Over in the airport security thread (
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=106813) Am had a pretty good idea of carrying a couple of baked potatoes through the new scanners so you'd have an in-flight snack.
Several weeks after the murder at the MR Mansion, we find our cast saying goodbye to poohbear as he prepares to go off on his worldwide eBook signing tour....
"Well, I'll see you guys later for the next MR contest." poohbear said as he hefted his carry-on bag and made for the security checkpoint. Hesitating he asked "You guys are sure it was an eBook signing tour they wanted me for? 'Cause I didn't think you could sign an eBook, I mean you know with them being electronic and all..."
"I can see how you would think that," said Pshrynk, his various head wounds healing nicely, "do you remember when Dreams and M David thought up that way for him to sign his books?"
"Well, sure but he did it all from his office, I don't see why I couldn't just stay at the mansion and do it from there."
"Ahh, I see the confusion now." Continued Pshrynk, "well you see we shipped the scanner and laptop on ahead, the MR members want to see their authors in person, it gives it that ... well, personal, touch. You understand."
"Umm I guess so, I still don't get .... " murmurred the slightly mystified chicken.
"Ok, pooh, have a nice trip." Called Ravenne, waving happilly.
"... no where near .... stupid ... chic- ... see if Kenny is available ... little side job... maybe Beppe ...." muttered Zelda darkly, as she glowered at the retreating fowl.
"Temporal whozamawhatsit my left foot, I'm not buying it...." Rock Lobster said, pulling his fedora low over his eyes, and silently observing everyone.
"Oh, pooh!" Called Am, hurrying over with two foil wrapped packages. "Could you take these with you?"
"I'd sure like to Am but you know airline regulations, I shouldn't be accepting packages that I didn't pack myself..."
"Oh pooh, they're fine. Just a token of my appreciation for such a well written engaging mystery, something that will will go well with you - err, something you should take with you."
"Wow, thanks Am. I thought you were a little upset over the ending, but no hard feelings right." Smiled the chicken.
"No, of course not." Am replied, patting his head. "Don't think about it another second. Oh - could you hold those up a little bit, yep right about there. Great!" She turned and walked back to the small group that had come to see poohbear off. ".... butter ... *acon bits ... some chives ...."
"What!? Did you say something Am?" He asked, turning back around.
"Oh nothing dear. I was, ummm, just telling Alex here that you picked a 'better airline' MR Air doesn't have all those 'breaking bits' like the other ones, and that 'saves lives'."
"Oh, ok then, that's good to know." Said the oblivious chicken.
Waiting his turn at the security checkpoint, pooh was mildly upset when a short man in an MR Air pilot's uniform cut infront of him. "Sorry about that, I've got a plane to fly - can't have the pilot late now can we?" Chuckled the uniformed man.
"PilotBob!? How? .... what? ... I thought ..." stammered the hapless fowl.
"Bob?" replied the man. "Yep, I'm a pilot alright, but the name is not Bob, never has been. Now, if you'll excuse me..." As Pooh watched the man walk through the security checkpoint he could have sworn the man's right eyelid lowered precisley one eighth inch in surrepticious wink to the partially obscured screener.
Minutes later, as pooh stepped up to the body scanner and awaited his turn, he was startled to see the technician, "Desert Grandma!? When did you get a job with the TSA?"
"Beg your pardon sir. I'm just a screener, always have been." Replied the attendent, the left side of whose mouth appeared, to now confused chicken, to rise exactly one eighth of an inch in a lopsidedly sinister smile. "Please step through the scanner now sir .... no you hold onto those two packages."
Pooh felt a strange tingling as he stepped through the new scanner.
"Sir," called the attendent, "there seems to be a problem. Could you please pass through one more time? Let me adjust this dial here ... ok, yes now sir, thank you sir."
"Hey!!" Shouted a surprised poohbear, it wasn't this hot last time, are you sure it is adjusted correctly?"
"oh yes sir I'm sure it is, if you'll just stand there for a moment...."
"ow oww owwww these are getting hot, what did Am give me ..... is that Beppe? What's that bottle he's got and a paint brush ....."