Chapter Fourteen
"How much farther is this desert?" Toad asked for the twentieth time. It seemed like it would never end.
"A couple more miles, maybe." Black Ninjakoopa replied.
"Hippa?" Yoshi asked.
"Yes, that is a sandstorm, and yes, it is headed our way." Black Ninjakoopa replied to the dinasaur.
"Should we duck and cover?" Toad asked.
"If you'd like to." Came the reply.
"Will it help?"
"Not much."
"Oh."
"You might want to cover your eyes, though."
Toad did so, and soon felt the sand blowing fiercely all around him. After what seemed an eternity, the winds abated. Toad opened his eyes.
He and his companions were buried in the sand up to their waists.
"Great. Wonderful." Muttered Toad.
"Bleh!" Complained Yoshi.
"This may present a problem." Black Ninjakoopa stated matter-of-factly.
"You think?" Retorted Toad.
"Yes, I do."
"Any ideas on how to get out?"
"No, I think we're stuck."
"Great. So I guess we'll just have to wait here and hope someone comes along and digs us out."
"Yep, probably."
"Wonderful."
Someone eventually did come along. It was a mouse.
"I say, what are you three doing there?" It asked them.
"What do you think we're doing?" Toad asked irritably.
"Are you stuck?" It asked.
"Just a little." Snapped Toad.
"Do you need help?"
"Yeah." This was ridiculous.
"Okay then, hang on a minute."
Then the mouse pulled from his pocket (?) a shovel (?) and began digging. Soon the three were freed.
"Well, now you are free." Said the mouse.
"Thank you." Said Black Ninjakoopa.
"Yes thank you." Echoed Toad.
"You're welcome. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm running a bit late. Have a nice day." With that the mouse was off.
"What a strange fellow." Remarked Black Ninjakoopa.
"I'll say." Agreed Toad. "Where did he get the shovel?" He wondered aloud.
" From his pocket."
"His pocket?"
"Yes."
Putting aside the fact that the mouse had not had a pocket, Toad asked another question.
"Why would he carry a shovel around in his pocket?"
"I don't know. Perhaps he thought he might need one."
Toad rolled his eyes. This was absurd. "Let's go. We're almost out of the desert."
"Indeed we are."