XV.
In other parts of 'Sugar Rush'
Calhoun and Felix made their search.
At length they found th'abandoned craft;
"Anyone home?" did Felix ask.
"No," replied Calhoun, displeased;
"Otherwise I'd slap his face
into next week—the idiot.
Nor's there sign of cy-bug 'round;
that, we must find, before it lays
its filthy eggs." She checked a sensor
she had brought, that did track cy-bugs:
"I see here it came this way;
but all this sugar in the air
jams up the sensor—can't be sure."
They walked a time. "So, tell me, do—
what's with this 'Wreck-it' pal of yours?
Why do you think he came to us?"
"I wish I knew. Last night he acted
very strange: raving of medals,
pie and cake. But I did not,
in truth, believe he'd go all Turbo
and bug out." "Going Turbo?
What is that?" "Oh right, your game
is new, and you have not yet heard
the story of that tragedy."
Upon which, Felix told the tale
we told before, in our first book.
At story's end, Calhoun remarked:
"The selfish man—a mangy dog—
chasing cautionary tale."
"Too true! And that is why I must
find Ralph—lest this befall our game."
Their search continued—on a branch
of candy tree, they crossed a lake.
They did not know that 'double-stripe'
would disappear, when touched too much.
All of a sudden, they were plunged
into the lake. Not usually
a problem, this—but they did find
'twas sticky; that they could not move.
Upon a sign read: 'Nesquiksand'.
Sinking down into the goo,
Felix panicked. Calhoun tried
to calm him down, without success:
he just sank more, the more he quailed.
At last she socked him in the jaw—
this quieted him—but more besides,
they heard a peal of laughter near.
Looking up, they saw some vines
curl towards them, laughing. Felix said:
"It's 'Laffy Taffy'! They move toward
what makes them laugh. Hit me again!"
Softening, she tapped his face;
the taffy stilled, re-took its place.
"Not funny enough! Please use more force!"
But Calhoun said: "Look, I cannot
in cóld blood your face rearrange.
You're a nice guy—"
"No ma'am! The arcade does depend
on us to do our duty—now,
I order you to hit me—hard!"
She did comply—the taffy, too,
began to chuckle; now Felix did
take golden hammer into hand
and fixed his face—'twas good as new!
"Again!" he cried. She warmed to it—
seeing as 'twas without harm.
"Once more into my face, your fist!
Again! Again! We're killing them!"
She pummeled him repeatedly—
and once the taffy close enough
came down to them—he quick did grab
both Calhoun, and a taffy vine.
Freed from the sand, they upward sped;
intriguing pair—she twice his size.
She felt all of a sudden, calm—
sheltered there, within his arm.
Unbeknownst to Felix 'twas,
his touch had special healing powers;
this balm on troubled Tamora
did spread emotions warm and soft.
Now safe from harm, on solid ground,
she gazed at him, her shock profound;
returning this, Felix did smile—
he'd broken through; showed her his worth.
But now the taffy did respond
to lovey-dovey, and began
a cooing song there to intone.
Brought back to earth, Calhoun grew hard;
and broke the sentimental mood
by firing one shot into the air.
"Enough of this! Back on the case.
This sensor's blocked by sugar; I
believe that we'd have better luck
if we could track it from the air.
Thinks you that shattered shuttlecraft
could fix?" "Can do!" He set to work.