tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294597744779282072024-03-14T00:54:28.607-07:00The Larry ChroniclesAfter nearly 35 years in the making, a self-published tale finally sees the light of day. I sure hope someone reads it!Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-39094107997508525052011-08-31T17:28:00.000-07:002011-08-31T17:38:20.577-07:00Table of Contents<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">2010 Preface:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">A Trip Back... Through Swirling Mists of Time</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Originally written as an Elementary School creative writing project and
bookbinding exercise back in 1973, the original short story <i>"To Shrink or Not To Shrink"</i> grew into a trilogy by 1977. A fantasy tale full of pop-culture references.<br /><br />Revised in 1985 and then again 1996 (at which time it was dubbed <u>The Larry Chronicles</u> after its lead character), this project has been near and dear to my heart, yet has remained virtually unread by anyone.<br /><br />The trilogy of stories consists of two books (so I guess I wrote a Two-Book Trilogy!). The first book contains the short story <i>"To Shrink or Not To Shrink"</i> which makes up the first five chapters, followed by <i>"The Green Devil Strikes Again"</i> (Chapters 6 through 21 and an Epilogue). The second book is <i>"Time Tornado"</i> which contains 19 Chapters and Epilogue.<br /><br />This
project will be self-published at a rate of about one Chapter every few
days (unless 'fans' urge me to publish faster) until the entire tome is
up on the web.<br /><br />I hope you will enjoy it...<br /><br /><br /> August 2010<br /> North Hollywood, California</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Click any link below to be taken to that page.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At the bottom of each page:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">"Newer Post"</span> takes you forward to the next chapter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">"Older Post"</span> takes you back to the previous chapters.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e69138;">"Home"</span> brings you back to this page. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"The Larry Chronicles Trilogy"</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/08/preface-to-larry-chronicles.html">The 1996 Preface</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/08/1977-and-1985-introductions.html">The 1977 and 1985 Introductions</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"To Shrink or Not To Shrink"</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/08/to-shink-or-not-to-shrink-introductions.html">The Introductions</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/08/tsonts-chapter-1.html">Chapter 1: How It Happened</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/08/to-shrink-or-not-to-shrink-chapter-2.html">Chapter 2: The Laboratory</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/08/to-shrink-or-not-to-shrink-chapter-3.html">Chapter 3: The Escape</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/09/to-shrink-or-not-to-shrink-chapter-4.html">Chapter 4: Bringle Brand of Jingleland</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/09/to-shrink-or-not-to-shrink-chapter-5.html">Chapter 5: The Return</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"The Green Devil Strikes Again"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/09/green-devil-strikes-again-introductions.html">The Introductions</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/09/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-6.html">Chapter 6: Off To Unknown Lands</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/09/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-7.html">Chapter 7: Through The Dimensional Vortex</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/09/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-8.html">Chapter 8: A Place Where The Suns Don't Shine</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/09/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-9.html">Chapter 9: Danger In Cubes</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/09/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-10.html">Chapter 10: The Sad Tale Of Woba Womba</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/09/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-11.html">Chapter 11: Cats Are Definitely Not Man's Best Friend</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/09/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-12.html">Chapter 12: Beneath The Valley Of The Giants</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/09/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-13.html">Chapter 13: The Ties That Bind</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/10/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-14.html">Chapter 14: Escape From The Ant Kingdom</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/10/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-15.html">Chapter 15: Galapagos & Koleapus</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/10/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-16.html">Chapter 16: Rescue From Extinction</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/10/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-17.html">Chapter 17: Lizards Don't Swim</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/10/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-18.html">Chapter 18: On The Outside Looking In</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/10/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-19.html">Chapter 19: Living Land At Last</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/10/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-20.html">Chapter 20: How To Defeat A Green Devil</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/10/green-devil-strikes-again-chapter-21.html">Chapter 21: Angry Clouds & One Angry Statue</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/11/green-devil-strikes-again-epilogue.html">Epilogue</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Time Tornado"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/11/time-tornado-prologue.html">Prologue: A Brief History Lesson</a><br /><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/11/time-tornado-chapter-1.html">Chapter 1: The Stealing Of A Steed</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/11/time-tornado-chapter-2.html">Chapter 2: Condemned And Exiled</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/11/time-tornado-chapter-3.html">Chapter 3: A Stranger In A Strange Land</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/11/time-tornado-chapter-4.html">Chapter 4: King Of The Nile</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/11/time-tornado-chapter-5.html">Chapter 5: It's Getting Crowded In The Past</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/12/time-tornado-chapter-6.html">Chapter 6: Stone Cold</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/12/time-tornado-chapter-7.html">Chapter 7: A Thief In The Wood</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/12/time-tornado-chapter-8.html">Chapter 8: Call Him Perseus II</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/12/time-tornado-chapter-9.html">Chapter 9: The Blessing Of The Gods</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2010/12/time-tornado-chapter-10.html">Chapter 10: Where Are We Going?</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2011/01/time-tornado-chapter-11.html">Chapter 11: Swallowed Up Whole</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2011/01/time-tornado-chapter-12.html">Chapter 12: Going Up!</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2011/01/time-tornado-chapter-13.html">Chapter 13: The Time Keeper</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2011/01/time-tornado-chapter-14.html">Chapter 14: The Big Pull</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2011/01/time-tornado-chapter-15.html">Chapter 15: Two Leagues Under The Sea</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2011/02/time-tornado-chapter-16.html">Chapter 16: The Domed City</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2011/02/time-tornado-chapter-17.html">Chapter 17: Food Or Fodder</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2011/03/time-tornado-chapter-18.html">Chapter 18: A Matter Of Time</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2011/04/time-tornado-chapter-19.html">Chapter 19: The Adventure Concludes</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ldweisberg2.blogspot.com/2011/04/time-tornado-epilogue.html">Epilogue</a> </span><br />
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Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-77574179805543229502011-04-27T14:03:00.000-07:002011-04-27T14:03:18.986-07:00Time Tornado - Epilogue<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> There was a chill in the air. I felt my lower lip quiver from the cold. My breathing was forced and deliberate and my muscles all seemed to be stiff and sore. I coughed and then slowly opened my eyes. The sun was bright and my eyes were sensitive to its light. My head was pounding like it’s never pounded before.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I felt disoriented and slowly looked around my current surroundings. I was lying on my back in the damp morning grass. My house was a few yards away. Rob stood by the picnic table, lights aglow. I attempted to sit up, but found it difficult. After a few moments I managed to roll over and was leaning on my elbows.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> My throat was dry and as I tried to speak, I coughed from the pain—a burning sensation—deep within my throat. I wiped the sleep from my eyes and tried to re‑orient myself, which wasn’t easy to do with this pounding headache.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Everything seemed hazy. I remembered a bright white light. I remembered figures in long, flowing, white robes. I remembered them taking my hand and leading my through some sort of tunnel. Was this death? And if so, where was I now? Did heaven look like my own backyard?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> After a few more minutes, I realized that Lisa, Melissa and Cindy were lying in the grass about 10‑feet away from me. I tried to stand, but finding that impossible in my weakened state, I crawled over to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Melissa,” I coughed, gently shaking her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> She slowly began to move and opened her eyes. She seemed to be in the same condition that I was in.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What...?” she began in a hoarse sort of cough, “Oooh, my head...what am I doing here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I’m not sure,” I croaked out, “all I know is that I don’t feel so good.” I paused. “Let me get us some nice tea with honey to drink; that should soothe our throats.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Don’t forget the aspirin,” she added, clutching her throbbing temple.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Don’t worry, I won’t. Why don’t you check out Lisa and Cindy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I tried again to stand up—finally succeeding—and made my way dizzily to the house. I found the back door unlocked and stumbled my way in. I microwaved some water and prepared four steeping cups of tea. I grabbed the entire bottle of aspirin and returned to the others outside.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The three girls were now sitting up, eagerly awaiting the tea. For the first time, I now noticed Cleo and Woba lying in the grass not too far from the girls. I went over to them and woke them from their slumber.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Larry, what’s going on?” asked Cindy, clutching her throat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I...I don’t know?” I hesitated, “Rob, what happened to us? Why are we napping in the wet grass?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Activate PMU.” he replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “PMU?” I asked, “what’s that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Activate the PMU to retrieve the PM,” he elaborated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, your talking gibberish. What are PM’s?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “There is a PM in the PMU that must be accessed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob,” I replied as calmly as possible, taking a deep and painful breath, “I don’t know what a PMU is. Before my head explodes, could you please give me some more information?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Activate the PMU,” he replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “If I remember my LLARAIMCO robot models correctly,” began Cleo, “a PMU is a Pre‑Recorded Message Unit. Normally used in times of emergency. The PMU acts as an override. Rob’s memory cannot be accessed until the PMU is properly activated.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Then how do I active it?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You must input your coded password,” stated Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “If I don’t know what the PMU is, how am I supposed to know the password for it,” I said, getting disgusted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Try your general purpose password,” suggested Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “How do you know about that?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Because,” laughed Lisa, “you’ve used the same word since the fourth grade.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Oh,” I said, a little embarrassed. After all, one’s secret password should not be common knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob,” I began, “input ‘K‑I‑L‑R‑O‑Y’.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative. Coded password recognized. Stand by for PM.” We heard the rewinding sound of the PMU and waited for the message. After a few seconds, I heard my own whispering voice emanate from Rob’s speakers:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">“If you are listening to this message, then congratulations on remembering your password. Also, if you are listening to this, then you must be alive—or I must be alive—or something like that...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Indent-Spells"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">“Anyway, we have been safely returned to the 20th century, though I can’t tell you how. Your memory is probably blank and it is up to me to fill you back in on what has transpired....”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The tape went on to describe an outlandish story about time travel and Alexander the Great. Lisa suggested that I might have been using Rob as a dictating machine for some sort of future book, but I don’t remember.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The tale that I continued to unravel on the PMU included Greek gods and Pegasus, Robin Hood and orange tornadoes that transport you through time, Atlantis and all manner of bizarre situations. It was definitely too weird and too unbelievable to be real. It must be the outline for a new book—since I fancied myself an amateur novelist. The PMU continued:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Indent-Spells"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">“...and if you are listening to this recording and think you’re hearing these tales for the first time, then your memory must have been wiped clean. Athena probably used the same spell that she gave you to use on Robin Hood and his Merry Men. And if this is the case, then Melissa, Lisa, Cindy, Cleo, Woba, and Little Neptune are all experiencing the same memory loss.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Who’s Little Neptune?” asked Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Don’t ask me,” I said, “it must be a new character I was writing about.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Still doesn’t explain why we’re all sleeping in the wet grass,” said Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “...well,”</span><span style="color: black; font-size: large; font-style: normal;"> concluded the taped message,</span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I hope this explains everything clearly. End message.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob! Is that’s it?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative. That is the end of the message. But there is still more.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Tell us,” urged Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “After you finished recording that in Atlantis, we were inadvertently detoured into Hell. Satan, himself, did the honors of destroying all of us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That’s how the book ends?” I asked, “Satan destroys us all in Hell? That doesn’t sound like my kind of story.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative. That is how reality ends.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob,” started Melissa, “I think I speak for everyone here when I say that we’re all still confused.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “When I was deactivated by Satan, my emergency back‑up sensors continued to monitor what was going on.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “And!?” urged Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Just before my entire body was engulfed by the lava pit, we experienced what is known as ‘divine intervention’ from Zytus and the other advisors from Atlantis. Time was altered to prevent our deaths and the Time Keeper was forced to deliver us back here to where we started.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob,” began Melissa, “I seem to remember a white light and a tunnel and robed figures....”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You know, like they describe on ‘Oprah.’” interrupted Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> We just looked at her while Melissa ignored her, “Did we die?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “At one point you were all close, but it was all reversed. What you remember are the advisers leading us into the Time Tornado.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I looked down at my watch and found it to be Friday, the 21st. I don’t remember a Wednesday or Thursday this week.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, what day is it?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It is Friday, the 21st day of September.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Your systems must be faulty,” said Melissa, “it’s only Tuesday.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Woba, go get the paper,” I instructed the little womba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Oh, goody. Getting papers is what wombas like to do best.” He galloped off around the side of the house.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “So, assuming this story is true....” I began.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Don’t be ridiculous,” interrupted Lisa, “it can’t be true.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Wich aer oo oo wan?” mumbled Woba, returning.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Phtew,” said Woba, spitting the newspaper bundle out of his mouth, “I said, ‘which paper do you want?’.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Here you go;” I began, grabbing the pile off the ground, “Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.” I tossed them on the ground in front of us. “Today is the 21st.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Then this story is true?” asked a puzzled Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It would appear so,” agreed Melissa, thumbing through today’s paper.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Prrrrr!!!” nodded a little, crimson, winged horse as he appeared from around the other side of the house.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Little Neptune?” I commented sullenly. We all looked at one another in total disbelief, then sat down quietly in the grass to think.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">The End<o:p></o:p></span></div>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-37635474568191072202011-04-04T11:21:00.000-07:002011-04-04T11:21:31.432-07:00Time Tornado - Chapter 19<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"The Adventure Concludes"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The ‘playroom’ was not as fun as it sounded. It was the devil’s own torture chamber; infested with all sorts of vermin, rats, snakes, spiders and all manner of repulsive creatures. Racks, hanging pendulum blades, and skeletal remains of those who have gone before were just some of the things that surrounded our immediate vicinity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I was strapped to a table; a pendulum blade hanging about three feet off my chest. Following the chain up with my eyes, I found that it disappeared into the roof of the cavern, but appeared to come back out a few feet to the right. It was attached to Rob, who was standing on the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Looking to my left, I saw that Lisa and Cindy were tied, back-to-back, and strapped onto a large roasting spit. Lisa was facing the ground and Cindy was facing the ceiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Looking up I saw an observation room, much like in a hospital’s operating theater. Lucifer and a now tied-up Melissa were within sight; behind a window of glass.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Satan smiled and spoke. His voice came through the glass as if he had activated a microphone switch.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Now, my meddlesome time travelers. You have all come to the end of your journey.” Melissa was gagged, but I could see her struggling.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You won’t get away with this,” shouted Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Yeh,” chimed in Cindy, “Athena will save us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You do not get it, do you?” replied the Lord of Darkness, turning himself back into the red mass of energy. He penetrated the glass and materialized in the playroom.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I am Satan. I am it. I am your worst nightmares and fears all rolled into one. There is no escape from me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “But if the gods could rescue Pegasus, they can rescue us,” stated Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That was ancient Greece. That was Hades. That was a watered down kingdom of evil. Zytus—in his capacity as Zeus—had some control over everything there. What you fail to realize is that this is not ancient Greece; you are not on Earth; you are not even in your own dimension. This is the here and now—and Zytus has no power over me here. I am not from Alpha Centauri; I am not some Atlantian adviser run amok; I am the personification of evil throughout the universe—throughout the ages—throughout every single solitary culture that has ever existed or exists or will exist throughout the stars.” He paused to sip from a silver goblet that stood on a little table.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “The blood of a previous playroom guest,” he smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name..,” began Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Not here,” grinned Lucifer, “It is over. You are all finished.” Reaching up with his arm, he set the pendulum blade in motion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> He walked over to the wall and pressed a large stone. As it disappeared into the wall of the cave, I heard the sound of large stones grinding together. I looked around to see what was happening. I found that the floor had opened up; beneath Rob on my right and the girls on my left.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Incubus!” bellowed Lucifer, “You forgot the hair!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Out of the shadows appeared an incubus with a large pair of shears. He began to cut the girls’ hair off.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Burning hair makes such a nasty smell,” he smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Bastard,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Now,” began Satan, with bits of delight in his voice, “here is how the game is played.” He set the rotisserie in motion. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “On this side, the girls will cook. Simple and straight to the point. My incubi just love freshly roasted human flesh.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You fiend!” stated Lisa, as her face rotated around toward the Lord of Darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Clichéd,” smiled Satan, then continuing, “and over here, as the lava pit melts this metal scrap heap,” he pointed, indicating the still-deactivated Rob, “he will get lighter and lighter—slowly lowering the pendulum.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Oh, do not worry,” he added with an evil chuckle, “the lava pit will rise upward; maintaining a constant melting temperature.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You can’t do this!” stated Cindy, as her face rotated around toward the Prince of Evil.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “And just who will stop me?” He waited for an answer, knowing full well that one wasn’t going to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “To continue; once you are sliced into lovely pieces,” he added, making slicing motions on my chest with his sharp fingernail (at least one of these actually cut into my flesh), “I’ll probably have you baked; maybe into a nice, rat casserole.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Could you at least reactive the robot, so I can say good-bye?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,” he chuckled, “did I fail to mention that I read minds as well. That spell book is not only useless to you, but it is useless to me. Let it burn here in the fires of Hell.” His tone then changed from jovial to downright evil as he added, “it is time to die.” He once again turned himself into the red mass of energy and rejoined Melissa in the observation booth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unless one of you has a brilliant idea,” I started, slowly and most solemnly, “I will now close my eyes and think about the good times we’ve shared. I love you both.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Larry,” began Cindy, “since we all grew up together, I want you to know that you’ve been like a brother a me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I agree,” said Lisa as she rotated toward me, her face beginning to drip with sweat. The stubble of what once had been her hair was a sad sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I’m sorry,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It’s not your fault,” said Cindy, “we all came along by our own free will.” She rotated away.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “This is how it ends,” sighed Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I looked up at the observation booth, just as Lucifer ripped Melissa’s top off. She struggled and I heard her muffled scream through the glass, as he ripped the gag out of her mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Glancing over toward Rob, I watched as the bubbling lava below began the melting process on his treadle section. His arms were already slumped forward and hanging into the lava, small flames leaping up his arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Looking up I noticed the swinging pendulum blade begin to lower itself. I closed my eyes and felt the tears begin to roll down my cheeks as I prepared to die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-75220559754762813882011-03-07T09:21:00.000-08:002011-03-07T09:21:48.625-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 18<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"A Matter Of Time"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Section1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The city of Atlantis was the only remaining section of the once great and now lost continent of Atlantis. After the earthquakes (that had sunk the land mass) all but the most essential personnel were air lifted off the ruined continent. They were returned to their planet, somewhere near Alpha Centauri (about 4.4 light-years from Earth).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Aquatic engineers were dispatched and repair crews immediately took to task the building of a dome over the ruined city. Normally, after such a disaster, the efforts to civilize the primitives of the selected planet would have been aborted, but too much had already been done. Had the educating been discontinued, the civilization would have ended in ruins—not unlike the city.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> After months of construction, the dome was finished and the city beneath it was drained and rebuilt. At this point, the advisors began their return to the planet, only to find that the civilization that they had unexpectedly abandoned on the surface had now decayed and changed on its own, without their knowing influence. The primitive’s belief in gods had all but vanished.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The leader of the Atlantians, Zytus, sent forth one advisor. His task was to fully ascertain the damage and to try to reacquaint the people of the Earth with the ideals and teachings that had been so abruptly halted. This advisor was nailed to a cross, mocked and laughed at as he died. Zytus vowed that from that day forth, that no Atlantian could interact with anyone from the planet above without his express permission.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> As the centuries past, Zytus began to selectively give his permission—on a limited basis—for one or two Atlantians at a time to take the form and substance of a human being. To achieve this, their immortality was revoked so that these advisors would live and die as humans. Immediately following death, their essences were returned to Atlantis and they were then reborn and raised in Atlantis.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Their contributions, as wondrous as they were, are noted in history books as the achievements of great men or women. The list of these hybrid humans is a lengthy “Who’s Who” of our greatest inventors, artisans, doctors and government officials. Unfortunately, I am not permitted to reveal any of these names here, by order of Zytus. This is the Atlantis that Melissa, Cindy, Lisa, Rob, Cleo and Woba now found themselves exploring.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Have you enjoyed your learning experience?” asked Athena, greeting them at a small, outdoor cafe.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “This place is marvelous,” noted Cindy, “my knowledge and understanding of the world has been increased 100 fold.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That’s too bad,” sighed Athena.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Why?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Because the knowledge you have attained here, may not leave here. Your memories of this place will have to wiped clean when you leave.” There was a moment of solemn silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Let us not worry about that now,” smiled Athena, “Larry and Little Neptune have just arrived. We must join them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Are they all right?” asked Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “They are,” nodded Athena pleasantly, “they were brought here by our liaison to the seas, Oceanus.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Poseidon,” stated Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “As you wish,” Athena stated. She guided the group into a large, circular building in the center of the city.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Elsewhere:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Have I not been good to you in the past?” asked the glowing mass of deep red energy, in a deep and ominous tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Of course you have,” responded the glowing mass of yellow energy that was the Time Keeper.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Then you must do this for me,” stated the red mass with an evil, threatening twist to his voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “If I did what you asked, I would not survive the wrath of Zytus.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “If you do not do what I ask, you will not survive my wrath,” stated the red mass of energy angrily, disappearing into a puff.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Now that you are all here, it is time to return you to your own time,” smiled Poseidon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We want to thank you for everything,” I stated, finishing up an input adjustment I was making to Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It is our pleasure, I assure you,” smiled Athena.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Yes,” came the deep, rich, familiar voice of Zeus (or Zytus as he is known in Atlantis), as he seemed to materialize out of thin air, “you have all restored my faith in mankind. Maybe someday we shall aggressively resume your training as a race. The other civilizations of the universe anxiously await your integration.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Thank you, Zytus,” replied Melissa with a slight bow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Zytus bowed toward Athena and on that signal, she turned toward us, waved her hand over our heads, and we all disappeared into a puff of white smoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I think I shall miss them,” smiled Athena, trying to hide a tear.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Now, now,” consoled Poseidon, “you know it is for their own good. Besides, maybe Zytus will allow us to begin with them...” Zytus cleared his throat, disapprovingly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “...when they are a little older, of course,” added Poseidon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> We found ourselves inside a dark cave. The air was thick and stale and motionless. The only sound was that of escaping steam.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Athena was sending us home, wasn’t she?” asked Cindy, looking around.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “As far as I knew,” replied Melissa, “Ow!” she added, touching the rock wall, “it’s hot.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well, Rob?” I asked, knowing the answer, “are we home?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unknown.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “If he says ‘unknown,’” began Lisa, “I take that to mean ‘no.’” She looked at me with a questioning look.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Figure out where we are!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “All right, all right,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Do not bother,” came an evil voice, as a deep, red glowing mass of energy materialized from the side of the cave.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I don’t like this,” whispered Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Neeeee!” reared Little Neptune, trying to kick at the mass of energy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You have been nothing but a nuisance to me since your arrival in ancient Greece,” stated the evil, red mass as it began to take form, molding itself into the shape of a man.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That isn’t who I think it is,” gulped Woba, “is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You bet your sweet bippy it is,” chuckled the Lord of Evil. The glowing mass of evil energy was now taking shape. Lucifer, Hades, Satan—whatever you want to call him—solidified in front of us. He was the embodiment of evil.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Dressed in black, the large figure of a thin man stood before us. He had a long, black flowing beard and thin evil eyebrows. His skin tone was dark with traces of red, burnt from the fires that must normally surround him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “How did we get here?” asked Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You are here because I want you here,” chuckled our adversary, “but if you must know, the Time Keeper is an old and dear friend of mine. When those do‑gooders tried to access the Time Tornado, you were diverted—sent here to me, with no hope of escape.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i>“Volnos, Ictos, Frrompton, Zalgart,”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">I quickly stated, installing the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Do not bother,” stated the evil one, jabbing his pointy finger into my stomach, “that Spell Book is useless here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, anti‑matter,” I whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Do not bother,” smiled Lucifer, throwing his outstretched palm toward Rob, letting loose a bright, orange fireball that immediately disabled our robotic friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Damn you,” I said, growing angrier.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Too late,” laughed Satan, “I am already damned.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What do we do?” whispered Melissa, clinging to my arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We have a little fun,” smiled Hades, grabbing Melissa and pulling her towards him. “You are an awfully pretty one,” he added, stroking her hair.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Leave her alone,” I ordered, stepping forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Your impertinence was amusing at first, but you have now grown tiresome. Incubus!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> A little, red creature with little horns, a pot-belly and a pointy tail appeared from behind a rock—mumbling or chattering something unintelligible through the drool that was running down his fat cheeks. He was about three and half feet tall. He bowed low before the Lord of Darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Take these...things to my stable.” The incubus nodded and out of his stomach emerged three smaller incubus’ (incubi?). After quickly growing to the height of three and half feet, each one attached a leash to Little Neptune, Cleo and Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “As for the humans,” stated Satan, “my playroom will make a nice home for them. I could use the diversion after I finish with this wench.” Melissa turned and slapped him hard on the cheek.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Feisty, bitch!” he stated, “On second thought, take her to the observation room.” The original incubus nodded again and split himself into four more incubi.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You can watch the others in the playroom—until they’re through...” Satan paused as if searching for just the right word. Finally he grinned the most evil grin, “...through with living. Take them!!!”<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"><br clear="ALL" style="page-break-before: always;" /> </span>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-26239604197925078882011-02-22T13:47:00.000-08:002011-02-22T13:47:05.086-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 17<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Food Or Fodder"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The mouth of the giant squid continued its munching movement. I had my fingers crossed that the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field would save me, but his mouth was so big, large enough to swallow me whole. Maybe I could make it through his digestive system intact. If that was the case, I would come back out...what was I thinking! I needed a miracle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> A silver globe, about seven inches in diameter, materialized out of the side of the dome, the reversed effect of a bead of mercury joining the larger pool. It hovered in the air about a foot above the girls.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Welcome to Atlantis,” came a third voice from the globe.