Yay! Da trio is up next! Hooray for Alcoholics Anonymous!! XD
Disclaimer: I don't own Finding Nemo. So there!
~.~.~
Niro wo Motomete
Chapter 4: The AA Trio
As the surrounding buildings became taller, the air emptier, and the light dimmer, Marion's nervousness increased exponentially. Dora bounced along beside him, happy as ever. Riding on his motorcycle at a slow leisurely pace, Buru-su led them further and further down the dark streets.
At last they seemed to be nearing one building in particular. It was several stories high, and more than twice as long. The exterior was brick, some areas crumbling from age and wear. On one side, the number '22' was spray painted in white. The windows were dirty and shattered, some of them hastily boarded up.
Marion noticed two more motorcycles parked near a rusty metal door, partially hidden in shadow. That was where Buru-su was headed. Marion shivered, wishing with all his being that he were anywhere else. He hesitated, momentarily considering the possibility of sneaking off, but Buru-su dragged him onward.
Buru-su slowed his motorcycle to a stop next to the other two, and climbed off the seat. He turned to the door, and led Marion and Dora closer still. "Andy! Chet!" he called as he approached. Just then, the rusty door opened, and two men appeared in the doorway. Presumably they were Andy and Chet.
One was on the short side, and skinny. He had blue-gray hair, slightly darker than Buru-su's, combed forward so that it came to a sharp point. He was wearing a white tank top, with an unbuttoned gray shirt worn loosely over it. His nose was pierced.
The second one was taller. He wore faded blue jeans and a black t-shirt. His hair was brown, and was most unusually pulled into pigtails. Still, for some reason, his unique hair style didn't lessen his menacingly tough appearance.
"There you are, finally!" the pigtailed man commented.
Buru-su grinned. "We got company," he announced, referring to Marion and Dora on either side of him.
"Well it's about time, mate!" said the pigtailed man.
"The cops are already on our tails," complained the shorter man, "And I can't take it!"
"They almost took us back to the big house."
Marion closed his eyes and cringed as he felt Buru-su push him through the doorway.
"Come on, let's get this over with!"
There was no way he could get out of this alive...
Ding!
Marion opened one eye and found himself in a dusty, dimly-lit, unkempt room with several chairs, a small black-and-white TV set sitting on a board placed over two cinderblocks, and a weathered pool table off to the side.
Andy and Chet were seated in two chairs facing Buru-su, who was standing before them as if he were on stage. Apparently, for some reason, he'd rung a bell.
"The meeting has officially come to order," Buru-su announced. "Let us all say the pledge."
Simultaneously, Buru-su, Andy, and Chet all raised their right hands and began to recite a pledge. Marion glanced at Dora, who had taken a seat and was now raising her right hand along with the three bikers. Marion just hunched over and tried to be as unobtrusive as possible.
"'I am a nice guy. Not a mindless drunk,'" the three recited, "'If I am to change this image, I must first change myself. Treat others as you would like to be treated.'"
The three dropped their hands back down to their sides, and the pigtailed man, Andy, added resentfully, "Except for cheerleaders!"
"Cheerleaders, yeah!" the shorter one, Chet, spat, "They think they're so cute!" He stood up and flounced around mockingly, waving imaginary pom- poms. "Oh, look at me, I'm a flippin' little cheerleader, lemme flip for ya'! Ain't I somethin'?"
Andy laughed.
"Okay, today's meetin' is step five: Carry our message onto others," Buru- su announced, "Now, do you all have your friends?"
"Got mine," Andy replied, gesturing to a small green-haired kid hyperventilating from fear in the corner.
Dora waved at him. "Hi there!"
Buru-su turned to Chet. "How 'bout you, Chet?"
Chet hesitated. "Well I er... couldn't bring anyone because... I was... busy with the other... um... steps." Chet absentmindedly held out a half- empty Coke can. He did a double-take, and hid the can nervously behind his back. He smiled innocently.
"It's alright, mate," Buru-su said, "I had a feeling this would be a difficult step. You can help yourself to one of my friends."
As Buru-su was talking, the little green-haired boy managed to sneak out the door without anyone noticing.
"Well, thanks mate," Chet said, putting his arm around Marion, "A buddy for Chet, ey?"
Marion whimpered.
"I'll start the testimonies," Buru-su said. He straightened himself up, trying to look as dignified as possible. "Hello. My name is Buru-su."
