“That you hired? Why didn’t you . . .”He paused and seemed to regain a bit of control. “It sounds like you’ve got quite a bit to discuss with me . . . when we have the time. Right, partner?”
“Right, Aahz,” I said, glad to be off the hook for the moment.
“Is there anything that has to be done before we leave?”
“Well, I’ve got to get some money to the bellhop. I promised him . . .”
“Spare me the details . . . for the moment anyway. Any thing else?”
“No, Aahz.”
“All right. Finish packing while I hunt up this bellhop for you. Then, we’re off for Klah . . . if I can find the settings on the D-hopper, that is. It’s been a while, and. . .”
“Save the batteries, cousin,” Pookie said. “I think I can handle getting us all there without help.”
“You? Since when were you coming along?” Aahz gaped.
“Since I hired on with Skeeve here,” the bodyguard countered. “While we’re on the subject, since when did you need a D-hopper to travel through the dimensions?”
“Um . . . if the two of you don’t mind,” I said, stuffing my dirty clothes into my new bag, “could we save all that until later? Right now, we’ve got a war to catch!”