"So what d'you thinks wrong with 'im, Gaddes?" a voice asked companionably through the half light. From where he sat in his arm chair, the golden-red light from the fire shone on one side of his face.
"I don't know Bono, but there's definitely something. Don't tell anybody, I saw him kiss a rock."
"What?"
"He kissed a rock, a statue, really. I don't think he took a shower this morning, either," said Gaddes, he raised his eyebrows, "Last time he did that he had more important 'things' to do."
Two crewmembers in the crew quarters both coughed at the same time, together yielding what sounded suspiciously like 'Marlene'.
Gaddes and Bono chuckled.
"How do you figure the boss missed his shower, anyway?" asked Bono. "Allen hasn't developed an odour has he?!" he said with mock horror.
"Oh gods no!" Gaddes chuckled, "Well, me and the boss share a bathroom, right?"
"Mm-hm?"
"Well when I had a shower this morning there was still hot water left!" (A/N sorry if that puts pictures of Allen in a shower in your head )
"I'll tease him about it when I'm on duty," Bono laughed.
"Good luck. He's been missing since four. 'Out hiking' he says, probably out humping that statue, more likely," said Gaddes, smirking evilly.
"Well let's hope he doesn't injure himself. That would surely put a damper on his usual 'amusements'" said Bono and Gaddes saw the light of the fire reflect of his eye in a twinkle. The crewmen snickered in the back round.
"Surely," said Gaddes, "Princesses everywhere would cry themselves to death."
Bono barked with laughter. "You crack me up Gad."
"Always did," said Gaddes with a bow. "By the way, did you know we're making camp here on the boss's orders?"
"What the hell? Why? We were making good time to Freid!"
"No doubt Allen wants to spend more time with his unyielding girlfriend, and try to 'cement' his 'inflexible' relationship," said Gaddes, giggling, "Oh gods, I crack myself up." A second later giggled again, noticing his fourth.
"Well said, my friend." Said Bono, scowling.
Gaddes stood up.
"I have to go assumer Allen's duties in his 'absence'," said Gaddes. He stretched and put down his cup of coffee.
"Have fun!" said Bono cheerily, "I'm going back to bed, its only five and us route strategists choose our hours and work when we have the appropriate brain waves," Bono yawned and stretched his arms above his head, scratching his large middlepurposefully. "Try not to make much noise, eh? I'm sure no one else is stupid enough tobe upat this ungodly hour."
Gaddes scowled along with the other men in the room. Gaddes addressed them.
"It has always been a pity," he said loudly,"no one else has tostupid enough to listen to the tongue rattling of this ungodly fool."
"The men were set off in their snickering again. As Gaddes walked from the room he instinctively ducked as a full mug of coffee came flying in his direction.