Thursday, March 30, 2006

Chapter 5 - Hot and cold

Gosh, it sure is hot.

A dripping sound echoed in Bob's ears. What is that dripping? Did I leave on the faucet? Did I leave on something that would make a dripping sound that echoes in my ears like this? Are my ears just echoing?

Man, it is real hot.

Maybe I ought to get out of this jacket. What am I doing wearing this fur coat? I don't even remember putting it on? Maybe it is making a dripping sound. Maybe I am wearing a dripping fur coat. Maybe not - that is kind of strange, isn't it?

Hot. Yes, it sure is hot. So hot that it is dripping. It is dripping hot. Yeah, that is what it is.

Bob's eyes shot open. He sat up and looked around. No penguins, no pictures of penguins, no bright lights. Actually, it was really dark. He could not see a thing around him. He took his hand and moved it toward his face. Ouch!!! Something just hit me in the nose! Wait, that was my hand. It sure is dark...and hot.

Feeling the floor around him to make sure it was steady, he stood up. Thump! Ow!! My head! What is this? Rock? Ow, it sure is hard...and it is hot. I had better take this jacket off of me. This dripping fur coat. No, it isn't dripping, something else is.

Bob took his coat of, crouching, making sure that he didn't hit his head again. He then slid forward towards what felt like a cooler breeze. He moved for a few minutes and it seemed as if he moved into a larger room. There was a hint of light in the room, but he could not tell where it came from. Bob reached above his head and stood up slowly. No, no rocks. It still is pretty hot in here too, maybe a little less. But that dripping has gotten louder.

Bob took a step forward and lunged as his foot failed to touch any floor. Suddenly he was cold and very wet. He was in water thrashing to keep himself up. Man! This is wet water - not so hot, actually it is cold. Man, I wish I had a jacket.

He swam forward, not able to tell where he was headed. He thought he was headed toward where he fell off the edge into the water, but no, he was swimming too far for that. It seemed like he swam for at least a few minutes when he suddenly hit a wall with his hand. He grabbed the edge and pulled himself up to the floor. As he stood up, he noticed a very dim light coming from straight ahead of him. OK, now I am really cold - and dripping. His shoes sloshed as he walked forward carefully. He slowly made his way to a wall, and then to a door. He reached around for a latch - there it was. He twisted it and his eyes were blasted with light. A cold wind hit his face and he blinked. As things came into focus he knew where he was.

There were people behind a fence looking in. There was snow and ice, and a pool of water. There were penguins gathered around in a circle. One of them looked at him with an icy glance. Bob felt a chill. He was in the zoo.

Monday, March 20, 2006

Chapter 4 - A Dapper Fowl

The sound of slapping feet echoed through the room. The bird on the wall glared ever harder deep into Bob's psyche. He looked away and saw the visitor in the room - same expression, same piercing look. Chills came in waves that started at his crown and ended up at his toes. The footsteps came closer, closer.

Then the door opened again and a very tall man walked into the room. He wore a Stetson hat and had a button on his well-pressed suit that read "kiss me, I'm Irish." Bob did not feel in the kissing mood, nor did it appear that the stranger was in that mood.

"Eeeeka - oonka! Rrrraaaaaaaaaa! Aaarrrrrhaaaarrrh! Chhht, chht, chht, crrrraaaawww!" Said the bird as he glared at Bob.

The man cleared his throat and said, "The boss says he is not happy with things. He says that you have been nosing around in places you should not be sticking your schnozz."

"Bbbrrrrraaaaawwww! Caaaaarkkkkh, aruuuun, caaaarkkkkh blaaaaaaawwwwwwrrrrrr!"

"He says you don't look that smart, but you are starting to be dangerous. He thinks it may be time you .... made....some....copies....."

"Blaaawwwrrrr"

"Oh, yeah, sorry! He says he thinks it may be time you took a little...vacation, if you catch my drift."

"Braakkkkkkikkkikkkikkk, waaaaaaaaaaaaaakkkkiiiiiiii!"

"Um, I think he wants a Taco. Is that right, boss?"

"Awwwkkkkk"

"OK, I can do that. There's a Taco Bell Across the street. I'll be right back Boss!" The man made his way quickly out the door, wringing his hands as he scurried down the hall.

"Braaaaaaaaawwwwwwk."

"Yeah, boss - a fish taco if they have them - I know! I'll see what I can do." He said as his voice faded down the hall.

Bob noticed that the bird now stood right in front of him. He came closer and stared. Bob tried to look away, but its eyes had a hypnotic quality to them. It started cackling, as if it was laughing, "Crah crah crah crah craaaaawwwh!"

"What do you want from me?" Bob shouted, as the cackling grew more intense. It seemed to echo in his head, pushing out all thoughts, all memories, all other things besides that terrible sound. "Please, tell me what I have to do. I'll do anything....anything....anything."

Suddenly the room was filled with the strong smell of fish. Bob felt a sharp, stabbing pain in his head. He slumped forward as a very large sturgeon fell again on the back of his skull. "I've been hit by a big fish" he thought as his thoughts lapsed out of consciousness. Then everything was dark.