"Hello, Buru-su," Andy and Chet recited tediously.
"It has been three weeks since my last drink, on my honor!" he announced proudly, raising his right hand for emphasis, "Or may I be locked up in the county jail."
Andy and Chet clapped. "You're an inspiration to all of us!" Chet commented.
"Amen," said Andy.
"Alright, who's next?" Buru-su asked.
Dora hopped up and down in her seat, waving her hand in the air. "Oh, oh, oh! Pick me, pick me, pick me!"
"Yes, the little Sheila down the front!"
"Whoo-hoo!" Dora cheered.
"Come on up here." Buru-su retreated from the small stage-esque section of floor where he'd made his speech, and joined his two friends.
Dora took his place and faced her audience. "Hi, I'm Dora."
"Hello, Dora," the three chorused.
"And I don't... well... I don't think I've ever drank before." She smiled sheepishly.
There was a slight pause, and then Chet started clapping again. "Wow, that's incredible!"
"Good on ya', mate!" Buru-su congratulated.
Dora sighed. "Phew. I'm glad I got that off my chest."
"Alright, anyone else?" Buru-su asked. He spotted Marion sitting next to Chet. "Well how about you mate?" Chet gave Marion a playful noogie. "What's your problem?"
Marion pulled away from Chet and found that he was now the center of attention. "Me?" he asked nervously, "I... I don't... well, I don't have a problem."
Buru-su nodded, grinning. "Oh, okay..." he sympathized.
"Denial!" the three chorused. Buru-su shoved him forward.
"Just start with your name."
"Uh... okay..." Marion stuttered, "Hello. My name is Marion. I'm a retired comedian..."
Chet brightened. "A comedian? Really?"
Buru-su and Andy rose from their seats and gathered around Marion. "Go on, tell us a joke!" Buru-su said.
Chet pushed his way between his two friends. "I love jokes!"
Marion grinned nervously. "Well, I... I do know one that's... pretty good... um... there was this mollusk, and... and a sea cucumber. Normally they don't talk, sea cucumbers, but in a joke, everyone talks..." As Marion struggled with the joke, the trio's grins began to fade with boredom. "...so then the mollusk says to the cucumber..."
Suddenly, something outside caught Marion's eye. Through the shattered window, Marion could clearly see a camouflage jacket lying near a building right outside. He immediately recognized it to be the jacket from the man that had taken his son. "Niro!" he gasped.
Chet burst out laughing. "Niro! Hahahaha! Niro! Heheh... I don't get it."
"For a comedian, he's not that funny," Buru-su muttered.
"No, no, no, he's my son," Marion explained, stepping outside. "He was taken by these people in a truck..."
Chet scoffed. "Eh. The government. Think they own everything."
"Probably American," Andy added.
"Now there is a father," Buru-su said tearfully, gesturing to Marion, "Looking for his little boy!"
Marion picked up the jacket, and looked at the tags for any kind of identification. There was something written near the tag in black marker, but it was written in another language. Marion sighed with frustration. "What language is this?"
In the background, Buru-su started sobbing. "I never knew my father!"
"Come here," Chet said.
"Group hug," Andy said.
"We're all mates here, mate." Andy and Chet gave Buru-su a big hug.
Meanwhile, Marion was still puzzling over the jacket. "Ah, I can't read this writing!" he complained.
Dora grabbed the jacket and smiled. "Well then we gotta' find somebody who can read this." She glanced off to the side and noticed the three bikers. "Oh look! Here's somebody!"
"No, no, no, Dora!" Marion tried to stop her, but she was already skipping over to the trio.
"Hey guys?" she asked as she neared them, her blue hair bouncing in sync with her skips.
"No, Dora!" Marion said, grabbing the jacket.
"Hey, gimmie that! It's mine!" Dora said, tugging the jacket.
Marion tugged harder. "No! Dora!"
"Gimmie!" Dora whined, tugging as hard as she could, "Gimmie!"
Marion let go suddenly, sending Dora toppling backwards into Chet. She stood up.
"Ow, ow, ow..." Dora said, rubbing her head.
"Oh, I'm so sorry..." Marion said.
"Boy, I really bonked my head there..." Dora looked down at her shirt. It was damp. "Hey, did something spill on me?"
