“Oops! I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I’m not sure. Whatever I did.”
Nikki really had me going. She would have gotten away with it, but Scotti lost her composure. When she quit giggling, she said, “You really got him going, Ma’am. That was something to see.”
I looked at Nikki. “Now you’re giving the bots lessons in how to wind me up? I think there needs to be payback for this.”
“C’mon, Caveman. You didn’t think I might want to go down to the planet, too?”
“Tell you the truth, I was so shocked that Morning Flower had caught all those Squirrels, I hadn’t thought it through that far.”
“How many did she catch?”
“Three shiploads.”
“How did she manage that?”
“Silly boogers came in one at a time, and admitted they were here to do me harm. She didn’t appreciate that.”
“I bet not. So, you and Grandpa are off to find the Squirrel most likely to sing?”
“That we are. Feel like a little trip?”
“Sure, but the one you should be asking is Snitz. He won’t want to miss a chance to pee on real trees.”
“You’re right. Gene, whistle up Snitz, if you would.”
“On it, Boss.”
“Wait a minute, Gene can call Snitz? How does that work?”
“He has a recording of me whistling. He plays that, and gives Snitz a light trail to follow.”
“Do you think you ought to give Molly and Alice a chance to go ashore also?”
“You act like we’re only going to be here one day. Do you know something I don’t?”
“Nope, but isn’t it better to take care of it, while you have the chance?”
“I give, you’re right. Gene, page Jim and Janet, tell them that if their dogs want to go to the planet, they need to get down here, ass-ape.”
“On it, Boss.”
The transit spit them out, one after the other. Jim had brought Janice with him. He said, “You know it is going to take more than this to get me to quit trying to square you away in the mornings, don’t you?”
“Can’t blame a fellow for trying, can you?”
“I suppose not.”
We all started to load up, when I noticed Pete and Abe among the Marines loading up to go with us. I said, “Abe, Pete, front and center.” They chorused, “Yes, Boss?”
“I need you two to stay here. Sorry you have to miss out on the fun.”
Abe said, “No problem, Boss, but may I ask why?”
“Because you two are the only ones small enough to get inside a Squirrel ship and clear it, if another one shows up.”
They both perked up when I said that. Pete asked, “You mean we’re better suited to a job than the bigger bots?”
“That you are. Do you think you can handle it?”
They both snapped to and said, “Yes, Boss!”
I looked at Andre. “Do you need to call up a couple more Marines, since I messed with your squad?”
“If you don’t mind, Boss.”
“Go for it.” He froze for a second, as he used the comm. Then he said, “I told them they could wash the prisoners, if they weren’t here inside a minute.”
The transit flew open, and two Marines shot across the passage into formation. I looked at Andre. “Well done. Let’s get aboard.”
When the ramp opened again, Morning Flower gave me a flying hug. I did the flying, of course. She said, “Bawb! It is so good to see you! The little outhouse shovelers said you would never make it back, if you went to their homeworld.”
“They are not nearly as tough as they would like you to think.”
“So, you had no trouble?”
“I have a good ship, and a fine crew. They brought me back, just fine.”
“Why did you bring so many Mah-reens? Falling Will is selling the jerr-kee for black-fur-nuts now. No more trouble.”
“We want to see which of your outhouse shovelers we want to talk to. We thought they might object.”
“They don’t give any more trouble, either. Some of the boys decided to play catch with one of the mouthy ones. Fred-Who-Waits had to put him in the aww-toe-dawk.”
I looked at Dingus. “Put that down under ‘instruction in manners’.”
“Yes, Bob.”
Charlie came charging up on his horse. He was out of the saddle before they stopped, and I got another flying hug. “Uncle Bob! Sure is good to see you. Them little mouthy fellas said you wouldn’t make it back, but I knew you would.”
“Them little mouthy fellas have a lot to say. Seems to me they have a little trouble backing it up.”
“Still yet, it’s good to see you still kicking.”
“How’s your garlic doing?”
“First crop came in real good. Just finished putting in the second planting, over on Shaved Ape Key. We’ve got you a big load of walnuts, if you still have your heart set on dealing with them fellas.”
“I’d rather deal with them than fight ‘em, but so far I’m not having a lot of luck getting them to listen.”
“Morning Flower found the cure for that. They’re listening real good, now.”
“I heard. I don’t think I can wander on to their home planet, and start using the first one I see for a football.”
“Suppose not, but it did work good.”
“How’s the livestock working out?”
“The boys dearly love chasing pigs through the brush. The cattle are getting used to being here, too. But you ain’t lived till you’ve seen an old mama Squatch chase a fox out of her henhouse.”
“You just stood and giggled, didn’t you?”
“Nossir. I whacked him upside the head with my stick. That hide is going to be pretty, in a baby blanket.”
“Sounds like you’re fitting right in. Beats trying to stay ahead of Child Welfare, I’m guessing.”
“Does it ever. Thanks for bringing us out
