John leaned against his wife's leg, and she bent down to hold and comfort him.
"Is there ANY way to help him?"
The husky looked distinctly uncomfortable.
"I don't know if you can, but...I know a guy. Or, at least, I know OF a guy."
He led Carrie and John out the back of the store, into the alley, and pointed to the eastern skyline. There, beyond the nearby mountains, one could see a pillar of rising...clouds? Smoke? Steam? In any case, it seemed to be coming from deeper within the mountain range.
"The only one who might be able to help, or know how to, would be an Author. And the nearest Author to here is Master Prospero, The Steampunk Lord."
Carrie cocked a brow.
"Steampunk? I thought this was Toon World."
"It is, but Master Prospero makes his home on the borders of Toon World. He's an Author. He cares little about the setting; it's the characters that he finds...interesting."
Carrie gulped at the significant pause before 'interesting'. John was worried, too, and took this moment to speak up.
"Uh, so, Prospero? Like Shakespeare?"
"Exactly. Master Prospero is Duke Prospero's direct descendant. The realm of Toon World is part of the greater Fiction World. You'd be surprised at who you run into out there. Besides, Ariel and Puck both frequent Toon Town."
Carrie and John looked at one another. Carrie spoke.
"So, this Master Prospero can help us?"
"MAYBE. I make no promises."
"How do we get to him?"
"I call you a cab."