Part 23 (2/2)
”-tee hee hee!” came a familiar laugh from the back of the crowd.
”It worked!” Roger yelled triumphantly.
”What worked?” Delores asked doubtfully.
”Dee Dee!” Roger called.
”You rang?” a perky voice called back.
”Who rang?” Delores asked. ”Roger, are you sure-”
But Roger only nodded.
”Come on over, Dee Dee!”
”Tee hee hee!” The pert beach bunny in the psychedelic green bikini jogged towards them through the crowd.
”This is your solution?” Delores asked gently.
”Exactly!” Roger replied. ”This is Doctor Dee Dee Davenport, of the Inst.i.tute of Very Advanced Science!”
”Tee hee hee,'' Dee Dee agreed. She waved at everybody as she trotted into their midst.
”Doctor Davenport?” Delores asked tentatively, offering her hand.
Dee Dee squealed with delight. She shook Delores' hand, her whole body bursting with energy. ”Tee hee hee,” she added.
Delores glanced at Roger. ”The Inst.i.tute of Very Advanced Science?””Well,” Roger began. ”I know it doesn't look quite-”
”Roger,” Delores replied, her voice still far too gentle.
”How do I tell you this? Sometimes, people can be out in the sun too long-”
”But, no!” Roger objected. ”She may be a cute and perky beach bunny here-”
”Tee hee hee,” Dee Dee demonstrated.
”But on her home world she heads the Inst.i.tute-”
”Personality change,” Zabana, Prince of the Jungle, observed. ”Like Doctor Dread.”
”Roger-” Delores replied, the exasperation rising in her voice. ”Would someone shut up that dog?”
”Yip, yip, bark!”
Roger hadn't noticed it before, but it was true. Dwight was going crazy.
”Bark, yip, yip!”
”Dwight says-” Louie began.
”In a moment, Louie,” Delores interrupted. ”So Dee Dee here heads a scientific inst.i.tute-”
”-that I think can be instrumental in finding Captain Crusader!” Roger said rather more loudly than he should have. He was becoming a bit exasperated himself.
Dwight started barking all over again. Roger would have glanced over at the dog himself, but something large had risen in the sand directly in front of him.
”Please do not raise your voice to the woman who is to be my bride,” the thing covered by sand announced.
”What is this?” Roger asked, his voice still not as quiet as it could have been.
”Arf, arf, bark!” Dwight interjected.
”Oh,” Delores explained, ”that's the Slime Monster.”
The pile of sand introduced himself. ”My friends call me Edward.”
”And you're questioning the company that I keep?” Roger demanded.
”Tee hee hee,” Dee Dee laughed appreciatively.
”I don't think jokes are appropriate on my future bride's behalf,” the slime monster commented.”What?” Roger was becoming even more incensed. ”What's this future bride stuff?”
”Arf, bark, yip!” Dwight was getting frantic.
Delores threw up her hands. ”Roger, this wasn't my idea.”
”Not your idea?” He waved at the mobile pile of sand. ”I suppose this guy just swept you off your feet?”
”And I find you cavorting with a beach bunny!” Delores snapped back.
Dee Dee stepped between them.
”Tee hee hee,” she began apologetically. ”It's time to cool it, guys. Remember, when you go to the beach, don't leave courtesy behind!”
Everybody stopped and stared at the beach bunny. Roger wondered if everyone was thinking the same thing he was: What Dee Dee had just said sounded like something that should be said by the hero among heroes.
”Bark, yip, bark!” Dwight announced with finality.
”Exactly!” Louie replied.
”Captain Crusader!” Delores and Roger exclaimed together.
”So nice of you to-reveal yourself,” a particularly oily voice said from the midst of the crowd.
There was a small explosion. Dee Dee clutched at her firm and perky stomach.
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