"I think you should help your brother," said Stallion, "unless you'd rather go shoe-shopping."

"I'm fine," mumbled Rhodes, from somewhere within the pile.

TACO was moaning.
"Please get your arm off my face, I can't breathe."

"Who do you mean?, a few of them grumbled.

TACO bit down hard, to find out.

"Mother of God!" He squealed, "That was mine, & it wasn't my arm. Get off me, you buffoons!"
Jim Cantorcanhe took offense: "I'm not a buffoon, I'm a weatherman."
"I feel like a buffoon," said #3, "& I haven't been trained for this."
"I'd like to help you fellas," said Wench, "but my heels are stuck in the shoulder belt."

"I'd be glad to help," Desiree reached for the shoes, "I'll keep them safe for you."

Rhodes calmly, yet firmly announced:
"TACO is hemorrhaging, I can't move."

Louden & Merrick, having scented a rescue,
were almost upon the vehicle.

They efficiently jimmy(well)'d the back doors & got the "victims" out,
then sat back, panting.
Stallion's resistance to the effects of her spores incensed Desiree as he said, "Well done, men's best friends."
She retorted, "Am I chopped liver?"
"No," he replied, "but it appears #3 is unconscious. Have you any ideas?"

Louden and Merrick began to drool at the mention of liver.

Stallion raised his voice:
"TACO needs a tourniquet."

Silenus offered:
"Here, use my tail."

Wench complimented:
"Nice shade of purple."

"...It looks like you've been using it well."
Silenus almost managed a blush.
TACO allowed that his bleeding hard was almost stanched.
"You may untwist your tail from mine, now, cousin!"
"I have a request," said Wench.
"I have one that might take priority," said Desiree.
Rhodes, unhappy that he'd spent time, tried to tend to #3.
"You've been trained, & we need your help," he breathed into his ear, "big time."
#3 coughed up a little.

...into his handkerchief.

"A laudable effort," Stallion granted, "but ineffective, the spores have affected
all of you...

"Mortals?" Pirate interjected.

Jim Contaminate, didn't move.

TACO piped up:
"No, not again!"

"Don't worry," Wench comforted, " I sense he's only momentarily mortified."

"I can fix that," she said, & went to work.
Pirate felt a little funny, watching, but TACO gave him comfort.
"Thanks," Pirate said, "do you think we'll ever make it to the ER?"
"Do you think we need to?" countered the little guy,
"Roof," said Merrill.

A noxious cloud came down the mountain(?).
An eerie silence fell.
Those on the roof congratulated themselves, having saved both dogs.
"I'm a little disturbed by your changing your name." said Desiree, "but thank you."
"Good," woofed Merrick.

"I'll change my name to Lourdes," Louden said," Perhaps a we can expect
a healing miracle or three, or seven." He concluded.

"Why three or seven?" asked his brother Merrick.

"I prefer odd numbers." Lourdes answered.

"Aint that the truth." Desiree agreed.

Stallion, from above: "My haunches are cramping; I'm gonna wing it & try to find your parents."
"Come down here for a second," called Desiree, "I have a message for them."

"Actually, I have 34 messages for them," Desiree corrected her self,

"33 of them are from their grandspores. I need pen & paper, please.
This might take a few whiles to transcribe, do you mind waiting, Stallion?"

"I have little but time, dear," said Stallion, checking his watch.
Desiree realized time was of the essence, and translated the song in her head a bit faster.

#3's gallant assistance was appreciated.

"Why thank you kindly, my intended," Desiree swooned,
"It might be best if you acccompany Stallion,
so you can formally ask Snoddi for my hand."

"Thank you for appeasing my traditionalist bent, Miss Dez."

"Two fathers-in-law might abrogate my training." he considered, "but even given her unusual hair, I will try more learning for her."

Stallion snorted appreciatively & said, "Mount up!"

They took off in a blue light, & Desiree shed a tear & a prayer.

"Don't forget what we've done & try not to dampen my ass!"

The Cousin was enjoying the ride, but Gymnastic Cunnilingus, riding the contrails, clutching Stallion's tail, was no longer sure which way was up or down, let alone where the next front was coming from.

"Ah, well," he said to himself, "I've done it before," & let go, his slicker flapping unusually vigorously.
"I should send out some solstice cards," said Taco.

