We went to the lower level and looked at the dinosaur exhibit. There were several people milling around. One of them was Hatchet, in full Renaissance regalia. He was slowly moving through the room, touching everything, searching for hidden energy.
“Find anything?” I asked him.
He gave a gasp of surprise at seeing Diesel and me, and he looked down at Carl. “What brings thee to this place with your . . .”
“Monkey,” Diesel said, filling in the blank. “And he’s not from my side of the family.”
Hatchet was wearing a large Band-Aid on his neck, a green tunic, brown tights, his hives were gone, and his scabbard was empty.
“Where’s your sword?” I asked him.
“I was requested to check it upon entry. I fear my life as a minion in this century is complicated.”
Carl tugged at my hand. He wanted to keep moving. He had his eye on Triceratops.
“Did you dig up Peder Tichy?” I asked Hatchet.
“I did not. There was no need.”
“Someone thought there was a need.”
“A beast without our unique talent.”
“Beast is a strong word,” I said.
“’Tis a beast. I know this as a certainty. And this beast doth destroy with pleasure.”
“Eeeeep,” Carl said, stomping his feet in his Uggs, pointing to the dinosaur.
“Hey!” I said to Carl. “Chill. I’m having a conversation.”
“Does the beast have a name?” I asked Hatchet.
“It does. My master has warned thee.”
“Anarchy,” Diesel guessed.
“I know nothing more than that,” Hatchet said. “Only that it is fearful.”
Hatchet moved on, continuing to leave his fingerprints on every surface.
“Do you think there really is a beast named Anarchy?” I asked Diesel.
“Do I think there’s a fire-breathing dragon named Anarchy? No. Do I think there’s a danger
ous lunatic out there calling himself Anarchy? Good possibility.” Diesel took Carl over to Triceratops. “Personally, I think calling yourself Anarchy is overly dramatic.”
“This from a guy named Diesel.”
“I didn’t choose the name.”
“What name would you choose?”
“Gus.”
“Because it’s short?”
“Because it’s normal, and expectations would be normal. And that would give me an advantage,” Diesel said. “Since I’m not entirely normal.”