Two More for the Road

by Ann29

During Baloo and Louie's very first adventure, they encounter spies, lies, and have the wool pulled over their eyes.

1. A Colorful Yarn

Two More for the Road
part 1

TaleSpin and its characters are property of Disney. All other characters are mine and cannot be used without permission.

Dimitri's Place
Thembria
April 1925

In a dingy and dreary nightclub on the western edge of Thembria, two Uslandians were in big trouble.

Baloo and Louie stood side-by-side, their backs against the bar, hands in the air. They were shivering, but it was from fear, not from cold. On their left were fifty scowling Thembrians armed to the tusks. On their right were fifty scowling Shropshearians also toting guns. Even Ivan, the bartender, had his pair of Great War pistols stuck in their backs.

Baloo clamped a protective hand over the roll of parchment protruding from his shirt pocket and bit his lip to suppress his nervous smile. "What are we gonna do?"

Sweat beaded on Louie's brow as his eyes darted around at the unfriendlies. "Dunno, cuz. I'm up for suggestions. Hey, watch where you're pokin' that thing, buddy!" He roughly shoved a rifle barrel away. "This haberdashery is real imitation silk."

The warthogs and border collies moved in closer, all cocking their guns.

Louie gulped. "Sounds like we're gonna be on the receivin' end of a one hundred twenty-one gun salute."

"Swell," Baloo said sarcastically. Out of the corner of his mouth, he muttered, "How'd we get ourselves into this mess anyhoo?"

Baloo's Air Service
Cape Suzette
The Previous Day

Baloo, a slim and trim grey bear in his mid-twenties, stood before the icebox. A few minutes ago, upon awaking from his between-nap snooze, he had decided to get a snack. There was only one problem - there was no food to be found.

"Aw, just like my tummy. Empty."

He closed the icebox door and started scrounging around in the cupboards. Like the refrigerator, they were empty, if you didn't count the dead cockroach lying on its back, its shriveled legs in the air.

"Nuthin'."

In desperation, Baloo made his way through the cluttered kitchen to the even more cluttered room that served as an office, a living room, and a bedroom. Kicking aside piles of junk, he made a beeline for an old patched armchair and started digging underneath the cushion for loose change. The only things he found were a paperclip, a gum wrapper, and a button.

Discouraged, Baloo plopped down in the chair. When his stomach growled, he said, "Yeah, yeah, I hear ya."

He was busted, tapped out, flat broke. The money that he had received for his last delivery had already been spent.

For the past three months, Baloo had literally existed from hand to mouth. He flew a delivery whenever and only whenever he ran out of money.

But that was the way he wanted it. The young cargo pilot had promised himself that when he had scraped together enough money to put a down payment on Baloo's Air Service along with a Conwing L-16 he called the Sea Duck, he wouldn't bust his rudder slaving his life away. Flying - that's what life was all about.

For five grueling years, he had done freelance work, flying other men's planes, under other men's thumbs. Flying dangerous, yet high-paying, missions that other pilots wouldn't even consider. Missions like flying two tons of dynamite through a hurricane. His successful completion of these risky deliveries as well as his natural flair for flying was fast earning him the reputation of the world's best pilot.

As of this moment, the world's best pilot was broke. On top of that, he was bored out of his gourd. Entertainment took money, which was what he lacked in the first place.

Baloo patted his empty stomach with a sigh. "No eats. No buckaroos. Guess a hungry pilot's gotta do what a hungry pilot's gotta do."

Reluctantly, he rose from the chair. He grabbed his red pilot's cap from the top of the dresser, pulled a set of keys from his shirt pocket, and hurried outside. Instead of making his way around the building to the job board, he ran down the dock to where the Sea Duck was moored.

The sight of the yellow and orange seaplane, glistening in the bright sunlight, filled him with joy. The Sea Duck was more than just a cargo plane to Baloo. He could not only travel around the world in it, it meant the world to him.

He greeted his best friend by kissing the cockpit door. "Miss me, baby?"

Baloo climbed into the cockpit. Seconds later, the seaplane's powerful Superflight 100 engines started up, took off, and disappeared through the opening in the massive cliffs surrounding Cape Suzette.

Moola-Boola

An hour later, the Sea Duck soared over a grass-hut village, which resembled a cluster of mushrooms growing up the side of the lush mountain. Despite its unassuming appearance, the little outpost of Moola-Boola was the trading center of the uncivilized world, the home of thrills, adventure, and easy money.

