Phil was enjoying himself thoroughly, especially while romping hand
in hand with a cute red-head from the "Visit Vicious Venus" show, but
every now and then the thought of neglected dangers and duties returned
to nag him. On one of these occasions, Juno threw a big arm around his
neck, almost knocking his head off, and said, "Got troubles, Phil? Give
'em to Mama Juno and she'll throw 'em away. Oh boy, do I love that
green monkey! He's got the best little formula for living there is.
Hey, looka that!"
She was pointing at Carstairs and Buck, who had discovered a concession
titled in flaming red phospho-flare KICK THE LOVELY LADY INTO YOUR
ARMS and were happily struggling for the possession of a very large
mallet which apparently had something to do with the game. After some
puzzling, Phil understood. The game was the age old one of striking a
target on the ground which caused an indicator to jump up a pole--with
the typical late twentieth-century addition that, if the indicator
reached the top of the pole, not only did a bell ring and lights flare,
but a huge hinged lower leg with a cushioned boot swung down and rudely
lifted a lovely lady off a perch some three feet above the winner and
into his arms, if he were ready to catch her.
This last couldn't have been any too sure, since the lovely lady was
one of the glamor girls pushing fifty rather than forty. At present she
was glowering cynically at Carstairs and Buck, as if certain they were
infinitely more interested in the mallet than in her. She wasn't yet
under Lucky's influence, as the green cat had momentarily romped off
with the black panthers to the tail end of the procession.
The two happy hep-jerks got things settled between them and took many
mighty thumps at the target. The indicator jumped high but always
hesitated just heartbreakingly short of the top. The onlookers sighed
sympathetically. By this time most of the bacchanalian procession had
gathered around the "kick the lady" concession. It was strategically
located between two bars and opposite the "Mind Clearers," as they
chastely labeled themselves in blinking red fluorescents, and a dismal
cavern mouth called "Pluto's Palace," beside which was an inaccurate
model of the solar system with the planets revolving jerkily.
Moe Brimstine was refreshing himself with a pitcher of beer his
attendant nymphs had rushed him from one of the bars. Two black shapes
came undulating in from the outskirts in pursuit of a green flash, as
Lucky returned to his proper position, bringing the other felines with
him.
Then, as Carstairs started to toss aside the mallet with an amiable
grin of defeat, Dion da Silva came charging up and grabbed it. He
stripped off his jacket and shirt, revealing an extremely hairy chest
and back.
"That Dion man is sure male looking," Mary murmured to Phil
appreciatively, eying her hero. "With those cute ears, he's just like a
little old satyr."