بخش 04

So, Travis, mind telling me how you ended up falling through that root?

Well I was at the general store on an errand, and then this weird guy came in, and then this other guy chased me in.

And I ran into the forest and hid in this tree trunk.

And then I slipped and

someone chased you?

Why?

Who were they?

I don’t know.

Miss Mundy the owner of the store

she was signing these papers and then the weird guy said this weird word.

And then she shook his hand.

And then this other guy was after me.

It was, it was totally bizarre.

Eh, you can say that again.

There it is.

Yep, grew up so big it broke right through into your world, like a tunnel.

Whoa.

Let’s get to climbing.

I can find my own way.

You don’t need to walk me out.

I’m sure you can.

Truth is, I’m kind of interested in seeing this forest again.

A lot of time has passed since I’ve been here.

These were always such beautiful trees.

Red pines, mostly.

Weren’t they, babe?

Mmhmm.

Wait, I thought you were a lumberjack and you chopped trees down?

I did chop trees down.

Doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate a good forest.

I’m happy to see it’s doing so well.

Thank you, mr gladstone.

It’s a pleasure doing business with you.

No, sir.

Thank you.

Where’s the boy.

Uh, he got away.

What?

Get out!

He was really hard to catch, boss.

Idiot.

You couldn’t catch a cold.

Boss

wait!

Wait!

Boss!

Wait for me!

There’s grandpa’s bike.

Oh man.

How am I going to explain this?

Any sign of the man who chased you?

No.

He was driving a black car.

How far is it to your grandparents’ farm?

It didn’t seem all that far this morning,

but I had a bike then.

Paul!

Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, Paul, the kid is clearly traumatized.

First he was chased by a hoodlum who is probably lying in wait for him somewhere right now.

And then he loses his only form of transportation.

I mean we’ve got to escort him home safe.

It’s the only decent thing to do.

I know what the decent thing to do is, babe.

Wait

what the heck is that noise?

What were those things?

Oh, they sure stink.

I guess they didn’t have cars the last time you were here,

huh?

Cars?

Ooh.

Hello, can I help you?

I am a salesman, madam.

I’ve got a great deal on these brand new flashlights.

I’m sure you’ve never seen anything like them.

Well, I’ll be.

Will you look at that.

What’s that grandma?

Oh, Whitney, come look at this toy.

It’s not a toy.

What the

ah, who’s this fellah?

He’s selling flashlights.

What?

Flashlights!

They’re so cute.

How much for two?

Um, there’s not really any wagons anymore.

It’s all cars.

Here comes another one.

Looks like an rv.

Um, who’s arvey?

Boy are they going to freak out when they see you.

What do you mean freak out?

Like surprised, and scared, and shocked, and you know, freaked out.

Why?

Because you’re both giants.

And you can talk.

That is not at all normal up here.

He’s right, babe.

Keep your mouth shut.

Well, what about the giant part?

Here, do this.

What are you doing?

Trust me on this.

Don’t blink.

Don’t breathe.

They’ll think you’re a statue.

Why would they think that?

Because there’s statues of you and babe all over the place.

Statues?

Oh, look at those.

They’re so lifelike.

We’ve got to stop and get a picture.

We’ve already taken pictures of umpteen different Paul bunyans.

How many more do you need?

“I was sitting stinking like a good dog drinking in the lap of my farmer after all day working sedated I work well day to day.”

Dad, come on.

Isn’t this the same one that we saw in Maine?

They’re so lifelike.

Who’s that one I wonder?

“Ease my pain I work so well dumb down.”

Who knows?

Must be someone famous.

Take the picture, honey.

Time’s a wasting.

Hold it, hold it.

Get closer together

Get closer together

Where’s teepee?

Everyone settle down.

Your mother’s trying to take a picture.

Put a smile on your face.

Oh, come on.

Hold in. Ok.

All right, everyone back in the rv.

We’re on a schedule here.

I’m raising dad.

Will you beat it, you mutt!

Ahhh!

They’re moving!

They’re talking and, oh, get me out of here, Get me out of here!

Yeah, ok.

Yup.

Glad you two think my humiliation is hilarious.

I bet nobody uses your statue as an outhouse.

Oh there it is.

That’s my grandparents from over there.

All right.

This is as far as we go.

You should tell your grandparents about those men.

They sound like outlaws.

I will.

Thanks for getting me back.

Aw, can’t we stick around for a while, have a little look see?

No.

We’re heading back.

Ah, for Pete’s sake, Paul!

Why do you always have to be such a killjoy?

Whoa

uh-oh!

Oh!

Oh!

Oh, oh, oh!

Oh, what did I do?

It’s not you, kid.

Whoa!

Oh!

Oh!

What’s the matter with you now?

It’s my back.

Oh, oh, my back!

Oh!

This hurts!

You could come to the barn and rest if you want.

Perfect!

Ha, ha!

What?

I haven’t carried that axe in years, Paul.

I forgot how heavy that thing is.

Whoah.

Can’t you let your old buddy babe rest for just one night?

One.

Night.

Tomorrow we go home, no arguing and complaining from me.

No one will see you if you stay in the barn.

I won’t tell my grandparents.

Come on, Paul, old buddy old pal.

Please?

Sorry it took me so long, grandpa.

Huh?

What do you mean?

It’s just that I saw this weird guy at the store, and then this other guy chased me into the forest and made me wreck the bike, and

yeah, yeah, that sounds like fun.

But you gotta keep it down now.

Grandma’s asleep.

Now you kids had better get some rest, too.

Tomorrow’s a big day, you know.

Let’s see, what have we got here.

Six and– ha ha!

Six and a half feet, Travis!

I’m gonna dream of blue ribbons tonight!

Hope you guys are hungry.

I raided the fridge.

Travis, I still can’t believe you didn’t

let me go into town with you.

And I can’t believe you didn’t get back here in time to help grandpa move the cabbage onto the porch.

Do you know how much that vegetable weighs?

Whitney, just calm down.

I will not.

That cabbage was like 5,500,000 pounds!

I can’t believe what an incredibly inconsiderate jerk you are being.

Uh!

Paul, this is my sister, Whitney.

He’s extremely big.

He’s like a giant.

You’re like a giant!

Whit, this is Paul bunyan.

Ahem.

Oh, uh, yeah.

And this is babe.

My pleasure.

He can talk?

Yup.

He’s a talking ox.

Talking blue ox.

Ok.

Hold that thought.

I don’t know what kind of joke you’re trying to play on me, but it’s not funny.

That man there must be over 15 feet tall!

And animals can’t talk.

Whit, that’s Paul bunyan and babe the ox.

Talking blue ox!

They’re tall tales, Travis really tall tales in this case.

Meaning myths.

Meaning make believe.

Hello?

Grandpa said tall tales grow out of true stories.

Look at Davy Crockett.

He was real.

Davy Crockett?

Who said anything about Davy Crockett?

I don’t care about Davy Crockett.

I’m talking about those two guys in grandpa’s barn right now.

Whit, listen.

You can help us.

What am I supposed to do for a giant and its talking ox?

Talking blue ox.

Blue ox.

Babe’s hurt, and, well, you’re really good at that kind of stuff.

You may be under the impression that knowing first aid makes me a medical doctor, but actually it does not.

Yeah, but you’re smart.

True.

Could you just look at him, please?