The seaplane splashed down for a landing in the lagoon and taxied past a set of waterfalls, up to the dock. Baloo, wishing that he had one clamshell to cash in, hopped out and strolled down the dock towards Bobo.

As a cargo pilot, Baloo had been over most of the world. In his travels, he had run into some interesting characters. One of the most interesting was Bobo, a mechanic who made his fortune by chiseling the fortune hunters who drifted through Moola-Boola. The sly rabbit knew all the hot scoops on every cool deal that went down in the trading post.

"Bobo, my main man!" Baloo greeted with a jaunty smile.

"Hey, Baloo," Bobo said in a gravelly voice, grinning as he looked up from the engine he was tinkering with. "Long time, no see."

"What's the scoop? Like, where's the big-time action?"

Bobo held out an eager hand. "Where's the money?"

"Uh," Baloo nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Ya see, it's like this..."

The rabbit stared at him expectantly, palm still outstretched.

"I'm a little short this time," Baloo said with what he hoped was a charming smile. "Will ya take a rain check?"

"Nope." No longer interested, Bobo returned to the engine. "You know the rules. No dough, no info."

"How about...?"

"Nope."

Baloo stuck his face in Bobo's. "What if...?"

"Nope." The mechanic turned his back on him.

"But!"

"No ifs and or buts about it," Bobo said coolly. "Wish I could help you, Baloo, but I've got myself to think about."

"Thanks a lot, pal," Baloo said sardonically. Trudging down the dock towards the Sea Duck, he muttered under his breath, "Wasted all that gas for nuthin'. Doggone it!" As he kicked at the dirt, his stomach growled loudly.

"Psst!"

Baloo looked at the Sea Duck in confusion. "You springin' a leak, baby?"

"Psst!"

Baloo turned around. There, hurrying towards him was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. She was a slim canine clad in a simple maroon sarong; a long slit in the skirt revealed a shapely leg. A fringe of black hair fell over her large brown eyes, accentuating her dusky complexion and full ruby red lips. Thick black hair tumbled over her shoulders in smooth waves.

Whoo-hoo! Get a load of the local architecture! Guess this trip wasn't a total washout after all. He was at her side in a flash. "Well, helloooo," he crooned.

"Are you the pilot of that plane?" Her velvety voice had a hint of an accent that Baloo couldn't quite place.

"Yes, ma'am, I am."

Uncertainly, she said, "Did I hear that man say that your name was Baloo?"

"The one and only." Grinning, he drew himself up to his full height and puffed out his chest.

She studied his countenance. "You have a nice face. A trustworthy face."

Baloo, who was somewhat confused, said, "Uh, ditto."

"I'm Natalia." She held out a hand, which he eagerly grasped.

"Nice ta make your acquaintance, Natalia." Seeing a tear trickle down her cheek, he said softly, "Hey...hey, now. What's makin' them brown eyes blue?"

"I'm in terrible trouble!" she whispered. Taking a lace-edged handkerchief from her small black purse, she blew her little nose.

He patted her hand comfortingly. "Why doncha tell ol' Baloo all about it?"

Natalia flashed a quick glance at Bobo. "Can we go inside?" She gestured to the Sea Duck.

"Why, sure thing, little lady." He draped an arm around her shoulders and led her inside.

Once they were in the seaplane's cockpit, she said, "Yesterday, I received an urgent message from my two aunties. They were robbed!" Putting her handkerchief to her face, she sobbed again.

"Who would do a mean thing like that?"

"I don't know." Shaking her head, she sniffled and daintily dabbed at her nose. Her disjointed words came in a rush. "You see, I'm the only family they have, and they're the only family I have. Now the dear old things are waiting for me for me to help them, and I want to help them. Really, I do. They're too old to handle this themselves. My money's gone, and this is all the farther the last pilot would take me. I...I don't know who to turn to. You must help me!" She clutched Baloo's arm and gazed up at him imploringly through her large, tear-filled eyes, causing his chivalrous heart to melt. "I must go to Mustgo!"

Baloo shook her off as if she had the plague. "Whoa! Time out! Mustgo? As in the capital city of Thembria? Nuthin' is gonna get me to go to Thembria. They shoot people there!" He hastily shook her hand, opened the cargo hold door, and prodded her out of the seaplane. "Well, it's been nice meetin' ya, but I really gotta be goin'. Good luck and goodbye."

Just as the engines started up, she pounded on the cockpit window and shouted, "Wait! I didn't tell you the rest!"

Baloo reluctantly rolled down the window. "What?"

