeah, right!" said J. C., "Cancel the candles. Enlightenment comes from within. Desiree, my dearest, are there more spores forthcoming, or should we do more breathing exercises?"
"You tell me," said Desiree, but she gasped.

The force of the first blast blew away all of their accoutrements.

The second blast handed them their hats back eventually.

"hey, guys? I need a little help here," Desiree's entreaties were lost in the noise as they all galloped away.
Joyous Causations was still there..."How may I help you, my darling?" he asked.
"For starters, you can retrieve...our...offspring," Desiree gasped.
"...but they look aquatic," he demurred.
"Knock it off!" she exclaimed, "until Rhodes & Mom-horse man up, I need your support."
"Do you know they aren't aquatic?" Joining Canticles asked, "They seem quite comfortable."
"It seems like you've been watching things in Russian again."
"Well, damn me for the way I do things."

"Hey J. C. J. C. you're alright by me." Desiree phrophesied.

The spores found their purchase.

The spores found their niches.

The spores moved into their new home,
and began to rearrange the furniture.

"Wait a second!" J.C. intoned, "I thought we were present for a birthing, not a rearrangement."

"Fat lot that you know, wonderone. Has the temperature gone below freezing yet?" asked Stallion.

Can-ringle checked his balls. "I'm guessing not, but I'm just guessing."

"Good boy," intoned Stallion, "Now appear as capable as you did a couple of posts ago. Desiree might need help, as comfortable as she looks."

"I already said it," whined Julius Cretaceous.

"Stop changing you name," said Rhodes, "My sister needs support more than help."

"Calm down, son."
"Thanks, dad."

Justin Chameleon decided to blend in with the woodwork.

Rhodes questioned why-
Stallion was sending him back to the abode for more Maraschino cherries.

"She's still having cravings, perhaps?" he asked.

"No," Stallion replied. "My Manhattan needs refreshing."

By the time Rhodes got back, the EMT's had arrived, but they were even more susceptible to Desiree's spores than the guy who had now become a tree.

"What are you doing to them, sis?" he asked in alarm.

"Just what comes naturally, bro. Help me breathe."

Stallion couldn't control his thoughts: "Natural, my ass," he said to himself, "This is madness."

Rhodes hadn't known he was psychic until then, but responded in kind: "Relax, dad! It seems it's only the mortals who are affected."

"I know that, son, but I think it's important that we help them if we can. Your sister is doing better than anybody here."

Runni came out of the cabin, carrying a freshly-painted canvas & leading a totally-disoriented-looking Snoddi by the...

....negroid midget lesbian wheelchair bound ghost that had been trapped
in the chewing gum someone had deposited under the....

"table we were all just eating off of?" wondered Rhodes, to & @ himself, "Who the fuck has been let in here?"

Stallion perked up his ears, giving the buckskin a glance, askance.

Runni couldn't take it anymore, but ran to the edge of the pond. "How are you, my unintended?" she asked.

"I'm delerious, mom! Can you define what's emerging?"

Runni lovingly stroked her daughter's hair & then noticed:
"Some of,...uhh...them, seem to have taken up residence in your locks honey."

The EMT's were compelled to keep calling for backup.

Backup came, & they all reviewed their manuals.

"Compulsion is all well & good," said #1, "but I need a perimeter set up. Our primary duty is to protect the populace, & I'm dizzy!"

"That's okay #1," said #2, "Once you've felt this way for awhile, you get used to it."

#3 said, "What's to get used to?"

Runni said, "My dear, your emergences are beautiful!"
Snoddi fainted again.
"Desiree," Runni said, "I've got to use this painting while it"s still fresh - are you okay?"
"Thankyou for not being disappointed, mom," said Desiree, "I'll call you tomorrow."

The EMT's caught as many of the new kids as they could, determined Desiree to be more stable than could be expected, & made her drive.

Her knuckles white, & fraught with worry over the state of her wonderments, Desiree realized she didn't know where she was supposed to go. "A little help here?" she said.
#3 piped up: "Your little ones are fine, miss. I'll help you, however else I can."
Rhodes had entered the vehicle, unobserved. "Keep a civil (IDEA) in your (MIND)." he growled.
"No offense, sir!" said 3, "You were saying, miss?"
"Where are we going?" asked Desiree.

Runni lit out. She left seven candles burning.

