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FROM THE JOURNALS OF RICHARD B. BERNSTEIN, THE ACADEMIC DETECTIVE:
We arrived at the run-down brownstone that Wulfgar and his sib were calling "Home". Ms. Phan and Branagh helped me climb the rickety stairs (the Municipal Building Inspector should see this place!), my broken ribs grinding together like Finn McCool's teeth, with Wulfgar watching our backs all the way.
We reached Room 13, through which he and Zero exchanged passwords in Gaelic (at least is sounded remotely like it-or like wolverines gargling hedgehogs). The door opend into a spacious but shappy room. Mrs. Faversham would've been at home there.
Zero and Ivan were both hunched over a pair of laptops, apparently finishing up some work.
"RICHARD!" Princess's worried voice got my full attention-as she ran across the room to grip me in an ill-considered bear-hug.
"-*urk*-Hi, Doll, I-*gasp*-thought that you were going-*ung*-out of town-*gasp*-on business."
She fell back, horrified at what she'd inadvertantly done. Her hand flew to her mouth as it formed a ripe red "O" of shock.
"I-I-I was -AM- we are- My GOD! What happened!?!"
"Oh, the-*gasp*-usual; I beat their fists and feet with my face and body until I pounded some sense into me, and they gave up..." I coughed, blood flowing from my mouth. I saw her look of concern cut through my feeble, joking bravado. She helped Ms. Phan get me to the threadbare setee.
I caught Branagh out of the corner of my eye speaking to Lady Eboshi. Wulfgar's feral countenance swam into view before me.
"Do nae git tae coomfortable, Sword-Brother, we'll be gittin' gawn straightaway. Brandy?"
"Goddammit-*cough*-give me some breathing-room, for-*gasp*-God's sake...AND DON'T CALL ME THAT!!! Oof-"
I felt a gentle touch somewhere between my neck and my shoulder,and the pain eased back down to bearable. I looked and saw Lady Eboshi standing there.
"This One was taught certain healing...skills...by Master timleary. It should suffice until This One sets the ribs. Please hold still, Professor."
She knelt beside me, and applied her hands to my battered torso. I uncomfortably felt things -click- together.
"There" she said, "That will allow healing to begin. All that remains is to bind the broken bones in place. Lord Wulfgar, where is your medical kit?"
"Ah-hmmm, should be i' th'-"
"Here." Zero, who'd walked over while she'd tended me, handed her a black box that bore a large red cross with the legend "Division 6" on it.
"Och, THA'S where i' was!" exclamed Wulfgar, as a strange purring sound came from one of his duster's pckets. We all looked at him questioningly at him.
"Damme, tha's me pocket scanner!" He fished out an earphone and began listening as Lady Eboshi eased off my jacket and shirt, and bound up my ribs.
"JAYSUS FOOKIN' CHRIST!!!"
My head snapped around at his outburst. He read my expression like a book.
"We must away, Sword-Brother. NYPD has a couple of SWAT teams heading our way. Somehow, they have THIS address, and are enroute."
I was dumbfounded at his clarity of speech and thought...for a change...
(TBC)
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