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Thank you,” said Cindy, proud of her deduction.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You have been cleared for admittance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Cleared? By whom?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Your liaison officer is presently detained,” came the globe, “please follow the blue carpet to the waiting lounge. Once there, please make yourself comfortable; she will be with you momentarily.” The globe vanished into the side of the dome.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> There was a sparkle of light on the side of the dome and an archway magically appeared. The passageway was dark. As Melissa stepped through the archway, the passageway was suddenly bathed in a bright, yellow glow. A plush blue carpet materialized in front of them. It appeared to be suspended in midair, just a fraction of an inch off the floor. It rolled out into the passage and after about hundred feet, it turned left down another corridor. Melissa proceeded first, with the others close behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The passageway was all aglow. Woba ventured a paw out to touch the air just off to the side of the suspended carpet. The silver globe materialized without warning from the side of the dome and appeared in front of Woba’s nose.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Please stay on the blue carpet,” came the still calm and soothing voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Sorry,” said Woba, quickly pulling his paw back. The globe disappeared as before.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The blue carpet made a turn into a small chamber. The room was black. The moment Melissa stepped into the dark void, a flood of light, similar to that in the passageway, filled the lounge. The light this time was a soft lavender in color.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Inside the lounge was a table spread out with all sorts of foods. Four places were set at the table and on the floor were three golden bowls.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It looks as if we’re expected,” noted Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What do you mean?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I mean if Larry was here, we’d be four. And if Little Neptune was here, he’d use that third bowl over there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The archway closed up behind them in the same sort of sparkling manner. When they turned around they could to find no trace of where the archway had been.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Are we prisoners?” asked Cleo, tapping on the wall with his hoof, “or guests?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I don’t know,” replied Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Getting weirder,” said Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Now resigned to the fact that I was to become human chowder, I closed my eyes tight and squished up my face, bracing for the chomping to begin. By my calculations, I should begin being chewed...right...about...now.....<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Nothing. I opened my eyes slightly and found myself about five feet from the mouth of the giant squid. But he wasn’t looking at me. He wasn’t even looking at Little Neptune. He was looking at the mermaid who was gently petting him on the head. He seemed to have a smile (if that was possible) on his beaked mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> She nodded at him and smiled at me. The next thing I knew, the squid was gently setting both Little Neptune and myself down. The mermaid blew him a kiss as he disappeared into a crevice in the cave wall. The mermaid motioned for us to follow her and after another deep breath, we did.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The cave wound around in a sort of spiral and appeared to be heading downward. If this was a hidden entrance to some place, then the squid must have been guardian. How was he to know that we were following the mermaid on her instructions. He was just doing his job. I just wished she had saved us a little sooner. I had bitten what was left of my fingernails completely down to the nubs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> After a few minutes, the cave opened into a large chamber. Natural crystal‑like chandeliers hung from the high ceiling and dozens of mermaids and mermen swam about. All bowed as I passed, and they tried to pat Little Neptune on the head, only to find their hands stopped by the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> We continued through the chamber until we came to a very large throne. Seated in the throne—crown on head, scepter by his one side and trident at his other side—was none other than the Lord of the Seas—the god Poseidon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Just as the girls finished eating, the archway reappeared and in swept a familiar looking figure. Still dressed in her white flowing robe, the goddess Athena greeted the now well‑fed travelers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Athena! Is it really you?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Yes, my child. It is I,” she smiled pleasantly. The archway closed behind her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Is this really the lost city of Atlantis,” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It is. I do apologize for the incident with the Time Keeper, but you have to understand, he is on—how do you say it in your time?—he is on Hades’ payroll.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What time period are we in?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That is a tricky question,” she hesitated, evidently searching for terminology and concepts that they would understand. Finally she replied, “Atlantis is timeless. Let us just say that the earth, as you know it, has not existed for about 100‑years.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That would make it 2096?” calculated Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I wonder what it’s like?” pondered Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I am afraid that you are not permitted access to that knowledge,” smiled Athena, “but not to worry, you will be returned to your own time. We do have one question, though.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What’s that?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Where are Larry and Little Neptune?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> A silver globe appeared from the wall and headed straight for Athena.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Wisdom,” came the voice from the globe, “please report to Control.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I will be right there,” she replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Thank you,” said the globe, disappearing into the wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I am being summoned,” smiled Athena, “please make yourselves at home. You may wander through Atlantis, but please stay out of the red carpeted areas.” She handed everyone a holographic tag emblazoned with their names and faces on it. “Display these at all times. Should you be asked, you are the guests of Wisdom.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Your name is Wisdom?” questioned Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “In Greece I am known as Athena. In Rome, I am known as Minerva—I never was very found of that name. Either way, I am the adviser for wisdom and the arts. My job title is Wisdom—but you may call me Athena if you would like,” she smiled, waving her hand over the spot on the wall where the archway had been. The archway magically reappeared and she swept out of the chamber as gracefully as she had swept in.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Wait a minute,” said Melissa, sticking her head out into passageway. Athena was no where to be found.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “She’s gone,” said Melissa, returning to the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well let’s not wait,” said Cindy, heading for the door, let’s explore Atlantis.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “So that’s the whole story,” I said, completing my tale to Poseidon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well then, we must be off,” he said, motioning for his servants to prepare his undersea chariot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “To Atlantis?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Absolutely. You must rejoin the others and we must get you all back to the 20th century where you belong.”</span>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-11678328439637737892011-02-07T21:24:00.000-08:002011-02-07T21:24:44.882-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 16<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"The Domed City"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Hello,” I ventured, not really knowing if she could hear me through the Multi-Purpose Protection Field. The mermaid smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Do you understand me?” I asked. She smiled again, winked and quickly swam behind the rock.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Little Neptune, I’m going to put us each into separate protective fields.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Prrrrr,” he nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I repeated what “The Spell Book of Androganine” referred to as an ‘addendum spell’ which in this case had the effect of separating the Multi-Purpose Protection Field into individual fields. (Did I mention it was an absolutely amazing book!) Fortunately, this addendum spell was one of the little spells I had memorized, just in case it would come in handy. The mermaid watched curiously from behind the rocks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Free from cumbersome size of the larger field, I proceeded slowly toward the mermaid. Her eyes were deep blue; her skin, smooth and silky; her facial features where both crisp and soft at the same time. Her face seemed to beam through the water like a light shining through the darkness. I was no longer afraid of behind submerged in this inky ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Hello,” I ventured again. She smiled and swam away.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Since she was headed in the same direction that we had been traveling in, I decided we should follow her. I cast an addendum spell on Little Neptune’s Conveyance Spell. This allowed me to control his speed levels since he couldn’t speak. The two of us headed off after the lovely mermaid through the ocean—into the unknown.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The girls stared in awe at the vision that lay before them. For just behind the wall of boulders that the Starship Jupiter had cleared, was a city. Lit by some unseen source, the city glowed from beneath a nearly invisible dome. There were magnificent buildings with spired towers, stone sculptures and paved streets.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, what is it?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It does not compute. My visual inputs register its existence, but my sensors do not detect anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “But it is there?” stated Lisa, in a questioning tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unknown.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Where are we?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Where are we? I mean, where in the ocean are we?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “According to Rob we’re in the Atlantic, somewhere off the coast of Gibraltar, why?” replied Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “How deep are we?” she asked again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Depth is 31,633 feet,” reported Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That’s almost six‑miles!” calculated Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It couldn’t be,” replied Cindy, “it doesn’t exist.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Cindy, you’re getting weird,” said Lisa, “what doesn’t exist?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Atlantis.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The mermaid continued her swim forward, every now and then stopping and glancing back to see if I was still following. She, evidently, wanted me to follow her. As long as she continued in the direction that the Starship Jupiter had been pulled in at, I had no objections to following her. Maybe she was taking me to the where the ship was.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Shortly, we came upon a cave. She stopped at the entrance and waited for Little Neptune and myself to catch up. The opening to this cave was hidden from the surface and hidden from the bottom by a thick mass of undersea foliage that was growing out of the rocks; swaying hypnotically to the unseen tidal rhythms.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> She motioned for us to follow her and then proceeded in. I looked over at Little Neptune, who nodded his approval. Shrugging my shoulders and taking a deep breath, I followed the mermaid into the cave, closely followed by the little, crimson steed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> If not for the Illumination Spell that I had cast on our Multi‑Purpose Protection Fields, this cavern would have been pitch black. As we proceeded though, the illumination became unnecessary as the walls of this foreboding place were soon covered with strange luminescent plants. They cast eerie—and at the same time, beautiful—glows of light, enabling us to view all that lurked in the inky blackness. Strange crustacean creatures, the likes of which have never been seen before, scurried amongst the crags of the rocky bottom.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> After traveling for a while, a black fog appeared without warning, filling the water around me. I quickly lost sight of the mermaid and heard the frantic whinnying of Little Neptune behind me. The protective field was evidently now keeping something out, for I felt myself being jerked from side to side at sharp angles. I looked around and suddenly noticed large circles appear all over the outside of the field.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The field now shook violently. I felt like a genie in a bottle being tossed about. The same must have been happening to Little Neptune for his whinnying continued almost non-stop.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Speed Level 4,” I shouted, hoping to pull away from this force. I felt forward movement, but I was then tugged backward and sideways again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The inky blackness now began to clear and for the first time, I saw our enemy. It was—of all the stereotypical undersea terrors — an enormous squid. His suction‑cupped tentacles held tight to our protective fields. I quickly looked around, finding Little Neptune clutched in a tentacle up near the ceiling of the cave. He was trying to kick out at the squid, but the fields held tight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Little Neptune suddenly looked toward me and began braying and whinnying, motioning with his nose. I turned around to see a wide fanged mouth, opening and closing as I got closer and closer. The orange tailed mermaid was nowhere to be seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Was this it? Was this how it was actually going to end? Without “The Spell Book of Androganine” I was helpless to come up with any witty spells to save myself. After all I had been through; time tornadoes, Greek gods, medieval archers, freezing in a toga, earthquakes, vindictive Time Keepers...was this how it ended? Was I to be reduced to nothing more than fish food?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Prepare for landing,” came a soothing female voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, where’s that voice coming from?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unknown.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Is it another life-force?” asked an anxious Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unknown.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Please prepare for landing,” came the voice again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=429459774477928207" name="KILROY"></a>Looking out of the viewscreen, it was obvious where the tractor beam was emanating from. Below the Starship Jupiter was some sort of landing pad. It was located on the ocean bottom, just outside the domed city.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We can’t,” began Melissa, looking around the spaceship. Not being quite sure where the voice was coming from, she felt it best to address the air in general.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Our ship is encased in an Encapsulated Life Support Pod,” Melissa added.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> There was a moment of silence. The girls waited for some sort of response. Finally it came, by means of the soothing voice from beyond:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i>“Qwoetra, Malatin, Jepevion, Bobotos, Rae,”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Melissa’s eyes widened with each word. “That’s the incantation that removes the Els‑pod! How does she know that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “The Encapsulated Life Support Pod has been removed,” calmly stated the voice, “please prepare for landing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I guess we lower the landing gear,” stated Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.” Rob pushed the appropriate buttons and the girls heard a deep hum as the landing gear lowered itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The ship made an almost undetectable landing on the circular undersea pad. After a moment, the soothing voice came again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Thank you. Please stay where you are. You will be contacted by your liaison officer in just a matter of moments. Thank you for your cooperation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Cindy, do you think this is really the great lost city of Atlantis?” whispered Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It would make sense, doesn’t it?” she said, “Rob, give us a full run down of what you know about Atlantis.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative. Be aware that since the continent of Atlantis is a mostly considered a mythological entity, my programming of its existence is limited to legend and folklore,” he began.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Go ahead anyway,” said Woba, settling down next to Rob, “I love a good story.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “There are three distinct trains of thought as to its location,” began Rob, “the most prevalent one being that Atlantis was approximately the size of North America; situated off the coast of Spain in the center of the north Atlantic Ocean. The Greek philosopher Plato reported that the continent was sunk by a great earthquake. Another is that the Atlantian society was based on the Greek island of Thera in the Mediterranean, which was lost to cataclysmic volcanic activity around the year 1628 B.C. The third is that the continent sized Atlantis was lost during an unprecedented shifting of the tectonics plates of the Earth’s crust, shrouding it in a tomb of ice, beneath what is now Antarctica.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Regardless of geographic location, it is further thought to have been inhabited by a race of super humans that were actually responsible for teaching the rest of the world everything it knows. For example, the pyramids of both Peru and Egypt have their origins in this legend.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Parts of the legend are a bit more complicated than that,” added Cindy, this being her area of expertise, “in some circles, the continent is thought to have been an outpost for alien civilization. These aliens were Darwin’s missing link; taking primitive man out of the trees, educating and genetically altering him into what is now modern man. From their continent home, where ever it was, they sent forth the equivalent of missionaries...”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “...or liaison officers?” questioned Lisa, listening attentively.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Or liaison officers,” smiled Cindy. “Anyway, they were sent out to the four corners of the globe. They taught the primitives all about agriculture, stone work, government, and civilization in general. Because of their advanced ways and actual alien powers, they were considered by all of the primitive cultures to be gods. If this assertion is correct, then the Atlantians that went to Greece, for example, made their home atop Mount Olympus and used it as their base.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “So Apollo and Athena and all the others were actually aliens from another planet?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Exactly,” said Cindy, “I tried to question Athena on this point during the feast, but she just smiled and told me to believe what I wish. I took that as a ‘yes’.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “So when we were in ancient Greece, Atlantis was still afloat,” stated Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “In theory, yes,” smiled Cindy, “and now that we’re in the future, Atlantis is on the bottom of the Atlantic.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What a minute,” interrupted Cleo, “formally being mythological myself, I know a little about it. If this is Atlantis, and it’s been here for centuries, why hasn’t anyone been able to find it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “For the same reason that Rob doesn’t sense it. They don’t want to be found.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Besides,” nudged Woba, “you koleapi where around for centuries and no one could find you, either.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, do you have any sort of reading yet?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative. I am going through my circuits now to find the problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob,” began Cindy, “there is no problem. They do not want to be detected.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative. If my VIs can sense it, my sensors must be able to sense it. It is only logical. This does not compute.” (If a robot could sound frustrated, this was it).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The doors to the Starship Jupiter suddenly, silently slid open. No one came aboard and much everyone’s surprise, no water rushed in. The girls looked at each other, but neither of them had opened it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Please disembark your vessel,” came the same sort of soothing voice, but this time it was male.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well?” asked Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I guess so,” said Melissa, taking the initiative to go first, “stay close.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Melissa went to lower the gangway from a switch within the air lock, but found it already down. The little party proceeded down to the landing pad. Looking around curiously they found that a watertight dome now covered the landing area. While they’d been talking inside, the area had been covered and drained of all water. Only a slight residual moisture remained on the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> They proceeded slowly toward the main dome, along a red carpeted walkway. Above and all around them they watched fish swim by. They tried to see the top of the ocean, but it was miles away. When they reached the other end of the walkway, they found a sign that read: “Please Wait to Be Announced.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “This is beginning to get weird,” stated Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What do you ‘beginning’?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-54110522140832834772011-01-29T09:25:00.000-08:002011-01-29T09:25:36.397-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 15<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Two Leagues Under The Sea"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> As I regained consciousness, I found myself draped over Little Neptune’s back. Sitting up, I looked around to see nothing but ocean. There was no sign whatsoever of the Starship Jupiter. Little Neptune was airborne, hovering close to the surface of the water. With no one to talk to other than the winged steed, I decided it best to try to communicate with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Little Neptune,” I started, “where did they go in?” He swooped down close to a small section of ocean, motioning with his head to indicate the area of the spaceship’s entry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I wonder why the Els‑pod didn’t float like last time?” I pondered. (The last time I used the Els-pod was during the Kowdoon in the Magic Lands. The Els-pod—which was full of the army from Lizard Land as well as the others—bobbed up and down on the surface of the water.) “Well, at least the tractor beam seems to have stopped,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Prrrrr,” replied Little Neptune, nodding.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Which direction were they headed in when they entered the water?” I asked. Little Neptune indicated that with a quick motion of this nose.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You do realize that we’re going to have to go in,” I stated. Little Neptune shook his head negatively, his mane whipping back and forth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It’ll be fine,” I explained, “I can put the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field around us. It’ll protect us from the water.” Little Neptune seemed to think about it for a moment before he nodded in reluctant agreement.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I repeated the spell for the protective field. Immediately upon its appearance around us, we began to slowly sink into the ocean. The field is completely water tight, but does not float. I repeated the Illumination Spell and soon the lighted field containing both Little Neptune and myself was drifting slowly downward toward the bottom of the ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I tried to calculate our depth by the speed of our descent, but I lost track on the very long trip. The protective field seemed to be heavy enough to sink straight down, barely being affected by the sub-surface currents. Eventually, we landed on the sandy bottom at a depth of thousands of feet. Our impact caused a small cloud of bottom debris to obscure our view for a bit. The water was very cold and dark. After the cloud had dissipated, we marveled at numerous species of large and strange-looking fish that swam passed the protective field. It could see Little Neptune’s eyes widen in amazement at their appearance (as they must have gazed in awe at ours).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Why didn’t I use the Transmutation Spell to change the Starship Enterprise into a submarine?” I asked aloud, “then we wouldn’t now be separated from the others.” Little Neptune seemed to shrug at this. For a winged-horse without the power of speech, he was high communicative in his own way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I activated the Conveyance Spell, which would allow us to travel along the ocean bottom—elevated about six inches off of it. We then proceeded in the direction that Little Neptune indicated the tractor beam had pulled the Starship Jupiter in at.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Since the beam had pulled the space ship into the ocean at an angle, I assumed that the ship would have continued in a straight path along that angle. If this assumption was correct, it would not be that difficult to find them and the source of the beam. I just hoped that we were headed in the right direction—and that all of my assumptions were correct—or this would be a very long search.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Gliding silently through the water, the Starship Jupiter continued its angular descent through the Atlantic Ocean; the tractor beam maintaining its steady pull on the ship.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, where are we headed?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unknown.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Is Larry still with us?” asked Lisa, peeking out one of the portholes, trying to catch of glimpse of the lifeline.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What do you mean ‘negative!’” snapped Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “There is no lifeform presently clinging to the lifeline attached to this vessel,” explained Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Don’t get cute,” said Cindy, sitting on the floor, leaning up against a piece of equipment, “where is he?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “He is out of sensor range.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Wonderful,” said Lisa, “once again we’re imprisoned by the Els‑pod with no way out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, can’t you figure out where the tractor beam is coming from?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.” There was a moment of silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well?” asked Cleo, impatiently.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well, what?” asked Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Are his circuits all right?” asked Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I am in perfect working order.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Then answer the question,” ordered Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I have,” replied the robot, in what can only be described as a confused tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “No, you haven’t,” said Melissa, “I asked if you knew where the tractor beam was coming from.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative,” replied Rob, “please listen to the audio tape.” Rob rewound the audio input tape a short distance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Activating the playback, Melissa’s voice was heard on the tape:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “...can’t you figure out where the tractor beam is coming from?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Rob stopped the tape.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “The answer is affirmative,” he added, “I cannot figure out where the tractor beam is coming from.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Fantastic,” said Lisa, plopping down in the captain’s chair, “a robot who worries about semantics.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I am programmed to answer all inquiries as asked of me. I am not programmed to decipher what the questioner actually intends of a question asked.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “The fact remains that we are trapped inside this flying saucer, submerged somewhere under the Atlantic Ocean, and are being pulled toward god‑knows‑what by an invisible tractor beam. We still don’t know what time period we are in and we don’t know where Larry is.” stated Melissa, “this is not a comfortable situation to be in,” she added with all sarcasm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Woba, who had been quietly listening, suddenly leapt toward the viewscreen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Look!” He stood up on his hind legs, perching one front leg on the control board and pointed out the viewscreen with the other.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Directly in front of them was a wall of enormous boulders, stretching up at least 40-feet from the ocean floor. Peeking through the cracks in the wall, they could see a glowing patch of water, which was where they assumed the tractor beam was emanating from. Unfortunately, the tractor beam was pulling the spaceship directly on a collision course with the wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, quickly, can you pull away?” asked Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative. The engines cannot be fired off while either underwater or surrounded by the Els‑pod.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Will the Els‑pod hold up against a head-on collision with those rocks?” asked Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unknown.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Too late,” said Cindy, pointing out the viewscreen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Warning! Geological disturbance!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Not again,” said Woba, hiding his head under the console.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The water surrounding the Starship Jupiter suddenly began to violently shake back and forth, engulfing them in a churning sea of bubbles coming from below the ship. They were now only about 50-feet away from the wall of boulders. Peering through the now-obscured viewscreen, they could just barely make out even larger air bubbles coming up from around the wall of boulders dead ahead. The boulders separated with the help of this apparent undersea earthquake; leaving a clear path for the Starship Jupiter to proceed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Do you see anything?” I asked, after about an hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Neeeee,” replied Little Neptune with a negative shake of his black mane.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “And you’re sure we’re headed in the right direction?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Prrrrr,” he nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “All right,” I said, “let’s increase our speed, then. Speed Level 3.” This speed would normally be the equivalent of about 100‑mph, but underwater, it was significantly less.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Out of nowhere, I heard a banging sound. It was like someone knocking on the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field. I halted our forward movement and looked around.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Did you hear that?” I asked the winged steed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Prrrrr,” he nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I wonder where it’s coming from?” I asked, looking around. All I saw were rocks, fish and more rocks and fish.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> We proceeded forward at Speed Level 2 (or about 60‑mph), scanning the outer seas more cautiously. After a few moments, I heard the knocking sound again. Whipping my head around to where it seemed like the knocking was coming from, I caught the fleeting glimpse of a fin—a large, orange, fish fin—disappearing behind a rock.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Did you see that?” I asked. Little Neptune nodded. “That was one big fish.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Neeeee,” disagreed Little Neptune.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What do mean, no,” I asked, “what else could it be?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Little Neptune motioned slowly with his nose toward the back of the field as if there was something he wanted me to see. I slowly turned my head around to see what it was.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Hovering in the water outside the protective field was someone (or something) even more beautiful than Cleopatra herself had been. It was a fair-haired mermaid, with a large orange tail and a twinkle in her eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-20023438144796050102011-01-24T09:04:00.000-08:002011-01-24T09:04:31.513-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 14<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"The Big Pull"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Section1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The Starship Jupiter glided silently over the puffy white clouds; her occupants, taking a well-deserved rest from the adventures beset upon them thus far. The three young women and one young man slept peacefully in the lower deck quarters. At the helm of the spaceship, the robot—of tireless abilities—maneuvered the saucer shaped vehicle in a never-ending, circular hover until the humans awake. Napping in various corners of the vessel; a winged horse from ancient Greece, a cubed shaped, little, rubber creature from the Deadly Forest (now known as the False Forest) and a supposedly mythological and extinct beast from Living Land.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Ten hours passed before the occupants began to stir. They showered and freshened up. The young man opened an old, large book.., repeated some strange and unusual words.., and soon found himself and the others dressed in fresh clothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Two of the young women prepared a breakfast for the crew. The other young woman and the young man headed up to the main deck. They checked with the robot for a status report of anything that might have happened during their period of rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative,” replied Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That was certainly concise and right to the point,” I smiled. Melissa had her arm over my shoulder as I leaned on the control board next to Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Have your sensors figured out where or when we are?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.” There was a long pause as we waited for Rob to explain further.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well?” I said, impatiently.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We are located somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, west of Gibraltar.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What year?” Melissa asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “My sensors have yet to ascertain that information.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “They’ve had ten hours to ascertain,” I said, “what’s the problem?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We are not within sensor range of any civilization. My sensors scan for electrical impulses and sound waves from different cultures and then evaluate them. There are none.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We were headed forward through time, won’t we?” asked Cleo, stretching his legs as he awoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unknown. While we did enter the correct Time Tornado that would take us forward to the future, I am presently unable to determine where we did indeed end up. We may have been thrown completely askew of the time continuum after the fall through the earth and our flight out the top.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Are you picking up anything at all?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Pisces.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “The zodiac sign?” asked Cindy, coming up the lift to join us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I think he means ‘fish’,” laughed Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Oh,” said a puzzled Cindy, “breakfast’s ready.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Good,” I said, “I’m starved.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You said it,” added a now awake Woba Womba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, as long as there’s no one down there that can see us, take the ship in for a closer look. Maybe the clouds are interfering with your sensors.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative. Sensors functioning properly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Just do it,” I said, pressing the button on the lift.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative,” stated Rob, as we disappeared below deck.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Lisa and Cindy had synthesized some eggs and delicious smelling bacon. There was fresh squeezed orange juice and my favorite morning beverage: the magic elixir of life—coffee. Thinking back, it must have been about two days since I had had a cup; which was probably a world’s record for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I have a sensor reading,” came Rob’s voice over the intercom speaker.