Stallion couldn't decide: "Should I drop him off somewhere he can mail his cards, or where he'll be safe until he wakes up?"
Rhodes expected better.
"My (expletive)," he said, "I think you've misconstrued the problem!"
Stallion snorted. "Son, I've got to show you something."

Wake up you sleepy head
Put on some clothes, shake up your bed
Put another log on the fire for me
I`ve made some breakfast and coffee
I look out my window and what do I see
A crack in the sky and a hand reaching down to me
All the nightmares came today
And it looks as though they`re here to stay

What are we coming to
No room for me, no fun for you
I think about a world to come
Where the books were found by the Golden Ones
Written in pain, written in awe
By a puzzled man who questioned
What we were here for
All the strangers came today
And it looks as though they`re here to stay

Oh, you pretty things (oh, you pretty things)
Don`t you know you`re driving your
Mothers and fathers insane
Oh, you pretty things (oh, you pretty things)
Don`t you know you`re driving your
Mothers and fathers insane
Let me make it plain
You gotta make way for the Homo Superior

Look out at your children
See their faces in golden rays
Don`t kid yourself they belong to you
They`re the start of the coming race
The earth is a bitch
We`ve finished our news
Homo Sapiens have outgrown their use
All the strangers came today
And it looks as though they`re here to stay

Oh, you pretty things (oh, you pretty things)
Don`t you know you`re driving your
Mothers and fathers insane
Oh, you pretty things (oh, you pretty things)
Don`t you know you`re driving your
Mothers and fathers insane
Let me make it plain
You gotta make way for the Homo Superior.




I love you.

"Desiree?" the voice said.
"Cousin?" squealed Desiree, thinking he might be sleep-talking.
He sounded quite alert: "Going retrograde, I found I could utilize the network your hairbabies have made of your scalp to communicate with you. Cool, huh?"
"Won't this interfere with your rest?" she asked.
"On the contrary, my dear, I anticipate an exceedingly interesting time-out, being in. -Is that okay?"
Desiree suppressed a shudder, surveyed her suppositions, sympathized & simply said, "Sure."

Cousin gave the Network a knowing nod and told them to reassure their host.

Desiree sighed with pleasure,
as the Network assuaged the tender new pathways of communication.

Desiree placidly blinked:
"This is smooth, Cousin. I could adapt to this easily."

Cousin was pleased. The rest of the gang would now have a path to follow.

Runni came skating, thinking to dissuade Desiree from accepting the unload. Snoddi appeared in the sparkles because he was, as ever, at Runni's service. "Nice path you have here," he observed.
In the far distance, they could hear their dogs baying.

Merrick & Louden rode in, in style, atop Stallion's back.

"I've been a little bit worried this might happen someday," muttered Stallion.
"Not as worried as I am about having transported these dogs," Stallion replied.
Merrick & Louden would have blushed if they'd been able.
"Congratulations," Stallion told himself.

Jim Cantore fed the dogs and then gently steered Stallion aside.

"Ive had many days where I stood talking to the wind, Stallion,
but, I had this microphone you see."

Louden & Merrick wolfed their kibble.

Stallions wished #3 was nearby, deeply concerned that they were very much in need of professional assistance.
"How much of disassociation can one horse contain?" he wondered.
Runni patted two of his necks to comfort him, but she had an odd gleam in her eye.
Rhodes finally roused. "Where are we?" he asked those assembled.

#3 appeared, with his mouth full of bread crumbs. Disbelief filled his eyes as he took in the multiple Stallions, but it was seeing Runni in action that made his uniform uncomfortable.
"None of us know where we are," Desiree told her brother, "I hope #3 brought his manual!"
Cousin chuckled in her head in appreciation. "I don't think he goes anywhere without it, Desiree."

"Well, it's not in the index," #3 mumbled, leafing through the pages, "& my training never addressed re-integrating stallions that have come apart. I can help with the puppies, if I can have some assistance..."

"Maybe I could paint re-unification with some of the afterbirth," offered Runni.

"You can paint when we're done here," snapped #3. He was sweating a bit.
"I don't think this litter will be any problem," said one of the Stallions, "you can keep your reins to yourself."
"He's just trying to help," said Desiree.
TACO knew this to be true, but found it funny anyway.
"Sis?" said Rhodes...