Stallion handed Snoddi their tickets. Snoddi waved goodbye to the field of EMT's.

"Send us the bill!" he cried.

"they're multiplying like flies." Runni noticed.

"The spores?" he asked.

"The bills, too." she said.

""we've changed our number before, we can do it again." Snoddi sighed.

"Paint by numbers it is then, darling, let's go."

#3 offered: "A left at the next corner, by the big pohutakawa, then six miles forward, miss, & a right."
"Can you drive the next bit? I'm a little fatigued, & Rhodes doesn't know how."
Rhodes bristled, but maintained his silence, his make-up unable to dispute a truth.
"I'd be honored, miss," said #3, "Pull over @ the next scenic overlook, then, & come back to tend to the little ones."
Rhodes bristled again, & ejaculated: "Keep it civil, #3."
"At least I've been trained," said #3, mildly.
Desiree & #3 changed positions. "I've been waiting for someone like you," she breathed in his ear, whille passing.
In spite of his training, #3 felt himself flush.

:thumbsup:

Rhodes looked under the seat for a manual - any manual.

Desiree executed a perfect 3 point turn around, and slid underneath #3
as he positioned himself in the driver's seat.

Rhodes began to read aloud from the manual.

"Everyone's seatbelts should be fastened before putting it in gear."

"You've always been too traditional, Rhodes! Hasn't #3 given US good service?"

#3 flushed again: "It's all part of the job, miss!"

"Sweetheart!" Desiree couldn't help kerself: "Should I turn up the airflow?"

Rhodes said, "Don't you dare, unless you do."

"But my babies are gasping!" she explained, "I think they need some things."

"You could try milk - they're @ least part mammal, miss," suggested #3, his eyes firmly fixed on the road.

Rhodes' estimations boiled over. Lunging past his sister & all the life support equipment, he took a firm hold on #3's neck.

#3, strangely enough, was able to pull the vehicle to a smooth stop. There was nothing to look at.

"He's insane," gasped #3.
"I know," said Desiree, "but he's my brother."

Rhodes loosened his grip. "Any sense is like a breath of fresh air," he breathed.

Rhodes spotted a corner grocery store.

"Screech to a halt please, Sir Driver # 3." he snarked a tad.
"My sister's spewing offspring need milk, and I need an Almond Joy bar."

#3 screeched a perfect 360.
"Sometimes you feel like a nut," he said.
"Get me a Klondike bar," Desiree requested, "I've got the milk under control."

Rhodes couldn't read the fine print of the ingrediants.
He rummaged beneath the car seat and found a pair of bifocals.

"Colustrum is listed first. Is that akin to BHT or MSG?, I dunno."

"For Stallion's sake, bro! Try to get a grip!"
"I'm pretty good at that, sis. Just ask #3, when he comes back with our snacks. What the heck are you doing?"
"What comes naturally. Will you make yourself useful & check the ones in my hair?"

"What could be taking him so long?" Desiree began to fidget.

Rhodes tried using the bifocals to peer inside the convenience store.

"Hey, I see him."

"What's he doing?"

"He's scratching off a large stack of tickets, sis."

Desiree eyes narrowed.

Rhodes needed to calm his sister down.
He wasn't sure how.
He began to French braid her hair.

"Rhodes!" she exclaimed, "Where did you learn hairdressing?"
Rhodes was noncommital.
Desiree sighed. "Just mind your nieces & nephews."

#3 returned, looking a little sheepish. "Here're your snacks," was all he said.

"Where's our change?" asked Rhodes.

#3 slammed the vehicle into gear, intentionally disregarding his knowledge that Rhodes wasn't belted.

Accelerating downhill, he glanced in the rear-view mirror.

"You've changed your hair," he said.

Desiree glanced over the backseat to check on Rhodes.
He was in an uncomfortable position,
but it provided him an excellent opportunity for further seat spelunking.



"My brother provided this framework for my little climbers. You like?"

"It's pretty," #3 replied, "I'm yours."

"I'll take care of the kids," he added.

His driving had caused Rhodes no small distress.

"Jim Cantshore his rear end!" came a pirate's demand.
"Leave him alone-you couldn't stand his girth."
"Aye, lass, but don't get personal!"
She chuckled. "He's a lot taller than you are, laying down."

