Botchi

A large red coach enters. It grinds steadily to a halt. A man alights. About 40, of medium height with greying hair, he oozes an aura of straightforward competence. He scans the scene casually from left to right, lights a cigarette then waits.

“All right Dave, how’s it going,” said Sizz approaching languidly.
“Not bad mate. D’ya wanna tab?”
“I won’t say no. Cheers.” Sizz pulled a cigarette from the packet, placed the cylindrical tobacco sheath between his dry lips and condemned its nib to the flame of Dave’s lighter. “The others should be here soon. What time are we due back at the depot?”
“Half past but there’s a fucking contra flow on autobahn 17; it’s down to three lanes. If it had ten fucking lanes it would still be gridlock at rush hour.”
“That’s a pain, cos it’s a good run when it’s clear.”
“Yeah, it’s a lovely bit of tarmac.”

Mezzanine and Thimbel had just arrived and were busy packing the plot into the luggage compartment of the coach.
“I hadn’t realised a schooner was in it,” said Sizz exhaling a thick draught of white smoke.
“Fuck off Sizz” slagged Scotty Sideways, unhappy at having to carry the burden of the Psion Cannon’s barrels, coupled with Admiral Lozikes’ spare hats.

“Jesus, looks like someone else has had a nasty visit from the grouchman, look at that!” bellowed Sizz, pointing at the silent and shuffling Botchi, clasping through paper bag a half quaffed bottle of undiluted single malt. Botchi pushed his way past the rest of the cast, petulantly threw his small rucksack of luggage into the compartment, boarded the coach and took a seat towards the rear.
The ladies arrived having just been high street bargain hunting, laden with bags and full of conversation and gossip.
“Time to go ladies and gents” yelled Dave, cupping his hand around his mouth to increase the directional accuracy of the statement, “let’s move it people!”

All aboard. They each took their seats on the coach, all happily chatting, exchanging stories from their monumental contributions. All except Botchi. Indigo, who was sitting adjacent to Botchi, took the bag from his hands and slugged a hearty measure of top grade liquor.
“What’s the matter, Botch?”
Silence.
“HEY, what’s up?’’
“He’s in a grump. He thought as it was called Botchi he’d have a bigger part,” said Old Man Alan. “I’ll tell you what. Let’s have a sing-song. Does everybody know ‘No Time’ by Whiteout?”
“Yes” everybody replied in unison.
They began to sing as Dave shoved the coach in to gear and pressed down on the accelerator.

Old Man Alan: I’ve got no time to think for tomorrow
Kluzens: I’ve got to live for today
Boron Jetwell: Got no time to think at all
Pieways: I just wanted to say

Admiral Lozike: Turn me on to see the motion
Mar: Let each day go with the notion
Mezzanine: And my passion’s so revealing
Thimbel: I can’t stop the love freewheelin’

Oppz: All for love, I’m all for givin’
Chief V: I’m devoted to the livin’
Corpulent waitress: And it gets me so excited
Sizz: I can’t help it, I can’t fight it

Indigo: No time to think for tomorrow
Nash & Urizen: I’ve got to live for today
Moulon: Got no time to think at all
Big Wheel Handler: I just wanted to say

The Formula: Never want to know what I’ve got in store
Scotty Sideways: What would my time mean to me?
Time (played by Brian Blessed): If tomorrow never comes I’ll be the day before
Cosatch: And you will forget me
Dave: DON’T FORGET ME yeah yeah

All: (uproarious crowd noise)

Seb: Hey hey hey
Verdes: Hey hey hey
Young Boron: Hey hey hey

‘Debs’ Harkark: Lift me up and take me too far
Old Man Alan: Never let it get familiar
Dabrind: Yes, in that I can believe now
Kluzens: Getting up, I’m getting right out

All (raucous): No time to think for tomorrow
I’ve got to live for today
Got no time to think at all
I just wanted to say

Botchi had remained totally silent for the duration of the outpouring of unparalleled joy. The rest of the crowd, now surfing an immense natural high, did not notice. All apart from the Admiral, who had honed some rudimentary social skills over the preceding chapters:

“Can you speak, Botchi?”