Chapter 25

chapter twenty-five We stop at a gas station outside of town, once we're sure no skeletons are following us. And the first order of business is to get a final road trip photo of all of us in super-cheesy souvenir shirts.

After the photo, June tries to get the fuel pump working so we can refill the BoomKarts. "We kinda really kicked butt," June says. "Crushing this road trip thing." "Not gonna argue," I say. She says. "Not only did we get Drooler, but we also figured out a lot of stuff."

"Indeed," Quint says. "First and foremost: that Thrull views Drooler as a threat." "Good point," I say, nodding. "But we also found out the Tower is WAY bigger than any of us expected." "Not only that," Dirk adds, "but we know Thrull's army is nearly endless." "You guys are being too negative!" June says. "We've got an Ultra-Slime machine now! Not to mention a massive army of zombies at our disposal back home!" "We did achieve some victories," Quint agrees. "But it's important to recognize how far behind we still are. We're going to need more followers, more survivors, if we want to defeat Thrull and .e...c.. It's a simple numbers game." "I bet there are lots of monsters on the Mega Mallusk thing!" June says. "We just need to catch up to it!" "Perhaps," Quint says before an easy silence settles among us. And then I find myself sort of staring off into the distance, back toward the museum. A place

I very much wish to never visit again. "I can't believe Big Mama's really gone," I eventually say. "So many memories." Quint smiles. "I did manage to save one memento from the wreckage..." He holds up the fuzzy dice that hung from Big Mama's rearview mirror ever since our first end-of-the-world day together. I smile. "Thanks, Quint." We bump fists. But then we're immediately distracted by someone making a squeaky baby voice.

Who's a good little Slime-Drooler you are? Yes, you are. You're SO cute. We're gonna take so many pictures together. This trip Yes we are. I'm gonna find you fun outfits and everything. "Uh, should we be worried about this?" I ask. "Worried?" Quint asks. "I'm delighted!" I watch for another moment. Dirk hugs Drooler so hard that slime spurts out, splattering all of us. "Yep," I say. "'Delighted' is the right word."

"I'm sorry, Dirk," June calls out. "I didn't mean to totally lose it back there. With Drooler and everything..." Dirk looks up and shrugs, not seeming too worried about it anymore. "No, really," June insists as she fiddles with the gas pump. "I never should have thought about stealing him from his guardian thing, or whatever. I was being selfish. We're all in this together, and I know that." "You're good, June," Dirk says. June finishes filling her BoomKart's tank and wipes her hands on her jeans. She walks over toward Dirk and says, "So... this is Drooler, huh?" Dirk nods. June clumsily pats Drooler on the head and pulls her hand away to find it covered in slime. She laughs, and I think I even see Drooler crack a smile. They are good. And so am I. That's what I tell myself as I look back at the World's Largest Donut Hole. It's only a speck on the horizon now.