"You may think about it however you like, as I might not," scrawled one unplastic through their minds.
"I thought we were into population control," said Rhodes, as she scratched his neck.
"I could do that," she came back, "but I'd rather not."
Rhodes never saw her coming, but was more surprised to see her go.
"I have business with the father of my children," said Desiree, "but I'll be back to discuss why you're so stupid."
"Okay," said Rhodes, feeling his sister was feeling dizzy as well.

Feeling safe, for the moment, from his sister's predacious mind-reading, Rhodes decided:
<<"I've been misled!" shrieked Runni.
"It wasn't by me," claimed Snoddi.>>
"wtf are you doing?" asked Desiree, having returned.
"I thought you were with the Merman," gulped Rhodes.
"Yeah, well, they're not only the slowest fishes in the sea, they're also the quickest," Desiree blushed, but then accessed her children. The Stallions snorted, as did Bruce. "Mom," she texted, "he's doing it again!"
"We're busy," Runni texted back.
"FUCK!" said Desiree, "It's like they don't care."
"They care more deeply than you think, sis," said Rhodes, "Were you dizzy when you ran off?"
"Yes," admitted Desiree, "but I remember what I wanted to tell you."

Predictably, if oddly bravely, Rhodes continued:
<<Runni's new space wasn't to her liking either, so she needed to vent. Snoddi tolerated.
"Do you do that on purpose?" he eventually asked.
"Do what?" she asked him back.
"I guess not," was all that entered his mind.>>
"Mom!" Desiree sent.
"Deal with it, honey," Runni sent back, "Snoddi takes a little longer."
"Damn it!" Desiree cussed.
"What's the matter, sis?" asked Rhodes, innocently, as if the two-way street was closed.
"She's always one-upping me," his twin answered.
"Not really, D," said Rhodes.

Chuck needed a rest.
The Stallions closed ranks & nuzzled him affectionately. Bruce whined a little, but wagged his tail, atop S2's withers.
Silenus was sweating for the first time in forever. "Is your course clear?" he asked Chuck.
"Yes," answered Chuck, "It just isn't cleared yet."
"I could lend you a hand," offered the satyr.
"Can your cloven hooves withstand this?" asked Chuck, taking a very solid swing.

+ = +

Runni & Snoddi appeared ahead of the party.
"Chuck!" called Runni, "There's a perfectly passable path over here."
"That's what your son's afraid of," Chuck called back.
"Rhodes isn't afraid of anything, really," grumbled Snoddi.

Manuel & #3 were playing backgammon.
"Do you think we should tidy up before they get back?" asked Manuel.
"Do you think they're coming back?" asked #3.
There was a knock at the door, & a ruckus from the puppies.
"Who can that be?" asked #3.
"I'll put on some pants & find out," said Manuel.
The visitors were Runni's parents.
"Look at this mess!" said her mother, grabbing a rag & some disinfectant.
"Indeed," said her father, "Boys, we need to talk."
The boys looked abashed. #3 realized he'd forgotten his pants.
"Go put some pants on," said Runni's dad.
Her mom had been averting her eyes, but looked up as he hurried away. "Nice!" she thought.
"Dear!" said her husband.
"Did I say that out loud?" she asked him.
"You didn't need to," he answered, & got out a mop & some trash bags.

Satan looked himself in his opposite eyes. Unlike a vampire, he had no problem withe mirrors. "Should I or shouldn't I?' he asked himself, glancing back & forth between the reflections.
"You silly fucker," hisself answered, "of course you should."
The devil smiled at himself, for the umpteenth time, & fixed his hair.

+--

"Did you hear that?" asked #3, actually quivering hard enough that Manuel could feel it.
"Of course I did," Manuel replied, "My training was as inclusive as yours, it seems."
"My training gave me a license," #3'd.
"My training gave me license," said Manuel.
"So, should we open the door?" #3 wondered.
"I hardly think so," Manuel grinned, "You remember what he did to Jamming Cannotti?"
"He's still chasing storms," answered #3, puzzled.
"& reporting on them," said Manuel.
There was a howl from the basement, & they shared a chuckle.

-++

The Ghost of Igor rained some more, like a lukewarm shower, forcing the traces of oneunplastic into the ground, where she immediately began consorting with the groundnet.
"Well, hello there!" said Satan.
"Oh, no you don't!" said oneunplastic, "I won't have you polluting this place."
"I was here first," said the devil.
"No you weren't," said the Merman, preparing to defend his hybrids.

"We're lucky, you know, sis?"
"wtf do you mean, Rhodes?"
"We're fantastically situationalized."
"Stop making up words."
"I'm not."