Buru-su looked at her with concern. "Dora, are you oka-" He stopped suddenly. There was a familiar smell in the air, and it was coming from the stain on Dora's shirt. Even after three whole weeks, just one whiff of that smell was enough to be intoxicating.
That spill on Dora's shirt was booze.
A familiar grin spread across Buru-su's face, but something was different about it this time. It was no longer the big friendly smile that had greeted Marion and Dora in the alley way; the smile that had persuaded Marion to make a speech at the meeting, and encouraged him to tell a joke. This time, Buru-su's grin was menacing.
He inhaled deeply, and his grin widened. "That's good," he said to himself.
Andy and Chet gasped. "Intervention!" The two smaller boys lunged at Buru- su, pinned him against a wall.
"No, Buru-su!" Andy said, struggling to restrain his friend.
"Remember, beer is the enemy!" Chet reminded him, "Treat others as you would like to-"
At that instant, Buru-su broke free from Andy and Chet. He stumbled a few feet, and then a horribly familiar click sounded in Marion's ears. With one glance at Buru-su, his worst fears were confirmed-that click was the cocking of a gun.
Marion grabbed Dora by the wrist, and dashed through the rusty door. Buru- su followed suit, holding a black handgun at the ready. Chet watched with Andy at his side and shouted, "Remember the steps, mate!"
The chase continued down a long hallway, and several loud shots echoed in the empty building. At last Marion could see an open door approaching at the end of the hallway. Again, he grabbed Dora by the hand and with a frantic burst of speed, he threw himself through the open door, and slammed it behind him, latching itself shut.
Immediately, loud clanging against the metal was heard, as Buru-su shot repeatedly at the locked door. Marion searched around frantically for any kind of corner or closet to hide in, but found none. The room they were in was small and cluttered with boxes and junk. Marion pushed boxes aside, sending their contents crashing to the stone floor, looking for anything that might be of use to him. "There's no way out!" he yelled, "There's got to be a way to escape!"
Dora, meanwhile, was still holding on to the green jacket. Hearing the loud metallic clangs that echoed with each gunshot, Dora turned to the door and asked politely, "Who is it?"
Marion shook her. "Dora! Help me find a way out!"
Another gunshot.
"Sorry, you'll have to come back later. We're trying to escape."
Marion continued overturning boxes and re-searching places where he'd already looked, muttering to himself, "There's gotta' be a way out... there's gotta' be a way out..."
"Hey look, here's something!" Dora exclaimed, pointing to a small circular door on the ceiling, in a corner. There was writing on it.
In the same language as the writing on the jacket.
Dora stared at the words on the small circular door. "Es-CAP-ay!" she read aloud, "I wonder what that means. It's funny... it's spelled just like the word 'escape'."
"Let's go!" Once again, Marion grabbed Dora's wrist and climbed through the door to the roof.
Right at that moment, Buru-su broke through the first door, announcing, "Here's Buru-su!"
Panting, Marion and Dora paused on the roof to catch their breath. Suddenly, something clicked in Marion's head. "Wait a minute..." he turned to Dora suddenly. "You're bilingual?"
"I am?" Dora asked innocently. "Oh, that's right! I am bilingual!"
In a frenzy of irritation, anxiety, and leftover adrenaline, Marion shoved the jacket at her and shouted, "Well then here, read this now!"
But before she had time to respond, Buru-su threw open the circular door and climbed out onto the roof. The chase was on again. Marion and Dora scrambled down a black iron ladder on the side of the building, and Buru-su followed suit.
Meanwhile, Andy and Chet had gotten themselves stuck in the doorway by trying to both get through at once. "He really doesn't mean it," Andy explained, "You know, he never even knew his father!"
"Don't fall off the wagon!" Chet added.
Now Buru-su was chasing Marion and Dora down an alleyway, gaining on them. Marion noticed a small crawlspace at the base of a nearby building, and dove at it. He squeezed through a tiny opening not more than a foot and a half high, and dropped down into a cellar, pulling Dora down with him.
He instinctively crawled as far back into the crawlspace as he could, but to his horror found a cement wall only feet from the opening through which he'd entered. "Oh no, it's blocked!" Marion yelled.
Because of his size, Buru-su knew he'd never be able to fit into the crawlspace, so he resorted to trying to enlarge the opening by breaking off brittle pieces of concrete and brick. Kneeling down on the street, Buru-su hurled himself at the wall repeatedly, each time breaking away more and more of the wall around the opening.