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We’re on are way up,” I said, grabbing a piece of toast and heading for the lift.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Arriving at the control panel, I looked out the viewscreen just as the sun began to rise in the east. It was reflecting off the deep, blue sea—a brilliant sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The girls were quick to join me and we all gazed in awe. It was quite a sight; the sun, slipping silently out of the dark void of night, illuminating the sky with morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What kind of sensor reading,” I asked, finally.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “A single electronic frequency that appears to be aimed directly at us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Like a scan?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative. We are being scanned.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “From where?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It is coming from the ocean.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Some kind of Pisces?” asked Cindy, smiling proudly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative. Frequency is of an electronic nature. It is not biological.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Can you isolate the exact location of the scan?” I asked, sitting down at the controls.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative. Electronic frequency is emanating out of the sea at a bearing of 262.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Let’s increase our altitude and see if the scan follows us,” I suggested.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative,” stated Rob, pushing the appropriate lever, “Warning! A second frequency is being detected.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Elaborate,” I instructed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It is an electromagnetic force. It is keeping us from increasing our altitude.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “A tractor beam?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Not again,” moaned Lisa, “can’t alien forces just leave us alone?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Electromagnetic force is increasing. Altitude is decreasing,” reported Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Full power to the engines,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.” Rob pushed the lever up to the maximum position. The engines increased their loud hum and we felt the Starship Jupiter attempt to pull away from the new force that was holding on to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Engines are reaching a temperature level that is undesirable,” stated Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You mean they’re overheating,” said Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “All right, just give them enough power to keep us from going into the ocean.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative. Time to oceanic entry: 12.9 minutes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I hope this baby’s waterproof,” said Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That’s not the problem,” said Melissa, “it probably is waterproof, but it probably won’t be able to withstand any sort of deep water pressure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Why not?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “There is no pressure in outer space. It, therefore, probably wasn’t designed to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Time to oceanic entry: 12.4 minutes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Now what?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What about that pretty rainbow thing that we used during the Kowdoon in the Magic Lands?” asked Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Pretty rainbow thing?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “He is referring to the Encapsulated Life Support Pod,” explained Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Of course,” said Cleo, “the Els‑pod will work this time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “How do you expect me to put an Els‑pod around the space ship?” I asked, “I have to run around you guys at high speed to activate the spell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You can still fly, can’t you?” reminded Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Oh, no,” I started, “I’m not going to fly around a space ship that’s plunging into the ocean at a 20 degree angle.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Then we all die,” stated Melissa, matter-of-factly. There was a pause. Woba came over sheepishly to me; his little square eyes looked sad.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I don’t want to die,” he sniffed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “All right, where’s that spell,” I said, rapidly leafing through “The Spell Book of Androganine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Goody! The pretty rainbow thing,” smiled Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You can do it,” Melissa said, kissing me on the cheek.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “This time, don’t forget Phase IV,” reminded Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What’s Phase IV?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “The end of the spell,” said Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It’s a three phased spell,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Time to oceanic entry: 10.2 minutes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “No, it isn’t,” explained Cleo, “it’s four phases. Phase IV is the part of the spell that places you inside the Els‑pod. If you remember the last time you did the spell, you were separated from us because you didn’t repeat Phase IV.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Cleo, I only have three phases to this spell. There is no Phase IV,” I said, turning the page.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Of course there is,” replied Cleo, coming over to look at the book, “let me see that; Phase II, Phase III...turn the page...I think you turned two pages at once.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I only turned one page. There is no Phase IV,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Boys, this is no time for bickering,” snapped Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Time to oceanic entry: 9.6 minutes,” reported Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I don’t have time to worry about Phase IV,” I started, “don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “How?” asked Lisa, “you’ll be left outside the ship as we plunge into the ocean.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I’ll connect a lifeline to the outside hook. As soon as the Els‑pod is complete, I’ll grab hold and put myself in a Multi‑Purpose Protection Field.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That should worked,” mused Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Melissa, would you write down the spell for me?” I continued, “I won’t be able use Spell Book out there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Larry,” began Melissa, writing down the spell, “be careful.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Prrrrr!” stated Little Neptune.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What is it?” asked Cleo. The two began conversing in some sort of equine language.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What’s he saying?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “He wants to go along with Larry. He said that since he can also fly, he can be of assistance just in case you can’t grab hold of the lifeline in time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Thank you, Little Neptune, but I’ve done this before.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Neeeee!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “He said,” began Cleo, translating once again, “that if you got hurt, there would be no way that we could get out to help you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “All of that from one ‘neeeee’?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “He does have a point there,” agreed Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Time to oceanic entry: 7.1 minutes,” reported Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Take him along,” urged Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “All right, come on.., just stay clear of the ship as I begin the spell,” I instructed. Little Neptune nodded his head in understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Wish us luck,” I said, hitting the button on the wall. The door to the little air lock slid open. “Rob, kill the engines, as soon as I give you the signal.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I grabbed a lifeline out of the locker and Little Neptune and I stepped into the air lock. After nodding my readiness to the others, they hit the button again, shutting the door. I took a deep breath and opened the outer door.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Little Neptune flew out of the air lock and hovered about 25-feet away. I hooked the lifeline onto one of the external hooks and—letting it hang there for later use—I flew out into the sky to begin the spell for the Encapsulated Life Support Pod (or “Els-pod” for short).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I immediately felt the tractor beam begin to pull me downward toward the ocean. Using all of my strength, I flew out of the beam and circled around to the back of the Starship Jupiter. The tractor made it very difficult for me to fly, so I had to make sure I stayed out of the beam’s way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Peering into the rear porthole, I motioned to Cindy for Rob to shut down the engines. As I heard their hum die down, the ship increased its descent toward the ocean, so I quickly began the Els-pod spell.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The first thing I had to do was to fly around the spaceship horizontally at high speed. This wasn’t very easy to do since the Starship Jupiter was now heading toward the surface of the ocean at a faster speed. I repeated Phase I:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i>“Frogtos, Erecktos, Vernoch, Dreb!”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> As I said this, there appeared a swirl of colors behind me as I flew around the ship. It looked like a rainbow coming from me. With every revolution I made, the rainbow got brighter and beneath it, an invisible, hard shell was beginning to form.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> As before, I discovered that this spell was a very powerful one. Taking total control of my body as I wove its magic around the others, I found that the tractor beam now didn’t seem to have any effect on me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> My body continued around the ship; self propelled by the spell. I was barely visible to others as the spell increased my flight speed well passed the 100 mph mark. All I could see turned into a blur. I held on tight to the slip of paper as I read Phase II of the spell:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> <i>“Risack, Grompos, Xluivln, Elevatra!”</i></span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> This time my body was propelled vertically around the Starship Jupiter. My rainbow wake covered it over and under. This too hardened into a protective shell.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> There was one more portion of the spell to read and then I’d be finished. The space ship was now being tugged more rapidly toward the ocean surface. The tractor beam must have increased in intensity, but it remained completely unnoticed by me as I repeated Phase III of the spell:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> <i>“Yoctob, Wondros, Coliptis.”</i></span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> This phase completed the spell and normally served two purposes: in addition to finishing off the spell, it also places little seats in the Els‑pod for everyone to sit on. Since these seats weren’t necessary, the only effect it had was to release me from its grip. I tried to grab for the lifeline, but I had no strength left to maneuver my way toward it. I looked up just in time to watch the Starship Jupiter plunge into the ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> As was the case last the time I used this spell, my body came to an abrupt halt upon finishing Phase III of the spell. I dropped, lifeless, into the ocean. I was physically drained, sickeningly dizzy and now soaking wet—bobbing up and down in the ocean, alone and cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Just prior to passing out from my exhaustion, I thought I heard what sounded like Little Neptune dive into the ocean behind me. The last thing I remember feeling was the little crimson winged horse coming up from underneath me and flying out of the ocean; my body lying limp across his back.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"><br clear="ALL" style="page-break-before: always;" /> </span>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-26641782526402682942011-01-17T20:57:00.000-08:002011-01-17T20:57:51.886-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 13<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"The Time Keeper"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Section1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, where did that voice come from?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Voice was generated by the life-force.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “A life-force, am I?” came the voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Larry, I’m scared,” confided Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Scared? I love scared,” replied the voice, “but not in you. Maybe I should reconsider my choice.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Who are you?” I demanded, “and what choice?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Tch, tch, tch, tch, tch,” came the sinister voice, “you really should temper your anger little human.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Who are you!?” I demanded again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Who I am is not important. Why you have violated my time continuum is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Your time continuum?” questioned Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You are the bright one,” came the condescending voice, “that is why I took over the other one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Took over?” questioned Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Yes,” he laughed, “your mind put up quite a fight. But that was a challenge that I loved so.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, how far are we from the top the tornado?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Oh, scooting out the top of my tornado will do you no good. I have sealed it off. You shall leave when I have finished with you and not a moment before.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What do you want with us?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I am the Time Keeper. I control all who enter and leave my continuum. You have already traveled through my domain—oh, let us see—eight times I believe—without any form of permission. And, free of charge, I might add.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We didn’t know anything about a fee,” stated Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “No, how could you have. But that is not my problem now, is it?” There was a period of silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, can we bust through the side of the tornado?” I whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Whispering will do you no good!” whispered the Time Keeper, mimicking me, “I can hear everything you say. You shall leave here when I have gotten due payment for your travels.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Melissa found a sheet of paper in her pocket and quickly jotted down a note. She handed it to me and placed her finger to the lips to indicate that she didn’t want me to read it out aloud.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Besides,” added the Time Keeper, “without the final word of that blasted Continuum Disrupter Vortex Spell, you are at my mercy. Only I can ensure that you get to where you want to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Looking at the slip of paper, it read: “Will the protective field keep him out?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I shrugged my shoulders, then said aloud, “If you are so all powerful, why has our Multi-Purpose Protection Field stopped you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You question my abilities? How dare you!” replied the Time Keeper. There was a hint a hesitation in his voice as he continued, “I stay out now, for I choose to stay out. But be assured; I can destroy both your silly little field and your puny little ship without any problem whatsoever—and I shall do so...in my own time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Lisa grabbed the paper from me and quickly scribbled: “He’s bluffing.” I nodded my agreement.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What do you want from us?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I require the services of an epidermal structure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “A what?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “He needs a body?” replied Melissa, half questioning.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That is right. I shall now take possession of one of your bodies so that I can leave the time continuum and walk among the peoples of the universe,” explained the Time Keeper. “I had originally chosen the one you call ‘Lisa’ for I felt she was physically the strongest of your puny group. But due to that freak earthquake, and that cursed Suspended Animation spell, I lost control of her!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “No! I refuse!” Lisa stated emphatically.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Not that you had a choice, but not to worry—I have changed my mind. I will now take the one you call ‘Larry’ for I see that he is the stronger and that he is the one who is truly in charge.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Lisa glanced over at me, “don’t let it go to your head.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “And what if I refuse to go?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Oh, you also have no choice, as I have already demonstrated. Now that we have that clear, I will now take you.” We felt the ship start to shake as if he had grabbed us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, what’s your analysis?” I asked, hitting the stabilizers. As the rockets went off, the Time Keeper screamed out in pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “The life-force appears to be unable to get through the protective field. Advise placing an individual Multi‑Purpose Protection Field around each of us for extra security.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Useless,” came the mocking voice of the Time Keeper, “I can get at you any time I like.” Regardless of this statement, I did as Rob suggested and placed us all into individual protective fields.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Is this spaceship equipped with any sort of weaponry?” asked Lisa, glancing around the control panel, “Photon torpedoes, laser beams, anything?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative. It is equipped with an anti‑matter beam.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Anti‑matter? Hah! That will not protect you,” shouted the Time Keeper, speaking in an uneasy tone, “do not even bother with it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well, at least you remembered some protection,” chided Melissa, patting me on the back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob,” I said, ignoring Melissa’s lack of confidence in me, “power up the anti‑matter laser and fire when ready at the side of the Time Tornado.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “No! You cannot!” shouted the Time Keeper. There was now an urgency in his voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What’s wrong, Mr. Time Keeper?” I asked, “I thought the anti‑matter would do no good?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Anti‑matter beam powering up,” stated Rob, “once fired, there will be a 20-second until the circuits increase to the necessary power levels.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Fire when ready,” I replied, calmly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Circuit activated,” stated Rob, lifting a clear protective cover. Under that was the red firing toggle switch. Rob flicked the switch up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Anti-matter beam fired. Time to actually blast, 20-seconds and counting. Nineteen, eighteen...”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Too late, puny humans. I have warned you!” laughed the Time Keeper nervously, “It will not work! The Time Tornado will reflect the beam back at you! You will be the ones destroyed!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob?” asked Lisa, “can it be reflected off the tornado?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unknown, twelve, eleven, ten...”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Larry! What did you do?” asked Cindy, panicking at the thought of instant death.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I did what I thought I had to do,” I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Five seconds to full power,” stated Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You have signed your own death warrants, little puny human! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Ha! Ha, ha, ha, ha!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Not just yet,” I replied, yanking at the controls of the Starship Jupiter, “hang on, everybody.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Quickly turning the ship on a downward angle, I watched as the brilliant green, anti‑matter beam exploded out of our ship and shot straight out toward the bottom of the tornado. I had hoped it would shoot harmlessly downward to the center of the earth, through the gaping crack that had been made by the earthquake. I say ‘harmlessly’ because on the long journey downward, I figured it would lose its mass and actually never get to the center of the earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Unfortunately, the angle of the ship was not quite right and the green beam shot out from us and struck the side of the Time Tornado near its base. It ricocheted upward, bouncing numerous times off the sides of the tornado.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Rob’s arm quickly reached out to the controls, seizing it from my grasp. Pulling it to the left, he threw the ship clear of the beam. We watched the bright green beam whiz past us and strike the top of the Time Tornado.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> There was a loud scream from the Time Keeper and a shower of colorful sparks—like fireworks going off. The accompanying sounds of the explosion rocked the Time Tornado. Rob, still at the controls, steered the ship upward toward the now opened vortex.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Don’t leave!” shouted the voice of the Time Keeper, “I need an epidermal structure!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, keep going!” I instructed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative,” he replied as we maneuvered out the top of the Time Tornado.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You shall never return to your own time!” shouted the now fading voice of the Time Keeper, “I will get you the next time you enter my continuum!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The sight of the Time Tornado grew more faint as we watched the viewscreen. We now had no idea what time we were in and no idea where we were headed.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"><br clear="ALL" style="page-break-before: always;" /> </span>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-4828800215654920322011-01-08T18:19:00.000-08:002011-01-08T18:19:53.380-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 12<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Going Up!"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The smoke and flashes of light disappeared. I looked around to find myself inside of a genuine spaceship, sitting on the floor with the others in similar positions. The suspended animated Lisa was still in Rob’s pincer. The falling sensation must have only lasted for a few feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I went over to what looked like the captain’s chair and sat down. It was positioned directly in front of a board of knobs and dials and was facing a window‑like viewscreen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, analyze controls and figure out how to fly this thing,” I instructed, “what’s our rate of descent now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Rob released Lisa and came over to the control board, “ROD is once again 36‑feet per minute.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Then we must be arriving at the core of the earth,” I said, “figure these out quickly and let’s get out of here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Cindy and Melissa had been walking around our new vehicle. After looking out various portholes, they decided that our ship looked decidedly familiar.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Larry, how did the spell know what kind of spaceship to conjure up?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I don’t know how it designed it, why?” I asked, still working out the controls with Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well,” she started, “remember the flying saucer on that old TV show ‘Lost In Space’?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “The Jupiter II,” I replied, “yeh, why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I think this is it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What do you mean?” I asked, pulling myself away from the controls. After looking around, I was amazed to see what looked like the set of the television series. “You know, it does have an uncanny likeness.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Look here,” said Cindy, peering out a rear porthole.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What’s up, Cin?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We’ve got two engines jutting up and outward from the rear. They look like the engines from the Starship Enterprise. You know, the one from ‘Star Trek’.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well, those were the two spaceships I grew up with,” I replied sheepishly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “The Transmutation Spell must have searched your subconscious for an idea of what you envisioned a spaceship to be. It then created one that was a combination of those two images,” explained Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The design of our new spaceship was indeed taken right out of memories from my television past. It had the body of a flying saucer, with two engine systems extending outward from the rear, upper deck, just as Cindy had described. The ship was two decks in depth and, fortunately for us, the controls were in recognizable symbols.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Rob explained the workings of the panel to me. The first thing we had to do was to activate the viewscreen and then run a systems check to ensure everything was in proper working order.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “All systems, including environmental, check out in perfect working order,” reported Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Excellent,” I said, “get us out of here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative. Activate thrusters.” I pressed the appropriate red button. Immediately, we felt the thrusters halt our descent.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Good. Now what?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Using the lever on your left, increase power to the thrusters until this dial indicates an upward motion,” instructed Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “All right, hold on everybody.” I slowly pushed the thruster lever forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “This is fun,” smiled Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The ship started its upward motion without much trouble. Maintaining the power level to the thrusters, we watched on the viewscreen. Within no time, the sides of this ‘tunnel to hell’ began washing away as we increased our speed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rate of Ascent: 45 mph and increasing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Can you control it, Rob?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative. My programming allows me to control and operate all sorts of vehicles and heavy machinery as I do not get drowsy or dizzy by my environment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You sound like a warning on a drug label,” said Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Was that a ‘yes’ then?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative,” stated Rob, taking over the controls.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Once we reenter the base of the Time Tornado, we’ll travel straight up to the top and exit there—if we can,” I said, “Then we’ll ascertain what time period we’re in and take it from there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Sounds like a plan to me,” said Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, how long until we exit?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “At present speed: 27.21 minutes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Good, then we have time to make some food.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What do mean ‘make food’?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Since you conjured up the ‘Starship Jupiter’—or whatever you want to call it—you probably conjured up some sort of food synthesizer. Both ships had one,” explained Melissa, “Cindy and I will look down on the other level.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Prrrrr!” said Little Neptune.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We’ll get you something, too,” laughed Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Is this how you get down?” asked Woba, sniffing around an elevator chamber.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Oh, not that,” moaned Cindy.’<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What,” I asked, defensively.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Couldn’t you have remembered that chic turbo lift from ‘Star Trek’?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What are you talking about?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You conjured up that silly slow moving lift from the Jupiter II,” pointed out Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well, excuse me!” I said, “you want the chariot back?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “No, no, no. That’s quite all right,” laughed Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Hey, what about Lisa?” asked Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Oh, yeh, I almost forgot her,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Don’t tell her that,” said Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, can you do another brain scan?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative,” he replied. I took over the controls of the Starship Jupiter and he once again placed his pincers on her temples.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Brain pattern is still registering normal,” reported Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Was she actually possessed before?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Possessed?” questioned Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You know; her mind taken over by the life-force.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative. Life-force is no longer present.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “How? Why?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unknown.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Is it safe to release her?” asked Woba, sniffing at Lisa’s knees.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I hope so,” replied Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative,” answered Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Removing the Suspended Animation Spell, Lisa immediately fell to the floor. Going over to her, Melissa and Cindy helped her up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Where am I? What’s going on?” asked a bewildered Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You’re all right now,” said Cindy, “come on, we’ll get you some water and fill you in on the details.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Am I dreaming?” asked Lisa, looking around, “this place looks awfully familiar.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That’s a long story, too,” chuckled Melissa, “come on.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The girls proceeded below deck while Rob and I concentrated on the control panel. This spaceship I had conjured up wasn’t half bad. There were plenty of interesting functions that it could perform and I pondered never changing it back into the golden chariot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The girls returned up to the main deck. They had indeed found a food synthesizer and had whipped up one of the greatest ham and cheese sandwiches that I had ever tasted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Mustard on one side, mayo on the other,” smiled Melissa, “just the way you like it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Thank you,” I said, putting my arm around her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Time Tornado is now one mile away,” reported Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Good. The sooner we’re out of here the better,” stated a fully re‑oriented Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “How are you feeling?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I’m OK,” she replied, “thanks for the suspended animation thing. Who knows what I might of done if I was left to my own devices—or should I say the life-force’s devices.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We have now reached the base of the Time Tornado.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Take her straight through, Rob,” I said, activating the external lighting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The Time Tornado was still spinning in silence. Rob reported that the earthquake (or the ‘seismic event’ as he referred to it) and our plunge toward the center of the planet were strictly geological in nature and were not caused by the life-force.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> We proceeded upward through the tornado, toward the top. The width of the whirlwind widened with each passing moment. The swirling, again, began to make us dizzy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Warning! Life-force is now returning.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Not again,” moaned Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, do we have some sort of protective field in this spaceship?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Good going,” said Cindy, slapping me on the arm, “couldn’t you have remembered the Enterprise’s shields?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Sorry,” I said, sarcastically.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What about external speakers?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative,” stated Rob. I cast her a questioning glance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Sure, you remember external speakers,” sarcastically added Cindy, raising her hand to slap me on the arm the again. I quickly grabbed her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Stop that!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Larry, quickly repeat the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field spell through the external speakers. That might allow it to surround the ship,” explained Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Why didn’t I think of that?” mused Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Good idea,” I said, grabbing the microphone and flipping the ‘on’ switch. I repeated the incantation and we heard the reassuring hum of the field establishing itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Life-force is still increasing in intensity.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Inside or outside the field?” asked Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Outside.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Phew,” I said, “that was close.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Indeed it was, little human,” came a strange and evil sounding voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-82710548154035567772011-01-04T06:36:00.000-08:002011-01-04T06:36:51.380-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 11<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Swallowed Up Whole"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I bravely closed my eyes and proceeded through the base of the Time Tornado. Still clinging to the reins, Little Neptune and the team followed me in—pulling the chariot behind. Upon entering, the sound of the whirling winds disappeared completely. As I tried to continue through to the other side, I found myself unable to penetrate the swirling mass.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Go back!” I instructed. I felt the chariot start backward a few feet, then come to an abrupt halt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We can’t go back out,” shouted Melissa, “the tornado seems to be one way!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Maybe the protective field is stopping us?” suggested Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I wouldn’t think so,” I began, “we entered with it up, but I’ll give it a shot.” I lowered the field with the appropriate incantation and we tried backing up again. Still no good.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Now that we appeared completely trapped inside the tornado, I waited a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the orange darkness. Once they did, I found the base of the tornado to be about 20‑feet wide; just enough room for us to fit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The swirling of the tornado around us was dizzying to watch, but we had no choice. The force that had originally pulled us in, now appeared to be holding us captive. We could not move forward, nor we could move back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I reached out with my hand again to try to put it through the other side of the great whirlwind. It felt solid, swirling under my hand like the side of a mixing bowl on a blender. I climbed back into the chariot to rejoin the others. Suddenly, the whirling of the tornado ceased and all was still.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Now what?” asked Lisa. Her voice echoed as if the tornado was a hollow metal cone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, analysis,” I said wearily.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unknown,” was his solitary reply.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Can you elaborate?” asked an equally weary Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob,” I started taking a deep breath, “where the hell are we?” I was not in the mood for his one-word answers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We are located inside the Time Tornado that will deposit us into the future.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Then why can’t we get deposited?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unknown.” He paused for a moment. “Warning! I am detecting a presence.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What kind of presence?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “A life-force. Warning! Life-force increasing...!” Rob’s circuits went dead and he slumped forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What’s the difference between a life-force and a lifeform?” pondered Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well, this is a fine mess. We’re trapped inside a dark, non‑moving, Time Tornado in god‑knows‑what time period of our past or future,” blurted Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Lisa, please,” said Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “And the robot’s dead. Perfect, absolutely perfect!