"Sis," said Rhodes, "What the hell ARE we doing?"
"We're following a path, Rhodes. Maybe yours."
"Y'aint," he said, "I don't draw them."
"Such pretty pictures," she said, "perhaps not, but you have certain cants."
"Kids!" called Runni from her placement, "Chucks chopped a trail to the established path."
Snoddi groaned & resided.
"My ass is sore," he said.
"Not yet, soldier," said Rhodes.
"Okay, son," said Snoddi, "What is it then, now then?"
"You must see the light?" Rhodes was desperate.
"From the tilt of the statue," said Snoddi, "It's the day after tomorrow."
"The slums don't care me anymore, Dad," said Rhodes.
Snoddi showed his teeth, but admitted, "They don't scare me any less."

+-+

Stallion looke @ S2. "Were you dizzy?"
"I was not," answered his other self, stiffly, "Were you?"
"No," said Stallion, "LOOK! What we've been trying hasn't been working..."
"You can't think I don't know that," said S2.
"No," agreed Stallion, "Look me in the eyes!"
"I gladly would, but you're not focused."

"Is there any way we could get to Brazil?" asked Runni's Mom of her Dad.
"Not unless you have a line to a stallion," he said, & winked.
"I thought you were innured or immaculate or something," she admitted, "so I thought you'd never ask."
They shared a chuckle. The boys returned, pantsed.
"It looks like we got dressed for nothing," said #3,
"Back to the game?" asked Manuel.
"Just call Silenus," said his practicality, "he knows how to reach the Stallions."

"Let's try a little extra commiseration, sis," said Rhodes.
"Here hear!" said Snoddi, "While appreciating your efforts @ comradery, I don't know if that's an appropriate statement, son. Are you in pain?"
"He was talking to me, Dad," said Desiree, having given up pretense, "Your regard's not unwelcome, just unnecessary."
"Desiree!" exclaimed Runni, "Be nice. They're more emotionally fragile.
Stallion shouldered his extra. "Incoming!" he said.
"Where?" asked S2.
"2 o'clock, NNE. Runni's parents need a ride."
The statue's arm had not yet broken, but was behaving like a wedge might, so reclining that night fell.
"I think they meant AM," said Snoddi.
"I'm painting us to Memphis before they get here," said Runni.
The Stallions both snorted.
Bruce said, "Arf."
Silenus nudged his Cousin, who ignored him.
"How's the fishing around here?" TACO asked the Merman.
"Are you paying attention?" the Merman questioned back.
"Tennessee?" squawked Snoddi.
"Don't be a parrot," said Runni.
"I never wanted to be a parent," said Snoddi, mishearing.
"But you are," she said, also.

"Oh, my aching back," grumbled Stallion.
"Mine, too," said S2, "What have these people been eating?"
"Not much of what's good for them," said Stallion, "no matter what they believe."
"We get to see her," said Runni's mother.
"Not if she's quick enough with a brush," said her father, "& as you well know, she is."
"Yeah, I taught her that."

+++

#3 looked at Manuel. Manuel looked back.
"Do-overs?"
"Si."

++-

Runni looked up in alarm. Chuck ceased his swinging. The statue's armpit was within reach. "Snoddid, may I use your shoulder?" Runni asked.
"Not yet," Snoddi answered, "but between my blades should accommodate you."
Their kids looked on, agassed, as Runni trod his spine. She got what she wanted.
"Are you sure those spores won't alter the ecosystem?" asked Snoddi.
"Give me another & I'll tell you," said Runni.
"There are times you're too focused," came Snoddi, "but in front of the children?"
"Dad!" bot kids screamed, "Beware where she's painting you!"

<Ants Around a Firepit. "Sometimes it's too hot here." "Other times it's way too cold." "The earth can be tunnelled..." "...so we stay." "You feel that satisfying grumble?" "I did. We're helping build.">

"Mom!" cried Desiree.
"I know, dear. Give me a minute."


"She didn't really just do that!" exclaimed Runni's mom as Stallion slid to a halt.
"She's not here," said her dad, looking around from S2's shoulders, "nor is her worthless paramour."
"Aw, he's cute from the pictures," said her mom, "& we never got an invitation."

S2 looked at Stallion, who MET his eyes.

--+

oneunplastic was getting along famously with the groundnet. They viewed her as their potential mouthpiece, while she viewed their vendetta against their brethren as so like her feelings for TGOI, everyone was happy.

The skynet & the Ghost sensed incoming.

His cousin & Silenus shared a glance which said, "We've got to get out of here."
So they did.