Andy and Chet, who had apparently freed themselves, hurried to Buru-su's side. "No, Buru-su, focus!" Andy said.
Chet glanced inside the crawlspace briefly. "Sorry about-" Wham! "Buru-su, mate!" Wham!
Andy took his place. "He's really-" Wham! "A nice guy!" Wham!
Marion noticed that the green jacket-his only clue to finding his son-was pinned under Buru-su' foot. "I gotta' get that jacket!" Marion thought aloud.
"You want that jacket?" Dora asked, smiling, "Okay!"
"No, no, no! Dora!" Marion protested, but it was too late. Dora was already pulling herself out of the crawlspace. Marion closed his eyes and followed.
Andy and Chet managed to pull Buru-su away from the crawlspace, and he struggled against them.
Dora grabbed the jacket, and the two disappeared back into the crawlspace.
As Buru-su struggled against his two friends, he accidentally fired his gun. The bullet punctured the gas tank of one of the trio's motorcycles, causing a small river of gasoline to begin trickling out through the hole and flowing down the sidewalk.
Andy and Chet both turned in the direction of the shot, and their eyes grew wide as they realized where the river of gasoline was headed.
"Uh oh..." Chet muttered, "Buru-su?"
Buru-su sniffed, and turned to look. "What?"
The small ribbon of gasoline was slowly headed for a cluster of frayed electrical wires.
Buru-su gasped. "Run away!" he yelled, "Run away!"
Dora looked disappointed. "Aww, is the party over?"
In a split second, the little river of gasoline and the copper ends of the live electrical wires touched, and a gigantic orange ball of fire exploded in the street. Marion and Dora ducked down in the crawlspace, hiding from the flames and debris.
The two clung to each other as the curtain of black smoke and ash rained down violently, blocking the entrance to the crawlspace and submerging them in darkness.
Not too far away, two boys were loitering on a roof somewhere when the remnants of sulfuric gas from the explosion wafted in their direction.
One boy's shoe made a squeaking sound as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. The second boy glanced at him, and then he noticed the smell of sulfur. He sweatdropped at his friend and said sarcastically, "Nice."
He walked off, leaving the first boy thoroughly confused.
Disclaimer: I don't own Finding Nemo. So there!
~.~.~
Niro wo Motomete
Chapter 4: The AA Trio
As the surrounding buildings became taller, the air emptier, and the light dimmer, Marion's nervousness increased exponentially. Dora bounced along beside him, happy as ever. Riding on his motorcycle at a slow leisurely pace, Buru-su led them further and further down the dark streets.
At last they seemed to be nearing one building in particular. It was several stories high, and more than twice as long. The exterior was brick, some areas crumbling from age and wear. On one side, the number '22' was spray painted in white. The windows were dirty and shattered, some of them hastily boarded up.
Marion noticed two more motorcycles parked near a rusty metal door, partially hidden in shadow. That was where Buru-su was headed. Marion shivered, wishing with all his being that he were anywhere else. He hesitated, momentarily considering the possibility of sneaking off, but Buru-su dragged him onward.
Buru-su slowed his motorcycle to a stop next to the other two, and climbed off the seat. He turned to the door, and led Marion and Dora closer still. "Andy! Chet!" he called as he approached. Just then, the rusty door opened, and two men appeared in the doorway. Presumably they were Andy and Chet.
One was on the short side, and skinny. He had blue-gray hair, slightly darker than Buru-su's, combed forward so that it came to a sharp point. He was wearing a white tank top, with an unbuttoned gray shirt worn loosely over it. His nose was pierced.
The second one was taller. He wore faded blue jeans and a black t-shirt. His hair was brown, and was most unusually pulled into pigtails. Still, for some reason, his unique hair style didn't lessen his menacingly tough appearance.
"There you are, finally!" the pigtailed man commented.
Buru-su grinned. "We got company," he announced, referring to Marion and Dora on either side of him.
"Well it's about time, mate!" said the pigtailed man.
"The cops are already on our tails," complained the shorter man, "And I can't take it!"
"They almost took us back to the big house."
Marion closed his eyes and cringed as he felt Buru-su push him through the doorway.
"Come on, let's get this over with!"
There was no way he could get out of this alive...
Ding!
