Sometimes I look at my brain and just wonder.
“Great!” said Dutch, frustration evident in his voice. ”How are we going to find them now?!”
But Tex had spied a little squirrel, not far off. ”We’ll ask for directions!” he said confidently, not understanding the issue. The creature had four eyes, six legs, and two tails, and was clearly from the Terra’s region, but as far as Tex was concerned, a squirrel was a squirrel was a squirrel.
Dutch watched him for a moment, considered the possibility that Tex might be approaching the little mutant squirrel. Rejected the possibility. Then was forced to consider it again when the Burner stopped in front of the animal. ”Tex,” Dutch said flatly. ”That’s a squirrel.”
“Yeah, I know,” he said. ”Don’t interrupt, that’s rude. Ahem. Squeak squeakum, sque, squea, squeak?”
“Tex.” The squirrel chittered in an over-excited manner at Tex, a strange dual-tone to its voice. Dutch eyed the glowing rodent warily. ”Tex, stop. You’re pissing it off.”
“Naw, I’m just chattin’. He’s gonna need to slow down, though, I’m not used to the local accent and I’m a bit rusty at this. Squeak squeak, squeakum?”
The squirrel replied with a single, affirmative chirp.
“Ah, perfect! Thank you, little guy! Squeak squeak!” He looked back at Dutch and pointed to the left. ”The’re this way.”
Dutch just stared. ”You’re kidding, right?”
“About what?” Tex asked, the bald innocence in his face making it clear that he was not.
“Tex, a squirrel did not just tell you where the others went. That didn’t happen.”
“Who said it did?” Tex responded. ”He told me where they ARE. That’s better.” He turned and started down the road before Dutch could argue further.
Ten minutes later they hit a fork in the road and found the Burners waiting. Dutch stopped mid-step and looked from them, to Tex, and back again.
“Well shit.”
