Theodore Jardine ran around the back of the corrugated metal shack, followed by his loyal dog, Arfie, a white Husky with grey and black markings and bright blue eyes. The young boy whooped as he scrambled through the sand and bushes, turning orange with the setting sun. The light blue sky was now dark blue, with dots of white lights glittering from behind a veil of wispy peach-coloured clouds. Theo jumped on top of a boulder, and stood tall scanning the horizon of the endless desert around them. Arfie stood on his hind legs, standing against the boulder and gently licked Theo’s bare ankle. Theo looked down and said, “Wasn’t that neat? We saw a hidden garden and discovered plans for a secret battle station! And on top of that, I found out that my grandfather was a great man and the master of a fortune in gold!”

Arfie just cocked his head slightly and dropped down to all fours again, looking back at the shack where Kenji Nobu and Rosa Jardine were still inside. Theo looked up into the darkening sky above him, squinting at the twinkling stars starting to appear. “Wouldn’t it be something to meet this mysterious grandfather someday? Mom doesn’t seem to think it would be a great idea-” Theo stopped talking as Arfie stiffened and sniffed at the air, his pointed ears flicking at a distant sound echoing faintly across the desert valley. Theo jumped down from the boulder and listened quietly, beginning to pick out the sound of roaring engines coming closer. “Oh, oh. It’s those guys that were looking for Mom and trashed Mr. Nobu’s house. We better get back.”

They ran back around to the front of the shack, to meet Kenji and Rosa emerging from the front door. Theo saw his mother in the beautiful yukata and her long black hair pinned up into a hair comb, and stopped, his mouth open. He admired the crane with spreading wings on a tapestry of silver stars on blue, printed on the cotton gown, with a delicate red sash tied around her waist. “Wow. You look like a princess!”

Rosa held her hands together under the wide sleeves of the gown, and asked, “Do you like it? It’s very comfortable. Kenji lent it to me.”

Kenji smiled, and shook his head, saying, “No, you can keep it. Please accept it as a gift for bravely delivering these battle station plans.” He held up the Proud Americans Brigade manual that concealed the plans between its pages.

“Oh, right! Arfie and I think those guys are coming back!” Theo said, breathlessly.

Kenji listened carefully, and could also hear the nearing vehicles. His eyes widened, and he said, “C’mon! Let’s get going now!” He ran towards the silver Datsun 280Z parked outside the wire fence surrounding his humble home. “Rosa! I’ve still got the keys, so I’ll drive. Theo and Arfie, get in quick!” Kenji ran down to the car, his wooden square sandals kicking up sand and his brown robe fluttering in the slight breeze. Rosa hurried after him, soon reaching the passenger door and pushed the seat forward to let Theo and Arfie pile into the back seat. She quickly got in herself and closed the door as Kenji started the car and revved the engine a few times. All four of them safely in the car, Kenji put the car in reverse and swung it around to drive away through the bushes, boulders and cactus spread across the desert valley floor. He quickly glanced into the rearview mirror and threw the PAB manual into the glove box in front of Rosa, and winked at her in the fading light. “I think we’ll give them the slip if we hurry!”

They careened around the desert brush and rock formations, soon finding the dirt road leading back to the highway. Once on the road, Kenji stamped on the accelerator and pushed everyone into their seats. The silver compact sports car streaked across the desert, taking no time to get to the paved highway. Kenji turned the car hard and fast onto the highway, making the tires squeal.

“Is that really necessary?” Rosa shouted and Kenji, “I don’t think those guys are following us.”

Kenji smiled slightly and let up on the accelerator, “No, not really. They aren’t following us, and we don’t need to attract any attention,” he said, nodding at the passing traffic.

“So where are we going anyway? Some bar?” Rosa asked, relaxing and stretching her legs out.

“Yes, the Morongo Desert Bar and Grill. You won’t find a greater collection of scum and villainy at this roadside hangout. We’re looking for Hanyo Soon, who we can hire to fly us out of here on the cargo plane he operates here in the valley. He has a business partner who is, well, rather intimidating…” Kenji said, scanning the road ahead. “Ah, there it is!”

Kenji turned to cross the highway and enter the parking lot of the low, square building with neon lights spelling out the bar’s name. Rosa eyed the line of motorcycles parked in front of the bar, and closed her yukata tighter. “You don’t think we’ll find any PABbies here, do you? Looks kind of a rough crowd. Oh, great. And there’s a police car.”

“Just stay cool and follow my lead. I’ll park around the back- and you two,” Kenji said, turning around to Theo and Arfie, “they don’t serve your kind here, so stay in the car.”

*** This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. ***