"I see seventeen," said Desiree, then in a different voice:
"There might be infinity
puppies waiting within there, to run
with the wind on their tongues, to fly!"
& ended with a startled squeal as she wondered (again) at the wisdom of allowing the Cousin access to her baby-net.
"Sis?" said Rhodes.
The puppies' parents waited patiently, panting in time to aid the pre-partum Stallion's struggles.
"I don't recall feeling so anxious when I got duplicated," he said.
"That's okay," said #3, "this manual has a chapter on psychology."

"First things first," grumbled Cousin, "we don't have a couch here."
"Cousin?" said Desiree, "How can you be inside my head & outside at the same time?"
"I still have a few tricks under my sombrero, my dear. There's nothing for you to worry about."

A sizable splashing was heard, followed by numerous soft thuds, & #3's panicky cry for additional assistance.

"Oh, good," said Runni, "my supplies have arrived."

"Before we leave again," said Snoddi, "I want to talk to our son."
"Sis?" said Rhodes, even more disoriented.
"You should listen to him, Rhodes, even though he hasn't been a very impressive father-figure."
"Miss?" said #3, "you won the puppy-pool."
"Oh, goody," said Desiree, "I feel like I need to wash my hair."
"Don't you dare," said The Cousin.
Runni & the adult dogs were negotiating their shares of the afterbirths.
Jim Can't Elope announced he had another engagement.

"I'd give you a ride, Gym-boy," said Stallion one, "but I'm in the middle of something with the group. Why didn't you stay gone when you fell off my tail?"
"Strong up-drafts," said the experienced whatever-man.
"Just back-track the path & you should be all right." Stallion turned away to nuzzle his other.
"But sometimes I'm lost even with my equipment!" Gem Carbunkle exclaimed.

Desiree cleared her throat.
Emboldened by the lack of obstructions,
her voice shouted for a toast.

"I raise my conflaguration to all! Long live life,...even the the sort that bites
and crawls and keeps me awake itching all night!"

"I think you meant to say 'flagon,' my dear", piped Cousin.

Desiree huffed. With both hands on her ample hips, she retorted:

"I hope you spontaneously compost."

Runni struggled out of the dog-pile with only three placentas. "This is going to SERIOUSLY limit the places I can paint us," she complained.
"That's okay, darlin'," said Snoddi, "you know I'm content wherever you are. Rhodes seems to get it, confused as he seems. Let's go."

The Stallions ran off together.
Runni improvised somewhere dimly lit.
Desiree said, "I'm going with Cousin."
Rhodes wondered, "Sis?"
"I'll be back," she allowed, "you should stay with the dogs."

"& you should really have that growth checked out."
"I know," said Rhodes, "but at least its rate of increase has lessened. You must see, from behind, what they saw in us?"
"Bro!" said Desiree, "You mean our parents?"
"Well, Dad tried to talk to me..."

Cousin Silenus sprained his most willful organ, while
attempting to turn back time. His brain pan was scrambled.

They found him mumbling..."Just one more dose of slumber, por favor"

Mercury could not spare a backwards glance.
His silver could only move forward.

Retrograde relatives went for their slippers.

The dogs shared a chuckle, & some more of what came from the horse. The puppies were beside themselves. As victims of a multiple birth, they couldn't help themselves, but they were still hungry.

"Where the hell is dinner?" their spokesone whined.

"It's in your kibble," growled Merrick.

"Go back to your humors; I'm lactating!" came offering Silenus.

All unknowing where the satyr even can from, the pups dugged in.

"Dag Gummit!" shouted Jim Cant-quite-get-it.

"He means well." Merrick offered.

Snoddi mumbled in his sleep, "Well I'll be dog all gone."

Stallion sunk deeper into his dream.
A very quiet dream,
without even a mouse.

Snoddi cowered on the bed, afraid of the squeaking. "Where have you painted us now?" he asked.
""Never you mind, love," you said.
More light's somewhere near, can't you see it?"
"You, my dear, provide cozy," old Snoddi allowed, "& these mice seem quite friendly."

Gem Cantkeephisnosein chuckled from the corner. "Forces of nature & all that," he mused.

Rhodes was worried. "I haven't felt this alone for awhile."

#3 proffered his manual.