"My aunties will reward you handsomely."

The young pilot stared at her for a moment as she stood on the dock, her long dark hair whipping around her small, sweet face in the wake of the propellers. If there was something he was a sucker for, it was a pretty face, especially a pretty face with a pair of big brown eyes. With a deep sigh, he opened the door. "All right, I'll take ya to Mustgo." He added under his breath, "I'm gonna hate myself in the mornin'...if I make it to mornin', that is."

Mustgo, The Glorious People's Republic of Thembria
An Hour Later

Mustgo, cold, bleak, treeless, and grey, huddled underneath unchanging overcast skies. The majority of the city consisted of rows and rows of government-issued houses exactly identical down to the pitch of their snow-covered roofs and the weak wisps of smoke issuing from their bare stovepipe chimneys. All were overshadowed by the imposing government building that stretched across the entire northern edge of the city.

On a snowy street corner stood the only store in town. An extremely long line containing countless Thembrian citizens extended from the front door. Like their houses, they looked almost identical. All were dressed the same drab, well-worn clothing with the same hopeless look on their faces as they waited to spend their meager government-issued earnings on the bare necessities. Each of these poverty-stricken, broken spirits - who had never had a day of fun in their whole lives, because fun was illegal - cringed whenever an armed member of the Glorious People's Army or the Sludge Police passed by.

Despite the number of people in the line, the city was eerily silent save for the bitter wind howling around the houses.

The frigid silence was broken by a loud voice crying, "Come one, come all to the Amazing Louie's! The Amazing Louie knows all, sees all, futures told, fortunes found. For the price of a crisp dollar bill or even a crisp turnip the Amazing Louie will gaze into his crystal ball. Don't crowd, folks."

The voice belonged to a young reddish-brown orangutan wearing a shimmering purple cape and a bright pink turban along with a green and blue Hawaeen shirt. He stood, shivering in the ankle-deep snow, in front of a orange-and-white striped tent that was on the sidewalk beside the store. Tacked to the top of the tent was a sign reading: The Amazing Louie, Seer Without Peer. He looked like a colorful bird of paradise in contrast to the dull surroundings.

When nobody approached his tent, Louie said, "Allow me to demonstrate absolutely free of charge."

He strolled up to a peasant standing in line and said confidently, "I bet I know what you'll be eatin' for supper tonight." He put his fingers to his temple, closed his eyes, and went into a 'trance', swaying on his feet. "Oh, Great Spirits, make me a winner. Give me a sign. What is for dinner?" Opening his eyes, he said, "The spirits tell me turnips an' bread." He grinned confidently. "Am I right, ma'am?"

Astonished, the woman stammered. "W-why...yes."

A child, tugging at her ragged skirt, whispered, "Mama, we always eat bread and turnips."

"Hush!"

Louie pulled a deck of cards from his pocket and deftly shuffled them. "For my next trick, I'll..." seeing two members of the Sludge Police approaching, he concluded, "disappear."

Before he could get far, one of the burly policemen caught Louie by the cape. In a thick Thembrian accent, he said sternly, "I told you before to leave our glorious citizens alone."

"Thanks for clearin' that up, man," Louie choked out as the officer gave him a rough shake. "Musta had wax in my ears those other times. I thought you said don't leave 'em alone."

"Take him to prison," the second policeman ordered, pulling a set of handcuffs from his brown uniform.

Rolling his eyes back in his head theatrically, Louie went limp. "Be-bop-alula-a-do-ee-day. The great spirits say somethin' cold and wet's comin' your way." He scooped up two snowballs with his feet and lobbed them at the policemen's faces, causing the officer to drop him.

While the cops spluttered, Louie ran to his tent, collapsed it with a push of a button, and tucked it under his arm. "Hate to fortune tell an' run," he called over his shoulder as he hurried down the slippery street. "See ya in the next life."

"Get him!" the first cop exclaimed, blowing his whistle.

All of the peasants in line watched impassively as the policemen tromped down the street in their heavy cleated boots after the fortune teller.

A few blocks away, Louie skidded into an alley and hid behind a pile of crates. He crouched there, panting. Hearing heavy footfalls, he cautiously peeked around the crate.

As the policemen ran by, one of them growled, "When I get my hands on that trouble-making pipsqueak, I'll make sure he gets two thousand years in Prison Camp Sunnyvale."

"Or better yet, hung," the other officer laughed.

