My Grandpa's Back

Chapter 14

"Whoa! Check out the ocean!" Tyson announced to the others, awed, getting out of the van. Realizing he still had his mouth open, he quickly closed it. It was pretty much alright to speak loudly, since they were in a secluded section of the wharf.

The water sparkled, as if in response. Even Kai had to admit that it was a gorgeous sight. Max and Ray hopped out, followed by Kenny, and lastly, Tex. They were all more than a little relieved to get out of the vehicle. They'd been on the road for three days with few bathroom breaks as the only stops (except to switch drivers to Tex and "Wheels," as they called him, could take alternating turns to sleep).

"Um, Tyson? That's a sea," Ray corrected him, supplemented by Kenny's, "Stockholm's a seaport." Tyson gave them a nervous smile in embarrassment. A ship down the way blew its horn a few times.

"Where're we gonna stay?" Max asked, turning around. Tex slapped a hat that was way too big over the blonde's head. The brim slid down over his eyes, so Max tilted his head back in a silly manner so he could see the others. Tyson laughed a little, the rest grinning.

"There's a warehouse around here somewhere," Tex answered, scratching his head pensively and looking around. 'Wheels' handed Ray a black trenchcoat.

"Oh, Kai!" Tex called out, tossing a can of black spray-on hair paint to him. "Gotta disguise you, especially. You need to use that, too, Tyson."

"Man! I like my hair color!" Tyson complained, but resigned himself. He snatched the can away from Kai, popped off the lid, and began coloring his hair, Kai moving away from him, fanning away the obnoxious fumes.

Tyson coughed. (He's finished.)

"Yeah, I think that's enough," Ray told him, taking the aerosol can and started spraying it on Kai's spikes as Kai scowled in silent protest, knowing he couldn't do anything about it.

"Do I need to dye my hair, too?" Max wondered aloud to Tex. Even though it would wash out, he still didn't want to color his locks.

"Nah," he replied. "You're fine."

"What about me?" Kenny added.

"Nope." The two bladers gave a sigh of relief.

"Now let's go find that warehouse!" Tex proposed and everyone agreed, "Yeah!" Tyson did a fist pump to show enthusiasm.

They did look a little strange as they wandered around the port, though they had been careful not to overdo it. Luckily, though, they didn't get that many stares, and, more importantly, they weren't recognized. Sailors, after all, aren't always the most intelligent people (A/N: I am SO SORRY! I know I just offended someone's dad or something. I'M SORRY!)

Occasionally, Tex would stop to talk to some of the workers when they called out to him, asking if all those kids were his. They couldn't help but snicker each time. Tex was too young to be father to any of them. (He started early!)

Eventually, they had somehow done a turn-around or a circle, or something, they weren't sure, but the warehouse turned out to be right beside where they had started out. Tex laughed nervously at his lost sense of direction (This only proves that if you go on a trip without taking a woman, more than likely, you won't find your way. J/K.)

After a little mocking of the Texan, they all went inside and laid out their portable cots in a ring. Tyson facing the door, then Kenny to his left, Ray, Kai, Tex, and then Max on Tyson's other side.

"Okay!" Tex clapped his hands once standing in the center. The boys sat down cross-legged on the dusty, filthy floor, or at least, Tyson did, and the rest sat on their sleeping bags.

"Here's the plan," he began (Rhymie!). "We're gonna lay low here a few days, then, we're gonna purposely get one of you sighted in Finland, possibly all of you," he pointed out to them all on a small world map he had just unfolded, crouching so they could see it. "Hopefully, immediately afterward, we's gonna swiiing on into Germany," he slid his finger along the 'path.'

"What are we gonna do after that?" Ray inquired.

"We don't know yet. I'm working on it, 'kay?" Tex answered. "Any more questions?"

"Yeah, when do we eat?" Tyson spoke up, receiving a smack upside the head from Kai. "Ow!" He rubbed the spot delicately to ease the pain. (NO DIRTY THOUGHTS!)

"Soon," Tex promised. "Right now, finish up, and maybe we can go into town for dinner. Sound good?"

It did.

"Oh," Tyson groaned, laying down on his bag, with his big belly. "So…full…"

"Tired…" Max joined in. They had just returned from a buffet. The two naïve angels (Ha! Tyson an angel! Is that funny or what?) went right to sleep. Kai was eventually able to join them in Slumberland, but Ray lay awake, staring at the dark ceiling, pondering on the events that had happened since that meeting in Mr. D's office. It seemed so long ago, but at the same time, just like yesterday. Like this was all one big, long, nightmare and they'd all wake up and laugh about it later, and everything would be okay. He really wished he could believe that.

This was all too real, and anything but a dream.

A sound penetrated his thoughts. Were those footsteps?

He sat up, jumpy, to see Tex creeping toward the door. "Where're you going?" Ray asked, curious rather than accusatory, startling Tex.

"Oh, Ray!" Tex recognized him, a little edgy himself. "Sh! Keep your voice down. Don't wanna wake up the sleeping beauties."

"Where?" Ray was about to repeat, but Tex interrupted to answer.

"Just gonna go out for a few beers, meet with a few people, arrange a boat to get to Finland, you know…" Tex he trailed off.

"Oh…okay…" Ray was too tired to argue, and, for some reason, was a little confused. He shook his head lightly, then lay back down, facing the wall. He heard the soft creak of the warehouse door and the pit-pat of Tex sneaking out.

Something had seemed suspicious about his manner. And why had he been so nervous about having been caught? Maybe Kai was right about Tex, that he was just a rat.

But who else could they trust?

Ray closed his eyes and let himself drift into sweet slumber. Maybe he was just paranoid.

Was he?

A black-cloaked figure slunk into a tavern, and set beside a greasy-looking sailor he had supposedly just met at the wharf only that afternoon. When identities had been confirmed, he removed his hood.

(Guess who? Note the sarcasm.) Tex greeted the villainous worker before him. "Hello, mate," he joked in a dark tone.

"So, 'stranger,' what brings you here?" the latter asked, sarcastically. "A message for the boss, perhaps?"

"Yeah," Mr. D's employee shrugged it off.

"Gimme the low-down," the other demanded.

"They're…"