"Damnit, 3, you know I need more than that! This doesn't even have interesting pictures in it," Rhodes was missing his sister, & a little worried that he hadn't understood what Snoddi tried to tell him.
"I read the chapter on massage," said #3.
"I'd rather pet the puppies," said Rhodes, & proceeded to do so.
Silenus chuckled, & #3 turned to look at him.
"I know a trick or two you won't find in any manual," Silenus said.
"You & the Inquisition," #3 insisted, "You scare me, but I don't think you're making things up."
"Fortunately, boy, I don't have to," said Silenus, & chuckled again.
Rhodes wanted Desiree's advice.

Unfortunately, she'd side-tracked her excursion with Cousin to check on the rest of the kids. The emergency vehicle rested, tilted, in a very deep ditch. Life support was off-line & the aquarium was nearly empty, but the survivors could hear the humming from her hair, & started to respond.
"Just what I need," said Desiree, "more root therapy. Have you any ideas, Cuz?"
"That's a silly question, honey, & this speech is much too slow. Open your channels."

The Cousin Of Silenus, signed for mercy, and whispered:

"I won't be fully awake 'till the eleventh of May, you selfish loonies.

I will crave & require TACOS, on the dawn of that day.

Please let me sleep. Go & enjoy preparing our feast."

"But, Cousin," came the multi-voice on its priority channel, "you haven't been asleep since you logged in. Help us format our lost siblings or our capacity won't be what it could."
Cousin grumbled a little, but remembered the bargain he'd made & got on with it.
Desiree promised herself while the others were busy, "I'm finding that merman & he's gonna pay for this."
"We heard that," said the multiples, "are you helping with dinner or our siblings?"

The Merman idled quietly,
just off the coast,
insecure of his knowledge that:

The Laws of the Land, differ from the Sea.

"Almost makes me wish I had different lower parts," he mused.

Rhodes felt the connection. His sister wanted to help herself, so he was willing to try...
Inexplicably, Runni & Snoddi had their mucus under control.
"Mouse guts make excellent paint," said Runni.
Snoddi said, "At least this place is more brightly lighted."
"You're always complaining, Dad," said Rhodes, "At least you were born of a woman."
"I could hardly share better, my son," said Snoddi, & smiled quietly to himself.
Desiree couldn't help herself, & @ the tone of the message said, "Cousin? I think we'd better go."
"I'm not done integrating the others," he grumbled, "but if Stallion can get us there, there we'll be."

Cantore shed his slicker quickly, turned it inside out, and laid it on the ground.

Rhodes trotted over. "Watchya doin?"

Cantore, trembling, stood up & wiped his hands on his pants.

"The map you need is painted on the inside of my slicker."

Rhodes raised a brow and said: " you sure took it off in a hurry, why the dramatics?"

Cantore blushed. "There was a mouse up my sleeve."

"That's what you get, for hiding in corners," growled Runni.
"Maybe I'm more sensitive to your gravity than you are," he allowed.
"Maybe a little withdrawal might be in order," came Snoddi.
"Where would that leave us?" asked Desiree, as Stallion trotted in with his cargo intact.

Cousin piped up. "C'mere, check out his map, it tells us exactly where we are."

"But it shows us all moving away," said Rhodes.
"That's part of what I tried to tell you," said Snoddi, giving his son's shoulder a squeeze.

"But, Dad!" (Rhodes was desperate.) "I haven't had one decent relationship."
"Your decency's been recognized by more than a few, son," replied Snoddi, "Your sister knows you, & wishes you would help with her hair-net."

"But all I know about hair is gel, & mine rinses out!"
"Don't panic, son, we're aware of what that did to Desiree..."
"It blew her skirt off?"
"I'm proud of you, son."

Desiree was a little put out. "What am I, chopped liver?"

Stallion snorted, & went for the bucket.

"It shared short speech, sis!"
"Don't be an idiot, Rhodes. It shared what it could."

Stallion snorted again, but produced the bucket, because he could do no else.

"I feel awful," he admitted to himself, "& unless I win my other half, my doom is sealed."

"He's an idiot," said Desiree.

"You tried to listen," Rhodes consoled.

"But I couldn't," Desiree demurred, "since the ringing in my ears has been driving me crazy."

"Youthful lusts do strange things to us all, Sis."

"I see you're still suffering yours."

"I give him his head."

Rhodes seemed less ashamed than usual, but Desiree was self-absorbed.

"That must come in handy, sometimes."
"As it must for you."

Stallion snorted yet again.

