“I dunno,” my cousin frowns. “It seems to me that …”
“Guido! Nunzio!!”
We turn to find an apparition bearin’ down on us. At first, I think it is one of those new armored wagons the army has been experimentin’ with … only done up as a parade float. Then I look again, and see that it’s …
“Massha!”
By the time I get this out, our associate has reached us, wrappin’ one meaty arm around each of us in a humongous hug.
“I heard you guys were here and just had to come by and say ‘Hi’!”
Because I am sorta to one side of her instead of directly in front of her, I can see past her to where our crew has stopped what they are doin’ to gape at us … which is the normal reaction of folks what is seein’ Massha for the first time.
“H … Hi, Massha,” Nunzio sez, managin’ to squirm loose. “How are things going? Any word from the Boss?”
“Not a peep,” Massha sez, lettin’ go of me. “There were some funny signs coming through a while back on the monitor ring I gave him, but they settled down and since then everything seems to be normal.”
“Do you think he’s okay?” I sez. “He’s been gone nearly three weeks now.”
“Maybe … maybe not,” she shrugs. “Remember that time doesn’t flow at the same speeds on all dimensions. It may only have been a few days where he is.”
“I get it,” Nunzio nods solemn-like. “Like in Moorcock’s Eternal Champion books.”
“That’s right,” Massha beams. “As to your other question, things couldn’t be going better, Hugh and I are hitting it off like a house afire. I’ll tell you boys, I don’t like to brag, but I’ve got him so lovesick, I don’t think he remembers that he’s in the army … much less that he’s supposed to be running it.”