Chapter 20 of 99 · Book 8, A Parade of Horribles

Chapter 20 — Prison Pocket and Party Foul

Book: A Parade of Horribles · Part: Horrible One · Previous: Chapter 19 — One Fine Pig; Penelope · Next: Chapter 21 — The joey skin; into the pouch · Floor: Floor 10 — Don't Come in Last · Series: the series

Opening

There were actually two of the bosses, and the two monsters were staring at each other.

Summary

Two gatekeepers, one per road, twenty feet tall, kangaroo-shaped with dinosaur spikes and a face like Slit's, staring at each other: 'Your vehicle may not pass past this point until this boss monster is dead or removed.' Each has a pouch with ten small heads in it — dead joeys, and one that howls and is shoved back down: a man in a kangaroo suit, an upgrade mechanic. Prison Pocket, Macropus Dominus, level 170 Province Boss (his companion is Party Foul): the card tells of marsupials from a flooding low-gravity world where males evolved pouches too, of joeys who starve when the storms last, and of two sad fathers who 'yearn to refill their pouches' with anything joey-sized; the pouch oil is caustic. 'You have discovered an Upgrade Engineer! At least one engineer will appear each race. Engineers can be added to your garage.' The foxes, bear and dog engage Party Foul across the way. Genesis offers a truce for the rest of the race 'since those slimes got pasted'; Nico kneels whispering to Penelope and orders Pontiff to kill Donut if she takes a step toward the pig ('you roided-out, off-brand, clown-college mascot […] You’re no better than Sister Ines'); Pontiff asks why Corcunda, 'pretty strong', is asleep, and the womantaurs will not say how he knows him; he used to be an ass and wants Bucket Boy told something, unfinished. Party Foul stuffs a black-suited fox into his pouch; Chiyome's firebomb into the pouch takes a chunk of health, and the boss pulls out the burning fox, eats him, and heals to full. 'We’re pickled.' Chiyome: the only weak spot is inside the pouch. Carl has Donut examine a dead joey — died of starvation; inventory: 'JUST THEIR SKIN'. 'There will always be clues.'

Characters

• Carl — Has Donut examine a dead joey: 'JUST THEIR SKIN'. 'There will always be clues.'
• Princess Donut — Examines the joey.
• Chiyome (the Wild Hunt) — Her firebomb goes into the pouch; the boss eats the fox and heals; 'Its only weak spot is inside its pouch'.
• Genesis and Rapture (the Lady Dominators) — A truce for the rest of the race 'since those slimes got pasted'.
• Nico and Dario (One Fine Pig) — Nico orders Pontiff to kill Donut if she steps toward the pig; 'You’re no better than Sister Ines.'
• Penelope — Whispered to by Nico.
• Pontiff — Asks why Corcunda is asleep; used to be an ass; wants Bucket Boy told something.
• Corcunda (Corky and Porky) — Pontiff knows him and the womantaurs will not say how.
• Bucket Boy — Owed a message from Pontiff.

Locations

• The hail track — Two gatekeepers, one per road, twenty feet tall, staring at each other.

Motifs

• The tenth floor — 'You have discovered an Upgrade Engineer!' — a man in a kangaroo suit in the pouch.
• Elites — Prison Pocket and Party Foul, level-170 Province Bosses with pouches of dead joeys.
• The mobs are victims — Two sad fathers who 'yearn to refill their pouches'.