The Cousin Of Silenus stared blankly,trying to gather his thoughts.

"I could use some liver. Did someone mention liver?"

Desiree sniped, "Focus please, focus."

Rhodes looked at TACO's trembling pale complexion & said, " Sis, I think he really does need some liver. Look at him, he's gone all Casper on us."

"It might be because he's feeling his Mercury."

"It might be because he's been attached to your hairnet."

"It might be because of that flask in his pocket," said Stallion, "now, tend to the bucket. I won't have my grandthings expiring just because he distracts you."

"What do you think Silenus has done to #3?" asked Rhodes, "Maybe they have some spare liver."

Desiree gave #3 a buzz.

"He said that he & Cantore were finished furnishing their loft. There's even a nursery.
We are all invited to the loft-warming soiree."

Desiree took the bucket from Stallion, and led the way.

"Where'd she get the map?" wondered Snoddi.
"Cannelloni laid it on the ground before he went to decorate his interior," said Runni, "& I think they've been in contact since."

"I'd follow her anywhere," Stallion averred, enjoying the view, "I'm tired of driving."

Stallion, bereft at the loss of his camera, trained his mind's eye, harder.

His mind's eye was befuddled. Stallion stumbled & called out, "Desiree, the least you could do is pick out an easier path for your sire!"
"You know who I answer to," she called back.

"Don't worry, horse-dad," said Rhodes, "I can follow."

"We'll bring up the rear," said Runni & Snoddi, in unison.

"I think my liver's getting better," said TACO.

"#3 will have a look at it, when we get to their house, Cousin," said Desiree, blithely uncertain she knew where she was headed.

#3 was less uncertain when they arrived: "Silenus' cousin needs to go to a hospital. My manual doesn't cover everything."

"Does that mean my forecast is going to be wrong again?" asked J. Canticle, but unconcerned because his occupation required only his opinion, "Do you like this color for the living room carpet?"

"No," said #3, "how can you be so bland?"

Silenus, who'd been busy in the closet, emerged & interjected: "When you have matching drapes, beiges easily come together."

"Promises, promises!" fumed Desiree, wishing she hadn't changed her hair before what nature intended for it.

#3 took The Cousin Of Silenus aside.

Silenus hoofed to within hearing distance.

#3 reassured TACO, "I have just the thing to puce you up."

"I was hardly just pretending I'm fine," responded TACO, "& puce isn't my color."

Jim Cuticle couldn't keep his hands off the manual.

"Perhaps you should name it Manuel," #3 snitted.

Desiree asked, "What is he so absorbed with?"

Rhodes asked if he could borrow it next.

"You don't even know what's it's for," #3 sniffed.

Desiree laughed, "It's a manual thing."

Silenus emerged from beneath the duvet. "Who's Manuel?"

"He was the roofer, Sil. You'd better not forget that I'm your #3."

"You seemed a lot more professional when we first met," sighed Silenus.

"I think I've seen enough," said Runni, "thanks for the tour. May I use some of this leftover paint?"
"Are you sure real paint will get us anywhere?" worried Snoddi.
"Trust me," she told him, "I AM a professional."

"So where are we now?" Snoddi asked a short time later.

"Relax, honey, it's a bowling alley," said Runni, "I'll get us shoes & beers."

"But the lights, the colors!" Snoddi almost panicked as Runni bustled over to the service counter, then disappeared into the bar.

"My poor dearest," said Runni, after several frames, "You seem a little distracted."
"Yes," agreed Snoddi, "I'm afeard I can't keep up with you."
"Snoddi, I'll hear no such excuses from you," all business, "just be the ball!"

*****

"Bro'," said Desiree, her gaze more unusually vacant, "we've got to help Snoddi-dad."
"Why, sis, & how would we get there?"
"His cohesion is dwindling. Stallion can take us."
Stallion wondered at the wisdom, but concluded that things couldn't get much worse.

"Y'all have a nice trip," said #3. "Since you can't stay for breakfast, I packed you a nice basket."

As the trio left the house, Silenus said to Jimmy C., "Did you hear them accuse US of using flowery language? I swear I never heard such flippant yet fervent felicitations as just freely flowed when they were focalizing #3's food service!"

"I noticed," said Judas Casual. "Do you have Miguel's #?"

"He only gave it to #3," Silenus sighed, "He said I scared him."