Marion opened one eye and found himself in a dusty, dimly-lit, unkempt room with several chairs, a small black-and-white TV set sitting on a board placed over two cinderblocks, and a weathered pool table off to the side.
Andy and Chet were seated in two chairs facing Buru-su, who was standing before them as if he were on stage. Apparently, for some reason, he'd rung a bell.
"The meeting has officially come to order," Buru-su announced. "Let us all say the pledge."
Simultaneously, Buru-su, Andy, and Chet all raised their right hands and began to recite a pledge. Marion glanced at Dora, who had taken a seat and was now raising her right hand along with the three bikers. Marion just hunched over and tried to be as unobtrusive as possible.
"'I am a nice guy. Not a mindless drunk,'" the three recited, "'If I am to change this image, I must first change myself. Treat others as you would like to be treated.'"
The three dropped their hands back down to their sides, and the pigtailed man, Andy, added resentfully, "Except for cheerleaders!"
"Cheerleaders, yeah!" the shorter one, Chet, spat, "They think they're so cute!" He stood up and flounced around mockingly, waving imaginary pom- poms. "Oh, look at me, I'm a flippin' little cheerleader, lemme flip for ya'! Ain't I somethin'?"
Andy laughed.
"Okay, today's meetin' is step five: Carry our message onto others," Buru- su announced, "Now, do you all have your friends?"
"Got mine," Andy replied, gesturing to a small green-haired kid hyperventilating from fear in the corner.
Dora waved at him. "Hi there!"
Buru-su turned to Chet. "How 'bout you, Chet?"
Chet hesitated. "Well I er... couldn't bring anyone because... I was... busy with the other... um... steps." Chet absentmindedly held out a half- empty Coke can. He did a double-take, and hid the can nervously behind his back. He smiled innocently.
"It's alright, mate," Buru-su said, "I had a feeling this would be a difficult step. You can help yourself to one of my friends."
As Buru-su was talking, the little green-haired boy managed to sneak out the door without anyone noticing.
"Well, thanks mate," Chet said, putting his arm around Marion, "A buddy for Chet, ey?"
Marion whimpered.
"I'll start the testimonies," Buru-su said. He straightened himself up, trying to look as dignified as possible. "Hello. My name is Buru-su."
"Hello, Buru-su," Andy and Chet recited tediously.
"It has been three weeks since my last drink, on my honor!" he announced proudly, raising his right hand for emphasis, "Or may I be locked up in the county jail."
Andy and Chet clapped. "You're an inspiration to all of us!" Chet commented.
"Amen," said Andy.
"Alright, who's next?" Buru-su asked.
Dora hopped up and down in her seat, waving her hand in the air. "Oh, oh, oh! Pick me, pick me, pick me!"
"Yes, the little Sheila down the front!"
"Whoo-hoo!" Dora cheered.
"Come on up here." Buru-su retreated from the small stage-esque section of floor where he'd made his speech, and joined his two friends.
Dora took his place and faced her audience. "Hi, I'm Dora."
"Hello, Dora," the three chorused.
"And I don't... well... I don't think I've ever drank before." She smiled sheepishly.
There was a slight pause, and then Chet started clapping again. "Wow, that's incredible!"
"Good on ya', mate!" Buru-su congratulated.
Dora sighed. "Phew. I'm glad I got that off my chest."
"Alright, anyone else?" Buru-su asked. He spotted Marion sitting next to Chet. "Well how about you mate?" Chet gave Marion a playful noogie. "What's your problem?"
Marion pulled away from Chet and found that he was now the center of attention. "Me?" he asked nervously, "I... I don't... well, I don't have a problem."
Buru-su nodded, grinning. "Oh, okay..." he sympathized.
"Denial!" the three chorused. Buru-su shoved him forward.
"Just start with your name."
"Uh... okay..." Marion stuttered, "Hello. My name is Marion. I'm a retired comedian..."
Chet brightened. "A comedian? Really?"
Buru-su and Andy rose from their seats and gathered around Marion. "Go on, tell us a joke!" Buru-su said.
Chet pushed his way between his two friends. "I love jokes!"
Marion grinned nervously. "Well, I... I do know one that's... pretty good... um... there was this mollusk, and... and a sea cucumber. Normally they don't talk, sea cucumbers, but in a joke, everyone talks..." As Marion struggled with the joke, the trio's grins began to fade with boredom. "...so then the mollusk says to the cucumber..."
