CHAPTER IX: The Runaway Five
"PSI Fire,"
A bright flame spurted into existence, licking the kindling until the two had a cheery little blaze. Ness pulled a bag of marshmallows from his backpack.
"You'll have to show me that Fire technique someday, Paula," The boy said, tossing her a whittled stick and a marshmallow.
She giggled. "I think that everyone's PSI Powers are a bit different," She said. "I don't think I could pull off a move as powerful as that 'Rockin' attack."
Ness looked up at the full moon, and heaved a sigh.
"What's wrong?"
Ness looked glum. "I've been away from home for over two weeks, and I have this feeling that I'm going to be away a lot longer before Giygas goes down."
"You sound pretty confident."
"Shouldn't I?"
"I suppose so," She examined his face. "So, what do we do once we get to Twoson?"
"Probably take the bus to Threed, the next town," Ness said, chewing on a toasted marshmallow, and looking at his map. "Hm...Onett, Twoson, Threed...One, Two, Three...that's cute."
"We can't get to Threed," Paula said around a bite of 'mallow. "There are Ghosts blocking the tunnel."
"I don't believe in Ghosts,"
"These are real Ghosts, not just stories. One of Giygas' henchmen created the Ghosts."
"That I can believe. Can't we just bully our way through them, though?"
Paula gave him a sidelong stare. "Have you ever heard of someone beating up a Ghost?"
"Well, no...then how do we get to Threed?"
"I don't know...something tells me that...that the answer is in Twoson. I've had this inner sense, y'know? Something connected to my Telepathy."
Ness nodded, putting another marshmallow on his stick. "We'll search Twoson then. We should be out of Peaceful Rest Valley by tomorrow."
The duo reached Twoson early the next day. Ness took Paula directly home.
"Paula!" her mother said. as the two walked in the door.
"Hi, mom!" Paula cried, hugging her mother tightly. Ness watched from the door.
"Mom, I want you to meet the guy who saved me," Paula said. "This is Ness!" She swept her arm out to him.
"Hi," He said simply.
Paula's dad entered the room, and ruffled Ness' head so hard his cap nearly came off.
"I'm so proud to have my daughter save the world," He said with a puffed-out chest.
Ness nodded. "The world isn't saved yet, sir." He commented with a rough attitude. "But with Paula's help, I hope it will be!"
As the two friends left the preschool, Ness smacked his forehead.
"Crud!" He exclaimed. "I forgot!"
"What is it?" Paula asked.
"Everdred, the leader of Burglin Park, asked me to drop by after I saved you."
"Well, what are we waiting for?"
The two sped off for the park.
Ness knocked on the door to the hovel in which Everdred lived. The short little thief opened the door. When he saw Paula, he nearly jumped out of his aloha shirt.
"By gumbo, kid, you did it!"
Ness could only grin as Everdred ushered them inside. He plopped the two of them on the Japanese mats, poured them cups of tea, and sat down across from them.
"Kid," Everdred began. "You are one special boy to pull off a job like that. Tell me what happened."
Ness reran the whole story to Everdred, Paula adding her comments along the way. He told the eager man about the Mani Mani Statue, Paula's cell, Mr. Carpainter, and the Happy-Happyist cult.
Ness sat back on his knees. "That about covers it," He said.
Everdred twiddled his moustache. "Well, Ness," he said. "You've done very well...but now I'm a bit saddened."
Ness arched a brow.
"You're too honest," Everdred rushed on. "I was going to give you some money to be my assistant..."
Ness started to say something.
"But I decided to give it to you anyway. I can't keep it, go on, take it."
He shoved a wad of bills into Ness' hand.
"Everdred," He began. "I..."
"Just shove it, Ness," Everdred cut in. "I told you, I can't keep the money!"
Paula and her companion walked down the street. Ness was counting the money.
"$9,985...$9,990...$9,995...$10,000!"
"Ten thousand dollars..." Paula mumbled.
"Yeah...I don't even know what to DO with ten thousand dollars."
They walked by the Chaos Theater. As fate would have it, what to do with that crisp little wad came to THEM.
Two men in performing clothes stood next to a black bus that had "RUNAWAY" printed on the side. They hailed him.
"Hey, kid," The tall one called. "Are you the one who rescued Paula?"
Paula nodded. "He is, sir. Um...do you happen to be Elwood from the Runaway Five?"
He nodded, sunglasses shining. "Elwood's only my stage name, though. I'm David, and this here's Jake."
