Alternia Comics

Templeton took the hit like a champion and let his assailant have it in the face with the steel-knuckled glove on his left hand, sending the man backwards over his own chair.

The man was taking a while to get up, so Templeton spoke casually, "Now it's not that I mind you forgetting me while I was gone. But that keel I made you was supposed to be part of an exchange, and you promised me parts next time we met." He dropped to the side as the man threw a punch with a roar, and gave him a little help to fall over his hip. "Surely you can at least give me the worth of those parts so I can buy them myself."

"You - that KEEL didn't WORK you idiot!" The man getting back on his feet was Charles Norwane, a riverboat captain who ferried people and goods along the river. He pulled a dusty set of schematics off of his shelf. "I put it on my steamboat and it barely made TWO MILES before it filled with water and RUINED all the goods I had on her!"

He threw the schematics at Templeton, who caught them a moment before the skinny sailor tried to tackle him around his considerable waist.

Templeton set his feet and twisted, pulling Charles off his feet and landing on top of him. Templeton straddled the squirming Charles and looked at the schematic.

"Oh, Charles. You moron." Templeton rolled the plans up and whapped him on the nose. "You put it on BACKWARDS.

"Now I'm in town for a while, so perhaps I can help you out. I'll make sure that you build your ship right this time - and maybe throw in a few improvements, if you're really nice to me. But you'll work for me, too." Templeton pretended to scratch his nose to hide a smile, and continued, "After all, you have better access to the materials I need."

Charles fumed for a moment before speaking. "You gonna let me up?"

Templeton got up slowly. Charles scrambled to his feet and brushed himself off. "Fine. Deal. What do you need ME for?"

Templeton sighed and glanced unconsciously out the window of Charles' repair shop at the clouds.

"A quick escape."