by Paul Vayro
Chapter Forty Four
The dank tunnel that had seen Hugo battle Sid's henchmen was alive with dust and debris. The disrupted particles swirled, searching for a place to settle for the next few millennia. They hadn't intended to move, but when good meets evil the two forces rarely pass with a gentle nod of the head, and the previous intentions of those caught between them are rarely considered.
Good had been victorious and strode purposefully away to its next encounter. Evil had been left trapped beneath an imposing pile of rock that used to be the walls and ceiling. Within days sedentary life in the cave would settle once more, and it would again appear untouched, which suited the tunnel fine, but before it could rest there was one last commotion to be played out.
A tremble stemmed from the newly formed pile, growing in strength with each passing moment. The sound quickly translated into movement, a number of smaller rocks expressing such by tumbling towards the ground. They were quickly joined by their heftier cousin's until momentum shook the pile towards an explosion that wiped its summit clean away. In its place stood the top half of Dollop, tensing and growling in a manner reserved for battle fields and inner city town centres at weekends.
As Dollop cleared the dust from the air around him he spotted the arm of Sandbag poking free. Dragging his partner fully clear the older henchman sat atop the pile and paused, checking all his limbs were still intact and pondering his survival of such a brutal career.
"Sandbag, wake up. It was only a few rocks." Dollop offered physical encouragement in the form of a few friendly slaps around the face.
"I didn't steal your honey." Sandbag's eyes opened with a start. Remembering exactly where he was the younger personal guard reset his broken wrist and found a comfortable position for it, and him, to rest. The pair took silent stock of the day's events.
Dollop was first to break the pensive quiet. "It feels like a fitting end to my career: another defeat at the hands of Hugo Cortizone."
"Maybe Sid won?" The shared expression confirmed neither believed that could have happened.
"You must have taken a harder knock than I thought." Dollop's banter was followed by a stare towards Sid's central lair. There were no party poppers to be heard. Had the duo been sat on a beach staring out to the setting horizon many would claim the scene poetic, as they were in a damp, dusty tunnel staring at a distant and broken door most people would barely acknowledge it.
"I guess this means I'm unemployed again." Sandbag looked around for an impromptu cast and dressing for his wrist, there was only rock.
"I guess I'm officially retired." Dollop wished for a cigar, and maybe less aches around his head.
"You're still retiring. Even without defeating Hugo?"
"We've been through this. I've seen the man behind the image and he isn't a man I need to prove anything to. He's as clueless as us as to why we play this game, hiding behind labels of good and evil when in fact the majority of us are all the same. Only difference is one of us is praised for our violent lifestyle while the other is condemned. Killing Hugo wouldn't achieve anything. Let him continue in his empty life. I'll be in my hut with an inspiring view and my typewriter for allies. The only danger I wish to face from here on in is the occasional paper cut."
"I'm not a wise man Dollop, and I can't pretend I know what you're talking about a lot of the time, but I do know you'll be back. You'll miss the life. This is what we do, it's what we've always done, and it's what we always will do, and why not? It's done you no harm. Except perhaps that huge scar that misaligns your features."
"I'm not trying to influence you Sandbag. If it's your calling then follow it. I'm just sharing my thoughts. Life is nothing more than the habits we allow to engulf our days and distract us from our dreams. I lost sight of my dreams a long time ago, and I won't do that again."
"What about money?" Sandbag lined various rocks up against his arm. None showed any splint qualities.
"I might teach if my publishing career doesn't take off; always fancied imparting my wisdom to a class of willing listeners. They always need lecturers up at Evil University. Keep losing professors who slip back into their old ways." Dollop looked around as realisation of the situation grew more apparent. "We'd better continue this chat as we leave. There'll be a hero containment crew on route."
The pair struggled down from the pile. Each nursing their own individual aches they stepped tentatively to prevent further damage. Strolling away from their latest adventure, Sandbag raised a thought.
"Maybe you should try being the boss? You're good at speeches and that. I'd even give you mate's rates as a personal guard."
"No. Leadership isn't for me. I just don't have the hate inside me. I'm strictly a point and punch man, happy to pick my wage at the end of the fundle (month). Plus the hours, and the stress, then you have to face the inevitable defeat. Doesn't seem worth it."
"It's a shame. Dollop: ruler of all the lands. Has a nice ring to it."
"I quite like Dollop: he wrote that book that wasn't half bad." A satisfied smile entered Dollop's lips.
"Oh well. If you have any second thoughts you know how to contact me."
"You'll be the first to know, but don't hold your breath." The pair exchanged friendly pats on the back, causing each to cringe in pain. Dollop brushed over the agony with further chit chat. "Are you still living in the same place then?"
"Yep. It's cheap enough and it's right near the city. Plus they don't mind when I leave for months on end to work."
"It's always good to have an understanding landlord."
"I find most people understanding once I give them one of my special convincing grins." Sandbag considered demonstrating it before fearing his jaw may dislocate.
"The little perks of henchman life."
"I thought you weren't a henchman anymore?" Sandbag managed a wry smile. "Although you'll always be Dollop the henchman to me."
"A part of me always will be to myself too, but from now on it will be the part of me from the past."
The pair limped off down the corridor, offering support to each other when needed. Nostalgia fired a gentle pang of remorse at Dollop as he walked away from his old lifestyle, but the promise of the future brushed it aside leaving him impervious to its whispers. Dollop's satisfied smile and relaxed features were his only response to the watching universe. The universe translated them as a man happy with his choices.
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