Part 1: The Fugitives
Chapter 11
"The Loan Shark Arrives"
As Hugo and Hooft waited along with the others at the trading post for their arrival, a man in a gray pinstripe suit and his two companions, a reporter and One Punch Mullargan, were aboard a steamboat travelling along the river towards the trading post. Throughout most of the journey, he just stood along the side flipping a silver dollar as frequently as he could. His name was Joey Marx and he was accompanying his charge One Punch Mullargan to the jungle for an African Safari. However, based on the way he was currently feeling, perhaps it would have been best for all of them had he not gone to Africa. One Punch was clearly seasick and spent a good portion of the journey vomiting off the side of the boat.
"Ugh," he groaned as the heavyweight champion vomited over the side for the umpteenth time. "Oh, Joey, I'm gonna start punching over the side of this boat if we don't stop, understand?"
"Almost there, Champ," he said smiling as he walked over to Max Liebling, the reporter who was accompanying the two men to the jungle to document the heavyweight's jungle safari.
"As he has mastered so many foes in the ring," he said, writing down on a notebook of paper. "One Punch now confronts the jungle, facing down any beasts foolish enough to cross his path."
He finished writing his notes just as Joey walked over to him. The young reporter was not exactly pleased with his work and it was clear to see why he wasn't very enthustiastic about it.
"Aw, Joey," he moaned as he was about to tear his writings off of his notebook. "Doesn't anybody ever read this slop?"
"Are you kidding?" remarked Joey. "This is the best publicity stunt we've pulled yet. One Punch's fans are gonna be dying to be hearing all about his thrilling African safari. Just be sure to include how great the guy really is, okay?"
He gave Max a wink and Max in return gave him a much worried look on his face, for he knew that Joey was really on this safari for one reason and it was not for the publicity. However, being the loyal reporter that he was, chose to continue playing along with the stunt.
"Yeah," he chuckled nervously. "But he's not."
"They don't want to know that," replied Joey. "Look, the champ's a hero to millions back home and just give them what they want to hear, okay?"
"Yes, sir," said Max nervously as One Punch once again threw up over the side of the boat.
"Oh, I think I'm gonna be sick," he groaned. "Joey, quick, give me a hat."
When no one agreed to honor One Punch's request for a puke hat, he once again threw up on the side as Joey walked over to the bow of the steamboat with the silver dollar still in his hand. Of course, Max could see that One Punch's manager was not just there for the safari.
"But, I could not help but wonder sir," he said to him. "You seem to have your mind on a different goal on this safari."
"What do you mean?" he asked sharply. "What makes you so sure you think I am up to something?"
Of course, Max was curious. After all, he was a reporter and a reporter had to get all of the facts for his story, no matter how big and no matter how small.
"Well, I noticed you seemed to be flipping your coin a lot," answered Max. "You're also muttering about two guys who owe you a lot of money. Can you tell me who they are?"
Knowing that his reporter was up to something, Joey placed his arm around Max's shoulder and much like a friend, he was very calm and content with what he said.
"Listen, Max," said Joey. "You need to know something that they didn't teach you in journalism school. Reporters can't get all the facts and that they cannot get into other people's business without permission, so if I were you, I'd stay focus on this safari and let me handle my personal matters, comprende?"
Max did as he was told and decided to let go of his suspicions. Meanwhile, back at the trading post, Archimedes was reading a newspaper to Jane, Tarzan and their animal friends about One Punch's recent heavyweight battle.
"'And with one swing of his mighty fist," he read. "One Punch Mullargan, heavyweight champion of the world, vanquished another foe.' What a rousing story."
He then closed the newspaper and turned his attention to Terk, who clearly didn't have single clue as to what the professor was talking about.
"Any sign of him, Monsieur Dumont?" he asked.
"None yet," he replied.
"You know," said Archimedes. "I did quite a little bit of boxing myself back at University."
And to show that he could still do the moves, he went into a boxing motion and began to jab openingly for his daughter and all the others to see. However, he clearly showed his age and while doing another one of his jabs, he fell over on his back causing Jane to panic.
"Daddy!" she gasped and picking up the skirt of her yellow dress ran over to her father and crouched down to remove the newspaper off of his face.
"It was more like Spaulding actually," he said, regaining his momentum. "By myself most of the time."
But Tarzan, still curious as to who One Punch was and why he was fighting picked up the newspaper and he saw his picture again.
"I don't understand," he said, walking over to Jane as she helped Archimedes back to his feet. "Why were these men fighting? Was one defending his home or family?"
"Hardly," huffed Jane, as the sport of heavyweight fighting in her mind was all for nonsense. "They fight for sport and money."
And being the nervous elephant that he was, Tantor agreed with what Jane had said.
"And they call us animals," he added. Just then, the boat arrived and Dumont was quick to spot it.
"Ah, I see the boat!" called Dumont and Hugo and Hooft began to feel quite nervous about meeting Joey. In their minds at least, he somehow had found out about their escapades in the French Foreign Legion and that they had failed to earn the money to pay him back.
"He's here!" laughed Archimedes as he ran down the dock towards the boat, followed by Jane, who pulled up the skirt of her yellow dress again and walked very ladylike down to the dock.
Once the boat came to a stop, Hugo and Hooft walked on to collect their baggage trying to hide their nervous reactions to Joey's arrival. As they collected their bags, Joey saw the two men and instantly recognized them, although they didn't see it at the time.
"Careful with the merchandise, will ya?" he said, placing dollar bills into their suspenders. "Here, go by yourself a personalty."
Once their bags were off the boat, Hugo and Hooft took them into their bedrooms and while they spent their time getting to know one another, the two men knew that they had to hide and fast.
"Didn't you hear what he said to me?" said Hooft nervously. "You know, to buy myself a personality?"
"I know," added Hugo. "He must know about us. What are we going to do, Hooft? We've got to hide somewhere."
He then began to think for a place to hide and while they could hide in their quarters, they knew that Dumont would be looking for them and Hooft thought of the next best place for them to hide.
"Actually, Junior," he said nervously. "Why don't we hide back at Tarzan and Jane's place? We can be safe there until their gone."
"Good idea," said Hugo and the two men still frightened by the loan shark's arrival dashed from the trading post as fast as they could…