"We all have our cross to bear," said J.C.

Excited by their egalitarian effluvial effect,

They effortlessly elongated enunciation exercises.

It was the second most useful thing they could think of to do with their tongues. The sound of a horse at the door impeded their progress.

"I wonder what they forgot?" said #3, who turned to open what he had just closed.

There stood the second stud, with Merrick & Loudon & seventeen happy puppies comfortably ensconced on his back.

"I told you satyr milk wouldn't hurt them," Silenus told the humans. "Do either of you have any idea what they want, now?"

"A yogurt recipe." Merrick pleaded.

"It's smoothie time." Louden announced.

The Cousin Of Silenus kept one eye on the bowling pins,
and the other on the mouse that sat still on the mantle, daring him to stir.

"I must make my approach," he told himself sternly.

Himself said, "We already did."

The mouse made one of those weird mouse noises & scampered into its hole.

"I wish he'd quit doing that," grumbled S2, to himself, flicking his tail.

"I wishe'd keep doing that," thought the mouse.

Stallion clattered down to the bowling alley. Desiree & Rhodes further alit because a large red sign on the door said, "No Horses!"

"We'll be back shortly," Desiree told her Sire & added, "God, I hate prejudice!"
Rhodes was excited about bowling, so he just held the door for her to hustle her in.

Stallion snorted softly & started pruning the shrubberies. They tasted like plastic. This time he sighed. "I had the feeling real paint wouldn't work for this strange trick that Runni does."

A stranger approached him & stroked him with plastic hands. Quite suddenly completely overcome by aversion he did one of his own strange tricks & winked out of the area.

"Geez, I was only trying to be friendly, big guy," said the stranger to the empty air.

Rhodes & Desiree acquired shoes & balls & located their co-progenitors, (Snoddi had a 37 in the 8th, to Runni's 155), who seemed happy to see them, but also extremely surprised.
"How did you get here?" Runni asked. "No one has followed us before. I didn't think it was possible."
"Stallion gave us a lift," Desiree answered.
"Even so," began Runni, "I think I may have been mistaken about the Dutch Boy."
"What was his name, again?" asked Snoddi, in a suspiciously slurred voice.
"Dad!" exclaimed (!) Rhodes, "Are you on something?"
"He's still on his first beer," said Runni, "& he's only had a few sips..."
"Uh-oh," said the twins simultaneously.
"Mom, I think we should get him away from here," urged Desiree.
"We might as well bowl a few first," Runni, offhandedly, "I don't think it's urgent."
"Rhodes, go upstairs & update Stallion, then come back & help me."
"Okay, sis," he said, but moments later, "He isn't out there!"

Runni waved her bowling rag back and forth three times.

Snoddi mumbled hopefully, "Did it work, my beautiful Runsy Punsy?"

"I believe so, Snookered Snoddums. They all poofed away. Oh, shoot, hold on dear,
I must have waved that rag a little to the left. Where are we?"

Snoddi sighed. "My glass isn't half full or half empty, for it's gone, all gone."

"But my mind feels clearer," he added.
"We'll have to use the tried-and-true to get out of this void, Snoddi."
"I'm at your disposal whenever you're ready."

****

"Now, what?" wondered Rhodes.
"Mom's losing her touch, I fear," said Desiree, "Let's finish this game and go try to find Stallion."
...Desiree, 187; Rhodes, 192.

"I don't know where to start looking," she admitted as they stood outside.
"We could ask somebody," suggested her brother, "like, maybe that startled-looking flamboyant over there."

"Yeah, I saw the horse. Then I didn't," they were told, & that was all.

Desiree's children-net tightened a little to get her attention. "Rhodes, the kids tell me they still have a connection to TACO," she told him.
"Well use it!" he said, "I'm starting to feel like Snoddi-dad looked before he left."
"It's something in the air here, bro'. Hang on."

TACO Heard their intent.
He wandered into sight. His t-shirt read, "Kickapoo & Twyla Tharp too."

His hair styled by:
Hot Hazy Humid himself.

