"Boring!" he said. "I've never had such a wild, crazy time in my life. Furthermore," he said, "there's nobody like you back in Washington."
She beamed. "I'd kiss you right here, only Doc Bendy's coming back. Heck, I'll kiss you anyway."
She did.
"Ahem," said Bendy. "Also cough-cough. If you two can spare the time, there's someone I'd like you to meet."
"We're through, for now," Alis said. "Who?"
"One of our hosts. The power behind the shaky throne of Hector the First. I think you'll like him. He has a magnificent tail."
"Hector was very co-operative," Doc Bendy said. "I guess he figured he couldn't keep it a secret for long anyhow, so he decided to be frank. After all, half the town saw them take him away."
"You mean Civek admits he's only a figurehead?" Don asked.
"Oh, he wouldn't admit that. His story is that it's a working arrangement—a treaty of sorts. He's absolute monarch as far as the human inhabitants are concerned, but the kangaroos control Superior as a piece of geography."