Scared, Louie put a hand to his throat and quickly shrank behind the crate. He waited for what seemed like years. Just as he was about to move from his hiding place, he heard voices, but these voices weren't Thembrian. He cautiously peeked around the crate and, seeing a vision of loveliness, eagerly bounded out of the alley.

In a flash, he latched onto Natalia's hand. "I must be in heaven, 'cause I see an angel."

"Hey, man, get your own girl," Baloo growled, glaring down at the interfering ape.

"Whattaya know. It's beauty," he grinned at Natalia, then wrinkled up his nose in distaste when he glanced at Baloo; "and the beast."

Baloo's frown deepened. "You're no Count Casanova yourself, shorty."

"Flip ya for her." Louie pulled out a coin. "Heads I win, tails you lose."

"All right," Baloo said readily.

Louie flipped the coin into Baloo's outstretched palm.

"It's heads," the pilot said glumly.

"That means I win. Better luck next time, cuz," Louie said cheerfully, taking Natalia's arm and starting down the street.

Baloo stared at coin, scratching his head and muttering, "Heads I win, tails you lose...heads I win, tails you lose..." Then understanding dawned upon him. "Hey!"

He caught up to them and took hold of Natalia's other arm. An argument ensued, with a very uncomfortable Natalia stuck in the middle.

"You cheated!" Baloo said accusingly.

"I didn't cheat. You're just dumb," Louie said matter-of-factly.

"Dumb, huh? I know enough to know that dames like this ain't a dime a dozen."

"I gave you a dime. Go buy yourself another gal."

"No!" Baloo said stubbornly, tightening his grip on her arm. "I saw her first."

"Well, I saw her second, an' two is a bigger number than one."

"I'll give you the ol' one-two." Baloo let go of Natalia and doubled up his large fists.

"Bring it on, fuzzy!" Louie exclaimed. He, too, clenched his fists and started dancing around like a boxer in a ring.

"Gentlemen! Gentlemen!" Natalia stepped between the two young men before they started fighting. "We haven't been properly introduced yet. I'll start. I'm Natalia, this is Baloo, and you are...?"

"Completely at your mercy," Louie said with what he believed was a charming smile.

"What a wit!" Natalia said with a girlish giggle.

"Flattery will get you everywhere, Sugar Cubes." Louie winked at her.

"Or just plain flat," Baloo growled, clenching his fists again.

Louie clenched his fists too and danced around, cape billowing behind him. "That's it! Let's see what ya got, cuz."

Catching a pleading look in Natalia's eyes, Baloo relaxed his hands. "Nah. I don't fight circus freaks."

"The Amazing Louie is no freak," he said, greatly offended. "He knows all, sees all, futures told, fortunes found." He batted his eyes at Natalia. "Just ta show you what a nice guy I am, I'll read your purdy palm for free."

"All right," she said, giving him her hand. "What do you see?"

"Hmm..." Louie pointed out specific places on her palm. "Smart, beautiful, and that finger is mighty bare. Just my kind of gal."

"Hands off the hand, fuzzball. This is my girl, an' we've got to get going." Pushing Louie roughly aside, he took hold of Natalia's arm and steered her down the street. "C'mon, Natty."

Looking over her shoulder, Natalia saw Louie following them like a forlorn puppy. "Baloo...maybe we should help him." She gestured behind them.

"What, are you still there?" Baloo said, exasperated.

"You got my last dime."

Baloo flipped it to him. "Here. Call someone who cares."

"That's the problem," Louie sniffed. "I don't have anyone to call. I'm all by my lonely only." He sat down on a nearby crate and wailed.

"Oh, you poor man," Natalia said, rushing to his side.

"Oh, brother," Baloo murmured, rolling his eyes.

Louie blew his nose on his cape with a loud honk.

"You can come with us to see my aunties," Natalia offered, patting his arm consolingly.

"He can?" Baloo squeaked.

"I can?"

"Of course," Natalia cooed with a sweet smile. "The more the merrier."

Louie whooped and took hold of Natalia's arm. "Lead on, fair lady."

They walked through the streets of Mustgo until they came to a house on the northern part of town. Across the snow-packed street the government building loomed. Armed guards stood at every entry way.

To avoid being seen by the officers, Louie ducked behind Baloo, saying, "If there's one thing you're good for, it's a windbreak."

"I'd like to break somethin'," the bear growled.

Natalia pulled a slip of paper from her purse. She read it, then looked at the other houses on the street, frowning in concentration. "I think this is the address..."

"You mean you've never been here before?" Baloo asked.

