Mythlands: THE HEIST

Unrequited

In the few hours it had taken the MCI corporate helicopter to reach the desert east of Myth Vegas, the Hare had calmed down a lot.

Now, standing, sweating by the hole he'd dug with his bare paws and having dragged poor Jessica to the edge, he was now reconsidering his options.

What was the Tortoise going to do anyway? Grease a few palms to have this declared an accident ... it WAS an accident. One he was capable of sorting himself without that damned interfering wrinkled bald old ... no, fair's fair, even if he'd buried Jessica and nobody ever connected him to her disappearance, he still had to walk close to 40 miles to Vegas. He didn't fancy that ... the least old Tort could do was give him a lift.

In a way this was all the Tortoise's fault! If his so called friend hadn't continually made him feel like a worthless screw-up, he would never have felt the need to prove the green salad tosser wrong! He would never have let himself be talked into smuggling a stolen golden apple out of the land of Asgard ... why would he, if the damned Tortoise had given him some seed money for the new job!

So it stood to reason that, having been out in a position he would never have gotten into if not for his old 'friend,' he, The Hare would not have been so jubilant about getting one over on old Tort.

Therefore he would not have been racing his Thunderbird while downing a bottle of Jack Daniels - he would not have crashed and Jessica would still be alive ... if not for the Tortoise.

The chopper was coming in to land and surprise, surprise, old Tort had come in person to gloat!

With his bodyguard, Papa Bear behind, holding up an umbrella, the Tortoise slowly emerged from the helicopter wearing a white suit and panama hat. He was leaning heavily on his stick.

'Hare ... my friend ... are you ...' he faltered, his voice, heavy with emotion.

The Hare glared. 'Fine. You took your time ... I've dug a grave. Don't need your help ...' he batted the air as something flitted by his ears.

'Loon!' screamed Ariel as she landed on Jessica's ample bosom. 'Addle pated sap wit! The lass still has the spark of life within her!!'

Moments later the fey unleashed a fiery burst of energy and jump-started Jessica's heart. With a cough and a splutter, the lovely redhead sat up. It took her all of a moment to ascertain her situation ... the hole, the wrecked car ... the insipid expression of relief on the Hare's face as he ...'

'Jess!! Baby!! You're alive!!'

His joy turned to pain as Jessica punched him dead on the nose.

'You unbelievable asshole!!'

She stalked off towards the chopper.

The Hare took a moment to recover and then looked at the Tortoise angrily. 'I could have saved her and made myself look a hero ... but you and your damn fairy had to interfere. GO TO HELL!!!' He loped off towards the chopper, leaving The Tortoise standing there, an expression of pain on his face.

Ariel alighted on his shoulder. 'Master Chairman, once again the beast proves unworthy. Why, I beseech thee, tell me ... why dost thou not let the wretch fare for himself?'

The Tortoise's huge brown eyes were moist as his gaze followed the Hare to the chopper, where he was being prevented from boarding by the expedient of Jessica's heel in his face.

'He's my friend,' said the Tortoise sadly.