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That about sums it up,” I said, casting Lisa a suspicious look. “Now calm down,” I added, “everything will be fine. I’ll have Rob up and working in no time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Why don’t you look in the Spell Book,” suggested Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Yeh, Mr. Merlin, check the hocus‑pocus guide,” sniped Lisa. She was really getting annoyed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Lisa, calm down,” soothed Melissa, “we’ll find a...”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Bite it, sister,” Lisa bitterly replied. Her attitude and demeanor were on a definite down slide.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Lisa!” stated Cindy, shocked at her friend’s tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You too, blondie. All of you, just leave me the hell alone and get me the hell out of here!” Lisa began violently pacing back and forth in the small confines of the chariot. She blurted out gibberish and her mood was becoming more and more unpredictable and erratic. Flipping quickly through the Spell Book, I came upon just the spell that was needed right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Wiggling my fingers toward Lisa, I repeated the incantation:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i> “Ceasius, Animanitos, Grolfog, Suspentos.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">An odd yellow glow appeared around her, then disappeared, leaving her lifeless.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What was that?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Take a look,” I said, pointing toward Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “She’s frozen,” stated Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Not frozen—suspended. I’ve put her into a state of suspended animation. She is literally frozen in time—not unlike all of us, I guess,” I said, looking around the interior of our tornado prison.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What’s going on? Why is she acting that way?” asked Cindy, staring at her now frozen friend, “And what’s wrong with Rob?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob’s all right,” I said, opening a hidden panel and hitting a reset button, “he just experienced some sort of overload—like a circuit breaker switching off.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Rob came back to life again. After a quick run through of his diagnostics program, he reported that all systems were in full functioning order.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Now, back to that life-force thing,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Life-force is still present.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Where?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Rob reached up with one of his arms and, spreading his pincer apart, placed it over Lisa’s face; one tip on her left temple and one on her right. The lights on his front panel began to flicker and blink rapidly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Brain wave analysis does not compute with the known brain wave patterns of Lisa,” replied Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Which means?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Which means that while she is still physically Lisa in appearance, mentally she is no longer Lisa. The life-force is here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Oh, wonderful,” said Cleo, “so we’re stuck inside a tornado with a possessed girl.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “And it’s dark and I’m hungry!” moaned Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Now hold on a second,” I stated, “everything can’t possibly be as bad as it seems.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I guess things could be worse,” replied Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Warning! Seismic anomaly imminent!” interrupted Rob. Our eyes widened.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What’s a seismic anomaly?” asked Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Earthquake!” blurted out Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Then, right on cue, the ground began to shake and crack. I quickly reinstated the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field and, for good measure, added the Illumination Spell which is used to light the inner confines of the protective field.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The chariot began to rock and shake furiously. The silence of the inner tornado was now replaced with the thunderous, echoing rumblings of a full fledged earthquake.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I don’t like seismic nomalies!” shouted a terrified Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The crack that had begun to open below us, suddenly split open wide—plunging the chariot into the Earth. Strangely, the fall was not a haphazard, free-falling, tumbling affair, but a controlled horizontal fall through the earth. Looking upward into the motionless funnel cloud, I noticed the orange Time Tornado beginning to swirl again and gradually it grew farther and farther away until I could no longer see it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> As the chariot continued its gentle plummet, I noticed that Little Neptune’s wings were flapping, trying to pull the chariot upward. I instructed him to relax and not to fight the force that was pulling us downward.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rate of descent: 36‑feet per minute,” reported Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That’s not very fast,” ventured Woba, regaining his normally brave posture, “I can spit faster than that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That’s an impressive credential,” mused Cindy, somewhat repulsed at the thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What’s pulling us down?” asked Melissa, “It can’t be gravity; gravity would be pulling us much faster.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It is a magnetic force. It is geological in nature—a natural phenomenon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “How far away is it?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It is far.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, ‘far’ is not a computative answer,” stated Melissa, “it is objective and therefore not the sort of answer that you normally give.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative. I am unable to calculate the exact distance to the magnetic source. It is deep within the planet—possibly near the center.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Journey to the center of the Earth?” asked Cindy, “why doesn’t that sound like much fun?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Where’s a good spell when you need one?” I asked, flipping through the great book.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Warning! Increase in magnetic force now magnifying the rate of descent,” reported Rob, “new R.O.D.: 3‑miles per hour and increasing. ROD: 10‑miles per hour. ROD: 18‑mph.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Something, something, why can’t I find something!” I said, angrily flipping through the pages of the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I’m falling! and I can’t pull up!” chuckled Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Shhhhh!” scolded Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, are your turbo boosters powerful enough to push us out of here?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative and negative,” he replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What does that mean?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “They are strong enough, but I am made of metal and am one of the reasons that we are being attracted to the geological magnet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, it’s not your fault,” said Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Thank you. ROD: 67‑mph and increasing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Why do I feel like this whole thing is hopeless,” I sighed, “I wish we never met Alexander the Great.” I paused for a moment, “what about the life-force?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Rob placed his pincers around Lisa’s temples again. “Life-force has dissipated.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well, that’s one good thing,” I smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “ROD: 93‑mph and increasing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Does anyone want to hear another problem?” asked Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I don’t,” moped Woba, “I’m going to hold my ears so I don’t have to hear anything else bad.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Woba,” began Cindy, “that’s childish.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I don’t care, I don’t want to know what’s going on. Just let me know when it’s all over.” And with that, Woba clasped his little rectangular ears with his rectangular paws.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Like I said, does anyone want to hear another problem?” asked Cleo, ignoring his rubberized friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Not really, Cleo,” I began, “but what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “The Multi‑Purpose Protection Field will not hold up under temperature conditions exceeding 250‑degrees Fahrenheit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What about that Els‑Pod thing?” suggested Cindy. “You know, the thing we used in Living Land to avoid getting poached in the Kowdoon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, can you give me an atmospheric reading?” asked Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative. External temperature is 120‑degrees Fahrenheit and rising. Oxygen content is insufficient for supporting human lifeforms.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Then that answers that,” stated Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Why?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “The Els‑pod Spell cannot be initiated from within a Multi‑Purpose Protection Field. It has to be done from the outside.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “And without one, I’m dead,” I deduced, “Right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Right.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Then that’s it? We’re done for it?” questioned Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “After all we’ve been through, I can’t believe this is how it all ends,” said Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “ROD: 115‑mph and increasing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, I think you can terminate the rate of descent reports,” I sighed, “they really won’t be necessary.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The three of us were now sitting in the floor of the chariot. Lisa remained standing there—frozen in her state of suspended animation. Rob held on to her with one of his pincers and clung to the railing of the chariot with the other—just in case the chariot took a tumble.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Melissa continued to flip through “The Spell Book of Androganine”; hope dwindling of actually finding anything useful. By this time we had all resigned ourselves to the fact that this was indeed it—the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> After about 15‑minutes of silence—and deep soul searching on our part—Rob interrupted with a report, “ROD: 97‑mph and decreasing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Decreasing!?” I shouted, jumping up to look over the side of the chariot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Woba, we’re decreased!” nudged an excited Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Woba removed his little paws from over his ears. He may not have been listening, but he had been peeking occasionally.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Decreasing!” he shouted, “I don’t want to shrink again!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “No, no,” explained Cleo, “we’re not decreasing, our rate of descent is decreasing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Oh,” smiled a surprised Woba. He looked around with much excited interest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Standing up, I tried to look out of the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field. The sides had fogged up from the temperature differential so I tried wiping it with my hand—only to find it extremely hot. Peering out the best I could, I couldn’t see a thing due to the internal illumination of the protection field. Repeating the Illumination Spell, removing all of our lighting. The Multi-Purpose Protection Field was now bathed in a warm red glow that was coming from below us. Cindy stood up to look out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, give me an atmospheric reading.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative. External temperature is 245‑degrees Fahrenheit and rising. Five degrees until Protective Field failure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Thanks,” I snapped, sarcastically.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “How far are we from the center of the earth?” asked Cindy, looking down at the red glow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Approximately 100‑miles,” stated Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Larry! I found it!” shouted Melissa, still searching through the Spell Book.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Found what?” I asked, kneeling down next to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “A spell that might work,” she beamed. “It’s a Transmutation Spell. According to its specifications, it will alter the cell structure of any item.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What do you mean?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I mean that we can change the chariot into something more appropriate for this situation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Like a rocket ship,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Or a flying saucer,” suggested Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Not a bad idea, Cin,” I said, “a flying saucer will be easy to maneuver and I can make it large enough for all of us to fit inside comfortably.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “ROD: 45‑mph and decreasing. External temperature: 247‑degrees and rising. Three degrees to meltdown.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Make it fast,” prodded Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “All right, here goes,” I said, looking at the book, “I don’t know how it’s going to work, so bear with me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> We stood up again; Melissa holding “The Spell Book of Androganine” out so I could read it. I began the spell:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i> “Transmution, Prestontion, golden chariot to a flying saucer with heat shielding, Valbot, Dognivtos, Snowpomtin.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> There were four or five large puffs of multi‑colored smoke accompanied by numerous flashes of light and bursts of what sounded like thunder. I heard Little Neptune whinny and both Cleo and Woba cried out. The floor of the chariot disappeared from under my feet and I felt myself falling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-17015442239190742392010-12-27T15:34:00.000-08:002010-12-27T15:34:09.167-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 10<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Where Are We Going?"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Section1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> It was a quiet journey through the skies towards the orange Time Tornado. Everyone was either full from feasting or tired—or both. As we approached the tornado, Lisa and Cindy held on tight to the sides of the chariot. They both were apprehensive about this, having never traveled through the Time Tornado in this controlled fashion. Melissa tried to convince them that it was no big deal, but they were still hesitant. The only time traveling they had done before had been that first disheveling trip through the windy vortex. Woba told us later that even he had closed his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The trip through the tornado was uneventful and the landing in Sherwood Forest was just as routine. We bid farewell to Robin and his men and thanked them for all of their help. Robin wished us a safe journey back to his future and as we flew off again, we could hear the final strains of a farewell song that Alan‑a‑Dale was singing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Motioning toward Robin Hood and his Merry Men, I repeat a solemn incantation:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">“Amnesiac, Podrepton, Gotair,”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What was that?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It’s a spell that Athena gave me just before we left. It’s a mind erasing spell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Why did you do that?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It’s far too dangerous for Robin Hood and his Merry Men to retain any knowledge of us or of their adventures with time travel. Do you realize how our past could be altered if they had knowledge of robots, flying chariots, winged horses, force fields, and humans from the 20th century?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I guess you’re right,” replied Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It’s a shame,” I sighed, “it would have been nice being remembered by Robin Hood.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well,” said Lisa, after a long silence, “that was one heck of an adventure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It sure was,” said Cindy, “imagine, meeting the gods of Ancient Greece.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Not to mention Alexander the Great and...that wench, Cleopatra,” stated Melissa, sarcastically.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Now, Melissa,” I chided her, “don’t be so hard. She just wanted the most attractive prince she could find.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You do still have cute knees,” Melissa chuckled, “I’ll have to keep you tunics more often.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “No thanks,” I replied, “the first thing I’m doing when I get home is to find a nice pair of jeans. These skirt things are drafty.” That started all the others laughing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well, I guess it’s time for the Continuum Disrupter Vortex spell,” I said, unstrapping the Spell Book, “let me get the spell out.” I flipped through the book to find the appropriate page. Not finding it, I flipped through the book more frantically.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What’s wrong,” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I can’t find the spell,” I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It is on page 321,” reminded Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I know it is, but there is no page 321,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Let me see that,” said Melissa, looking at the book. She flipped through the pages until she came to 320.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Here’s the problem,” she added, “it’s been torn out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What do you mean ‘torn out’?” asked Cindy anxiously.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I mean there’s a little piece of page stubble between pages 320 and 323,” said Melissa, closing the book, “someone has torn out page 321/322.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I thought the book was indestructible,” added Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Who would have done that?!” I asked angrily. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “During the period of time that everyone was turned to stone, the book was found on Athena’s table—in the open position,” reminded Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You’re right,” said Melissa, “it must have been torn out by Medusa’s sister.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I wish we knew that then, we could have search her lifeless corpse,” I snarled. “She probably had the page on her when we killed her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unfortunately that’s in the past,” said Lisa, “literally. The problem now is how do we get back?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Come to think of it, that shouldn’t be a problem,” I said, “Rob has the spell in his memory. Rob, repeat the Continuum Disrupter Vortex spell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative. Continuum Disrupter Vortex spell was never permanently entered into my memory.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Swift move,” replied Lisa to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Not to worry, Rob has it stored in his short term memory, don’t you Rob.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative, short term memory was dumped when I shut down that system to increase sensor capability in our search for Medusa’s sister.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Now what?” said Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What about the audio log?” suggested Melissa, “we used it once before to access the spell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Good idea,” I said, “Rob, rewind audio log to the last time we used the spell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative. Rewinding.” We heard the tape click off and begin the rewind process.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “This will only take a few moments and then we’ll be on our way,” I said, “hey, you guys,” I shouted toward Cleo and Woba, “how goes the flying?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “No problems up here,” replied Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It’s good exercise,” added Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Prrrrr,” chimed in Little Neptune.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well, Rob,” asked Melissa, after a suitable amount of time had passed, “what’s the spell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I do not know. The tape is a continuous loop and it has been a long period of time since the spell was used. It has been erased and is now longer on the tape.” There was a moment of silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Does anyone...remember the spell?” I asked slowly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Remember the spell!” shouted Lisa, slapping me on the arm, “you mean we’re stuck here in the skies over Merry Olde England?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Well?” I said, ducking a slap from Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Now let’s calm down,” stated Melissa, “I think if we put our minds to it, we can remember the spell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It was only a few words,” I added, sheepishly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “All right,” said Lisa, calming down, “what was it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I think the first word was ‘eons’,” stated Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “No, no,” I said excitedly, “it was ‘eonus’.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That’s right,” added Melissa, “and the next word was ‘regress’ or ‘regressing’...something like that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Regresstos,” smiled Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Good, good,” I said, “but for the future, the word is ‘advantos’. The Spell Book explained that for the past, the Time Tornado swirls counterclockwise. For the future, it swirls clockwise, so we have to specify which direction we wish to travel.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I don’t care which direction as long as it’s home,” stated Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Then here goes,” I said,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i>“Eonus, Advantos, 1996, Warminster, </i></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i>Pennsylvania, United States of America.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">I waited a few minutes, but nothing happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I don’t see a tornado,” said Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You’re forgetting the last word,” reminded Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You’re right,” I said, “but we’ll never remember that word. It must of had 45 letters in it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Forty letters, to be exact,” replied Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Cleo,” Melissa said excitedly, “do you know the word?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I’m afraid not,” he said, “I just remember that it was the longest word in the Spell Book. I think it started something like ‘volumflock’ or something like that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We’re sunk,” said Cindy, “we’ll never remember a 40 letter word.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Warning! Tornadoes, bearing 355, 0 and 005 degrees, 100 yards,” reported Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What do you mean ‘tornadoes’?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “As I reported, there are three tornadoes dead ahead.” Looking ahead, we saw the three orange whirlwinds coming up to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “How?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unknown.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Which one?” asked Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I don’t know,” I said, “Rob, what’s your analysis.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “One of the tornadoes is for the past, one is for the future. I do not know what the other one is for.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I guess we know enough of the spell to access the Time Tornado,” began Lisa, “but not enough to access the right one. Now what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We’ll head into the one that’s swirling in the direction of the future,” I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Warning! Decision on tornado must be made within 2.4‑minutes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I think we have another problem,” interrupted Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Now what?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Look,” she said, pointing at the tornadoes. Sure enough, instead of the chariot heading toward the top of the tornadoes (like it normally does) we found ourselves in a slow descent toward the debris clouds at their bases.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Hey, guys!” I shouted, “can’t you pull the chariot up?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “No,” replied Cleo, “something is pulling us downward.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Prrrrr! Neeeee!” whinnied Little Neptune.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, what’s going on?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “There has been an increase in the gravitational pull.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Is it caused by the presence of three tornadoes?” I asked, “cause if it is, we’ll turn around.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative. Source of the increase is unknown.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I’d better put up the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field,” I said, repeating the appropriate incantation. We heard the field surround us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Our descent was now more rapid and our angle of approach had increased to a point where we were all holding on to the chariot. We found ourselves helpless to keep the chariot in the air.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Don’t fight the force,” I instructed of our faithful team of horses...er...creatures.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Time to entry to one of the tornadoes is 18‑seconds.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, which tornado is the future tornado?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “The tornado bearing 005.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Little Neptune!” I shouted out over the winds, “head for the tornado on your right!” I instructed, motioning with my arm. We felt the chariot make a tug toward the right.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> As we flew through the debris cloud, all manner of branches and tree limbs bounced off the Multi-Purpose Protection Field. At one point, Cindy shouted that a squirrel had bounced off the field in front of her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> After passing through the cloud, I noticed that the ground appeared to be a nice, soft meadow. I instructed the team to try with all of their might to pull up, therefore leveling the angle of the chariot for a smooth landing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Regardless, we still landed with a slight thud, the orange tornado swirling almost silently in front of us, with the debris cloud blowing overhead. So close was the Time Tornado in fact, that if I had jumped out of the chariot, I could have reach out and touch it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Being the adventurous soul that I am, I did just that. Lowing the protective field, I jumped out and walked up alongside the chariot, clinging to the railing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Grabbing on to the front of the reins, I leaned forward and stuck my hand directly into the base of the mighty Time Tornado.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What’s it feel like?” shouted Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Nothing,” I started, “it doesn’t feel like a.....THING!” I yelled. There was a sudden yank on my arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What’s wrong,” shouted Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Something’s pulling on my arm!” I shouted back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “A creature?” asked Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “No, some sort of force.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Can you get free?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “If I could get free, would I still be leaning forward with my hand inside a tornado!” I snapped.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Quickly, I waved my arms and reinstated the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i>“Volnos, Ictos, Frrompton, Zalgart!”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “There’s only one thing to do,” I said, taking a deep breath, “Little Neptune, Cleo, Woba—pull the chariot forward.”<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"><br clear="ALL" style="page-break-before: always;" /> </span>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-44422829580388206912010-12-24T09:28:00.000-08:002010-12-24T09:28:13.405-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 9<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"The Blessing Of The Gods"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> When we arrived back at the top of Mount Olympus, we found that Robin Hood’s slaying of Medusa’s sister had indeed worked. All was once again alive and vibrant. The cold, clammy air of before was now bright and sunny; warm with the glow of the sun. As we found out later, Apollo had restored the warm weather once he was freed from his stone prison.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> We immediately proceeded to Athena’s palace to rejoin the others. Athena had already gone to Zeus to inform him of all the goings on. Since the father of all gods had already been turned to stone, he was well aware of Hades’ treachery and furious enough to proceed with appropriate action.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Once in the courtyard, I momentarily removed the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field just long enough for the others to get out of the chariot and into the warm air. Unfortunately for my frozen self, I had to restore it in order to continue Rob’s repairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “How about a blanket?” suggested Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “You got one?” I asked. Athena nodded toward one of her centaurs who galloped off to find one.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Athena’s staff had prepared a banquet for everyone. While I continued the repairs on Rob, the others all ate heartily and discussed the future and the past.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “How’s it going?” asked Melissa, bringing me a plate of food. The others were just finishing up as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It isn’t easy,” I replied, shivering, “I don’t have the proper tools. I’m not sure I’m doing any good at all. If I am, I should have his circuits functioning soon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The door to the courtyard burst open as Zeus entered. For the very first time, we found ourselves face to face with the father of all of the gods. He was much larger than the other gods, standing well over seven feet. He had a long, white, flowing beard and carried a large scepter. Galloping in behind him was the winged steed, Pegasus, led by Hercules.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I do not appreciate all of this misuse of the disrupter continuum,” he began in a very deep, concerned, yet comforting voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Zeus,” started Athena, “I am afraid it was unavoidable.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I realize that, my dear. I do wish to thank all of you for your efforts. Indeed, without your assistance, Alexander of Macedonia would still have been condemned by us all. In addition, Pegasus would still be in the clutches of my evil brother. Instead, I have stripped him of as many powers as I am capable of. He will not bother anyone for quite a few centuries.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What about Cleopatra?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “She has had her memory stripped of these incidents and shall not be able to return to this time to cause anymore havoc. As for these woodsmen from Britain’s future, you will have to return them yourselves,” Zeus replied, casting a glance toward Poseidon, “I cannot allow my gods to continue making their presence known in other times, let alone other cultures or lands.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I would like you to keep the chariot,” stated Apollo, “it will provide you with the transportation needed to carry you safely through the Time Tornado.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “And to repay you for all you have done,” stated Pegasus, “I would feel honored if you would allow Little Neptune to be one of your steeds. He is very strong and quite able to assist in pulling your chariot. I would like him to stay in the future to continue our line. Athena has informed me that there are no longer any winged horses like myself in the 22nd century?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “The 20th century,” corrected Athena.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Yes, the 20th century,” finished Pegasus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That’s very kind of you all,” I stated, “but without the repairs to my robot, I’d rather not leave just yet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Lower your protective field,” instructed Zeus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “His circuits will overheat, sir,” I replied respectfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Zeus nodded reassuringly and repeated, “Lower the field.” I reluctantly did so.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Now stand back,” he instructed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> As I stepped about three feet away from Rob, Zeus shot two small lightning bolts right out of his eyes. One hit directly on Rob’s cooling system, the other on the over-active power plant. I watched as little flashes of electrical current danced up and down his entire body. When the flashes disappeared, I heard the familiar sound of Rob’s cooling fans re‑energize and return to full power. Rob performed his diagnostics and then reactivated all of his other systems, which only took a matter of minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Thank you, Zeus,” I said, “you’ve saved me a lot of time. I don’t even know if I would have been able to repair him in this time, without the proper tools.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It is the least I can do,” he responded, “now, I am afraid you must prepare to leave.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “The chariot has already been instructed to return you all to Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, England. I believe the year was 1193?” confirmed Apollo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That is right, kind sir,” smiled Robin Hood, “A.D. if you don’t mind.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Of course, A.D.” smiled Athena, “after that, you may use the Continuum Disrupter Vortex spell in your book to re-access the Time Tornado. It will return you to your own time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “How do we return the chariot to you?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “There is no need; it is yours to keep. I have many others,” nodded Apollo. “I will also provide you with two steeds—in addition to Little Neptune—to pull your chariot.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Woba leaned over toward Cleo and they began to whisper to each other. Glancing over at them, my eyes met with Cleo’s. He looked back at me with a hopeful gleam.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “If it’s all the same to you, Apollo, I believe I already have two strong steeds.” Woba and Cleo smiled and stepped forward, very regally.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Indeed you do,” chuckled Apollo, “but are they capable of flight?” Woba looked again at Cleo and both of their smiles turned into little mopey pouts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That will not be a problem,” smiled Zeus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Shooting one small lightning bolt from his fingertip, it hit the harness of the chariot. The little flashes of current danced through the harness for while and then disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Now then, anyone strapped into that harness, will have the ability of flight,” he nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Woba and Cleo galloped over to the chariot for a better inspection. They were joined by Little Neptune and the three of them began some sort of conversation. Little Neptune could not speak English, but we were later informed that the three could communicate telepathically (as most animals do).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Our three, four legged friends were strapped into the customized tri‑harness—Little Neptune in front and the pair of Cleo and Woba behind (so that Little Neptune’s wings wouldn’t get in anyone’s way). We bid our farewell to the gods of Olympus and started down the cobblestone road that would lead us to the landing and take-off area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-2198390353452120612010-12-15T11:44:00.000-08:002010-12-15T11:44:25.564-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 8<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Call Him <i>Perseus II</i>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Section1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Exiting the Time Tornado, we recognized the landscape of Ancient Greece far below as we began our descent to Mount Olympus. Rob confirmed that we were indeed in the correct time and location, but as we approached the tiled landing area, something felt different.