The other man, a stocky fellow wearing a red coat, nodded.
Elwood went on. "You deserve a present, Playboy," He said to Ness.
"Er, no..." Ness said. "Our hands are kind of...full with presents now."
"Nonsense!" Jake said. "It's just a backstage pass, kid. To our next show at the Chaos."
"What exactly do you do, anyway?" Ness asked.
Jake smiled. "R&B,"
"Blues," Elwood said.
"Soul,"
"Gospel,"
"Rock 'n' Roll,"
In unison, they declared. "Need we go on?"
"Uh...no. Thanks anyway."
Jake slipped Ness a Backstage Pass. "Come see our next show. It's at 3:00!"
They entered the darkness of the Chaos Theater at 2:45. The usher let them in to see the Runaway Five.
"Hey, kids," Elwood greeted them. "How's it hangin'?"
Jake introduced them to the band.
Lucky, on the saxophone.
Jim on the drums.
And Burlap, real name Kevin, on Keyboards.
"It's very nice to meet you all," Ness announced.
"We're world famous," Lucky said triumphantly. "We're the best Rhythm and Blues band on the planet!"
Paula looked a bit skeptical. "If you're so great, then how come you're in a muddy little dump like the Chaos Theater?"
"Ah," Burlap said, a little embarrassed. "We owe the owner a lot...I mean...a LOT...of money. Ten thousand bucks, to be exact."
"Ten..."
"...Thousand?"
Paula and Ness looked at each other, getting big grins on their faces.
"This ain't no laughing' matter, children," Jim said.
"Of course not," Ness replied. "We just had a great idea."
"Let's hear 'ya sing," Paula intoned.
Ness and Paula stepped from the backstage, and took seats in the front row. A funky, screechy voice came over the P.A.
"Yeeeeeeeah! Baby!" It screeched, making Ness wince. "Time to tap your toes, my little funk-daddies! It's time for those world famous BluesMen, the one, the only, the fabulous, the RUNAWAY FIVE! Give it up, homeys! Yeeeeeeeeah!"
Two spotlights appeared, Jake in one, and Elwood in the other. The band appeared in the background, playing a sad, forlorn melody. The two performers sang, and the words went roughly like so:
"The railroad don't lead nowhere,
these Blues just won't back away,
the time after you left me,
when I begged you to stay,
I'd give you anything you want,
a 'Royce, or a swimming pool,
and I hope you'll stay with me,
not because I am a fool, but..."
Both Jake and Elwood got big grins on their faces. The band picked up to a faster tune.
"Because..."
"I got no money, I'm outta luck,
I got no money, hyuck, hyuck, hyuck,
I got no money, got nothin' to live for,
I got no money, and I need yours!"
The song was great, a toe-tapping masterpiece. The Runaway Five were red hot tonight, and it showed.
After the show, Ness and Paula met the band backstage.
"You guys were great!" Paula exclaimed.
"Rippin'!" Ness cried. "The best I've ever heard!"
"Thank 'ya children," Lucky said modestly. "We only do our best. But sometimes your best isn't good enough, as it isn't in the case of us and this theater..."
"Oh," Ness replied with a smile. "I have a feeling that you'll be outta here faster than you think."
Ness and Paula entered the Manager's Office without knocking. The Manager, a bald, aging, sly-looking man, stood up. "What is the meaning of this intrusion?" He huffed indignantly.
Ness strolled up to the desk. "Cut the small talk, pops," He said, making it sound as rough as possible. "How much do the Runaway Five owe you?'
He sniffed. "Not that it's any of your business, but about $10,000."
>SLAP!<
The wad of bills was on the table. What followed was an immeasurably long period of silence. Ness half-expected to see a sagebrush roll by.
The Manager looked a bit startled. "Uh..."
"Ten thousand bucks," Paula cut the air with her voice. "Count it, it's all there."
He slowly counted, then recounted the money, and then, fixing the kids with a look of sheer hatred, he shredded the contract.
As if summoned by the shredding, the Runaway Five burst into the room. Jake caught Ness in a big bear hug, lifting him off his feet.
"You are a God-Send, kid!" he rumbled.
"I...can't...breathe," Ness gasped.
Jim was shaking Paula's hand. "Thanks a lot, 'ya little munchkin!" he congratulated.
Elwood stood up, holding his hands up. "Yo, guys! Out to the bus! We're having a celebration, with our kid saviors as the Guests of Honor!"