Part 2:
“Halt! Who goes there?" yelled a voice up ahead.
Carrot and Rick slowed their pace.
“State your business," said the voice. "You seek the truth behind truths?"
"He seeks only a way back."
“As do many. Tears cried, however, do not pave the road."
“No tears in our eyes, Beet" said Carrot.
“Tears appear when they will. Or so I have found."
“You are known to be wise and stable."
“Yet easily jellied. Easily jammed."
“Do you stop our path?"
“I am no barrier or sentry."
“Then what?"
“Merely a guardian of the road. Walk on. Walk briskly."
“What about you?"
“Debts grow and compound, until payment is due."
“The price?"
“Not calculated by me. But set elsewhere. We only see the total."
Beet waved them along, adjusting his hat in the sudden, stiff wind.
“Walk on, my friends. Walk with the purpose and courage I lack."
Carrot and Rick slowed their pace.
“State your business," said the voice. "You seek the truth behind truths?"
"He seeks only a way back."
“As do many. Tears cried, however, do not pave the road."
“No tears in our eyes, Beet" said Carrot.
“Tears appear when they will. Or so I have found."
“You are known to be wise and stable."
“Yet easily jellied. Easily jammed."
“Do you stop our path?"
“I am no barrier or sentry."
“Then what?"
“Merely a guardian of the road. Walk on. Walk briskly."
“What about you?"
“Debts grow and compound, until payment is due."
“The price?"
“Not calculated by me. But set elsewhere. We only see the total."
Beet waved them along, adjusting his hat in the sudden, stiff wind.
“Walk on, my friends. Walk with the purpose and courage I lack."
Rick and Carrot bowed, bidding good day to the sentry.
And walked on, in due course, following the sun.
Until met by a figure on a bike, who thus crossed their path.
“Young Master Tomato."
“I'm young now," he replied. “But I shan't always be."
“Too true," said Carrot. “For us all, forever hence. Now you are young. Ride free."
“The path is unclear. And yet in some ways, quite known."
“What is your path?" asked Rick.
“My path is the road. My path is the future. To live, in my way. To taste the fruits of my labor."
“I ... don't understand."
“We shall meet, you and I, once more. In future days. When the time is right."
"I'll be gone soon, Carrot is taking me home."
“Our paths will cross again. Before you know it."
“Until then," said Carrot, “ride as you please. Ride through the days of your youth."
“I pedal my bike with leisure. Time and myself have yet found no quarrel."
And walked on, in due course, following the sun.
Until met by a figure on a bike, who thus crossed their path.
“Young Master Tomato."
“I'm young now," he replied. “But I shan't always be."
“Too true," said Carrot. “For us all, forever hence. Now you are young. Ride free."
“The path is unclear. And yet in some ways, quite known."
“What is your path?" asked Rick.
“My path is the road. My path is the future. To live, in my way. To taste the fruits of my labor."
“I ... don't understand."
“We shall meet, you and I, once more. In future days. When the time is right."
"I'll be gone soon, Carrot is taking me home."
“Our paths will cross again. Before you know it."
“Until then," said Carrot, “ride as you please. Ride through the days of your youth."
“I pedal my bike with leisure. Time and myself have yet found no quarrel."
“Lady Lettuce!"
A lush figure in green, awash in frills, stood ahead.
“Why hello, dear Carrot. Who walks beside you at this kind hour?"
“My name is Rick Hatcher-Hyung, hello."
“Mister Richard is a bit lost, good lady. I seek to return him home."
“And you travel the road unafraid?"
“He's a brave one m'lady. Yet the Rizzem preys on this kind. We move urgently, and with caution."
“Algo Rizzem is an unsavory blight upon the world. One to whom I will never bow."
“Nor me either, Lady Lettuce. And yet, reality endures. Mister Richard will succumb, shall he stay here."
“You are correct. Most wise. You know that I am granted access to the cabbage patch. By dint of my leaves?"
“I had, at present forgotten that fact."
“Do you wish to cross the patch, under my auspices?"
“Good lady, why yes! We would cross the patch, as you please."
“Of course. Go, get this flesh soul back to his home."
“Thank you," Rick said, if not quite understanding the meaning. “You are quite beautiful, both inside and out."
“Go now," she bowed, “and trust Carrot. He will keep you on good fortune's path."
A lush figure in green, awash in frills, stood ahead.
“Why hello, dear Carrot. Who walks beside you at this kind hour?"