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> There was an uneasy silence as we landed on Mount Olympus. As we proceeded toward Athena’s palace, we noticed that there was no one else around. Unlike when we departed, the air was now clammy and muggy, but still hot. The weather had turned absolutely dreary.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> We no longer heard the multitude of birds as before. The clip‑clop of the horses’ hooves and the bumping of the chariot wheels along the cobblestone streets were the only sounds we heard. Oh, and the occasional sounds of the warm air exhaling through the horses’ nostrils, which helped to break the silence with rhythmic precision.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, analysis,” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “There are no lifeform readings within sensor range.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What do you mean ‘no lifeform reading?’ Where is everybody?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unknown,” replied Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Is something not right?” asked Robin Hood.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I’m not sure,” I mused, “there should be some people here, but the robot can’t find any. Not even the birds, Rob?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative. There are no lifeform readings.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That does not sound normal,” stated Little John.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It’s not,” I stated, “Medusa’s sister must have returned to do some more damage.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What kind of damage?” asked Friar Tuck.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “To look at her will turn one immediately to stone,” explained Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What happened to the fun we were going to have?” grumbled Tuck, slapping Alan‑a‑Dale on the chest with the back of his hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Maybe we should put up the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field again?” suggested Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Good idea,” I said. Having committed this spell to memory, I immediately recited the incantation:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i>“Volnos, Ictos, Frrompton, Zalgart.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Indent-Spells"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> We once again heard the familiar ascending tones as the invisible force field materialized around us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What has happened?” asked Little John.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Larry has just surrounded us with an invisible shield that will protect us from any dangers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I would advise not looking at her when we come upon her. I’m not sure how good the Multi-Purpose Protection Field is at protecting our eyes,” I said, “Rob, deactivate your VIs.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative. Visual Inputs, deactivated.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Alan‑a‑Dale began to sing:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">“All is silent, all is calm,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Protective shield, keep us from harm,”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Does he always do that?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Always,” chuckled Little John.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Doesn’t he know any happy tunes?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Only if he is in a happy mood,” smiled Robin. Alan nodded his agreement and smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> As we approached Athena’s palace, my worst fears were confirmed. We came upon nothing but stone statues. A stone centaur stood in front of a stone statue of Little Neptune. Standing at the entrance to Athena’s palace was the god of the sea himself, Poseidon; as still and as lifeless as the pillars that held up the palace.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, you’ve got to find Medusa’s sister,” I said, “her head should be made up of poisonous snakes, like Medusa’s was. Scan for a group of reptiles that seem to be attached to another creature.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “There are no lifeforms within range.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Can you widen the range of the scan?” asked Melissa. At this point, our four friends from the Middle Ages all had wide open mouths and blank faces at the technical jargon that was being bantered around.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative,” replied Rob, “I must increase power to the sensors.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Then do it,” I ordered, “Maximum sensor range.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “To increase power to the sensors I must shut down other systems,” stated Rob, “Some of these circuits have never been shut down individually before,” Rob stated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I still don’t see a problem,” I stated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It is not known if I was a finished robot when Lived Neerg stole me from the Living Land Amalgamated Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Manufacturing Company.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Huh?” asked a confused Friar Tuck.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “LLARAIMCO, Inc.” explained Melissa, “it’s where Rob was constructed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What about the other times you’ve been deactivated?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “The circuits I refer to are protected doing routine deactivation periods.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Huh?” asked Friar Tuck, again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, shut down each system in reversed priority order. One at a time, slowly,” I instructed, “let me know each one before you do it. Increase the sensors gradually and tell us the second you pick up any lifeform readings.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative. Shutting down external lighting.” Upon saying it, his lights went dark.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Larry, could we lose him?” Melissa whispered softly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “No, I think he’s just be overly-cautious,” I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Frequency transmitter...frequency receiver...”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Still nothing?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative,” replied Rob, “shall I continue.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Treadle movements...upper appendages...laser heat‑up circuits...”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Anything?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “She must be far away by now. How much more can he shut down?” she worriedly asked, “I don’t want to lose him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “He can shut down further,” I replied, confidently.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Rob continued to list his circuits and systems—one at a time—as he shut them down. Melissa got increasingly more nervous as the minutes ticked away. Rob was now pausing at least 30‑seconds between each system shut down to take a lifeform reading before moving on to the next.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Memory banks: long term...”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Do you have to?” I asked, beginning to feel a bit apprehensive about this whole operation<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Will he lose his memory?” asked a very interested Robin.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Not if it comes back on-line when he re‑energizes,” I replied. “Go ahead, Rob.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.” There was a long pause. His vocabulary circuits had been shut down earlier and he was finding it increasingly difficult to find the words to express himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Finally he added, “turbo drive...memory banks: short term...audio outputs and inputs...cooling systems...logic circuits...power plant...” There was another long pause and then silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Is he shutting those items down now?” asked Robin Hood. Modern technology appeared to fascinate him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I hope not,” I replied after a hesitation, “I think he’s just listing what he’s got left.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative,” came Rob’s stilted reply.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Go for the turbo,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What will that affect?” asked Melissa anxiously.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Unfortunately, it will further slow down his response times.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “A..fir..ma..tive..” came the sluggish reply, as his lightning fast turbo circuits shifted into the much slower, normal mode. I waited for a lifeform reading, but none came.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Cooling system,” I said after taking a couple of moments, “I think they take a lot of power.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Larry, wait!” Melissa interrupted, “I forget to tell you. When we first came through the Time Tornado, both Rob’s power plant and cooling system sustained some damage.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “A..fir..ma..tive... Coo..ling sys..tem..at..25%..... Pow..wer..plant... at.. 250%....”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Reduced cooling and over-extended power,” I mused, shaking my head “not a good combination.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “If he overheats, won’t he burn out his circuits, causing permanent and irreparable damage?” implored Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> After a moment of thought, I added determinedly, “No, he won’t burn out his circuits.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Grabbing “The Spell Book of Androganine” off his back, I quickly flipped through the pages until I found the spell I wanted:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i>“Frigitos, Zeb, 30 F.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What does that bit of wizardry mean?” asked Robin Hood.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “It means it’s going to get very cold in here, very quickly,” I replied, “tunic or no tunic,” I added, under my breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> As I said that, the temperature within the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field dropped immediately to 30‑degrees Fahrenheit (the spell had the option of 63 other temperature calibrations, but Fahrenheit was the only one I understood. Don’t ask me how the book seemed to update itself over the centuries, for I have no idea).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Go ahead Rob,” I instructed, “it’s safe to shut down what’s left of your cooling system now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “A...fir...ma...tive.” The familiar hum of Rob’s fans slowly faded away as, for the first time in his active life, they came to a complete stop. The eerie silence suddenly became eerier.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, let me know if you begin to overheat,” I instructed, “but to conserve your strength, just make some sort of beeping sound.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Larry,” pleaded Melissa, “there has to be another way to find Medusa’s sister.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “If you think of one, let me know,” I shivered, my tunic affording little warmth. The temperature I chose was certainly a chilly one.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, please,” I continued, “lifeform readings?” There was an extremely, long pause.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “BEEP” came the sound from our metallic friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">“Frigitos, Zeb, 20 F..,”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> ...I repeated the incantation, dropping the temperature another ten degrees.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Finally, Rob responded to the lifeform question, “Ne....ga....tive......”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Shut down memory banks: short term,” I instructed, “But make sure that past hour’s of memory is maintained,” I cautioned.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “A.....fir.....ma....tive.....”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Lifeform, damn it,” I muttered under my breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Robin and his Merry Men remained silent, evidently realizing the gravity of the situation. Even as the temperature dropped in the protective field, they continued their silence. In my tunic, I was shivering more than anyone. At one point I contemplated placing a separate, cooled Multi-Purpose Protection Field around Rob so that we could stay warm, but I was concerned about it hindering his sensors.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> After about a three minute period—that felt like a frozen eternity—Rob began to say something. His speech pattern was stilted; barely understandable.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Li....fff......forrrrr.....mmm. Dis.....stan.....nce: .....ni......nnn.....ty......se.....ve....nnn..... hu.....unnn...dr.....ed...... fff....eet. .........Dddd....oowwwnnnn......” Rob’s voice trailed off.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “9700 feet down?” I asked, in an icy-like daze.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Down,” confirmed Melissa, “we’re on a mountain top, remember? Mount Olympus is 9750 feet in height. Medusa’s sister must be just about off the mountain.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Rob, try to maintain a fix on her. Don’t answer me now, just let us know if her position changes,” I ordered, teeth chattering. “Anyone else know how to drive a chariot?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I can, my little friend,” smiled Little John, taking hold of the reins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “BEEP” came the sound again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I took a deep, chilly breath and then repeated the Cooling Spell:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><i>“Frigitos, Zeb, 10 F.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Little John, take us back toward that landing area, please,” I said, shivering even further. Melissa wrapped her arms around me and Robin offered his cape, which I gladly accepted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Certainly,” replied Little John, “Yah! Yah!” he shouted, pulling the team of four white horses around.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Under Little John’s masterful charioteering, the team took off with lightning speed as he deftly steered them down the steep and winding slopes of Mount Olympus. I curled up on the floor in the corner and shivered.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> After about ten minutes of descent, Rob attempted to tell us that the lifeform was stationary and we were overtaking it, but I stopped him mid‑sentence. The less he spoke, the cooler his insides would remain, even with his power plant over producing at 250% power. The internal temperature of the protective field was now stable at 10‑degrees, yet I still didn’t want to risk burning out any circuits.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Another few minutes past. The chariot (which was now racing along a mountain road near the base of Olympus) came to a halt. I had instructed Rob to start reactivating both sets of memory banks and the cooling system.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The memory banks came back up immediately, but I didn’t hear the cooling system kick in. Rob attempted to say something, but I interrupted him before he could and then instructed him to reactive the turbo drive. The turbos kicked in almost immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Cooling system inoperative,” stated Rob, using his normal speech pattern.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Drats,” I said, “hey, what about your auxiliary cooling system?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Negative. Auxiliary cooling was removed with the addition of the word processing unit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Oh, yeh,” I sighed, “sorry about that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Good going, Ernest Hemingway,” sniped Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Ernest....?” started Little John.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Never mind,” I interrupted, my teeth still chattering.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Is there some sort of further problem?” asked Robin.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Not if you enjoy being a popsicle.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “A popsy what?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Forget it,” I said, “Rob, distance to lifeform?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “25‑feet. Around the bend.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Human?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Partially,” stated Rob, “partially reptilian.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “All right. How are we going to do this?” I pondered.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Alan-a-Dale began to sing:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">“It doth occur to me,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">That if sister one doth see,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">To stone at once they be,” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “That’s about the gist of it,” I nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">“Then around the bend the horses go,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">With the chariot and us in tow,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">They will all turn to stone,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Their loss we shan’t moan,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Within range we will know is the crone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Very perceptive,” nodded the fat friar approvingly, patting the minstrel on the back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Then I shall follow just a few paces behind the team, my bow at the ready” decided Robin Hood.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “But to look at her will turn you to stone as well,” reminded Little John.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “We have to try,” I said, “Robin, you’ll have to hit her with your eyes closed.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Shall I hit her in the heart?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “No, strike her in the neck if you can. It has to be the neck.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Then I am ready,” he stated confidently.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> I repeated the incantation for the Multi-Purpose Protection Field and the descending hum was heard as it came down. The sudden rush of warm air felt wonderful, especially to my chilled bones.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Robin,” I added, “get an arrow ready. You’ll only get one shot at her. I’ve got to raise the field as soon as possible to avoid burning out Rob’s circuits.” I took a deep breath, still trying the shake the chill.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Do you think he can do it?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Of course he can,” stated Friar Tuck, “he is the finest shot in all of England.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Not to fear,” replied Robin.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Removing an arrow from his quiver, Robin Hood took aim at the trail ahead of us. I instructed Little John to proceed slowly around the bend.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Just as the chariot cleared the bend, we came to an abrupt halt as our four, white horses turned immediately to stone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Robin pulled back his arrow, taking aim, when he suddenly froze.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Omigosh, he’s turned to stone as well,” shouted Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Without hesitation, I leapt from the chariot. Racing to the stoned Robin Hood, I took out my trusty pocketknife. I could hear the snakes in Medusa’s sister’s hair; all hissing and spitting as they sounded the alarm. Quickly sawing through the end of the arrow, I was able to release it from the bow. It shot through the air at the speed of light, straight and true, just as Robin had aimed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> The arrow hit its mark with deadly accuracy, for Robin Hood and the four white horses immediately became un-stoned. They shook their heads and stomped in place in an attempt to get their circulation going again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Peering around the bend for the first time, I saw the most hideous creature I had ever seen. It wasn’t just her face that was disgustingly ugly, but her stringy hair was intertwined with dozens of ghastly, green serpents. We had come upon her while she slept under a tree by the side of the roadside (which accounted for Rob’s report that she was stationary). Medusa’s sister now lay dead on the ground—red blood pouring out of both ends of the wound. The arrow had pierced her neck and gone straight through to the other side.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> Robin and I returned to the chariot where I immediately restored the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field and returned the temperature to a sub‑freezing 10‑degrees.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “What happened out there?” asked an anxious Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “As swift a as the great Robin Hood is, the sight of that creature turned him instantaneous to stone. Fortunately, he had been able to take deadly accurate aim. and for whatever reason, the bow and arrow didn’t turned to stone. All I did was to release the already aimed arrow and that was that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Brilliant shooting, Rob,” lauded Little John, patting Robin Hood on the back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “I was a two man effort, my friend,” he added, smiling at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Let’s head back up to the top of the mountain,” I shivered, “everyone should have been returned to normal by now. I’ll start work on Rob’s power plant and cooling system.” With that, I removed the little tool box that was hidden within Rob’s treadle and began to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> “Hang on, then” stated Little John, taking the reins of the chariot once again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> As he pulled the horses around, we began to race up the side of the mountain. Much to his surprise, instead of racing back up the winding, Olympian road, the team of milky white steeds took to flight at the first opportunity, soaring the chariot high into the blue sky.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"><br clear="ALL" style="page-break-before: always;" /> </span>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-31403379767856781182010-12-07T17:41:00.000-08:002010-12-07T17:41:42.456-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 7<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"A Thief In The Wood"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Section1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “That must be it,” I said, in a loud voice.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The swirling of the winds was beginning to get louder, drowning out sounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Unknown,” stated Rob.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “Atmospheric readings do not register that tornado as a standard weather phenomenon.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> It does not compute.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What do we do?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Nothing, I guess.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Poseidon said the chariot would know what to do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I would advise holding on,” stated Rob, locking both of his pincers to either side of the chariot’s railing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I would advise holding on to your tunic, my prince,” laughed Melissa, as the winds began to lift up the little skirt of my tunic, “we wouldn’t want you to get a draft.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Very funny,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Or flash all of England,” she added with a sly chuckle.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I chose to ignore her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The horses continued forward, their legs kicking rhythmically, seemingly undaunted by the swirling tornado before them.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The sound of the swirling winds got deafeningly louder.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Melissa and I clung to the chariot and each other as we watched the horses disappear into the side of the tornado.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Slowly, the entire front of the chariot was engulfed in the swirling force in front of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> It was an odd sensation as we entered the tornado.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> It was a sheet of wind that didn’t affect us nearly as much as it should have.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Rob later informed us that the Time Tornado was swirling at an incalculable speed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Entering the center of the tornado, all got silent and still as we watched the horses soon disappear through the other side of the great vortex.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The sound of the winds was not heard on the inside of the tornado.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Melissa and I were both too astonished to speak.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> We exited the Time Tornado in a matter of seconds; the entire journey taking about 15‑seconds total.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> We found ourselves once again in a big blue sky.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Large, white, puffy clouds drifted below us as we were still too high to see the ground.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The chariot gently sloped downward as we began our descent.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Breaking through the clouds, we saw a lush green, thick forest below us.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> From the legends we had read, we wouldn’t have to go looking for Robin Hood—he would find us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The chariot landed gently on the ground at the edge of the forest.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The team of horses came to a stop and Melissa and I jumped out of the chariot to stretch our legs.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Rob activated his turbo boosters to lift him off the chariot and transport him down to the grass..<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Rob, where are we now?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Sensors indicate that we are standing on the edge of the royal forest of Sherwood.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The year is 1193 A.D.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The Time Tornado worked again,” smiled Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “And you’d have to admit, traveling via chariot is a lot nicer than tumbling through it by ourselves.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “My sensors are indicating numerous lifeforms in the vicinity.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Human?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Let’s get back into the chariot and proceed slowly through the forest,” I suggested.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “And for extra protection, what do you say to a Multi‑Purpose Protection Field?” suggested Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Good idea,” I replied, as we boarded the chariot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Waving my arms from side to side and over my head in a semi‑circular pattern, I repeated the spell:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">“</span><span style="font-size: large;">Volnos, Ictos, Frrompton, Zalgart</span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">”</span></i><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> We heard the familiar, small, ascending hum that lasted a split second and then reached out to feel the hard, invisible force, approximately five inches from the edge of the chariot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> I took the reins of the horses and guided them through the entrance of Sherwood.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The team was very well behaved; which was a good thing because I had no idea how to control a team of horses.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Melissa spent the time thumbing through “The Spell Book of Androganine” trying to locate some sort of spell that would provide us with appropriate clothes for the time period.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Rob kept us abreast of the various movements of the human lifeforms in the forest, but none were close enough to be of any kind of threat to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> After about an hour of traveling through Sherwood Forest, we stopped at a clear stream for some water.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> It was such a hot day, I decided to take a dip in the cool, babbling water.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I lowered the Multi‑Purpose Protection Field and guided the horses to the water; before stripping to my underwear and taking the plunge myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Melissa busied herself looking for some nuts and berries, since we had had nothing to eat since leaving the 20th century.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> That certainly seemed a long time ago and unlike traveling in another dimension like Living Land, we were hungry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Warning!” announced Rob, after about 10‑minutes of swimming, but it was too late.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> My head was forcibly pushed under the water and held there for a short period of time.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I was yanked back out by my hair and then dunked under a second time.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I tried thrashing out with my arms, but I couldn’t hit anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Finally, I reached back underwater with one of my legs and managed to slip it between the legs of my dunker.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> With one good kick upward, I felt the grip on the hair disappear.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Popping out of the water, I coughed and gagged, spitting out amounts of water that I had tried to avoid swallowing.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> As I caught my breath, I heard the groans of someone who had just been kicked in the groin.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I also heard the hearty laughter of other voices.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Spinning around, I saw Melissa and Rob standing on the edge of the stream with three men.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Good shot, little man,” chuckled the familiar looking stranger, “Little John has never been so humbled.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Be careful, Robin,” warned the gravelly voiced, little, fat, bald friar, “he could be dangerous.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Dangerous,” laughed Robin, “a nearly naked boy in a stream is very rarely dangerous, my portly padre.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “That was a dirty trick,” chuckled my large dunking partner, “it would never have be done by a gentleman.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Neither would dunking a stranger,” I snapped back.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> After catching my breath, I headed toward the edge of the stream, “Melissa, do you mind?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Not at all,” she laughed, turning her back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Rob, hand me my clothes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Rob (who had been holding my tunic for me) approached with outstretched arms.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I quickly initiated the drying spell and dressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Neat trick,” smiled Robin, after I was dressed, “I have never seen one dry so quickly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “And what a cute little outfit,” laughed Little John.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Now, what was all of that about?” I asked, referring back to the incident in the stream—and ignoring Little John’s comment about my clothes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It was just little test,” chuckled Robin Hood.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> (I now knew why they were called Merry Men, since they always seemed to be in jovial moods.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Well, it wasn’t very nice,” I responded in a sour tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The fourth stranger—who had yet to say anything—began to strum on his mandolin and sing:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">“There was no harm, there was no foul,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The water sport was fun for now,”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Well sung, Alan,” smiled Robin, “my friend,” began Robin, with a bow, “allow me introduce myself.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I am Sir Robin of Locksley.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I know.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> It is a pleasure to meet you,” I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “This is Alan‑a‑Dale, my faithful minstrel.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Alan nodded. “This rather round gentleman,” stated Robin, patting him on his tummy, “is the slightly corrupt, yet ever faithful, Friar Tuck.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Corrupt my a...” grumbled Tuck.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Now, now, my pudgy priest.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Watch your language in front of a lady.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The friar grumbled some more.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “And you have already met my faithful sidekick, John Little.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It was an honor,” I smiled sarcastically.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Now, don’t be angry little man,” chuckled Little John, extending a soaking wet arm, “it was just some harmless fun.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You’re right,” I conceded.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> As I gave him my heartiest handshake, I performed the Drying Spell on him.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He was (to say the least) a tad surprised at his sudden dryness.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Just a little trick I picked up,” I smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “And a good trick at that,” laughed the large woodsman.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Robin Hood was dressed in green.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Many assorted shades of green.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He wore the expected green hat, tipped off with a red feather.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> His boots were made of deer hide and he wore his bow and quiver (containing numerous feather stabilized arrows) flung over his shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The other Merry Men were dressed in assorted layers of clothing, mostly in browns, greens or tans.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Friar Tuck was clad in a large, dark brown, sack cloth robe, tied at the waist with a length of robe.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The other three wore leotards (as was the custom).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Now then, my queerly dressed friend,” began Robin, “what brings you to Sherwood?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You do,” I started, “to get right to point, we are travelers from your future.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Ha, Robin,” interrupted a skeptical Friar Tuck, “you are not going to believe that tale, are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “When someone has a walking, talking man of metal and says he is from the future, you tend to believe he is telling the truth,” chuckled the jolly outlaw.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Thank you,” I replied, “we don’t have much time, but the long and the short of it is that we need to take you back with us into the past...”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Aye, but he said he was from the future,” noted Friar Tuck, to Robin, “why then should we travel with him to the past?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “...to help slay a monster.” I concluded.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Slay monsters, did he say?!” laughed Little John, “Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha...”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It’s true,” urged Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Well, little lady,” started Friar Tuck, nuzzling up to her, “if it will please your loveliness, I shall slay the monster,”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “With your breath, no doubt,” stated Melissa, pulling away.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Well, spoken!” shouted Robin, “a fine woman.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Well, Rob,” started Little John, “what do you think?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I think lots of things,” replied my Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I love this metal man!” laughed Robin, slapping him on the back, “this could be fun. But, I must insist on bringing my Merry Men along.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I’m sure that would be no problem,” replied Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Alan‑a‑Dale began to sing:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">“We are off to slay monsters, off to the past,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope we have fun, I hope it will last.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Just how do we go back through time?” asked an inquisitive Little John, scratching his bearded chin.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “We have a chariot that will take us there?” I stated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Satan’s chariot, no doubt,” mumbled Tuck.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Your religious training is getting the best of you,” stated Robin, “if you want to stay behind, say the word.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Not on you life,” replied the friar.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Excuse me, Mr. Hood,” ventured Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Robin, dear.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Call me Robin.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Robin, can you shoot an arrow with your eyes closed?