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"I'm frightfully sorry about what happened ma'am!" Haddock said sorrowfully, as he received a good beating with the walking stick of the elderly woman in the car they just crashed into.
"If there's any damage there, you whippersnapper, you'll be paying!" she snapped. Haddock could only nod his head.
"There's no damage," Tintin called, after he backed the rental car out and inspected both vehicles. However, he was only really referring the elderly woman's car, to spare Haddock another encounter with the walking stick. She was quite a different woman after that.
"Thank you, my dear," she said sweetly to Tintin. "I'm sorry about your friend." And she ambled off to her car, and drove away.
"Our car on the other hand," Tintin began.
"What's wrong with it?" Haddock asked anxiously, taking his hat off, and wiping his brow.
"Nothing severe; just a large dent in the front."
"Oh, well, that's okay then," Haddock sighed with relief, placing his hat – now noticeably flattened – back on his head. "It's only a rental."
"How long until you predict we'll reach Italy?" Haddock asked Tintin after they had driven a fair way.
"Around an hour or two; shan't be too much longer," Tintin replied, concentrating on the road ahead of them.
"And then what?"
"We'll find Snowy, take the car back to the rental place, and catch a train home."
"Good plan," Haddock said. He looked thoughtful.
"Something on your mind, Captain?" Tintin asked.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, there is."
"What would that be?"
"I haven't had a drink of decent whiskey since we left home. Tintin rolled his eyes, and chuckled.
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