"For a virtual projection, you're awfully realistic," said Rhodes.
"Yeah, well, I've been busy helping move the furniture," owned TACO, "What's up?"
"We're stranded in one of Mom's less-successful creations, & our transportation has popped out on us," said Runni, "Do you know how to reach him?"
"His return is in his nature, kids. Be patient & he'll be back."
"But the fumes are starting to get to Rhodes already," D. protested.
"I suspected Runni was wrong to choose the latex," mumbled the cousin, "I'll try to get through to him, but I have a couple things I need to finish up first."
"How rude," she thought, as he switched applications, "calling them things!"

S2 was perfectly comfortable, resting on the porch swing, but the puppies were becoming more & more restive. Merrick looked at Louden, & they followed their noses to do some dumpster-diving, returning with an assortment of take-out containers & the remains of the house-warming snacks. The puppies were grateful.

#3 emerged as they were finishing off the last of the orts. "You animals," he tsked, "have only to ask for your supper. Look at the mess you've made!"
They all looked at him, cutely, as if they didn't understand him, distracting him from his incipient snit.

"Aw, c'mere, you & you & you & you & you & you & you & you & you & you & you & you & you & you & you & you & you & you big dogs, too. Let's make a dog pile!" he chortled.

***

Desiree was more worried about her brother than usual.

"Should we roll another?" she asked.
"I don't feel up to it, sis," he answered.
"It doesn't matter how you feel," she opined, "You look fabulous."
"That's becoming my concern," he admitted.

"Hang on," she said tersely, "I'm getting a call."

"Des'?" came TACO's breathless voice, "I can't reach your sire."
"How hard have you been trying?" she asked imperiously.
"Sis!" hissed her brother, "I'm dizzy!"
"I'm trying to help you; be quiet," came her reply, "...cuz', I don't have his #."
"I know that, Desiree. I'm thinking the plastic in your mother's creation is interfering with his homing instinct."
"Frankly, cuz, I wouldn't want to come back here, either."
"There, there, beautiful. Access 312-671 & see if you can't reach him yourself."

Jules Champion had just the manual for this situation.

He took what seemed an hour to find it, what with the temporal time disturbances,
& myriad pretties causing distractions.

His belly began making demands.

"I found it!" he exclaimed.

"Found what?" TACO played along.

"Thee Manual, my friend," Jolly giggled.

He held it above his head for all to see.

Maintaining & Munchies. It was a well worn copy.

Having come extricated, #3 busied himself rattling pans in the kitchen. "I could use some help here!" he called, subconsciously modulating his voice just below their awareness.
He needn't have bothered; Silenus had JC's full attention.
The dogs watched through the window.

***

"Sis?" mumbled Rhodes.
"Save your strength, Bro'," she answered, "I've another idea."

"Grandma?" she whispered into her connection, "Are you out there?"
"We have a grandma?" asked Rhodes.
"You were out sowing your oats when I met her," answered Desiree.
"Was that before you got your hair-net?" Rhodes was trying to be delicate, but the fumes were powerful.
"Grandma!" Desiree cried in despair to the air. This gave her another idea, so she soon had her sire on the line.

"Pretty efficient grand-things you birthed, baby," he said with unfeigned affection.

"Can you come pick us up?" she asked.

"Only if you're able for a snatch-n-grab."

Stallion galloped down to the plasticplanet. His kids weren't there!
Ignoring the prohibitive sign, he kicked open the doors & revealed himself.
Rhodes was unconscious, with Desiree performing CPR.
Stallion knickered, disgruntled.
"Desiree, darling daughter, you're doing it wrong. Let's GO!"

Stallion was fairly unhappy. "I birthed you, you know! You should climb on my back."

"Strapping lass though I am, sire, I can't move this lightweight, & I'm a little dizzy, too!"

Pondering was getting him nowhere, when S2 arrived with #3 astride.

"Cousin told us there might be a problem," #3 explained.

#3 & Desiree, together, had no problem hoisting Rhodes over Stallion's withers, & Desiree leapt up behind him. "I can stabilize him now, #3," she said.
"What?" said #3, beginning to feel the atmosphere.
"You can take your hand off his ass," she replied.
"Oh," said #3 & mounted S2, flushing.

The horses headed for the door.

The plastic populace was coming in, objecting to incursion.

"C'mon," said Stallion, "there's a back way out."

"Trust you to know it," grumbled S2.

They emerged into an alley, where the air was strangely fresher.
One of its denizens approached Stallion.
"Don't touch me," he whimsied.
"First, feel it," one wanted.
Stallion was surprised. This touch wasn't plastic at all!