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3. Quietdrive – Rush Together
She started running at the top of the stairs.
"Minnie, wait! You'll fall!" Daisy called, but Minnie had already turned the corner and her friend's voice was lost to the spiral staircase. It echoed around her, but she didn't heed it. She couldn't. She couldn't stop, or slow down, or even think any slower than the time it took for her speeding heart to go from one beat to the next.
She didn't stumble until the bottom step, when her toe caught in the hem of her gown. The fabric tore, but she didn't care. She rushed headlong, the long rip flapping her skirt around her knees in a very un-queenly way. Queens weren't supposed top show their stockings, but frankly, anybody who objected could go jump off the ramparts.
Pluto strained at his leash as she blew past. The guard could scarcely hold on. Minnie's rush gave the dog the final urge to break free. he took off, pounding at her heels. They were both eager to get outside, to where the familiar glow of an engine had put down. Pluto barked joyously. Minnie had no breath for anything except running.
She ran past the statues of austere ancestors.
She ran down the stone flight of steps.
She ran across the courtyard.
She ran into the rose garden.
She ran down the aisle of wafting rose bushes.
She ran towards the battle-battered gummi ship.
She ran up the barely lowered gangway.
She ran into her husband's arms.
"Did you miss me?" Mickey asked five minutes later when she had finished kissing him.
Minnie wondered whether she would ever, actually, be able to let go without worrying he would disappear again. "Don't ask stupid questions."
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