Chapter 18: Dudes
SUSAN MURPHY
Dr. Cockroach and I strode back into the mansion.
"Hey, guys," I heard Link call from the living room. We went to join him. "You're just in time for the triple-feature movie show."
"Cool," I said. "What are you watching?"
"Beowulf, then Tropic Thunder, then for the grand finale, 300."
I rolled my eyes. "Link, I swear, sometimes you're such a dude."
"I know," he said smugly. "So, how was Rome?"
Dr. Cockroach slid down my body to the floor. "Wonderful," he said. "They really love us over there in Europe, you know. A couple of girls in Denmark gave us their numbers, here…"
"Cool," Link said, taking the scraps of paper.
"I'm glad I wasn't born in Denmark," B.O.B. said thoughtfully.
"Why's that?" I asked.
"'Cause I don't know how to speak Danish."
Dr. Cockroach rolled his eyes. "Of course, B.O.B.," he said.
"Whoa, Doc," Link said. "What's that on your neck?"
My eyes widened as the doctor reached up to touch his neck. "Other side," Link said.
"I don't feel anything," Dr. Cockroach said. "What is it?"
"A big, pink curved line," Link said. "Some kind of scar? Whoa, it goes on forever. Look in the mirror."
Dr. Cockroach went to the north wall, which was nothing but mirror from top to bottom. "Oh my, what in the world is that?" He took off his jacket, revealing that the scar formed a near-circle from his neck, all the way down to his forearm and torso.
"Did you get in a fight with a pack of sharks or something?" Link demanded. I bit my lip, hoping no one would figure it out.
"No," Dr. Cockroach said. "I can't be sure… I think that is a very, very, very large hickey."
Link made eye contact with me in the mirror and guffawed. My face was cherry red.
"You guys crack me up," Link crowed. "I swear, you're just so hopeless, it's funny."
"Well, we're just going to rest here for the day," Dr. Cockroach said, "then we're heading down to NZ. I've seen the scale model. That is quite the place!"
"You can stay there for any length of time you like," Link said. "Just be back in time for New Year's Eve, a'ight?" He started the movie, chuckling to himself.