They marched down to the nearest bus stop. After a few minutes
they passed the empty lot where the other Biddenbrooks had burnt
down only days before after a car crashed into it. The ruins had
already been removed and now, it its place stood a remarkably green
field of leafy, wild-looking plants.
“Wow that’s pretty,” said Sprout, “I don’t remember that being
there.”
“Neither do I,” said Colin, skipping over to examine one of them.
He tore off a branch and ran back over to the army.
“You’re not going to believe this,” Colin said, “But I think it’s
dope.” Bennie sniffed the leaf. “I ain’t never seen weed like this,” he
said. The leaves looked like marijuana, but they were as big as
parasols.
“I think we may have to smoke it,” Colin said, “For the sake of
science. It may be a new species.”
“Too bad Niles ain’t around,” said Bennie, “He’s the ganja
expert.”
Sprout coaxed them along, “Come on you guys, you can get high
later, when we have something to celebrate.” The army was waiting
impatiently for them.
“But if the police find it, they’ll destroy it!” Colin cried, “This
could be a great cash crop. Between us we could harvest it in a couple
of hours!”
After conferring with the Martians, who categorically denounced
the value of drugs and furthermore didn’t want to get their white
outfits dirty, it was decided that they should get on with the military
maneuver. Colin stuffed a giant leaf and his pocket and grumbled a
bit but knew in his heart that they were right. This wasn’t the time for
harvesting plants. This was the time for slashing and burning, cutting
down the beanstalks. The giants had to go.
They all went down to the bus stop and waited. Other people
waiting for the bus became visibly nervous, unsure what was going
on.
“Are you going to a performance, Missy?” a sweet old lady asked
Sprout.
“You’re familiar with Biddenbrooks coffee?” Sprout asked.
“Why yes. I drink it every day. I like the Mocha Loca. Did you
know that means ‘crazy coffee’ in Spanish? I really like that they’re so
internationally-minded. You know, we really should help these poor
backwards countries any way we can. That’s why I drink
ABYSSINIA
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