“There are like a million rabbits and they’re all after us,” Tim went on, proving that my worry about attack was spot on. “I’m not sure if they plan to kill us, eat us, or capture us, but we’re cut off from the shuttle. The only reason we’re still alive is that we have A-Cs, Wruck, and the princesses with us, and I don’t think the rabbits have hyperspeed, for which we should all be thankful.”
Really wanted to say something, but couldn’t. Which was frustrating and added to the worry I was experiencing. This clearly reached Jeff, because he took my hand again.
We were following a path that led us past a variety of construction areas. Wasn’t positive, but felt sure that the squirrels were making nuclear weapons. Chuckie might know for sure, but now wasn’t the time to ask him.
Tim continued. “Our weapons aren’t working. Not sure if it was the ‘water’ those elephants sprayed on us or not, but the only weapons we have that are functional are Rahmi and Rhee’s battle staffs, and Tito, James, and I don’t think we want to kill these things. Yet. We have help coming, but we told them to hover, not land, just in case.”
Saw a squirrel talking into what looked like a walkie-talkie. This was getting past surreal and into Alice in Wonderland territory. Wondered if the rabbits used walkies or if they were all getting their instructions from SuperBun. Or someone else. Based on the fact that we were heading somewhere, and that SuperBun had divided our team, I was starting to lean toward the “someone else” idea. So, presumably, we were heading for Dr. Moreau’s personal lair. Goody.
“The second shuttle cruised the planetary space area. Per Cameron, there’s a small planet or a moon close by that is orbiting this planet. Or else the planet is orbiting the moon—we can’t tell for sure yet. But it looks like it once had life on it. It looks normal, more normal than the planet we’re on. Drax thinks that it only recently became uninhabited, based on worlds he’s seen.”
This world had seemed like a little paradise for a while, but now I wasn’t so sure. There was a lot going on, more than Sandy had told us, which was so totally par for our course that I didn’t even complain about it in my mind.
But now I wanted to hear Pat Benatar sing “Little Paradise” and all her other kick-butt songs. And this reminded me of a way to get information across, particularly to Tim. “Jeff, when we get back, I really want to listen to the Beatle’s “Help!” album. On the shuttle, so everyone can hear it.”
“Uh, why?” he asked.
“And then maybe “Top of the World” by the Carpenters.”
“Again, why?”
“I just like the songs.”
“Then why not listen to them right now?”
“Because right now I’m listening to “Trouble in Paradise” and don’t want to change the song.”
“By Huey Lewis and the News?”
“Yes.” Wondered if he was catching on or not.
Chuckie had. “I’d like to suggest “Guarded” by Disturbed, myself.” He was on my other side, and definitely had projected his voice toward the microphone portion of my headset. But subtly. We were good. If it mattered, because I still wasn’t sure that SuperBun wasn’t mentally eavesdropping. Though if he was, he gave no indication.
Looked around, sure enough, could see a lot of squirrels who weren’t working but were on catwalks, watching us. Couldn’t tell if they were holding weapons, but if our weapons weren’t working, too, then there were a lot of them and they had nasty teeth and claws, just like the rabbits did.
“I heard that,” Tim said. “So you guys are surrounded, too. But it sounds like you’re not in trouble yet. I mean, no more than we normally are at this juncture, which means that you haven’t hit the really bad part yet.” He stopped panting. “We’re resting for a minute. We think we’ve outdistanced the rabbits, but we’re keeping watch. So far, nothing but grass as far as we’ve run through or seen. And no life other than the rabbits after us, and more of those stupid watering elephants doing their thing.”
“That’s a good one. How about Miss Li’s “Gotta Leave My Troubles Behind”?”
“I like that one,” White said. Figured he’d caught on at least when Chuckie had, if not before. He was used to working with me, after all, and he’d been there with me when I’d deciphered Tim’s musical clues correctly during the latter half of Operation Confusion.
“We’re not leaving you guys in there, so, nice try, but hells to the no,” Tim said. “The ship can see us and they’re tracking us. We can get extracted if necessary. But we have no idea where you guys are and we’re not leaving you here on this freak world.”
“What about “Matter Made” by the Acid Girls?” I asked. It was hard to come up with song titles that would get my point across—that I was by now pretty sure we were on a manmade or, rather, superconsciousness-made or adapted world.
“You’re desperate if you’re going for straight instrumentals,” Tim said. “I’m thinking, hang on. If you can.”
“Not one of my favorites,” Jeff said, joining the party. “But I don’t have anything to suggest.”
“How about “Ghost in the Machine” by B.o.B.? You like that one.”
“Got it,” Tim said. “Thanks. You think this world was made by one of Sandy’s friends.”
“That’s a good one,” Jeff said.
“Glad you think so.” It was always nice when I could say one sentence that answered who I was talking to in person and on the phone at the same time.
SuperBun stopped hopping. We were in front of a large set of double doors, easily three times taller than Jeff and wider than all of us standing abreast. Saw no handles or knockers or anything. This boded. Not that boding hadn’t been happening since we’d landed.
“I guess we’re here?” Hey, had to tell Tim something.
“Gotcha,” Tim said. “You want me to stay on the line or hang up?”
Thought fast. It would be good to have Tim hear what he could, but I couldn’t have an entire conversation with whatever stranger was on the other side of those doors using musical clues. Also, Algar might have more for me if I got back onto my playlist. “Two last song suggestion before we go in,” I said. “How about “Leave Me Alone (I’m Lonely)” by Pink and “Invisible Man” by Joshua Kadison?”
The guys with me all said those were good songs, so I knew they’d all caught on, because Christopher detested Kadison and usually whined if I played anything by him and Oliver would only be chiming in about my musical choices if he understood what I was doing.
“Got it,” Tim said. “I’ll hang up and we’ll get Siler down here. Good plan. We’ll get down to you somehow.”
“Oh,” I said quickly, “and we can’t forget my fave song for Jeff, “Elevator” by Flo Rida. ’Cause there’s only one Flo and only one Rida.”
“Check,” Tim said. “Just Siler and Wruck to search for you and we’ll see if we can find any of those platform things that don’t have elephants or rabbits on them—we passed lots, all were occupied. The rest of us will run away from rabbits just to keep in shape. Good luck, Kitty.” Then he hung up.