Chapter Nine
Now, the fight was really joined. Within weeks,
The Hoods were driven from the area, all their operations destroyed.
They doubled the price on Bullet's life and put a high one on his new
mate.
2 When they got home, Sweet Blossom greeted them happily. "This is a
very popular family!" she laughed. "If THIS keeps up, we're going to be
worth more than the national budget!"
3 "We're popular," chuckled Bullet, "but I don't think we could ever be
THAT popular!"
4 They rested a few days, then went up to Headquarters. The Young
Speaker greeted his new Worker warmly, and they quickly became good
friends. Bullet was upset to see one hand in a splint, the fingers
discolored. "What happened?" he asked.
5 The Young Speaker made little of it, but one of his men spoke up.
"You aren't the only one who's been raiding," he explained. "We busted
a Hood Headquarters, killed hundreds of them. One of them was the local Governor of the place. One of them put a bullet clean
through his hand! He had a bandage wrapped around it, and continued
fighting for over an hour before we finally had them subdued.
6 THEN the local authorities tried to arrest him, saying he was interfering with local jurisdiction, and we thought
we were going to have to fight it out with them, but the Nationals came
in with armor and kept them at a distance, while we evacuated."
7 Bullet shook his head. "I wish you wouldn't take chances like that,"
he complained. "You're too important to us to be lost."
8 "The time will come," said The Young Speaker, "when you will no
longer have me, and you will have to fend for yourselves. But until
that day comes, we've got work and I'll do my share.