Upside Down Exclamation Mark
Straw grimaced slightly, wiping his hand on his pants. Ever since he fought the octopus in Japan, he had been finding gooey ink on his body. He had only had time for an extremely rushed shower before he and Thunderfunk had checked out of their hotel and headed for their next destination: Spain. They were now sitting in a jeep, peering through the dust in the hot midday sun, looking for their next target.
His name was Ole! and he was a Spanish superhero. His garb was that of a stereotypical matador, showing, in Thunderfunk’s opinion, an appalling lack of imagination and style. His powers included the telepathic control of cows and bulls, super speed, and a mystical cape that hypnotised people into attacking it rather than the wielder.
Thunder clasped Straw’s shoulder and pointed, handing his binoculars to his protege. "I believe," he said, licking his beak, "that we have found our prey." He opened a flask and drained the water it contained within.
Straw stared at the man they had to face. The blazing sun bounced dazzlingly off of his clothes, slightly blinding Straw, leaving purple afterimages on his retinas. He was sitting on a rock, legs crossed, eyes closed, either meditating or sleeping. Turning the key in the jeep, Straw tossed the glasses on the seat beside him and shifted into gear, starting with a jerk. He hit the brakes and waited for Thunder to climb back into the vehicle. "Sorry," he muttered, making sure that the giant bird was holding tightly before he eased the vehicle forward.
They pulled up near the rock and exited the vehicle, walking to stand before the superhero, blocking the sun and leaving him in their shadows. For a long time no one spoke. Finally Thunderfunk cleared his throat.
"Away with you," said Ole!, his English thickly accented.
"Do you know how far we’ve come?" asked Thunder.
"Si."
"And do you know why we have come?"
"Si."
"Then you know we cannot leave."
"Si." Suddenly the Spaniard stood behind them, a slight unsettling of the dust the only evidence of his travel. "But you canno’ defeat me," he said confidently.
Thunder was less than impressed. "Your speed does not impress me, and your clothes frankly disgust me. Give us your best shot."
Smiling, Ole! clapped his hands twice, striking a flamboyant pose, his churrigueresque outfit flaring brilliantly in the sun.
Straw squeezed his eyes shut against the glare. A soft noise behind them caught his attention. Slowly he turned, cracking open his eyes, and groaning inwardly at what he saw. An extremely large bull with sharpened horns that for some reason glittered in the sunlight was less than two feet away. A grin seemed to play on its massive lips. The blackness of his hide seemed to absorb all light that came near it. With a heavy heart, Straw looked up at his boss. "I suppose," he said, shoulders slumped, "that you will handle Ole! while I take care of the bull?"
"Of course, my dear boy. You must protect my back at all times."
Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Straw closed his eyes painfully. "Of course," he agreed. This just was not going to be his week. He could tell.
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