– CHAPTER TWO –
Datslob stared blankly up at Reywal. Reywal grabbed the right headphone and allowed it to snap back against Datslob’s head.
“Woooohoooo. Cool feedback man.” said Datslob looking momentarily startled as he removed his toque revealing a crop of blond artificial hair. He rubbed the side of his head and grinned up at Reywal.
“Do that again Reywal dude!! That was awesome.”
Reywal reached down and clicked off Datslob’s Discman.
“Listen you delinquent little robot. I am not “dude”. I am Mr. Reywal to you – or master. I rue the day I let you talk me into signing onto that robot bill of rights.” He sighed “If it weren’t for that I would have melted you down into a hubcap by now.”
He bent down and hissed in Datslob’s ear. “Pay attention.”
Reywal looked furtively about and leaned closer to Datslob. “Treasure is about to be discovered, and I, Reywal the greatest...”
Datslob interrupted with a yawn. “Yeah, yeah... the greatest criminal genius in the entire world. “Yeah, yeah, I know.”
Reywal snapped Datslob's other headphone. “Don't interrupt you pile of discarded tin cans.”
At that moment Keegan burst out of Mr. Shama’s store with his bike. He ran full tilt into Reywal and the pair of them spilled out onto the street. Keegan leapt to his feet and apologized hastily. “Oops! Sorry mister! Are you OK?”
Reywal slowly stood up and dusted himself off with a momentary look of irritation on his face. As Keegan picked up his bike, he stepped in front of him and instantly assumed an oily smile. A black gloved hand held onto the handlebars of Keegan’s bike as Keegan straddled the cross bar and attempted to ride off.
“Allow me to introduce myself young man. My card.”
Reywal reached into his coat pocket with his free hand and pulled out a large card that he presented to Keegan with a theatrical flourish. Keegan peered at the card and read out loudly. “ YOU ARE ORDERED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COURT TO ANSWER THE CHARGE OF PARKING IN A HANDICAPPED ZONE. Keegan handed the card back and squinted up at Reywal.
“Parking in handicapped parking.” he said. “What a creep - bye.” Reywal, confused, peered closely at the card, snorted crossly and dug into another pocket. Still holding onto the handlebar of Keegan’s bike he produced another card that he stuck under Keegan’s nose with an even greater flourish. “Oh, crimminy blast! Here! I, Reywal De Koorc specialize in the recovery of certain lost items.”
He leaned down to Keegan conspiratorially and spoke from behind the back of his hand. “ ...such as, oh let's see, treasure. Yes, treasure. It says so on my card. See! Perhaps a young adventurer such as yourself could use the assistance of I, Reywal, the greatest...”
Datslob interrupted. “..crim...”
Reywal quickly placed a hand over Datslob’s mouth before he could finish. “As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted ………….the greatest treasure hunter in all of ..well…” he placed a thumb and forefinger under his chin and looked thoughtful. “…… all of every where really. Now I'm sure if I could examine your map.”
Reywal reached for the map poking out of Keegan's backpack. As he extended his hand another large hand descended on Reywal’s shoulder. Reywal looked at the hand on his shoulder and then allowed his gaze to follow up the equally large arm to the big beefy face of Officer Mackintosh, the town policeman.
“Is that your - ahem – automobile sir?” asked the policeman.
He gestured at a 1950’s looking bright red convertible parked in the handicapped parking space outside Mr. Shama’s store. The vehicle was a streamlined contraption, low to the ground with large tailfins and many antennas. It was painted bright red with the words “De Koorc Secret Treasure Hunters Ltd” painted boldly on the doors.
Reywal turned to Officer Mackintosh with a look of irritation.
“If you mean the fastest, most fuel efficient vehicle on earth, then yes it is mine.” Reywal said indignantly. Officer Mackintosh pulled a well-worn ticket-book from his pocket and licked the point of a pencil before he began to write. “Fast, fuel efficient, and illegally parked. I'm going to have to give you a ticket. Can I see your driver's license please?”
Keegan spotted his chance to make a timely exit. “I've gotta go! Bye Officer Mackintosh!”
He leapt on his bike and pedaled swiftly away as Reywal fumed at the police officer who was reading the details of his license in a loud voice.
“Reywal HerbertDe Koorc...”
Reywal looked about with an embarrassed look on his face to see if anyone was in earshot. “Yes, yes, yes, we don’t have to bother with details. Just write the crimminy blast ticket.”
Mr. Shama peered out the window of his store with a thoughtful look on his face as Reywal snatched the proffered ticket from the hand of Office Mackintosh and stomped angrily off towards his car. Slamming the driver’s door shut, he settled into the drivers seat, muttering under his breath. As Datslob dropped into the passenger seat, Reywal handed him the parking ticket.
“Here you little metal cretin. Stop smirking and file this.”
Datslob opened the glove box and stuffed the parking ticket in with many other tickets. He glanced over at Reywal and grinned.
“What are you going to do when the glove box is full?
As Reywal placed a set of old fashioned flying goggles and a leather-flying helmet on his head, he giggled. “Probably buy another car.”
With no reaction from Datslob, he cinched up his chinstrap and snapped. “Anyway, stop wasting time with stupid questions. We have to hurry! That little brat is probably digging up gold right now as we speak!” He issued starting instructions in the manner of an airline pilot to Datslob.
“Sequence aft thrusters!”
Datslob flicked a switch. The engines whirred impressively.
“Check.” said Datslob.
“Magneto-charger to full power!!” called out Reywal over an increasingly powerful whine.
“Cheeeeck.” repeated Datslob in a bored voice. The whining noise increased to a powerful pitch as Reywal pulled a lever.
“Initiate drive mode!!!”
Datslob pushed a button. The engine noise increased to a crescendo and then slowly spluttered into silence. Reywal glowered at Datslob who looked back with an indignant expression on his face.
“Hey. I didn't do nothin'!!! Honest Herbert!”
Reywal went red in the face. “Arggghhh!!!! Don’t’ call me Herbert you little robotic junk heap.” He paused and glanced over his shoulder. “Now get out of the car. If we hurry, we can get the Number Six bus to the beach after I call the garage to have this bucket of bolts repaired.”
Reywal pulled a cell phone from his pocket and dialed in a number that connected him with the local repair shop. He gave instructions to have the car repaired and delivered to the parking lot at Ocean Park beachfront then he giggled quietly to himself. “He, he. It should be ready to haul home a load of treasure found by that bratty Keegan Clarke and delivered into the hands of the rightful owner, I the great Reywal De Koorc.”
As Reywal and Datslob entered the Number Six bus, Reywal pulled a purse from inside his coat and dropped some coins onto the driver’s outstretched hand. “One adult and one child my good man.” he said disdainfully.
The driver looked Datslob up and down. “Hedoesn't look like a child to me.” Reywal looked at Datslob ominously. “Well, I can assure you sir. He has the mind of a child.”