Beatrixia: Thanks for coming along with us to the oPyramid Library, Bev. Elvis-Anum will have fun transcribing these scrolls.
Beaver Lee Cleary: I’m looking forward to it. I’m sure Elvis and I will have some great discussions.
Iggy: And I’m looking forward to getting together with Iron Glove and Wally to design Lupinium-Proof shelving.
Enter Snowfall Braggart (Boo, Hiss)
Snowfall: That’ll be quite enough, Orb People. Now, hand over all your scrolls and your treasures.
Bev: These scrolls are the treasures.
Snowfall: And if you don’t want to see them burnt right before your eyes, I suggest you do as I say. Why else do you think I have this lit torch in the middle of the day?
Bea: Either let us through, or I’ll swat you silly.
Snowfall: Very well. I tried to be reasonable. Now those scrolls will be no more.
SPLASH!
Snowfall: My fur! It’s going to take me hours to dry off!
Enter several desert rats
First Desert Rat: We heard there could be trouble. I’m Joe Cotton, fabric merchant.
Snowfall: I know you used to be a highway robber like Amon-Merchant and Azibo.
Joe: That was before we met with some feisty kittens. It was more productive to go into retail.
Beatrixia: Thank you so much for letting us see these scrolls, Bev. I’ll arrange for Elvis-Anum to come with his staff to make copies.
Beaver Lee Cleary: That will be great, Bea. And then they can make copies using the newly invented movable press.
Patrice Possum: But that wasn’t supposed to be invented for centuries!
Bea: True. But why wait until the last minute?
On the oPun Road
Snowfall Braggart: The kingdoms think they have outwitted me, but I’ll have the last laugh! Let them have their spice plurals and cheese. I’ll see about those scrolls!
Queen Catshepsut the Golden: So now Snowfall Braggart wants to monopolize the cheese market.
Amon-Merchant: That is so, Your Majesty. Since he has unable to take over the spice plural market, he wants to rule something else.
Queen Cat: This goes against everything my fellow monarchs and I believe in about free trade.
Azibo: We fear he may try to take over the honey market as well.
Queen Cat: I think Queen Titania and the Xanadu Hive workers will have something to say about that.
Dooky Ferret: As for the cheese, Your Majesty, Tinker, Evers, Chance, and I are keeping a weather eye out for any untoward activity.
Queen Cat: That is most reassuring. Now I believe Elvis-Anum has some news.
Elvis: I have reason to believe that my apprentices and I will be transcribing some newly discovered scrolls in the near future. And Iggy and his friends are designing some Lupinium-proof shelves.
Meanwhile, Back on the Nile
On the oPun Road
Beatrixia: Thanks for coming along with us to the oPyramid Library, Bev. Elvis-Anum will have fun transcribing these scrolls.
Beaver Lee Cleary: I’m looking forward to it. I’m sure Elvis and I will have some great discussions.
Iggy: And I’m looking forward to getting together with Iron Glove and Wally to design Lupinium-Proof shelving.
Enter Snowfall Braggart (Boo, Hiss)
Snowfall: That’ll be quite enough, Orb People. Now, hand over all your scrolls and your treasures.
Bev: These scrolls are the treasures.
Snowfall: And if you don’t want to see them burnt right before your eyes, I suggest you do as I say. Why else do you think I have this lit torch in the middle of the day?
Bea: Either let us through, or I’ll swat you silly.
Snowfall: Very well. I tried to be reasonable. Now those scrolls will be no more.
SPLASH!
Snowfall: My fur! It’s going to take me hours to dry off!
Enter several desert rats
First Desert Rat: We heard there could be trouble. I’m Joe Cotton, fabric merchant.
Snowfall: I know you used to be a highway robber like Amon-Merchant and Azibo.
Joe: That was before we met with some feisty kittens. It was more productive to go into retail.
Iggy: How did you know there might be trouble?
Joe: Some friends let us know.
Bea: Really? Who?
Friends: We’ll never tell!