Silenus and TACO were hiding behind the outhouse, listening and waiting
for....
"What are we waiting for, again?" Silenus bent over and whispered to his cousin.

"I'm trying to remember how to reanimate a weatherman who has stiffened all
sleepy Ent-like, dammit!" TACO spluttered as quietly as he could.

Meanwhile, the pirate and his willing captive wench kept making noise mostly.
So far they hadn't brandished anything more harmful looking than a flask.

"Try to retrieve your memory by looking at it sideways, TACO." Silenus encouraged.

TACO whispered back:

"We need to find his slicker and rain hat, and redress him, that will work."

"You remembered finally. Good." Silenus relaxed.

"I just made that up" Taco replied, "But why not give it a try?"

"Noise is good thing," whispered the pirate beside Silenus' ear, "Haven't you heard?"
Silenus flinched, but only slightly.

"Haven't we been here before?" He breathed.

"Yes, but not in this language," the pirate allowed, "You should listen to her!"

"When my measure shrinks, perhaps," said Silenus.

"Fools!" she cried, "What I have going on here is not for the likes of such undomesticatable beast as y'all."

"Heh," said TACO, "she said undomesticatable."

"Buddy," said the pirate, "She said y'all!"

Silenus disarranged his skirts.

...and quickly spied the purple toothbrush he was looking for.

He smiled and tauntingly held the tool above his head.

"It's the same shade as your sash, Handsome-Pirate-With-Bad-Breath...sir."

Pirate made a grab for it.

Silenus lept backward and cried out:

"Well buckle my swash!"

Of course, he didn't mean it. Display was his thing, & he could tell that the pirate was itching for it.
"En garde!"
"Guard your damn self!"
"I will not!"
"Nor shall I!"
(Needless to say) the entire exchange took mere moments.

Runni and Snoddi tried to paint by the numbers.
They soon found it tedious and constrictive.
Snoddi was the first to color outside of the lines.

"Thats much better." Runni quickly agreed.
She dropped a dollop of yellow paint from her brush onto his blue filled one.

He kissed her and returned the favor.

"Oh no!" squealed Desiree, unlike herself: "Their goings-on become us!"

As if not realizing becomes what it might, the others turned aside.

..and looked for Desiree's stash.

"I wasn't squealing just for effect, you know," said Desiree, as her braids continued to tighten.

"We know, miss," said #3.
"I know, sis," said Rhodes, almost in unison.

The little ones trapped in her hair continued searching for an outlet, but their sense of direction was inhibited by their...environment.

Rhodes read aloud from the third manual he'd found while his face was
plastered beneath the seat during #3's previous exhilarating accelerations.

"I feel your pain: Can you feel mine?" he intoned.
"Feel your sister's," #3 intoned, "Your skills in french-braiding could use a little work!"
Rhodes was offended, but he didn't know what to say.


Tentatively, he began: "I've been the very model of a modern major general..."

"Fucking-A!" said #3, "even my training's gone farther."

Too much intonation?

Too little construction?

Damn, damn, damn.

Rhodes couldn't decide what to do to correct the do he'd attempted.

It was his sister's hair & his nieces & nephews @ stake, for goodness' sake!

Desiree calmly explained to everyone that the offspring were no longer in her hair.

"What?," #3 & Rhodes gasped, "Were did they go?, are they alright?"

"Relax; they are safe and secure in the zipper compartment of my handbag." she said.

#3 nudged Rhodes. "She said handbag!"

Rhodes nudged #3 a little harder.
"@ least she didn't say "purse"," he said.

Desiree wanted more, but couldn't determine that was not the result of her offsprings' infiltration.

33 of the spores wormed themselves inside her brain via both earholes.

"Desiree!" exclaimed Rhodes, "we've been trying to help you!"

"At least I've been trained to do so, miss," said #3.

"Go in the back," said Desiree, "I have a way-distant call from our Mom coming in."

Stallion landed on the roof with his galoshes on. He didn't want to scratch the paint-job.

He whickered softly.
"You've always been the most responsible," he said.

"Yeah, but I know he wants to be helpful."

"Who, Rhodes?"

"No, beloved Surrogate. #3!"

#3 shook hands with Stallion and winked.

"Desiree is a fine lass and I want to do right by her, sir," #3 professed,

"I also keep my uniform clean. She loves my uniform."

Desiree blushed a bit.
Stallion understood.