“My name is Rick Hatcher-Hyung, hello."
“Mister Richard is a bit lost, good lady. I seek to return him home."
“And you travel the road unafraid?"
“He's a brave one m'lady. Yet the Rizzem preys on this kind. We move urgently, and with caution."
“Algo Rizzem is an unsavory blight upon the world. One to whom I will never bow."
“Nor me either, Lady Lettuce. And yet, reality endures. Mister Richard will succumb, shall he stay here."
“You are correct. Most wise. You know that I am granted access to the cabbage patch. By dint of my leaves?"
“I had, at present forgotten that fact."
“Do you wish to cross the patch, under my auspices?"
“Good lady, why yes! We would cross the patch, as you please."
“Of course. Go, get this flesh soul back to his home."
“Thank you," Rick said, if not quite understanding the meaning. “You are quite beautiful, both inside and out."
“Go now," she bowed, “and trust Carrot. He will keep you on good fortune's path."
“Prithee, who rustles ahead?"
“I might well ask who such asks, if you please."
“A fair question, well stated."
“It is Carrot, and a compatriot. Who be thee?
Out of the leaves came a gentleman, strutting proud, stick in hand.
“Good sir, most gracious greetings."
“Mr. Cucumber! A pleasant sight you are."
“A fond hello," said the eloquent voice.
"My charge and I are on the run. From the Algo Rizzem. I must return this one home, before he falls under sway."
“But are not his kind already enthralled?"
“Yes and no. They still resist, invoke some freedom, in his world. But here? Alas, victim he would be."
“How did he arrive on our soil bed?"
“Unknown. But here it is, and help I must."
“I help fund the battle against Rizzem. As well I should. But fighter, I am not."
“All must go forth, according to one's character."
“Yet we grow from the same plentiful soil."
“You are generous with your wisdom."
“I will disguise your trail the best I can. Proceed in haste. Trust the land. Avoid drought."
“I might well ask who such asks, if you please."
“A fair question, well stated."
“It is Carrot, and a compatriot. Who be thee?
Out of the leaves came a gentleman, strutting proud, stick in hand.
“Good sir, most gracious greetings."
“Mr. Cucumber! A pleasant sight you are."
“A fond hello," said the eloquent voice.
"My charge and I are on the run. From the Algo Rizzem. I must return this one home, before he falls under sway."
“But are not his kind already enthralled?"
“Yes and no. They still resist, invoke some freedom, in his world. But here? Alas, victim he would be."
“How did he arrive on our soil bed?"
“Unknown. But here it is, and help I must."
“I help fund the battle against Rizzem. As well I should. But fighter, I am not."
“All must go forth, according to one's character."
“Yet we grow from the same plentiful soil."
“You are generous with your wisdom."
“I will disguise your trail the best I can. Proceed in haste. Trust the land. Avoid drought."
“Tally-ho!" a call soon rang out.
“Hello? Who's there?"
“We meet again," offered a mature voice.
“Again?" Rick asked.
“Alas, my bike is long lost."
“You mean ... tomato?"
“Why yes, it is me. If just a bit more ripened."
“Good day, good sir," said Carrot. “You are looking well."
“But how? You were a boy only moments ago."
“Time is different for us. And that is fine. I have reached my peak."
“You seemed so young."
“The sun has brought fruition. As I would hope."
“But so quickly?"
“Heed my words, know this about your enemy, Algo Rizzem."
“I won't fall."
“He will trick you. Prey on your choices. Your history. Bend you to his will."
“What about you? Your life?'
“As I said, I am content. I have reached my peak."
“You have?"
“Yes. And now? Make quite sure that you reach yours."
“Hello? Who's there?"
“We meet again," offered a mature voice.
“Again?" Rick asked.
“Alas, my bike is long lost."
“You mean ... tomato?"
“Why yes, it is me. If just a bit more ripened."
“Good day, good sir," said Carrot. “You are looking well."
“But how? You were a boy only moments ago."
“Time is different for us. And that is fine. I have reached my peak."
“You seemed so young."
“The sun has brought fruition. As I would hope."
“But so quickly?"
“Heed my words, know this about your enemy, Algo Rizzem."
“I won't fall."
“He will trick you. Prey on your choices. Your history. Bend you to his will."
“What about you? Your life?'
“As I said, I am content. I have reached my peak."
“You have?"
“Yes. And now? Make quite sure that you reach yours."