"No. You see, my deceased parents moved to Singamore after they were first married. That's where they adopted me. I've never seen my aunts." She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

After a moment, the door opened a crack. A high-pitched voice lisped a suspicious, "Yes?"

"Aunt Ivanna? Or are you Aunt Mischa?" Natalia said uncertainly.

"Can it be little Natalia?" The door flew open, revealing a short, stout warthog woman in a faded brown dress. Her grey curls peeked out from beneath a faded blue handkerchief. "Mischa! Mischa, front and center! Natalia is here!"

A tall, stolid woman emerged from the kitchen. With her came the stale aroma of boiled turnips and gruel. Like her sister, she was shabbily dressed, but instead of grey curls, hers were brown. She had a funny, almost wary, smile on her face as she looked at the two men standing behind her niece. In a low, soft voice, she murmured shyly, "Welcome, Natalia...and friends."

"Don't stand outside all day! Hurry up! Come in! Come in!" Aunt Ivanna said, pulling them into the house. She gave a quick glance around outside before shutting the door. "Were you followed?"

Confused, Natalia echoed, "Followed? Followed by who?"

"Nobody. Never mind," Aunt Ivanna stammered, sharing a frightened look with Mischa. "Forget I said that. Make yourselves at home."

They found themselves in a large parlor sparsely furnished with a threadbare sofa, two squashy armchairs, an old rocking chair, and a brown and maroon braided rug. An ice-encrusted stove, half in the parlor, half in the kitchen, stood in one corner, giving out a modicum of heat, not enough to take the chill out of the air. Curtains made of gunny sacks with 'Grade-A Thembrian Gruel' stamped on them were hung over the frosty windows. Despite its shabby appearance, the room was spotlessly clean.

Baloo and Louie flanked Natalia on the couch. Before Ivanna disappeared into the bedroom, she commanded, "Mischa, get our guests some refreshments."

"Yes, si...sister," Mischa said timidly. She went to the kitchen and returned with a plate of gruel cookies, which she offered to her guests.

Natalia gingerly nibbled on the hard little rock, then slipped it into her purse when her aunts weren't looking.

Baloo hungrily chomped into his, but couldn't bite through it. He was trying to crush it in his massive paws when Louie cried, "Ouch! Is there a dentist in the shack?"

"I'll get you an icicle," Mischa offered, hurrying outside.

Finally giving up on the cookie, Baloo slipped it into his pocket. He blew on fingers and rubbed them together, thinking that it was colder inside than outside, if possible.

Louie hid his cookie under the couch cushion, then slyly slipped an arm around Natalia.

"What do you think you're doin'?" Baloo whispered.

"Keepin' Natalia baby here warm." He gave her a fond squeeze and leaned his head against her arm.

"Nuh-huh. If anyone keeps her warm it'll be me." The bear jerked a thumb at himself.

"If you think that, you've got strudel in the noodle."

Their argument was interrupted by a big bang in the other room.

"What was that?" Natalia asked, wide-eyed.

Ivanna and Mischa, coming into the parlor, exchanged glances.

"We have trouble with...rats," Ivanna explained as she climbed onto a footstool. From there, she climbed into the rocker.

"Big rats," Mischa added swiftly as she gingerly settled on the footstool at her sister's feet. She handed the icicle to Louie, who put it in his mouth.

Ivanna kicked Mischa's arm, inciting a contrite, "Sorry."

"We summoned you here, Natalia, because..." Ivanna suddenly broke off. "Are you sure that we can trust these two outsiders?"

Smiling, Natalia said, "Oh, yes. These brave men volunteered to help me."

"Hmm..." Pursing her lips, Ivanna peered at Baloo and Louie before continuing. "Two days ago, the safe containing our family jewels was stolen."

"Jewels?" Baloo exclaimed. An astonished Louie took a bite out of his icicle.

Nodding, Mischa added, "All of Grandmummy's jewels that she had before the Revolution."

Ivanna kicked her again.

"Sorry," Mischa mumbled.

Flashing her sister a warning look, Ivanna lisped, "Since Mischa and I never married..."

"No wonder why," Louie murmured, thinking that they were the ugliest old crones he'd ever seen.

"The jewels were to go to Natalia after we passed on." She lowered her voice and said significantly, "They were worth a fortune."

Baloo and Louie's ears perked up. "A fortune?"

"Just a small one," Mischa added, causing Ivanna to ruffle like a little hen.

"I told you before. No short jokes, dear sister!"

"Sorry."