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Melissa, that’s why we’re here,” I whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “No, no, it is a valid challenge,” started Robin, placing his arm around Melissa, “I am—I believe I can say this..,” he directed toward his men, “...the greatest shot in all of England?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Europe?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> What does it matter?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I shoot the king’s deer.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I rob from the rich and give to the poor.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I stay happy.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Robin’s squeezing of Melissa’s shoulder was getting to be a little more than just friendly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Ah, Robin,” I ventured, “she’s with me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “No offense intended, master Lawrence.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> But with a fair maiden like that, you cannot blame a woodsman for trying.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Rob, would you please get the chariot,” I requested.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Rob let out a high pitched whistle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I could have done that,” I said.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The chariot, pulled by the four white horses, made its way into the clearing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “That is going to carry us into the past?” replied an increasingly suspicious Friar Tuck, “not some sort of flying saucer or alien spacecraft?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “No, this is it,” I replied, “it does a remarkable job.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Then it’s settled,” announced Robin Hood, “we are going back to the past.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The six of us climbed aboard.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> It was tight fit; Melissa and I stood in front, Robin and Alan‑a‑Dale half-sat on the side railings of the chariot.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Melissa warned them that they would have to hold on.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Little John said he would take care of that and placed a large hand on each of their thighs to hold them in place.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> After allowing Rob to board the chariot via his turbo boosters (which was certainly interesting to try to explain) we were ready to take off.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Chariot, take us back to Olympus,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The chariot lurched forward as the horses took to the sky. Friar Tuck let slip a few choice words—words that one would not normally expect to hear from a man of the cloth.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He then reverted to a small self‑centered prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Robin Hood and Little John marveled at the sights of England from the sky.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> They had had no idea that beauty of that kind existed on such a grand scale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> And Alan‑a‑Dale sang:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Flying high, into the sky,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Indent-Spells" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We see our forest, I heave a sigh.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> As the deep green speck of Sherwood faded from view, we found ourselves heading through the misty clouds.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I briefed Robin and others on what to expect from the Time Tornado.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I also let them know about Medusa’s sister.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The orange tornado was now visible, whirling endlessly in front of us.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Robin and Alan‑a‑Dale got down from the edge of the chariot and we all held on as the Time Tornado roared and whipped its furious winds at our approached.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Friar Tuck let out a few more expletives as he watched the horses disappear into the whirlwind.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"><br clear="ALL" style="page-break-before: always;" /> </span>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-13534775952889005632010-12-04T17:19:00.000-08:002010-12-04T17:19:24.766-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 6<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Stone Cold"</span><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Lounging back on large cushions in the throne room, Cleopatra and her king‑to‑be, Prince Lawrence of Arabia, drank wine out of large golden goblets.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The new prince had been bathed by the hand maidens; his odd clothes burned and a fresh white tunic now draped over his body.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Dozens of hand maidens were waiting on them, hand and foot. Large male servants waved even larger palm fronds above their heads to provide a cool breeze.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Grapes were generously dropped into the waiting mouths of the Queen of Egypt and her new Prince.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “So, my love,” began Cleopatra, “how does it feel to be royalty?”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She craned her neck up for another grape.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I do not remember a time when I was not royalty,” I responded in a very regal tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You do not recall my finding you; wandering around in the Sahara?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Wandering?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Me?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The Prince of Arabia and Egypt?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Do not be absurd my dear.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “No, of course not,” smiled Cleopatra.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Her hypnotism was working like a charm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Just then, a large burly guard burst into the throne room, “your highness, there is a problem in the inner courtyard.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> A stranger has come....”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Cleopatra!” boomed Poseidon, barging into the room, “you know not who I am, but believe me.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I am all powerful.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Guards, seize him,” ordered Cleopatra, calmly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> As a group of guards approached the god Poseidon, he let loose a lightning bolt from the tip of his trident.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> A ball of flame roared toward the oncoming guards, sending them hurling out of his way as he continued to approach the throne.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Behind him, sticking close, was Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “As I was saying,” he started, casting evil glances toward the guards as they began to regroup, “I have brought someone who wishes to speak to your new prince.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Larry,” urged Melissa, stepping out from behind Poseidon, “Larry, it’s me, Melissa.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I know no one named Melissa,” I stated, “why is she dressed like that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Larry, you are not the Prince of Arabia or Egypt or anywhere else.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Stop calling me by that vulgar term—‘Larry’.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I am his royal highness, Prince Lawrence of Arabia.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Be gone, peasant girl.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Guards!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Make her be gone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Peasant girl!” stewed Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Now, now,” comforted the god of the sea, “he does not know what he is saying.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She has got him hypnotized.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> See that scarab amulet around her neck?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I do not know who either of you are,” started Cleopatra, “nor do I care.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Leave here at once.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Not without him,” pointed Poseidon with is long arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Larry, remember?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The 20th century, television, VCRs, compact discs...you must remember!” urged Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Go away!” I ordered.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Movies!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> You remember movies!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Laserdiscs, James Bond, Steven Spielberg!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Music!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> You love music: Billy Joel, the Beatles, Paul McCartney!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “McCartney,” I said slowly.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> That struck a familiar cord.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> My head began to spin again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Poseidon, can’t you do anything?” pleaded Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Guards, these strangers have grown most tiresome.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Get rid of them,” groaned Cleopatra.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Maybe this will help you remember,” said Poseidon.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He let loose a much smaller lightning bolt from his fingertip, striking me right in the head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Reeling back on my cushion, I fell to the floor.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Shaking what felt like cobwebs out of my skull, I got back up and looked around.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Where am I?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Never mind that now,” shouted Melissa, grabbing my hand and pulling me alongside her and Poseidon, “cute knees,” she added with a chuckle, looking down at my tunic.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Guards!” boomed Cleopatra, “Get them!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Just then, there was a large puff of orange smoke and the three of us were gone.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Poseidon had accessed the Time Tornado with the help of his trident.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Cleopatra stormed out of the throne room to a small adjacent chamber.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Reaching into her silk robe for the small orb, she called for Anubis.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What is it now!” boomed the voice from the orb.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “One of your Greek gods has just taken the stranger back with him,” she stated, “this whole operation has failed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I have taken care of everything.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> By sunset you will either have the stranger or Alexander back—permanently.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> As the orange smoke dissipated in the courtyard of Athena, Poseidon, Melissa and I found ourselves face to face with stone statues of the others.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Walking around the statues was a small, crimson, winged horse.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What happened?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Little Neptune,” started Poseidon, “come here.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The little crimson horse trotted over to the god of the sea.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Poseidon appeared to be communicating with him telepathically, even though the little horse only answered in nays and whinnies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “This is Little Neptune,” introduced the god of the sea, “the youngest of Pegasus’ three sons.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He says that he came here to find out if there was any news on his father.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He found everyone in this state.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Poseidon knocked on Apollo’s stone head with his fist.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I have always wanted to do that,” he chuckled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It must be the work of Medusa,” stated Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “No, my child, that is impossible,” replied Poseidon, “that Gorgon was slain by Perseus.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He walked around to Athena’s statue.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Maybe she has a relative?” I suggested, leaning on a stone Woba Womba. “A sister maybe?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “There have been rumors of two such sisters, but they have never been confirmed,” noted Poseidon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Affirmative,” came a voice from the other side of the courtyard.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Rob,” said Melissa.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Running over to him, we found he stood next to a Lisa and a Cindy statue.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The others were indeed turned to stone by a sister of Medusa.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She arrived here shortly after your departure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Why didn’t you stop her?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “My circuits were affected by the sight of her through my visual input sensors.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I was unable to function for a period of 18.9 minutes.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Initiated repairs were successful.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Where’s the book!” asked Melissa, as she discovered that the Spell Book was no longer strapped to Rob’s back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Here it is,” stated Poseidon, “it is on the table.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Good,” I said, flipping through the pages, “maybe there’s something in here that will free the others?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I don’t see anything in the index,” replied Melissa, looking over my shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “No, I don’t either,” I said, closing the book and strapping it onto Rob’s back, “now what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “She must be destroyed,” stated Poseidon, “as long as she lives, they will forever remain statues of stone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “How can that be accomplished,” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “An arrow must be driven through her neck.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Easier said than done,” I mused, “if anyone aims an arrow at her, they’ll be turned to stone also.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Then someone must be found who can accomplish that task with their eyes closed,” chuckled Poseidon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Do you have anyone in mind?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I am afraid not.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Perseus is no longer with us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I know of one person,” I smiled, determinedly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Who?” asked the undersea god.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Sir Robin of Locksley.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What?” laughed Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Robin Hood,” I repeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You’re crazy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “No, I’m serious,” I replied, “if we can go forward through time to Merry Olde England, we can bring him back here and he can surely do the job.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It sounds like this Robin Hood is the only way,” began Poseidon, “I know by approving of this, both Athena and Apollo shall give me what for.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> So much continuum disruption is not good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What a second,” interrupted Melissa, “not to burst your bubble Larry, but Robin Hood is a myth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “So are Greek gods,” I noted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You’ve got a point there,” she laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Then it is settled,” nodded Poseidon, “you may use Apollo’s sun chariot.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I can arrange for it to carry you through the Time Tornado to your destination and then return you to this location.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Poseidon motioned toward Little Neptune, who trotted out of the courtyard to retrieve the chariot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Excellent,” I said, “Rob, what year?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “1193 A.D.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> A few minutes later, Melissa, Rob and I were positioned in the golden sun chariot of Apollo.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Four milky white steeds were hitched to the large chariot.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Little Neptune and Poseidon stood by as we prepared to depart.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Do not stay too long in the future,” cautioned Poseidon, “remember what Athena has already said about your current presence in your own past.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “We’ll be back as soon as possible,” I said, “besides, dressed like this, I’m liable to be shot with an arrow.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Good,” replied the Lord of the Seas, “er, not that you might be shot, but that you will be back soon,” he smiled.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “All you have to do is tell the chariot were you wish to go.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> When you are prepared to return, simply state ‘Olympus.’</span><span style="font-size: large;"> It will do the rest.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Good luck.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Chariot, take us to Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, England, 1193 A.D.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The chariot lurched forward as the steeds headed down a cobblestone road.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Melissa and I looked back and waved at Poseidon.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I sure hoped this would work.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Stone statues of Lisa and Cindy on my front lawn were not exactly the decor I had hoped for.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The weather was warm and the birds were singing, but the streets were kept empty (as we found out later) by a decree from the gods.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The less contact we had—even up here on Mount Olympus—the better.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> We soon arrived at a tiled area near the edge of a cliff.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Upon reaching it, the steeds instinctively lifted off towards the sky—their legs kicking rhythmically through the air.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I wasn’t sure if the horses where pulling the chariot or if the chariot was pushing them.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Either way, we were airborne and in no time we were high above Mount Olympus, and still climbing deep into the clouds.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> After a few minutes, we came to a break in the clouds.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> What we saw in front of us, took our collective breaths away and put a touch of fear into our hearts.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> In front of us lay an enormous, swirling, orange tornado.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-64678269129882484272010-11-27T08:10:00.000-08:002010-11-27T08:10:30.460-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 5<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"It's Getting Crowded In The Past"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “That’s it,” started an impatient Melissa, after another hour had passed, “time’s up.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> If Larry was all right, he would have come back from the past by now.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> If he was going to be eating there, he would have told us that.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Since he’s not back, I think we have to assume that something’s gone wrong.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Melissa, calm down,” soothed Lisa.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She and Cindy had been summoned by Rob as the hours had passed.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Melissa needed some human comforting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Besides,” she continued, “how would he contact us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “He would have returned or at least sent some form of written message,” noted Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You’re right,” replied Melissa, after taking some time to compose herself, “let’s take this thing logically.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Even if he’s not in trouble, we owe it to him to check it out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Agreed,” nodded Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Rob, search your logic circuits,” began Melissa, in a calmer tone, “is there anyway for us to initiate time travel?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Searching,” he replied as the lights on his front panel flashed and blinked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What about if we head for the hollow tree in the field and go through the dimensional vortex?” suggested Woba, “we could make our way to Jingleland and ask Bringle Brand to send us back through time to the place where Larry is.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Or, better yet, we could ask Bringle to bring Larry to us.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> We could all travel to the Deadly Forest—which, as you know, as been renamed the False Forest—and we can all have a nice swim in the crystal clear river that alters its temperature to the comforts of all who use it; and then a lunch; and maybe even sleep over before we came back here......”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Woba!” shouted Lisa, “please!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It was just a suggestion,” he replied in a mopey, dejected sort of tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “There is only one way that I have calculated the initiation of time travel,” stated Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Well?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “We must enter the Continuum Disrupter Vortex as Larry did.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> It is the only way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Even I know that only Larry can utilize the spells in the book,” started Cindy, “and even if we could, we don’t have the book or know the spell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Correction.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> You do not know the spell,” stated Rob, “it is presently on my audio log of the day’s events.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I, therefore, know the spell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It still won’t work,” said Lisa, “only Larry can use the spells.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> It’s that Grotog thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Wait a minute,” interrupted Melissa, “your audio log?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> What audio log?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “One of my functions over the last few years has been as a...” Rob paused, almost sounding ashamed of what he was going to say, “as a dictating machine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “How degrading,” commented Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “My audio input is now recorded on a continuous loop of audio tape.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Larry goes through the taped logs and chooses which data and events are worthy of saving for historical purposes.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> They are then permanently recorded into my memory.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Can you playback Larry’s execution of the spell?” Melissa asked, with a little gleam in her eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> There was a whirling sound from Rob as he rewound the tapes of the day’s events.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> After a few moments, he began the playback:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Indent-Spells"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Ah, yes, here it is,</span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">” came my voice from over Rob’s speakers, “</span><span style="font-size: large;">Continuum Disrupter Vortex.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Larry’s voice and Rob said a few more things then:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “<i>Oh, goody! Time travel!</i></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">” cheered Woba’s voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Hey,” shouted the real Woba, “I sound pretty good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Shhhhh,” cautioned Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Rob, can you equalize your audio output to make Larry’s voice sound more natural?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Equalizing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “<i>Uh, oh,</i></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">” came my voice over the speakers, “</span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>we have a slight problem...</i></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “A little more volume,” instructed Melissa, “make it sound as if he were standing right here.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Affirmative,” replied Rob, making the adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “...<i>say good-bye to the 20th century, Alex. I’m taking you back,</i></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">” came my voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Stop tape,” ordered Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What are you up to?” asked Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It’s just a shot in the dark,” replied Melissa, “but maybe, just maybe—if Rob’s audio output is at just right levels—maybe the sound of Larry’s voice repeating the incantation on the tape will initiate the spell sending us back through the Continuum Disrupter Vortex.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> There was silence.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “What do you think?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Probability factor unknown,” stated Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “But we have to try.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> What can it hurt?” replied Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Who’s going to get to go through time?” asked a hopeful Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Rob has to go, since he’s the one repeating the spell,” reminded Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It might be safer if we all go,” suggested Lisa, “if Larry is in trouble, anyone of us could easily fall into the same mess.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Together we stand a better chance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “That’s all right with me,” said Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Why not,” agreed Cindy, “it might be fun.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Need I ask you two?” asked Melissa.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Cleo and Woba both nodded their heads in agreement.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> They were always up for a good adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Then it’s settled,” said Melissa, “if I remember correctly, everybody has to hold hands.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Eh‑em,” interrupted Woba, holding his paw up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “...Or paws,” giggled Lisa.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> They all held hands/paws to form a complete circle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Start tape, Rob,” instructed Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “<i>Eonus, Regresstos...</i></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">” my voice paused, “</span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>what year do we want?</i></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “<i>331 B.C.</i></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">” stated Rob’s voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “<i>I hope I can pronounce this last word</i></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">,” my voice continued, “</span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Eonus, Regresstos, 331 B.C., Palace of Athena, Mount Olympus, Greece, Volumptionflocktosmoniumbergingspheerius.</i></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> There was a moment of anticipation as the last sounds of my voice hung in the air.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Would this ploy work, or not?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Maybe he did mispronounce that last word,” began Lisa, “what was it: volumfl....?”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Before Lisa could finish, she was interrupted by a large puff of orange smoke, giving them their answer.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The entire group disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I still cannot find any sign of Pegasus,” reported Hercules.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Nor I,” chuckled Poseidon in his deep, jolly voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Then Hades must still have him,” replied Athena.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What about that human from the future?” asked Apollo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “There are no signs of him either.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I do not know who took him from this courtyard or where he was then sent to,” sighed Athena, “but there are not many who could have utilized that spell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> There was a huge puff of orange smoke and before any of the gods could blink, they were joined by a strange array of characters; three more humans, a metallic manlike creature, and two odd meat-creatures.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Poseidon drew his trident, poised for an attack, when Athena’s hand came up to stop him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Wait,” she replied calmly, watching the strangers as they attempted to stand after their dizzying trip.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The metallic manlike creature appeared to have been damaged, for he was lying on his back...motionless.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What happened?” asked a very disoriented Melissa, trying to undo a very large knot in her hair with her fingers.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> It was a tangled mess from the vicious winds of the tornado.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You have been brought through the Time Tornado, though I know not why or how,” stated Athena, calmly.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> They all looked up to see the goddess in long white silk robes standing in front of a group of what looked to be gods.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Where are we?” whispered Lisa, “And why is my head spinning?”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Equilibrium not withstanding, she tried to stand up; and failed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I feel sick,” moaned Cindy, “does anyone have a brush?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Lisa, give me a hand,” asked Melissa, noticing Rob lying on his back.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She and Lisa tried to stand him up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Allow me,” smiled Apollo, lifting Rob to his feet by himself.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Rob slumped over, his arms outstretched and his pincers dragging on the tiled ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Cin, is that the power pack?” asked Melissa, ignoring the strangers and pointing toward a little square piece of electronic gear.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Yeh, here it is,” she said.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Melissa inserted it into its proper grid in Rob’s back.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He immediately retracted his arms and stood erect.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The lights on his panels flickered and his antennae and circuits ran through their automatic diagnostics.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “All systems fully functional with the following exceptions,” he reported after a few seconds.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “Audio log...slight damage-repairable, cooling systems...broken fan rotors-reduced cooling capabilities by 25%...not repairable at this time, power-plant...stuck in overdrive...currently working at 250%.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The metal man speaks!” marveled Hercules.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Rob, any immediate danger to your systems?” asked Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Negative.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Good, we’ll worry about them later.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Where are we?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “We have been transported back through time via the Continuum Disrupter Vortex.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> We are presently in the courtyard of the goddess Athena, atop Mount Olympus, in the year 331 B.C.” replied Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Hercules, I want this courtyard sealed off immediately,” ordered Athena, “there will be no one allowed in here without my specific permission.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I cannot risk any outside contact with these strangers.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> There could be great damage done to the future if these people talk to anyone other than ourselves.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Yes, Athena,” replied the man of steel, “I will see to it at once.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Hercules left to do Athena’s bidding.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “My children,” began the goddess, “welcome to your past.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I am indeed Athena, the goddess of wisdom and arts.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> This is the god Apollo...”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “God of the sun, prophecy, music, medicine and poetry,” replied and awestruck Cindy, standing up finally.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “That’s quite a résumé for such a suntanned god,” whispered Lisa, rising to join Cindy on their feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It is indeed,” he laughed heartily.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “And you must be the god Poseidon, ruler of the water, sand and earthquakes,” stated Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “That is correct,” chuckled Poseidon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Oh, and horses,” added Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Hmmmm,” mused Poseidon in a grave tone, “horses.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Do not mind Poseidon.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He is very upset about the abduction of our beloved Pegasus,” started Athena, “You know your ancient mythology well,” she added, smiling at Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It’s kind of a hobby of mine,” she replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Well, let’s get right to why we’re here,” stated an impatient Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Yes, little creature, how may we help you?” smiled Apollo, patting Woba on the head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Where’s Larry,” asked Cleo accusingly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I wish we knew,” stated Athena, “one moment he was standing right here with Alexander of Macedonia.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The next moment, he was gone.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Here,” she continued, holding out the great Spell Book, “He left this behind.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The Spell Book of Androganine!” said Melissa, taking it and strapping it securely onto Rob’s back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “He would never have left without it,” reminded Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “He did not leave here of his own will.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He was taken.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “By who?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Where?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “We are still piecing the facts together,” started Apollo, “but it appears that for whatever reason, Hades...”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “He is the god of the netherworld, Zeus and Poseidon’s evil brother,” explained Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “That is right,” smiled Apollo, “and it appears that your friend’s disappearance has something to do with the disappearance of our beloved Pegasus and the false incrimination of Alexander of Macedonia.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Let me in!” shouted a centaur, bursting passed one of the servants that was guarding the entrance to the courtyard, “I have an important message for Athena.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “No one may enter,” stated the guard, angrily.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Let him through,” smiled Athena, understandingly, “what is it, little centaur?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I have located Pegasus,” he stated, galloping up toward the goddess (a centaur is a half man/half horse creature).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Where is he?” asked Apollo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “He is indeed being held by Hades,” replied the centaur.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Zeus must be informed of this,” stated Poseidon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “There is more,” interrupted the centaur, “I have also found out that he used some kind of ‘continyum’ to send someone off to the future—to Egypt.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I think I overheard the year 43.