"You again?" cried #3.
"Do you pay the mortgage?" asked Silenus. He was a little disoriented 'cuz his cousin had not been unkind on the trip, but he was still a little sore. "Have you got any leftovers?" he asked Manuel, who'd not made up his appearance.
"No, we have dogs," said Manuel, "but I can whip something up for you."
"I'll wait under the table," grumbled TACO.
"I'll wash some dishes," said #3.

"That gets harder every time," said Snoddi, shaking his head, not collecting his thoughts, "Where are we?"
"We're in Memphis, Sugar," Runni joked.
"Tennessee?" Snoddi choked.
"You went to college, right?" she asked.
"I was in high school," Snoddi blushed.
"Were you ashamed of your body?"
"Not really."
"Were you ashamed of your mind?"
"Not at all."
"So, where are we?'
"'taint Tennessee," said Snoddi.
"Check your maps," said Runni.
"I might," he said, "if I had GPS."
Runni snorted so loudly that Bruce heard her.

---

"Roundabout, boys!" he barked.

"Grandma!" cried Desiree.
"Grandpa!" cried Rhodes.

"Did you hear something?" asked Runni's mom.
"I turned my aid off," said her dad.
The Stallions galloped to Memphis.

"Rhodes?" asked Desiree, unlike herself, "Why is it so hard to communicate with our family?"
"They think we're unnatural, sis," & Rhodes blushed again.

"I didn't think this trip would take so long," said Runni's mother.
"I might be wrecked," said her Dad, "but I think these boys are homing in."
The Stallions shook their heads & picked up the pace.

++-

"Well?" called TACO, from under the table.
"It's almost ready!" Manuel called back.
#3 took some satisfaction in having the dishes squeaky-clean.

It was full dark in Rio.
"Are you sure it's not just the Statue?" Desiree asked her brother.
"No, I'm not," answered Rhodes, "but we're here now & I confess I'm afraid."
"It's a path that needs no chopping," said Chuck, "& I still have my axe..."

<Thinking too hard had hurt the girl. Talking to her brother never helped. It was funny, in a way.>

++-

"Runni?" came Snoddi, "Could you paint us back to Rio, or Rhodes a ticket here? He & I need to talk."

-++

Desiree realized she had no one to whine at, & that one-unplastic was in control of the ground-net at almost the same time.
"CHUCK!" she screamed, "The easy path is making him worse."
"Careful, D," he said, becoming familiar, "we're being approached."

--+

Runni looked at Snoddi in much the same way as usual, as if he was retarded.
"Honey," she said, "They're on their own."

"Hey, bro'!" said Desiree, "We're emancipated!"
"When weren't we?" asked Rhodes, "They're not going to help, are they?"
"Maybe not," said Desiree, "but we have Chuck."
"Are you hungry?" Chuck asked them, "You can see you're not alone."

lol

"Well, some of them seem to have a sense of humor, anyway," said Desiree, disgruntled.
"I can't see how they contribute," said Rhodes.
"You need to look harder," said Chuck, "Look at me!"

Rhodes was unwilling to help himself:
<Her brother looked at her, then at the animal/Greek God presenting itself.
"I think he might be more pure?" he whispered.
"Probably true," she answered back, tossing her mane, "but except for his axe, we don't need him.">
"Incoming!" hollered Chuck.

Chuck glowed from within. It had to be a trick-of the light from the statue's armpit, right?

+-+

#3 answered the scritching at the basement door, because he didn't read the footnotes at the end of Chapter 48, "Entertaining Guests."
The devil chuckled.
TACO gathered himself within his hunger.
Manuel began to realize he was out of his depth.
The devil looked straight at them & was tickled some more.

-+-

"This ain't Tennessee!" said Runni's Mom.
"No," said Runni, "Damnit, Stallion."
"You never asked me anything directly, honey," whickered Stallion.
"I think I might have," admitted Snoddi, with a hitch in his voice.

(Thank you, that stirs my literary feelings.)

"Okay," sighed Stallion to Snoddi, "We'll drop these two off here to confer with their daughter, but you're coming with us."
"Okay," answered Snoddi, alarmed but relieved.
"Get off our backs," said the stallions, in unison.
Runni's parents obeyed with as much haste as they could manage.
Snoddi mounted Stallion, & the three of them ran to visit TACO.
"What's new, dear?" Runni's mom asked her.
"Nice place you have here?" asked her dad.
Runni wondered where she'd get her new material.

Desiree looked down at Rhodes, where he squatted by the gutter.
"What are you doing?" she asked, as if interested.
"I felt a little sick for a minute," he told her, "as if too elevated."
"Stop lying to me!" Desiree said.
"I know that's not your trick," said Rhodes as he regained his orientation, "We can go now, Chuck."
Chuck chuckled, because he knew a thing or two about maintaining control. ...not as if he really wanted it.