"I've the sneaking suspicion you haven't understood. I love you. Take care of yourself."

...meanwhile

Taco was able to locate Jim Canticle's slicker and matching rain hat,
while Silenus kept the Pirate and his Willing Captive Wench,
Thoroughly entertained.

He wrapped the slicker around the weatherman's shoulders.
Taco jumped as high as he could, trying to place his hat back on.
His third attempt, was a success.

Jim opened his eyes and said...

"You know how I want to do this, & have never failed to respond in kind?"

Grudgungly, TACO said "Yeah, I guess I just don't understand why the wench intrigues you."

"Stay up until the 27th & you might," said Gym. (His slicker flapped a little, again.)

Silenus walked over to see if Jim was fully animated.
He looked him up and down.

"He's going to need a fresh pair of pants." Silenus proclaimed.

"Why?" The Wench asked.

Louden and Merrick gave each other knowing looks, and then confessed.

"He was a tree for a spell, can't damn us for that, can ya'?"

Nobody said yes.

The dogs, contented, laid down.

Silenus & the wench snuck off to the bushes.

Nobody gainsaid that.

"Who is this nobody?" asked TACO.

"Nobody asked you, did they?" Nobody asked.

TACO swung as hard as he could, but
Nobody ended up being hurt.

"Who are you talking to?" said Silenus.

"Isn't it obvious I'm talking to Nobody, most exhalted bogart master?" TACO sneered.

Silenus said, "I don't know that I like your tone," (though I do, (to himself) why would he choose Nobody over me?)
TACO said, "I know you do - you wouldn't appear so stimulated otherwise."

Jim Cantore, grateful for the clean pair of trousers,
turned towards Silenus and said:

"Oh my, he's a mouthy little female canine, isn't he?"

"She's just jealous," the Satyr replied, "my cousin loses a lot of time, retrograde."

"Ah," said Gymtastic, "I see."

Silenus, however, could tell the whateverman was blinded by lust, & attended the powers-that-be.

TACO bristled and sputtered at the continuing she reference.
Summoning his best Truman Capote impersonation, he said:

"Dearest Silenus, I think it's time to tell you to go pet your own feline."

James Cant-Hear-You shouted:
"My kingdom for a Q-Tip!"

Willing Captive Wench unsheathed her sword.

Pirate noticed her stance and unflasked his flask. After swallowing a large gulpful,
he re-corked & said to himself, "This is going to be a something."

Wench twirled the sword above her head while proclaiming:
"Watch what a she can do."

They watched.

"Oh my lands!," Jim spoke louder than he needed to,
"You've beheaded the Great Pumpkin."

"It was time," she said. "It's not as though his seeds weren't ripe."

"But he wasn't focused!"

TACO said, "He ain't, anymore."

"Time for the garlic salt." he concluded.

The two fire-bugs drew straws as to who would start the conflagratory roasting fire.

Silenus won. Winsome Wench conceded gracefully.

Jim Cutlery cut up the pumpkin with his Leatherman tool.
It was a virgin experience for both of them.

The flames began to lick.

Cantsuare suddenly jumped up & licked his tool.

"I'm more excited than I've ever been!" He said.

"Tend to business," said Silenus, "& try to get the job done."

Cantsatisfy acceded, even though he didn't know what that meant.

"There's a storm a'comin'" he said. "I can feel it!"

TACO chuckled.

"Where's my manual?" Cant-wing-it demanded.

Rhodes sensed his fellow manual clutcher's pain, from twenty miles away.

He asked #3 if they could turn the vehicle around.

"Certainly." he nodded his approval, and gunned it.

Desiree cried.

"What about my babies?" she demanded.

"They'll be alright, miss," assured #3, "we have bigger things to attend to."

"But my brain hurts!" said Desiree.

Desiree sank back comfortably against the head rest.
Her demeanor had changed.

"Can you hear the beautiful music?" she serenely asked Rhodes and #3.

Leaning forward from the backseat, Rhodes asked, "What music?"

#3 apologetically turned the radio off. "What was playing I don't consider music."

Time took a hush moment for the three travelers.

Desiree smiled and whispered:

"It's a symphony I now recognize. My babies are all talking at once inside my head."

#3 laid a reassuring hand on her thigh, and said:

"As they become more mature, perhaps they will learn to take turns speaking."