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “B.C. or A.D.?” asked Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What?” asked the surprised centaur, looking over toward Rob.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Athena quickly stepped between him and the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Thank you, my little friend,” she replied, “you will be justly rewarded.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Go now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The little centaur trotted out of the courtyard.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Apollo went over to a large podium and began thumbing through a book even larger than “The Spell Book of Androganine.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> As the god of prophecy, this book enabled him to look into both the past and the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Lord Hades,” ventured a demon imp, very nervously.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What?” replied the incarnation of evil.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “They know,” was his only reply.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Do they now,” grinned Hades an evil grin, “send for Medusa’s sister.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Tell her I have a little assignment for her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Yes, my liege.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What is it?” asked Poseidon, peering over Apollo’s shoulder.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He was still looking into his book of prophecy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “One moment, the future is still being altered,” he replied.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The book of prophecy was an ever‑changing record of the eons, past and future.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> As things happened that had an altering effect, the book itself would change to reflect any mutations.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> This was exactly what Apollo was waiting for.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “In the year 43, a stranger will appear in Egypt,” started Apollo, reading from the book.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He looked up at Athena with a worried look, “what do you think?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Could be,” she replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “...Prince Lawrence of Arabia will ascend to the throne in the year 30 after the death of his wife, Cleopatra,” concluded Apollo.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He closed the book and shook his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Cleopatra never married,” stated Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “She will now,” replied Apollo, “your friend was sent into the future and Cleopatra has got him.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> This book reflects the changes in the future that have already been made due to your friend’s presence there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “We must then go to Egypt and bring him back,” decided Melissa, “Lawrence of Arabia, indeed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I am afraid that if you all go, much more harm will be done to the future,” replied Athena, “I would recommend a small party.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Perhaps, Poseidon, you will accompany?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I would enjoy that very much,” he chuckled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Rob, you and I will go,” stated Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The metal man must stay behind.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> His presence would definitely be the most damaging,” stated Athena.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Then I will go alone with Poseidon,” resolved Melissa, “do you guys mind staying here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “No, not at all,” replied Lisa, “you can enjoy and keep that tornado all to yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Besides,” said Cindy, “I would love to talk with as many gods as I can while I’m here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Then it is decided,” smiled Athena, “you may leave now.” She waved her hand over Melissa and Poseidon. In no time there was the now familiar puff of orange smoke accompanied by the sequence of ‘poof’ sounds and the two of them were gone.</span>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-17326527611212858102010-11-25T12:48:00.000-08:002010-11-25T12:48:12.071-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 4<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"King Of The Nile"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Spinning, spinning.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Whirling, swirling.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Still clinging to Alexander’s hand, severe winds whipped around us.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I felt strange forces—much like I would imagine centrifugal force to be like—trying to rip us apart.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Maintaining my grip on Alexander took every ounce of strength I could muster.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> At one point I felt my grasp begin to slip as the sweat of our palms made holding on almost impossible.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The spinning, whirling sensation was unbelievable.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I felt as if at any moment I would pass out.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> My eyes remained closed as the whipping winds seemed to last forever.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The relative ease of traveling through a dimensional vortex, as we did in our last adventure, was nothing compared to the experience I was now encountering.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Then, just as suddenly as it had started, it all came to an abrupt halt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Alexander and I found ourselves plopped onto a tiled floor.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Our hair had been whipped around by the incredible force of winds.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Our clothes were all disheveled.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I felt like Dorothy’s house must have felt in <i>“The Wizard of Oz.”</i></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What was that?” asked Alexander, standing up slowly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It felt like a tornado hit us,” I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It was,” stated the elegant voice.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Looking around, we found the goddess Athena, standing by a fountain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Athena,” bowed Alexander, “I hope I have not angered you by returning?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You have not.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I have been searching the future for you.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> We have discovered that Hades was the one who ordered the abduction of our beloved Pegasus.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> As of yet, we know not why.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Then I am acquitted?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Not yet, I am afraid.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Pegasus is still missing and must be found before I can bring this matter before Zeus again.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> But first, who is this young man who has brought you back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “My name is Larry,” I replied, bowing low, “did you say a tornado?”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I finished tucking my shirt back in.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Yes,” she chuckled, “but there are easier ways of going through it than that.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The Time Tornado is usually traversed in some sort of vehicle.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> It is less tumultuous that way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Oh,” I said half‑heartedly, still trying to stand without swaying dizzily.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You do not get tossed around quite as much,” she added, smiling.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Her eyes fell upon the Spell Book, which somehow managed to stay tucked under my arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Is that <u>The Spell Book of Androganine</u>?” she asked, quite surprised.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Yes it is,” I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I have heard of its existence, but have never seen it.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> May I?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Of course,” I smiled, as I handed it to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I do not know how you came upon it, but guard it with your life.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> There are those who would do anything to get their evil little hands on it,” she said, leafing through it, “Grotog or no Grotog.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Yes, I will.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Thank you,” I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Grotog?” asked the still confused Alexander.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Never mind,” smiled Athena, then she continued, “I presume you accessed the Time Tornado by using the...Continuum Disrupter Vortex spell?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Yes, I did,” I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You have used the book the wisely.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Do not misuse that spell.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> You will cause great harm to the entire continuum,” she warned, “You must now return to your own time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I’m afraid that we may have already caused some potential problems,” I ventured.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “How,” Athena asked, a touch of fear crept into her voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Well, you see,” I hesitated sheepishly, “Alexander was...briefed, shall we say...on the coming couple of centuries.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I hoped this hadn’t angered her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “That is quite all right,” she smiled, reassuringly, “I can take care of that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Good,” I sighed with relief, “I hope all goes well with your search for Pegasus, Alex.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Thank you, my friend,” stated Alexander, “be well.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Here is your book,” smiled Athena, extending the great book before me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Just then, there was a large puff of orange smoke and I was gone.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Athena and Alexander looked around the courtyard.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I did not hear him repeat that spell,” stated Alexander.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “He did not,” replied Athena, in a puzzled and worried tone.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She was still holding “The Spell Book of Androganine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Reaching up to see if my head was still attached to my body, I found myself sitting in the hot sand.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> This was one time when I definitely could have used a Tylenol.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> As the dizzying sensation of the Time Tornado subsided, I looked around my new surroundings.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> “Great!” I said aloud.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I was sitting in what looked like a desert, for as far as the eye could see, in any direction, was sand.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Lots of sand...dunes of sand.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Mountains of sand.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> (And the masochistic side of me pointed out that all of the sand I saw, was just the top of it!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The sun was hot and I was alone.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Why did Athena steal the Spell Book?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Where did she send me?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> How am I going to get back?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> These questions spun around my head almost as quickly as if was still spinning during the tornado trip itself.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Two times in a period of about five minutes was quite enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> After my eyes adjusted to the blinding white sunlight, I realized that I wasn’t as far away from something other than sand than I had originally perceived.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I found myself to be about a half mile away from what looked like a river—or a mirage of a river.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> After regaining my equilibrium, I wiggled my fingers at my feet and repeated the incantation that would initiate the Conveyance Spell:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> “<i>Piedtra, Moshto, Elevatra.</i></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">”</span><span style="font-size: large;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> There was a small puff of red smoke and I felt myself elevate off the ground about six inches.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> This spell would certainly be safer than flying over to the river, for if I was spotted, I’m sure I’d be killed for being a witch—or a sorcerer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “<i>Hmmmm,</i></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">” I thought to myself, “</span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>didn’t they revere sorcerers in Ancient Egypt?</i></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">” Oh well, without “The Spell Book of Androganine,” I wouldn’t be much of a sorcerer anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> With that, I commanded me feet to attain Speed Level 2 (which was about 60 miles an hour) and took off toward the river—or the mirage of a river, whichever it was.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The speed caused a little wake of sand to blow up behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> In an underground cavern, Hades stared into his crystal ball and cackled out, “Cleopatra!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Hear me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> In another part of the world—three centuries into the future—the Queen of the Egypt was drifting lazily down the Nile on her barge.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She felt a burning sensation against her side and reached into her robe to remove the black globe.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She was surprised to find that instead of it being black, it was now a hot, red glowing orb.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I can hear you, oh great Anubis,” she stated, gazing into the small, hand held device. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I have sent you a mortal substitute for Alexander the Great.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What kind of substitute?” asked the Queen of the Nile.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “He is from the far distant future,” replied the Lord of Darkness, “On first appearances you may not find him to be as much of a threat to your precious Marcus as Alexander would be, but he comes from the end of the 20th century.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He has powers that make him far more dangerous than he appears.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What is the 20th century?” she asked in a puzzled tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Never mind that,” stated Anubis/Hades.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “How will I find him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You will know him when you come across him.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> His clothing will give him away.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> But beware his magical powers.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He may be potentially dangerous to us.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Hypnotize him as quickly as possible.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Make him your King.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> That will make your Roman jealous.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> As I came upon the river bank, I repeated the Conveyance Spell backwards, turning it off.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I found myself standing near a group of small boats and merchants lining the waterway.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> They were all dressed in tunics and I suddenly had the sneaking suspicion that I was not back in the United States, circa late‑20th century.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The crowd parted as I approached.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Everyone was looking at me in an odd way.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I finally realized that these people had evidently never seen jeans and sneakers before.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I began to look for a clothes merchant who might be willing to swap me for a tunic.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Reaching the bank of the river, I watched as a large and ornately decorated barge pulled up to the shore in front of me.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> It was a golden barge with enormous purple sails.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> In addition, it was complemented by forty oarsmen, twenty on each side.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> They were hidden away below decks, with only their oars penetrating out of the hull.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> There were at least as many hand maidens lining the rails, seductively waving silks at the now‑gathering throngs along the pier.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> After the barge was securely tied up to the pier, a gangway was brought up to it.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> An older gentleman stepped off the barge and began looking around.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Before I had a chance to disappear into the crowd (which would have been pretty hard dressed the way I was) he spotted me.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He quickly motioned with his head and I was surrounded by burly, tunic-clad guards.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The older gentleman strolled up to me.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He must have been at least 70‑years old, but appeared to be still fit and relatively strong.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Who are you?” asked the older gentleman skeptically, “And why do you dress in such a manner?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I am a stranger from another land,” I began.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “A stranger indeed,” came a sweet and soothing voice from the direction of the barge.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> All of the people now bowed low to the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Looking past the older gentleman toward the barge, I saw what had to have been the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She emerged from behind a sitting area that was shaded from view by multi‑colored silks.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> A soldier pushed me down to the ground into the kneeling position.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Out of the corner of my eye, I watched her gracefully disembark from the barge—one step at a time—in a slow, deliberate manner.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She headed right toward me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> I felt a delicate finger raise my chin up and the immediate aroma of roses filled my senses.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> As I looked up, I was momentarily blinded by the sun reflecting off of a scarab beetle amulet that hung on a delicate chain around her even more delicate neck.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> As my eyes tried to re-focus, I found my self melting into the deepest blue eyes that have ever existed. I was immediately mesmerized and entranced.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> There were moments of silence as all of my sensibilities and memories faded away.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> After that, this woman was the only thing I knew or wanted.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I was in her trance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Your highness,” started the elder, “we must be going.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What is your name?” asked this gorgeous creature.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “My name is...” I hesitated, searching for the answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “My name is...Larry,” I replied, in a monotone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I shall call you Lawrence.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Lawrence of Arabia, since I have found you in the sands of Arabia,” she smiled, “I have found my new king,” she announced to all.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “But, Cleopatra!” whispered her old advisor, “What about Marcus Antonius?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Let him gallivant with his whores and trollops.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> This stranger is mine and I shall have him for my king.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “How long has it been?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “3.2 hours,” replied Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What’s taking him so long?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Unknown.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> My sensors cannot detect beyond our current position on the time continuum.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Of course not,” said Melissa, “how much time should we give him to get back?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Maybe he was invited to a banquet?” suggested Woba, who had been romping around the yard.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It is possible,” added Cleo, “but if Alexander the Great was sent here as a form of punishment, they may not have smiled upon Larry for returning with him.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> They may have both been imprisoned for returning.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Let’s not think about that,” scolded Melissa, “we’ll give him another hour, and then we’re going after him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I think you’re forgetting one thing,” reminded Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What’s that?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “We don’t have ‘The Spell Book of Androganine’ nor access to its spells.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Melissa sat down and placed her hand to her chin in deep thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-64323632822469696162010-11-21T22:18:00.000-08:002010-11-21T22:18:00.560-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 3<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"A Stranger In A Strange Land"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Section1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Excuse me,” I said, leaning out of my bedroom window.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Are you addressing me?” asked the man in the white tunic.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He was wearing a pair of sandals and was standing in the middle of the street.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Yes.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Are you looking for someone?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> You appear to be lost.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I am not quite sure where I am.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Maybe you could be of some assistance to me?” he asked, looking around.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I’ll be right down,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> I disconnecting Rob from the word processor monitor.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “Rob, as soon as we get outside, I want a complete analysis of the stranger in the street.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He rolled down the ramp from the second story as I followed and we headed out into the front yard.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “My name is Larry,” I stated, extending a hand toward the stranger.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He looked at it curiously, but didn’t take it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I am Alexander of Macedonia, son of Philip II.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Conqueror of Greece, Persia and Egypt,” he replied, without flinching.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Of course you are,” I smiled skeptically.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “Rob?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Affirmative? </span><span style="font-size: large;"> What to you mean ‘affirmative’?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “He is Alexander of Macedonia.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Also known as Alexander the Great.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Born 356 B.C., ascended to the throne 336 B.C., died 323 B.C.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Rob paused, then added, “June 10.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What’s June 10?” I asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The day of death in the year B.C.,” replied Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What is this ‘B.C.?’” asked Alexander.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “B.C. is an abbreviation.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> It stands for ‘before Christ.’” began Rob, “It is used to distinguish dates prior to and after the arrival of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Its opposite is A.D. or anno Domino—Latin for ‘in the year of our Lord.’</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Informally translated as ‘after death’ referring to the crucifixion in A.D. 29 or 30 of Jesus, the Christ of Nazareth.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Those dates are in dispute.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Thank you, Rob,” I smiled.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> His knowledge had been supplemented with the input of an entire set of encyclopedias. Unfortunately ever since, I haven’t been able to figure out how to limit his output on a single subject to sentence or two of pertinent information.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “That is the queerest armor I have ever seen.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Of what make is it?” pointed the Macedonian, looking over Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It’s not armor, it’s a robot,” I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “A what?” inquired the curious Alexander, bravely surveying Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Hold on,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Onto what?” he asked in a baffled tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Rob, contact Melissa.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Tell her to get over here immediately.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I have a feeling we’re going to need her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Affirmative,” replied Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> A loud dial tone began to emanate from his cellular phone unit.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> A now‑even more confused and slightly scared Alexander began looking around more wildly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Dialing Melissa at this time,” stated Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Take it off speaker,” I instructed Rob, wanting to save Alexander from any more discomfort.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “Would you like a cold drink?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Yes, I would,” replied a grateful Alexander, “do you have any lamb’s blood.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Ah, I’m afraid not,” I hesitated, “I’ve only got Pepsi and lemonade.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What is Pepsi?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It’s a sweet, cold drink with bubbles,” I explained.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “That sounds like a royal beverage,” he replied, following me around to the backyard.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I wasn’t about to try to explain the gadgets inside the house, so I felt outside was the best place to keep the King of Macedonia.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Peering through an opening in the side of an old shed were two pairs of eyes—little animals’ eyes to be precise—gazed at the stranger from their pen.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> They belonged to Woba Womba and Cleo the koleapus.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Both were the very last of their species and had come to live with me after our adventures in the Magic Lands, doing battle with the Green Devil, the late‑Lived Neerg.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Woba was a womba.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Wombas lived in the land of Wombonia until Lived Neerg destroyed it.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Woba appeared to be made entirely out of cardboard boxes.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He had a square head with little round eyes.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> His mouth was rectangular and looked like a flap hanging from his box‑like head.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> His body was rectangular, as were his legs and paws.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> His little rectangular tail resembled a thin shoebox sticking up from his body.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He was brown in color and he had a bi‑cardio circulatory system (two hearts!).</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He also possessed a vulcanized outer shell—meaning, he was made of rubber.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Cleo was a koleapus, the last of the formerly mythological creatures from Living Land, whose ancestors were thought to have possessed magical powers.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Over time, any powers they did have had faded and their exploits became legendary.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The koleapus was an equestrian‑like creature with the body of a gazelle, the head of a zebra (with a tan mane instead of the usual black), the large tail of an anteater, and the paws of a lion.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> As awkward as this may sound, Cleo was a very elegant and graceful looking creature.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “That looks like an odd fellow,” stated Woba, tilting his head from one side to the other.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I wonder where he came from?” pondered Cleo, thoughtfully<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Something must be up,” observed Woba, craning his little, boxed neck to get a better look through the cracks between the shed’s slats.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Hey!” he observed, “Rob’s outside, too.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I haven’t seen him in weeks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “No, we haven’t,” replied Cleo, thoughtfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Let’s go say ‘hi!’” stated the little excited womba, bounding around the pen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Not just yet,” stated Cleo, “let’s stay quiet and listen to what’s going on.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Melissa arrived about 15‑minutes later and I set her to work talking to Alexander the Great.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> This didn’t take much convincing due to the legendary stature of the subject; not to mention the fact that he was quite strong and handsome.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I think the worst part for me was the fact that his god‑like physique was clad merely in the slightest of togas, draped ever so loosely over his taut muscles.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Fortunately, I was confident enough in my relationship with Melissa that I would not let this bother me...well, just a little...okay, so it bothered me a lot, but what did I have to worry about...Alexander the Great had been dead for 23 centuries.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Anyway, in addition to quickly briefing him on the last 2000‑years, Melissa also attempted to find out how he got here and why.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> During this interview, Alexander seemed understandably confused and distracted.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He did discover that he had a fondness for Pepsi, though.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I took the opportunity to slip away to the house in order to retrieve an old friend.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I blew the accumulated dust off a massive (eight inches thick!) ancient‑looking book that was languishing on the shelf—the great “Spell Book of Androganine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The Spell Book of Androganine” was a very useful thing to have around.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> In the Introduction, it explained that it was an indestructible (although over time, quite a few pages had turned up missing), multi‑lingual, all‑purpose, user manual, written by the mighty sorcerer, Voldotz.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He had been burdened with a short memory and would write down all of his spells and incantations as he came up with them.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He was the father of all that is magical and mystical in the universes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> It further explained that its spells were workable in all known dimensions at the time of its writing and that the book, on a whole or in part, could be utilized only by whoever had the Grotog cast upon them.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> This was the spell that I had received from Bringle Brand of Jingleland—during our first encounter with Lived Neerg—that enabled me to use the book and not the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Well, what have we found out?” I asked, after rejoining Alexander, Melissa and Rob in the yard with the giant tome tucked under my arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It appears that our 25‑year old guest has incurred wrath of Zeus who punished him by sending him into the future,” replied Melissa, matter‑of‑factly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What did you do?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I was convicted of stealing the winged steed, Pegasus.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “And did you?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The gods have found me to be guilty; therefore, I must be,” he responded solemnly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “That’s all he’ll say,” shrugged Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I detect hesitation and deception,” replied Rob, “he is not telling the truth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “How dare you!” declared Alexander, “Such impertinence.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You did not steal Pegasus,” stated Rob confidently (although, being a robot, everything he stated was with confidence).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Then who did?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Unknown,” replied Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Alexander...may I call you Alex?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Alex?” he paused in thought, looking upward, “that sounds interesting.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Yes you may.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> May I have another...Pepsi, please?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Sure,” I smiled, reaching into the cooler and bringing out another frosty can.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “Alex, who do you think stole Pegasus?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It would be wrong for me to accuse another, when the gods have found me to be guilty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “But the gods aren’t here now and the only way we can help you is to find out what you know,” smiled Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You are correct,” he replied.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> After a brief pause, he continued, “I believe I was plotted against.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I do not know by whom but I did not do it.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Pegasus is a friend.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Then the only way we’re going to be able to help you is to send you back to your own time and let you search for whoever did this to you,” I said, thumbing through “The Spell Book of Androganine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Now where is it?” I mused aloud to myself, “I thought I saw a spell that might help.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I believe the spell you are referring to is on page 321,” stated Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Ah, yes.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Here it is: Continuum Disrupter Vortex,” I stated proudly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “How did you know that, Rob?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It is one of the names of the spells that Larry thought sounded interesting.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He had me input a list of 37 spell names.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Oh, goody!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Time travel!” cheered Woba, who had left the shed and was now hiding in the bushes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Shhhh,” cautioned Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Too late,” I said, turning toward the bushes surrounding the shed, “you guys might as well come out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Woba and Cleo made their way out of the bushes.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Both made a low bow before Alexander, then Woba trotted over to Melissa and greeted her by rubbed his head up against her leg like a cat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Hello, Woba,” she smiled, petting him on his squared head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Sire, it is an honor to meet you,” stated Cleo, “I have read so much about you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Talking creatures!” stated an astonished Alexander, “But I thought Pegasus was the only one who could talk?