Suddenly, something outside caught Marion's eye. Through the shattered window, Marion could clearly see a camouflage jacket lying near a building right outside. He immediately recognized it to be the jacket from the man that had taken his son. "Niro!" he gasped.
Chet burst out laughing. "Niro! Hahahaha! Niro! Heheh... I don't get it."
"For a comedian, he's not that funny," Buru-su muttered.
"No, no, no, he's my son," Marion explained, stepping outside. "He was taken by these people in a truck..."
Chet scoffed. "Eh. The government. Think they own everything."
"Probably American," Andy added.
"Now there is a father," Buru-su said tearfully, gesturing to Marion, "Looking for his little boy!"
Marion picked up the jacket, and looked at the tags for any kind of identification. There was something written near the tag in black marker, but it was written in another language. Marion sighed with frustration. "What language is this?"
In the background, Buru-su started sobbing. "I never knew my father!"
"Come here," Chet said.
"Group hug," Andy said.
"We're all mates here, mate." Andy and Chet gave Buru-su a big hug.
Meanwhile, Marion was still puzzling over the jacket. "Ah, I can't read this writing!" he complained.
Dora grabbed the jacket and smiled. "Well then we gotta' find somebody who can read this." She glanced off to the side and noticed the three bikers. "Oh look! Here's somebody!"
"No, no, no, Dora!" Marion tried to stop her, but she was already skipping over to the trio.
"Hey guys?" she asked as she neared them, her blue hair bouncing in sync with her skips.
"No, Dora!" Marion said, grabbing the jacket.
"Hey, gimmie that! It's mine!" Dora said, tugging the jacket.
Marion tugged harder. "No! Dora!"
"Gimmie!" Dora whined, tugging as hard as she could, "Gimmie!"
Marion let go suddenly, sending Dora toppling backwards into Chet. She stood up.
"Ow, ow, ow..." Dora said, rubbing her head.
"Oh, I'm so sorry..." Marion said.
"Boy, I really bonked my head there..." Dora looked down at her shirt. It was damp. "Hey, did something spill on me?"
Buru-su looked at her with concern. "Dora, are you oka-" He stopped suddenly. There was a familiar smell in the air, and it was coming from the stain on Dora's shirt. Even after three whole weeks, just one whiff of that smell was enough to be intoxicating.
That spill on Dora's shirt was booze.
A familiar grin spread across Buru-su's face, but something was different about it this time. It was no longer the big friendly smile that had greeted Marion and Dora in the alley way; the smile that had persuaded Marion to make a speech at the meeting, and encouraged him to tell a joke. This time, Buru-su's grin was menacing.
He inhaled deeply, and his grin widened. "That's good," he said to himself.
Andy and Chet gasped. "Intervention!" The two smaller boys lunged at Buru- su, pinned him against a wall.
"No, Buru-su!" Andy said, struggling to restrain his friend.
"Remember, beer is the enemy!" Chet reminded him, "Treat others as you would like to-"
At that instant, Buru-su broke free from Andy and Chet. He stumbled a few feet, and then a horribly familiar click sounded in Marion's ears. With one glance at Buru-su, his worst fears were confirmed-that click was the cocking of a gun.
Marion grabbed Dora by the wrist, and dashed through the rusty door. Buru- su followed suit, holding a black handgun at the ready. Chet watched with Andy at his side and shouted, "Remember the steps, mate!"
The chase continued down a long hallway, and several loud shots echoed in the empty building. At last Marion could see an open door approaching at the end of the hallway. Again, he grabbed Dora by the hand and with a frantic burst of speed, he threw himself through the open door, and slammed it behind him, latching itself shut.
Immediately, loud clanging against the metal was heard, as Buru-su shot repeatedly at the locked door. Marion searched around frantically for any kind of corner or closet to hide in, but found none. The room they were in was small and cluttered with boxes and junk. Marion pushed boxes aside, sending their contents crashing to the stone floor, looking for anything that might be of use to him. "There's no way out!" he yelled, "There's got to be a way to escape!"
Dora, meanwhile, was still holding on to the green jacket. Hearing the loud metallic clangs that echoed with each gunshot, Dora turned to the door and asked politely, "Who is it?"
Marion shook her. "Dora! Help me find a way out!"
Another gunshot.
"Sorry, you'll have to come back later. We're trying to escape."