Desiree replied:

"All is as it should be this moment, it always is, no sense in rushing what can't be rushed."

Rhodes tucked Jim's manual safely inside his jacket.
He let the road noises lull him.

Obviously overtired, he realized he had forgotten something.

"You touched my sister's thigh, didn't you?" he asked of #3.

"Yes, I did, but I assure you it was clinical."

Rhodes tried to respond, but there came only a twitch, & he realized that...he'd been drugged.

Desiree giggled, entranced.

#3 drove on.

Jim Cantilever rocked back on his heels when he saw headlights in the distance.

Silenus admired his amazing balancing act.

Pirate asked, "Is this the storm you predicted?"

Wench was weary and looked around for a chair.

Cantilever offered his lap.

TACO willingly played step-stool.

He liked to watch.

Silenus asked Pirate, "Do you just want to watch, or would you rather get busy?"

Pirate responded, "I'm waiting for the Wench, no offense."

Then #3 came skidding in.

Wench surreptitioulsly slipped her right hand into her jacket pocket,
searching for a dental dam.

Pirate never missed a flinch.
He said to her:

"Can't it wait, my fulsome filly?,
Action and Adventure are coming in for a landing, at our feet, as we speak."

Wench wedged the dam into place just in time.

The rest of the tribe ate #3's dust, as he skidded the vehicle sideways for effective
affect.

Desiree questioned his maneuverings.

"I thought it best to create a smokescreen darlin" he humbly gave her puppy dog eyes.

Silenus' advanced taste buds were categorizing the dust particles.

"Ah..a heady dose of coriander with undertones of cinnamon."

TACO's breast stroke flailings, eventually provided him a space to breathe.

Rhodes emerged from the vehicle first.
He'd attached a dun coloured hanky to the manual he held overhead,
hoping it would trigger a surrender friendly incoming response.

Jim Corporeal began to tremble.

"I don't know what to do with this, but I can't just let it go," he thought.

#3 jumped from the vehicle:
"Out of my way, Wench, I'm trained in these matters."

Wench was offended, but at least wasn't choking on the dust.

"I wish someone had trained you to drive," she said.

"We come in peace, bearing gifts, my friends." Rhodes said, as he handed
the manual to Jim Cant-Thankyou-Enough.

Desiree presented Jim with a box of store-brand cotton swabs.
She curtsied and said, "I hope these will suffice, Sir Allweather whatever."

TACO watched with glee as #3 handed him a beautifully gift wrapped package
of garlic salt.

"Let's eat!, cried Stallion.

"Whoa, Stallion has arrived just in time for the feast!" They all shouted in unison.

The seeds were perfectly toasted and ready.

Everyone clasped hands, bowed their heads, and recited:

"Thank you, Great Pumpkin, for providing us with good brain food."

Soon enough, they all realized what #3 had known for hours:
What feels good might drive insane.

"Let's go!" he said, "I was afraid of this."

The others clambered into the emergency vehicle, but couldn't decide who might drive.

"I'll drive," said Stallion.

Desiree puzzled, "It's been four hours, already?"

Stallion nuzzled her hair: "Just help me steer & we'll get where we're going."

"Who are all those people, & what are they doing back there?" she asked as she took the wheel.

Stallion leaned over for Desiree's ears only and whispered:

"We're transporting a load of adrenaline addicts, without
the sirens or lights on, capiche?"

Desiree's brows furrowed.

"Are they suffering?, she said as she gripped the wheel tighter,
"Can't you give them just a smidge of a jolt?"

Stallion's trigger finger began to itch.

"Sure, why not, I could use a volt or two myself, truth be told."

He flipped a half a seconds worth.

"Cool," thought Stallion, "there's a fundament @ work!" Then he realized he was under the influence of Desiree's spores & slammed on the brakes.

Luckily, Desiree had control of the wheel, & was able to avert disaster.

Unfortunately, those in the back were distracted, & could not avoid the tumble forward.

Desiree glanced to her left and noticed Wench's legs dangling over the front seat.

"I love your shoes, Ms. Wench, where did you find them if I may ask."

A muffled reply came from beneath the tangle of flesh.

"I saw them sticking upright after an avalanche, and snagged them."

Pirate nodded his head up and down in his downward position.

"My Wench has an eye for the best booty, I'll attest to that."