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Slowly the groups started gathering by the Mall entrance together with their purchases, and Pandaborg-B checked the off the list and loaded them into the pickup.
"Ummmm. Gunpowder? I thought you were getting tea and chocolate." Said LazyScot indicating a crate labelled gunpowder sitting atop a mountain of chocolate that the three llamas were struggling to pull.
"Gunpowder is a type of tea. Like Oolong. You know – the Black Dragon. Like in R. A. Macavoy's book."
"Oh yes, know the book well; excellent one. But, I though you wanted some other teas as well."
"Got them; and lots of other goodies." Replied Nekokami waving four large, stuffed bags bearing the name Fortnum and Mason, and two bearing the logo "Chococo – The Purbeck Chocolate Company", as George, Anne and Charlotte operate a relay to the pick-up with crate after crate labelled "Maxwell and Kennedy".
LazyScot opened his mouth as if to ask what on earth Fortnum and Mason were doing with a stockist in the mall, but thought better of it on the grounds there was probably a perfectly sensible answer. And with that an almighty roar echoed through the mall, and to the startled amusement of those around, a group of pandaborg riding some impressive motorbikes skidded to a halt in front of LazyScot.
"Where did you get those Harley's from? And how did you pay for them? And have you been acutelating again?" said LazyScot.
"Have you been mis-using ministry funds?" added Zelda.
"We would never mis-use funds." Said Pandborg-B. "We've got credit cards." And with that he shows a credit card with a panda logo on it. "Its part of the licensing deal with the World Wildlife Fund's Credit Card company. And the Fund gets a donation each time we use it. We bought the bikes at the local Harley store – with all the shopping we felt you'd need the extra space. However, there was someone there who kept asking questions. So we had to acutelate."
"And your new, er….. friends?" asked LazyScot.
"One of the units was being renovated, and there was an assistant at the Harley store who asked …." Pandaborg-B shrugged, as if to say he'd rather have not, but it was for the best.
"What the…" said LazyScot pointing uncertainly towards the even more uncertainly approaching Charles, being shepherded by a somewhat exasperated Dorothy and William. At least, it seemed to be Arthur, but he seemed not so much to be Arthur and more to be randomly changing colours and patterns, and generally looking like a really bad 1970's pop video special effect, the sort of thing that results in really bad headaches.
"Ummm. Charles? Have you been trying any of the cocktails?"
"Shhnooo…" slurred Charles walking sideways into a toy shop.
"Sorry, we couldn't stop him. They had a free tasting with a lot of open barrels and bottles. He kept saying something about quality control, and, I think, only the best Absinthe is good enough for the queen. But at least we got all the drink." said Dorothy as she and William dragged Arthur back out of the toy shop. And then tried to return the assorted soft toys Arthur had become attached to.
"Waaaaa…." Cried the very upset Arthur, who then fell over, very nearly breaking the assorted bottles he was carrying.
"Is there anything you can do about his coat?" said LazyScot who was busily trying to shade his eyes from the surreal light show emanating from Arthur.
"I suggest looking the other way; it should subside as he sobers up" said Dorothy.
"Or passes out" added the somewhat sceptical William.
"I love you's all. Youse's is my bestestists friends…" blurbled Arthur whilst managing to stand up, albeit with his left and right mixed up.
"Oh how little you know…" muttered LazyScot, looking in the other direction."Oh, Dorothy, can you get a couple of trampolines and those fluffy pink flamingoes from the toy shop? Right, Pandaborg-B, how complete is our shopping list?" as they moved towards the transport, and an exhausted as George, Anne and Charlotte collapsed by the huge pile of crates.
"This may take some time" observes Panaborg-B consulting a list several meters long. The various purchases are loaded, and meticulously checked off by Pandaborg-B, and the space slowly, but surely disappears…
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