Old buddies return!
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“No.”
Abe folded his arms across his chest. “No what?”
Alf copied his gesture. “No, we’re not going to go with you.”
Abe grinned. “Why not?”
“Because we don’t owe you anything,” Grunn spat from behind Alf. “We’ve paid up all the debts. Now beat it.”
Abe spread his hands wide, still grinning. “Is that any way to talk to a hero?”
“In this town, yeah,” Alf responded. “You may have saved everybody, a long time ago, but you’re practically worthless now.”
“That’s why I’m here,” Abe said.
Alf frowned. “What?”
“I didn’t just come to get you just to have you with me again,” the hero said. “I came to get you because I need your help.”
Lowrn raised the space just above his eye. “You—”
Alf said, “—need—”
Grunn said, “—our—”
Ferg said, “—help?”
Alf shook his head. “No way. I don’t believe I’m hearing this.”
“Well, you may as well believe it,” Abe growled. “’Cause I’m here, and I’m in need of your help.”
Alf spread his hands wide. “Okay. Suppose – just suppose – that we were listening to you. What kind of help could we give you?”
Abe winced mentally. This was the part he had been having trouble with. What was he going to do with his “friends” once he had the Marching Muds back together again?
“For one thing,” he said slowly, “you can make distractions.”
“Oh, that’s nice!” Grunn mocked. “We make noises, and get shot at!”
Abe sighed. “Yes. There’s a lot of Sligs guarding that slave line out there –”
“Slave line?” These words made Alf take notice of him again. “You didn’t mention a slave line before.”
“Yeah, all the slaves from MeechCo.” Abe unfolded his arms. “You know, the big factory down south that was grinding up the Meeches? The big one led by Lord Fragg?”
Alf nodded. “Yeah, we remember…what happened?”
“Brief summary: I went in. I set charges. I got delayed. Fragg escaped, and took all the slaves with him. I blew MeechCo to smithereens.”
Lowrn held up a hand. “So Fragg’s taken all the slaves away. Big deal. You can just go get them –”
“He’s taking them to Mantin City,” Abe expanded.
All the former Marching Mudokons and some of the bystanders gasped at the name of the Glukkon capital. Alf’s frown deepened. “Oh…you didn’t say it was that bad.”
“Yeah, it’s that bad.” Abe jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “The slaves are slowed down because of their chains, so if we hurry, we can probably cut them off before they get to Mantin City.”
Alf grinned, throwing an arm around Abe’s shoulders. “Hey, it’ll be just like old times.”
“Except now they have lasers,” Abe reminded sourly. “Lots of ’em. That’s why I need you to help.”
Grunn nodded. “I hear ya. I’m in.”
“And me!” Ferg put in cheerily. “I can’t wait to kick some Slig backside once again!”
Lowrn hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. “Looks like you have all of us with you again, Abe.”
Abe smiled, and pointed out toward Mantin City. “Well, let’s live up to our name: let’s march.”
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