'No,' said Jack. 'You really don't want to do that.'
'I do. Really I do.'
'But if you kill us, you'll never find the Maguffin.'
'The what ?'
'The Maguffin,' said Jack. 'The all-important something that's all-importantness is not apparent until its moment has come.'
'I've no idea what you're talking about.'
'Of course you do. It's about this big.’ Jack did mimings. 'And this-shaped and sort of heavyish in a lighter way than you might expect.'
'That?' said PRIMROSE, or whatever PRIMROSE currently called itself. 'You have thatT
'Got it from the real Tinto,' said Jack. 'He said that one of the famous folk had left it behind after one of their meetings above his bar. I'll bet you really want it, don't you?'
'Well, I...'
'Go on,' said Jack. 'Admit it. It's really important, isn't it?'
'Hand it over to me,' said PRIMROSE. 'Now!'
'I don't have it on me,' said Jack. 'Do you think I'd carry a valuable artefact like that around with me? What does it do, by the way?'
'You think I'm going to tell you thatT 'What harm can it do?’ Jack asked. 'You're going to kill us anyway.'
'I'm getting deja vu here,' said PRIMROSE. 'Look,' said Jack, 'I know that you think that you want to kill us because we're such a nuisance. But you don't want to really. You're little less than a deity. And deities are noted for granting mercy and answering prayers and stuff like that. I know we've got on your nerves a bit and any ordinary mortal would probably want to kill us for that. But you're not any ordinary mortal, are you? You're special. You're unique. You're one of a kind. Special. You can make your own rules. Do whatever you want.’
‘I certainly can,' said PRIMROSE.
'So you could just send us on our way with a wave of your dextrous hand.'
'I could, if I so chose to.'
'Then go for it,' said Jack. 'Do what a God would do. Forgive and forget. That's what a special God would do.’
‘Well,' said PRIMROSE.
'We're beneath your notice,' said Jack. 'We're nothing. Tatty old bear and young gormster. Nothing to one as special as you.'
'You're certainly that. And I'm certainly special.’
‘So there you go,' said Jack. 'That's omnipotence for you. It's a done deal.'
'It is,' Eddie agreed. 'Bravo, special guy.' Eddie offered a thumbless thumbs-up to PRIMROSE.
'All right,' said PRIMROSE. 'I will be merciful. Give me the Maguffin. And you can go.'
'Certainly,' said Jack. 'Absolutely. As soon as Eddie and I and all the famous folk are set free, I will go at once and fetch it for you.'
There was a bit of a pause then.
'Famous folk set free?' said PRIMROSE, slowly and thoughtfully.
Eddie looked up at Jack.
And Jack looked down at Eddie.
'Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear,' said PRIMROSE.
'Poor choice of words there,' whispered Eddie. 'And you were doing so well until then.'
'Oh dear,' said PRIMROSE. 'And there was I almost believing you. But set free? You think that I have them captured and locked up. You're just the same as this stupid bear. You think I'm the evil twin.'
'No,' said Jack. 'Honestly I don't. And I mean what I say, I honestly don't.' Jack tried to make an honest face, but couldn't.
'Give me the Maguffin, and give it to me now.'
'I told you, I don't have it.'
'Then to be certain, I'll search you. Search your body, that is.' The martial monster rolled towards Jack upon grinding tank tracks. A steel claw extended from its chest regions and snatched the lad by the throat, hauling him from his feet and dragging him up the cold stone passageway wall.
'Die,' said Battle Mode PRIMROSE.
Jack fought and struggled, but the steel claw tightened about his throat. Jack's eyes started from his head and his tongue stuck from his mouth. Being choked to death really hurt. It was no fun at all. Jack struck with his fists and kicked with his feet, but it was all to no avail. The breath was going from him now. The big black darkness was closing in.
And then there was a bit of an explosion. Which lit up the big black darkness.
It came right out of the blue. Or the black. Unexpectedly. The way that most explosions do. This one was a real eardrum-splitter, coming as it did within the confines of a passageway — even a passageway that branched offinto other passageways. This explosion really rocked. It was a veritable deafener.
The head of the Martial PRIMROSE turned away from Jack. The head of the Martial PRIMROSE had a dent in its left cheek.
Jack, whose popping eyes had all but dropped from his head, felt the grip around his throat loosen and fell to the passageway floor, coughing and gagging for air.
He saw the head of the Martial PRIMROSE turn somewhat more. And then he saw it take another violent hit.
The second explosion, a double deafener, had Jack covering his ears, and had him glancing with watery blinking eyes towards Eddie.
The bear had the 7.62 mm M134 General Clockwork Mini-gun raised.
'Run, Jack,' shouted Eddie, pulling the trigger once again. 'Run like a rabbit, go on.'
'No, Eddie, no.'
'No?' said the bear.
'No, I mean, keep firing.'
'But.'
'Don't but me, Eddie. Shoot him some more. Shoot him until he's dead.'
'Right,' said Eddie, 'now you're talking.' He pulled the trigger and another shell hit home.
Martial PRIMROSE rocked upon its tracks. It was armoured, it was tough; inner mechanisms clicked and clacked, shutters opened, gunnery extended. This gunnery levelled at Eddie.
Jack rolled over, snatched the gun from Eddie's paws and came up firing. 'Retreat!' he shouted.
'But you said.'
'I know what I said, Eddie. But now I'm saying retreat. Just run.'
'Like a rabbit?'
'Like a rabbit. Run!'
Jack snatched up Eddie and tucked him under his arm.
'I'll do the running,' said Jack.
And he ran.
28
Jack ran like a rabbit, with Eddie tucked under his arm, along a tiled passageway and onwards, ever onwards.
Something whistled from behind, passed near to his ducking head, and exploded some distance before him.
'Discouraging, that,' remarked Eddie. 'Somewhat superior firepower. And our gun only made a few small dents. Any thoughts on this, Jack?'
Jack huffed and puffed and had no thoughts that he wished to convey at present. His long limbs carried him and Eddie back onto the factory floor.
'I'm sure we're not really lost,' said Eddie as he jiggled about under Jack's arm. 'I'll just get my bearings. Bearings, geddit?' Eddie giggled foolishly. 'Sorry,' he said, 'nerves.'
'Please be quiet.' Jack ducked this way and the next and took cover behind a big brass pumping piston. 'I don't think he'll take pot-shots at us out here.' Jack raised his head and did furtive peepings. 'He won't want to risk damaging any of his demonic machinery.'
The armoured being in full combat mode, no longer on its tank tracks, but now on sturdy steely legs, moved purposefully along between the clattering conveyor belts, a most determined expression upon its latest metal face. Its head swung to the right and left, telescopic vision focused and refocused; tiny brass ear-trumpets extending from the sides of its head picked up each and every sound, deciphered and unscrambled them within the clockwork cranial cortex, sorting the mechanical from the organic...
And homed in upon Jack's breathing.
The armoured being ceased its marching; hinged flaps upon its shoulders raised, tiny rocket launchers rose and fired two tiny rockets.
These struck home quite close to Jack, causing him and Eddie great distress.