"Unfortunately, without our jewels, we don't have the money to go to Shropshear to retrieve them."

Mischa nodded again. "That's why we sent a telegram to you, Natalia."

Natalia asked, "How do you know the jewels are in Shropshear?"

Ivanna handed her a scrap of paper. "The robbers left this."

It was part of a label. On it was: Dyed in the Wool Yarn Factory, Clipping, Shropshear.

"Then that's where we're going," Natalia said in determination, standing. Both Baloo and Louie, who had been leaning against her, fell inward on each other. "Don't worry, aunties. We'll get your jewels back."

"Whoa there, Natty. These guys might be dangerous," Baloo said, putting his hands on her shoulders. "You stay here. I'll zip into Shropshear, grab the jewels, and zip out. No problem."

Poking the bear in the chest, Louie said, "Not on your propellor. If anyone's gonna play hero, it's gonna be yours truly."

"Bandy your japes, ape. I wanted to help her first."

Before they started a scuffle, Natalia broke in with, "It's flattering that you both want to help me and my aunts."

Ivanna, a sly twinkle in her eyes, said, "Yes. Why don't you young men go and steal...er, get back the jewels while Natalia stays here and visits?"

"I'd love to have a little girl talk." Mischa fluttered her eyelashes with a giggle. "We can swap cookie recipes."

Ivanna added, "Furthermore, you'll be handsomely rewarded, handsomes."

In a loud aside, Louie said, "She didn't mean you, Baloo," prompting a frown from the pilot.

"I know what we'll do," Ivanna continued. "Why don't you meet us at Dimitri's on the way back from your little adventure? It's a little restaurant on the western edge of Thembria, right over the border. We'll discuss your reward over a delectable dinner."

Baloo's stomach growled. "My kind of reward!"

"F...food?" Louie echoed, his mouth salivating. Like Baloo, he hadn't eaten all day.

Simultaneously, both young men said, "Dimitri's. Got it."

"Now you must get going. No time to lose," Ivanna said, pushing them to the door. "Get into the factory, get the safe, and get back here as soon as possible."

Natalia pecked both aunts on the cheek. "I'll be right back, dear aunties, as soon as I escort Baloo and Louie to their airplane. Then we can have a nice little visit."

"How wonderful," Mischa said, clasping her large hands together with a big smile.

The two Thembrian women stood at the door, waving their handkerchiefs as Baloo, Louie, and Natalia walked towards the airstrip on the outskirts of town. "Good luck, boys!"

Natalia, looking back over her shoulder, smiled. "Aren't they sweet?"

"Just like candy, Sweet Cakes," Louie lied.

Sea Duck

Fifteen minutes later, the trio found themselves at the snowy airstrip where the Sea Duck was waiting. Its sleek design and bright coloring was in stark contrast to the grey, hulking Thembrian craft.

"I don't feel right about putting you two in danger," Natalia said, her pretty face creased with concern.

"Aw, don't worry your purdy head, Natty. Danger's my middle name," Baloo said jauntily.

"I woulda guessed lily-livered," Louie smirked.

"How can I ever thank you two?" Natalia said, looking from one young man to the other.

Louie sidled up next to her, grinning. "I'm sure you'll think of somethin' by the time we get back."

Baloo opened the cockpit door, grabbed Louie by the scruff of the neck and tossed him into the plane. He then climbed in after him. "So long, little lady. Heroism calls," he said, waving his hat.

From the interior of the cockpit, Louie said, "An' I'm answerin'."

Baloo closed the door, started up the engines, and yelled out the window, "Don't worry, Natalia. We'll be back with your jewels in a jiffy."

As the Sea Duck taxied down the snowbound runway, Louie said from the co-pilot's seat, "It'd go faster without you to slow me down."

"Ha! That's a laugh. How are you gonna get there? I got the plane."

Louie tapped his temple. "But I got the plan, Stan."

Cupping her hands to her mouth, Natalia yelled, "Good luck, my brave heroes!"

Louie scrambled onto Baloo's lap and stuck his long arm out the window.

Annoyed, Baloo had to crane his neck to see over Louie's turban. "What are you doing?"

"Wavin' at Natalia baby."

"She was wavin' at me!" Baloo retorted, plucking Louie from his lap and tossing him into the co-pilot's seat.

Louie snorted and straightened his turban. "Fluff up your pillow and dream, flyboy. She was wavin' at me. You just happened to be in the way."

Their argument escalated as the Sea Duck gained altitude and flew west, towards Shropshear and adventures unknown.

End of part 1