Marion continued overturning boxes and re-searching places where he'd already looked, muttering to himself, "There's gotta' be a way out... there's gotta' be a way out..."
"Hey look, here's something!" Dora exclaimed, pointing to a small circular door on the ceiling, in a corner. There was writing on it.
In the same language as the writing on the jacket.
Dora stared at the words on the small circular door. "Es-CAP-ay!" she read aloud, "I wonder what that means. It's funny... it's spelled just like the word 'escape'."
"Let's go!" Once again, Marion grabbed Dora's wrist and climbed through the door to the roof.
Right at that moment, Buru-su broke through the first door, announcing, "Here's Buru-su!"
Panting, Marion and Dora paused on the roof to catch their breath. Suddenly, something clicked in Marion's head. "Wait a minute..." he turned to Dora suddenly. "You're bilingual?"
"I am?" Dora asked innocently. "Oh, that's right! I am bilingual!"
In a frenzy of irritation, anxiety, and leftover adrenaline, Marion shoved the jacket at her and shouted, "Well then here, read this now!"
But before she had time to respond, Buru-su threw open the circular door and climbed out onto the roof. The chase was on again. Marion and Dora scrambled down a black iron ladder on the side of the building, and Buru-su followed suit.
Meanwhile, Andy and Chet had gotten themselves stuck in the doorway by trying to both get through at once. "He really doesn't mean it," Andy explained, "You know, he never even knew his father!"
"Don't fall off the wagon!" Chet added.
Now Buru-su was chasing Marion and Dora down an alleyway, gaining on them. Marion noticed a small crawlspace at the base of a nearby building, and dove at it. He squeezed through a tiny opening not more than a foot and a half high, and dropped down into a cellar, pulling Dora down with him.
He instinctively crawled as far back into the crawlspace as he could, but to his horror found a cement wall only feet from the opening through which he'd entered. "Oh no, it's blocked!" Marion yelled.
Because of his size, Buru-su knew he'd never be able to fit into the crawlspace, so he resorted to trying to enlarge the opening by breaking off brittle pieces of concrete and brick. Kneeling down on the street, Buru-su hurled himself at the wall repeatedly, each time breaking away more and more of the wall around the opening.
Andy and Chet, who had apparently freed themselves, hurried to Buru-su's side. "No, Buru-su, focus!" Andy said.
Chet glanced inside the crawlspace briefly. "Sorry about-" Wham! "Buru-su, mate!" Wham!
Andy took his place. "He's really-" Wham! "A nice guy!" Wham!
Marion noticed that the green jacket-his only clue to finding his son-was pinned under Buru-su' foot. "I gotta' get that jacket!" Marion thought aloud.
"You want that jacket?" Dora asked, smiling, "Okay!"
"No, no, no! Dora!" Marion protested, but it was too late. Dora was already pulling herself out of the crawlspace. Marion closed his eyes and followed.
Andy and Chet managed to pull Buru-su away from the crawlspace, and he struggled against them.
Dora grabbed the jacket, and the two disappeared back into the crawlspace.
As Buru-su struggled against his two friends, he accidentally fired his gun. The bullet punctured the gas tank of one of the trio's motorcycles, causing a small river of gasoline to begin trickling out through the hole and flowing down the sidewalk.
Andy and Chet both turned in the direction of the shot, and their eyes grew wide as they realized where the river of gasoline was headed.
"Uh oh..." Chet muttered, "Buru-su?"
Buru-su sniffed, and turned to look. "What?"
The small ribbon of gasoline was slowly headed for a cluster of frayed electrical wires.
Buru-su gasped. "Run away!" he yelled, "Run away!"
Dora looked disappointed. "Aww, is the party over?"
In a split second, the little river of gasoline and the copper ends of the live electrical wires touched, and a gigantic orange ball of fire exploded in the street. Marion and Dora ducked down in the crawlspace, hiding from the flames and debris.
The two clung to each other as the curtain of black smoke and ash rained down violently, blocking the entrance to the crawlspace and submerging them in darkness.
Not too far away, two boys were loitering on a roof somewhere when the remnants of sulfuric gas from the explosion wafted in their direction.
One boy's shoe made a squeaking sound as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. The second boy glanced at him, and then he noticed the smell of sulfur. He sweatdropped at his friend and said sarcastically, "Nice."
He walked off, leaving the first boy thoroughly confused.