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It’s a long story,” I started, “but, yes; they also talk.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Alexander, where should we send you back to?” asked Melissa, “Mount Olympus?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> To Zeus?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “No.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I must be returned to the goddess Athena.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She is the one who sponsored me on Olympus.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Only she can help.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Sponsored?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Since Alexander is a mortal, his access to Mount Olympus could only be granted if he was sponsored by one of the gods,” explained Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Uh, oh,” I said, looking up from the Spell Book, “we have a slight problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What’s that?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The Continuum Disrupter Vortex will only work on Alex if I go along with him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Then you must accompany me,” he stated, patting me on the back, “Athena will enjoy talking to a man from the future.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It’s either that, or he’ll have to stay here with us,” smiled Melissa slyly.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She knew just which buttons to push.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I guess it’s settled then,” I piped in quickly, “say good-bye to the 20th century, Alex.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I’m taking you back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> After saying good-bye to Cleo and Woba, he kissed Melissa on the hand.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He asked if he could take a few Pepsi’s back with him. I chuckled and after giving Alexander the Great what was left of my six‑pack, I took his hand and began:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> “<i>Eonus, Regresstos...</i></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> I paused, “Rob, what year do we want?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “331 B.C.” stated Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I hope I can pronounce this last word,” I said, hesitantly:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “<i>Eonus, Regresstos, 331 B.C., Palace of Athena, Mount Olympus, Greece, Volumptionflocktosmoniumbergingspheerius.</i></span><span style="font-size: large; font-style: normal;">”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -1in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> No sooner had I finished the spell, when there was an enormous puff of orange smoke (and, as Melissa reported later, a sequence of ‘poof’ sounds).</span><span style="font-size: large;"> When the smoke cleared, Alexander and I were gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"><br clear="ALL" style="page-break-before: always;" /> </span>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-79854723980293801522010-11-17T06:21:00.000-08:002010-11-17T06:21:35.789-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 2<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Condemned And Exiled"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The assemblage of gods gathered in the courtyard of the pantheon, high atop Mount Olympus.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> In addition to Zeus (supreme ruler of the gods) was his brother, Poseidon (god of the waters, earthquakes, and horses) and his sisters, Hera (Queen of the gods as well as Zeus’ wife) and Demeter (goddess of the harvest).</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Also in attendance of Zeus’ sons and daughters were Apollo (god of the sun, prophecy, music, medicine and poetry), Athena (goddess of wisdom and the arts), Ares (god of war), Artemis (Apollo’s twin sister and the personification of the Moon), Hermes (god of commerce and travel, cunning and theft, as well as herald and protector of the gods), and Dionysus (chief reveler and god of wine).</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Rounding out the council were Aphrodite and Eros (goddess and god of desire).</span><span style="font-size: large;"> On this rare occasion, the council of twelve Olympians were joined by Hades, ruler of the underworld, and a brother to Zeus, Poseidon and Demeter.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Lastly, the twelve had invited Hercules to attend, since he was the last to have seen Pegasus safe and sound on Mount Olympus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> With Hermes taking on the role of prosecutor, the other eleven gods sat righteously upon their thrones.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Hades slumped in Hermes’ borrowed throne; appearing thoroughly bored by the entire mess.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> His main distraction was the though of Cleopatra, who was waiting for him in his underground kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Seated across the courtyard from the deities was Alexander the Great, his head still held high.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Hermes was seated next to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “My beloved and revered father, Zeus; and my fellow gods and goddesses,” began Hermes, rising to his feet, “we are gathered here today in order to determine the guilt or innocence of this mortal, Alexander the Great of Macedonia.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Guilty,” murmured Hades.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Please, my evil brother,” cautioned Poseidon, “we must first hear the testimony before rendering a decision."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Testimony, shmestimony.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Only a mortal is capable of stealing that winged wretch.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> A god is incapable of such a terrible act.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Tch, tch, tch, tch, tch—shame on you.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Hades shook his head at Alexander the Great.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> His performance could have won him an Academy Award—or at least the Greek equivalent.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “There is <b>one</b></span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"> god capable of such a deed,” reminded Athena.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Me?” questioned Hades, with a yawn, “do not be foolish.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> What would I do with a horse underground?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Pegasus is more than just a horse,” stated Poseidon angrily.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Silence!” commanded Zeus.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He nodded for Hermes to continue.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The facts are,” stated Hermes, reading from a tablet, “that Hercules left Pegasus in this very courtyard when he went to the Arctic springs for some water.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> When he returned, Pegasus was not to be found and has not been seen since.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The creature could have wandered off,” shrugged Hades.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “But, as you may or may not already know,” continued Hermes, “there is a witness that states that she spoke to Alexander before he departed with Pegasus down to the surface.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “And who would that be?” asked Hades, showing just a hint of interest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Athena,” replied Hermes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Is that true, my dear?” asked Zeus of his daughter.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She nodded.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “Then there can be no doubt.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Alexander of Macedonia, we have afforded you every advantage that a mortal could possibly want.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> What do you have to say in your defense?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I am innocent of the charges brought against me,” stated Alexander, after a brief silence.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “But, I cannot refute what Athena as seen, nor shall I try—for to do so would be wrong on my part as a mortal being.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Good boy,” smiled Hades, rising from his chair, ready to depart, “let us go—I have got a nice warm spot for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Not so fast,” stated Zeus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “But if he is indeed guilty, then he is mine!” laughed Hades.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “If he says he did not do it, I believe him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “But Zeus,” urged Hades.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Therefore,” continued the father of all the gods, “although I must punish you, Alexander of Macedonia, I do not have to condemn you to my evil brother.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Zeus!” stated Hades in a very irritated tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Alexander,” continued Zeus, ignoring the god of the underworld, “I hereby exile you from this world that you know.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> You will not go with my evil brother.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> You will be sent far away...to another place and time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “No, Zeus,” cried Athena, but it was too late.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Zeus, raised his hand and out of his palm shot a bolt of lightning, striking the spot where Alexander stood.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> There was a loud clap of thunder and then silence.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Alexander was gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Court adjourned,” stated Hermes, as Zeus walked out of the courtyard.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> As the other gods followed, Athena called over to Apollo to join her.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What do you think?” she asked the sun god.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I think Zeus may have been a bit rash—but Alexander did plead guilty,” he whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “He did not plead guilty, he just refused to refute my testimony,” reminded Athena.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “Besides, with him gone, we will never find Pegasus.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Hmmmm,” mused Apollo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “And one last thing that my dear father did not take into account,” continued Athena, “Alexander must be oriented to whatever time he was sent to.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Without that, his new society with lock him away as mentally ill.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You have a point there,” nodded Apollo, “come with me.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Maybe we can convince Zeus to reverse his decision of banishment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “How could you have lost him!” questioned Cleopatra.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Zeus sent him into the away—to another place and time!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> How was I to know he was not going to give him over to me!” stated an angry Hades.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “So this whole thing has been a waste of time?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Leave me!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I need to think,” ordered Hades.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Well, you brought me into the past, surely you can bring us to wherever my future suitor has been exiled.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “But I do not know where Zeus sent him,” fumed Hades.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You had better find out,” replied Cleopatra.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Hades looked over to her with the most evil look on his face, “do not forget who made you Queen of the Nile, secretly aiding that pompous Caesar to do away with your idiot brother.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Do not forget who has gotten you where you are today.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Do not ever speak to me in that tone again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “My apologies, Hades,” replied a humbled Cleopatra.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Too late.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> You are going back to Egypt.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> To your own time period.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Red smoke began to emanate from Hades’ nostrils.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Take this orb,” he continued.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “If you feel the need to contact me, use this.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> It will be quicker than praying to the statue of Anubis and waiting for me to come to Egypt.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Soon the chamber was filled with thick red smoke.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The very same smoke that once transported Cleopatra to ancient Greece, now returned her to her precious Alexandra, three centuries in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> When the smoke cleared, Cleopatra was once again in the stone temple—alone and angry.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She left the interior of the temple, tucking the black orb into her robe.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She hurried through her private entrance to her waiting servants.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> They instantly bowed and then escorted her to her waiting barge.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Without a word, she climbed aboard her vessel and disappeared into her chambers.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The royal barge immediately set sail back up the Nile toward her palace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-5261161291706309612010-11-09T07:00:00.000-08:002010-11-09T07:00:24.644-08:00Time Tornado - Chapter 1<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"The Stealing Of A Steed"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The door to the temple made an eerie, stone‑grinding sound as it lazily swung closed.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> In the darkness, the scraping sound of a sulfur stick on a stone wall could be heard.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The chamber was now dimly lit as her delicate hand reached for the top of the torch.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> On igniting the flammable cloths, the chamber was bathed in the ghostly glow of torch light.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Cleopatra headed for the stone altar and knelt down in front of the bronze statue of Anubis, god of the netherworld.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Lighting a small candle, she began her chant.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Oh, great and powerful Anubis, conductor of the dead to the place of judgment, hear your Queen of the Nile, Daughter of Isis, as she begs upon your likeness for a favor.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> There was silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Suddenly, the eyes of the great jackal‑headed statue began to flicker red.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Smoke flowed silently from the nostrils as the seven foot statue began to speak in a very low, monotone voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Why do you disturb me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Oh, great Anubis,” continued Cleopatra, bowing low before the statue, “I require a means to make Marcus Antonius jealous of me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Ah, yes; the mortal weakness for pleasures of the flesh.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> A divine invention if I do say so,” began Anubis.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “Can you find no one perfect enough to perform this task for you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “My people have found none,” replied the Queen, solemnly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “That is because the gods have favored this Marcus Antonius.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> You must find another favored one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Gods?” inquired Cleopatra, “why would Egyptian gods favor a Roman?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The Romans have their own gods,” replied Anubis.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The Roman gods were silly idols that even their own people today no longer bow down before.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Whether they believe or not is unimportant,” stated Anubis.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> His voice appeared to soften, “the gods from centuries past still exist, whether believed in or not.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “But Anubis...”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Silence, child!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I have revealed too much already,” his voice was once again stern and monotone, “you must find another mortal favored by the gods.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Who would that be?” asked Cleopatra.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “There are none at the present time, other than your precious Antonius.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> You must travel backwards to the last mortal that enjoyed this favored status.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Travel backwards?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Three centuries ago, the Macedonian king; conqueror of Greece, Persia and this land that you now rule.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Alexander the Great?!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> As respected as his deeds are, he was Greek!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Marcus might not respect nor be jealous of a Greek!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “He was Macedonian, but your Roman will respect him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “This is all very confusing,” stated the bewildered Queen.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “The ways of the gods are not to be understood.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Listen to what I tell you.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> You must come with me to a place where I can help you,” stated Anubis.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I will do as you say.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “There is just one more thing; when we get to where we are going, you will address me as Hades—not Anubis.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Hades?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The Greek god?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “We gods know not, nor care not, of your mortal geographic boundaries.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Hades is my Greek name.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Pluto is my Roman name.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> In the centuries that follow, I will be known as Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Lord of the Flies—it is all the same to me.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> One purpose—regardless of culture—one god.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> With that, there was a metallic grinding sound as the arms of the great statue came to life and reached toward the ceiling of the stone temple.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The smoke that had been slowly flowing from his nostrils now turned red and burst out in billows, soon filling the chamber with a thick, choking smoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Anubis’ arms seemed to stretch and push up upon the ceiling, causing small rocks and sand to fall on Cleopatra.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She crouched down, covering her head to protect herself.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> From what she could make out through the thick smoke, the chamber seemed to be changing; altering from the one she at entered earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Cleopatra let out a small cry as it became harder to breathe the sulfuric smoke.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Anubis roared out in deep tones, almost undetectable to the human ear.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> There was a flash and then silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> As the smoke cleared, Cleopatra found herself in a cavern, deep within the earth.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The familiar sight of the statue of Anubis was now replaced by the large figure of an old man seated on a stone throne.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He had a long, black, flowing beard and thin, evil eyebrows.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> His skin tone was dark with traces of red, burnt from the fires that seemed to surround them.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Flames shot up from the little pools of molten lava that gathered off to the sides of a flowing lava river.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The temperature of the air was hot.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Cleopatra rose and wiped the sweat off her brow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Anubis?” ventured the disoriented Queen, in a very timid voice, for even though she herself had dabbled in black magic, she had never experienced anything like this.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Hades!” reminded the former Anubis.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Hades, sir,” bowed Cleopatra, “can you get me Alexander the Great?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Rise!” commanded the old man, his slender fingers stroked at his beard.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> His nails were long and sharp.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “He must first be exiled from the graces of Mount Olympus.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He must be stripped of his favored status.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He must disgrace himself.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He must incur the wrath of Zeus, the father of all gods and mortal heroes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “But how?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “He must steal—for me—the winged steed, Pegasus.” Hades’ eyebrows rose up in an even more evil expression as he let out a guttural chuckle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Then he will be mine?” asked Cleopatra.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “In time.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> First Pegasus and then you may take your mortal with you and return to Egypt.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Do with him as you will.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He will surely make you either forget your Antonius or force Antonius to kill him so that you will be his.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> It matters not to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Thank you, Hades,” replied Cleopatra, bowing her head low.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Incubus!” summoned Hades.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> A fat, little, red creature with little horns and a pointy tail appeared from behind a rock.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He was mumbling or chattering something sinister to himself, just low enough for Hades not to hear him.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The sight of him made Cleopatra’s skin crawl.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Take her to my chamber...and prepare her.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Hades chuckled again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Prepare me for what?” questioned Cleopatra.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “You must sacrifice something in order to get something,” he smiled wickedly, “and incubus—do not touch her.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Hades started a low chuckle, slowly getting more hysterical.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> As the incubus led the Queen of the Nile out of the main chamber, Cleopatra could still hear Hades chuckling to himself, louder and louder.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Soon his voice was echoing all around this underground world with such force that she had to place her hands over her ears to keep from going deaf.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The white steed, Pegasus, was galloping around in a palatial courtyard.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The courtyard was located high above the earth on Mount Olympus, fabled abode of the gods of the pantheon.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Heracles [or as we shall call him, Hercules] was relaxing on a stone lounge, cushioned with the finest silks from the Orient.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> (He is best known as the mortal who had won immortality by performing the Twelve Labors of Eurystheus.)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He was reviewing a tablet on the earthly events of the past week, so as to prepare his report to Zeus.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Little did he know that lurking behind a pillar was an imp of mischievous invention.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Pegasus continued his daily exercise, alternating between galloping and flying, occasionally circling the courtyard five or six times before landing.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> After about 30‑minutes of this, he called out to Hercules.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Herc, I could use some water, please.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “What is wrong with the waters from the fountain?” he asked, leaning up on one arm to see the magnificent animal.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “It is not cold enough,” stated Pegasus, trotting over toward the man of steel, “would you mind?” he asked again nudging Hercules with his nose.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “And why do you not go yourself?” asked the jovial strong man.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I have to watch Little Neptune,” Pegasus remarked, indicating his little son who was galloping around the far end of the courtyard.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Little Neptune was a lovely crimson color.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “All right,” he chuckled, lifting himself up from the lounge, “but next time I need a ride down to the surface, I will not expect you to put up such a fight.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> You now owe me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Deal,” nodded the steed.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Hercules left the courtyard and headed toward the cool springs of Olympus that flowed directly from the clouds that drifted over the Arctic Circle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> The devilish imp that had been hiding behind the pillar, now transformed himself using his limited powers of black magic.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Within a moment’s time, he had mutated himself into the form of a human—an exact likeness of Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Pegasus!” called out the false Alexander, “Help me, please!”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> His voice patterns were duplicated by the imp to the finest degree.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “How may I be of service,” bowed the regal steed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “There is a desperate situation on the surface that requires my immediate attention.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Would you be so kind as to transport me down there?” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “If you can wait just a few moments,” began Pegasus, “Hercules will return and he can watch Little Neptune while we are gone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I really must get down there immediately,” pleaded the masqueraded incubus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I can watch your son for you, Pegasus,” smiled Athena, as she wandered into the courtyard.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Athena was the daughter of Zeus, king of the gods.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Thank you,” replied Pegasus, “all right, sire.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Let us be off for the surface.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Smiling, the impish impersonator hopped upon the back of the milky white steed and the two of them winged their way out of the courtyard and began their descent to the surface.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Pegasus was completely unaware of the deception that had been played upon him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Upon returning from the springs, Hercules found Athena lounging in the courtyard.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She informed him of the sudden departure of Alexander the Great upon Pegasus.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Hercules just shook his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “He sends me for Arctic waters and then flies off to the surface.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Well, things do come up,” smiled Athena.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “There goes my free ride,” he chuckled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *</span><span style="font-size: large;"> *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Two days past, and Pegasus did not return.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The twelve ruling Olympians summoned Alexander of Macedonia to Mount Olympus, to answer questions in regard to the whereabouts of the winged steed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Through a crystal ball, deep within the depths of the earth, Hades carefully monitored the action on Mount Olympus.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> While rarely permitted to sit with his brother, Zeus, or attend any council functions, he watched gleefully as preparations were made for the questioning, and hopefully the exiling of Alexander the Great.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> If he could successfully sway a majority of the others to his cause, his plans would be complete.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Hades then changed the perspective of his crystal and glanced at the beautiful Cleopatra, who was still lying in his bed chamber, sound asleep. He then looked over at the regal steed that was now bound and tied up to a stone wall. He smiled and let out an evil chuckle, obviously pleased with himself.</span>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-104214550128640512010-11-07T08:06:00.000-08:002010-11-07T08:06:26.256-08:00Time Tornado - Prologue<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A Brief History Lesson</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(mostly fact...but not completely)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Many years ago, in the first century B.C. (or is that the last century <u>of</u> B.C.?)...</span><span style="font-size: large;"> In any case, many years ago, in the year 43 B.C., her royal highness, Cleopatra of Egypt, Daughter of Isis, had a small problem.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She had to find a way to make a man jealous.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> She was (by anyone’s standards) the most beautiful woman in all of the world and as such, making a man jealous should not have been necessary—nor that difficult.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> She was 26 years old and had already been Queen of the Nile for eight years.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Her one true love was Marcus Antonius (or Marc Antony).</span><span style="font-size: large;"> He was a Roman triumvir (one of three men sharing a governing realm) and was very handsome and very strong.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Being so appealing to women, he had no interest in having just one girlfriend.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Consequently—supposedly unbeknownst to Cleopatra—he had many girlfriends.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> But this was indeed known to Cleopatra, who didn’t appreciate it at all; she wanted Marcus all to herself.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> To achieve this, she frequently hung out with Julius Caesar, the emperor of Rome.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> This would tick off Marcus for a while and he would spend more time with Cleopatra, but he soon would fall back into his old ways, compelling Cleopatra to fool around with Caesar again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> Unfortunately for Cleopatra, Caesar’s back met with the blade of Brutus’ knife about a year ago, in the year 44 B.C.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> This minor incident left Cleopatra without anyone to hang around with whom she considered threatening enough to persuade Marcus Antonius to give her his undivided attention.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> This sets our story into motion...<o:p></o:p></span></div>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-90794650925456415442010-11-04T20:36:00.000-07:002010-11-04T20:36:59.474-07:00The Green Devil Strikes Again - Epilogue<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Epilogue"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Well, that pretty much wrapped that up. The statue of Lived Neerg still stands in the clearing where he was defeated. In fact, quite a few plants have made the base of the Green Devil their home, forming a nice little celebratory garden.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> After the clean-up from the battle, we helped Jeremy to remove the sheets of lacertinium from the robots. He was distressed at the fact that I had so totally rusted their insides, but as General Boulder pointed out, getting those eight robots back into grade-A working order would give the little bugger something to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> We melted down the robots’ outer lacertinium sheets in a large memorial bonfire that the trees built in honor of their fallen leader, General “Big Red” Redwood. Once this was completed, Bringle used his magic to reshape the molten lacertinium into the arms of Tyrannosaurus Bob. He then transported them back to Lizard Land and the waiting statue... er... monument.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> As we said our good-byes, Cleo and Woba both announced that they were tired of the wonders of Living Land and the other Magic Lands and that they were joining us to explore other dimensions. Bringle pointed out that since they were the last of their respective species, they had the right to do what they wanted. He further warned them of the dangers associated with living in another dimension. I assured him that with the help of “The Spell Book of Androganine,” I would protect them both. With that, he gave his blessing and prepared us for our return.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> To save us the journey back across the dreary, black and white flatlands, Bringle wove his special brand of magic, which was much more powerful than what I could accomplish. Bringle explained that his father had given him another amulet and that he was now also in possession of a Grotog. Also, his father granted him the ability to work his magic without the need of “The Spell Book of Androganine.” He further explained that his magic was no different from what I could accomplish, and that, in time, I would learn to combine spells as he had with the help of the great book.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> With a wave of his hand, Bringle sent us back to the exact spot on the flatlands where we had first landed. I repeated the magic words that Bringle had instructed me to.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> A shaft of blinding, white light bore down upon us and a slight swirling action seemed to suck us off the aluminum flatlands. As we slowly began spinning around the shaft of light, we were sucked off the flatlands; lifted into the cloud filled sky of the three suns. As the spinning continued, all of our perceptions blurred into nothingness and before we knew it, we found ourselves—literally—spit out of the hollow tree, landing in the same soft field we had left behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> I don’t know how Bringle did it all, but we were back to our normal heights. He also had the uncanny knowledge of our entire adventure in his dimension, because as we sat there, trying to get oriented again, another bright flash shot out from the large hole in the tree. Without warning, Melissa’s grandfather’s cart was spit out into the field. It started out small and as it neared the ground, it grew into the proper size. It was followed almost immediately by the harness we had used for Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> During the ride home, I glanced at my watch and was astonished to find that we were only gone for a period of about one hour (which explains why we neither got tired nor excessively hungry during our adventure). Lisa and Cindy were dropped off at their respective homes and Melissa and I headed off to her farm. It had been agreed upon that both Cleo and Woba would be kept there—out of sight—in the abandoned barn until I could take them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;">* * * *<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Well, that would end that. All’s well in Living Land, Jingleland, the Ant Kingdom, and Lizard Land. The Deadly Forest is once again known as the False Forest. Melissa and I are officially “an item.” My robot and I now have two new friends—the likes of which have never been seen before in this dimension. As I finish writing all of this down, documenting our amazing adventures, I stop momentary to reflect; gazing out my window, breathing in the warm, summer air, watching a man walking down my street, dressed remarkably like Alexander the Great! But that’s a story for another time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;">To Be Continued...<o:p></o:p></span></div>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-15833869869742645082010-10-31T08:52:00.000-07:002010-10-31T08:52:02.553-07:00The Green Devil Strikes Again - Chapter 21<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Angry Clouds & One Angry Statue"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> After initiating his flight sequence, Rob and I took off toward the Mauve Mountains. We made sure to fly high enough to avoid being seen by Lived Neerg. Rob even emitted a sensor jamming frequency to avoid being scanned by the other robots.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> When we arrived at the mountains, we were greeted by mauve faces with pleasant smiles. Their eyes and mouths were made of caves on their rocky fronts and they all appeared to be sleeping peacefully.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Heading up toward the top of the mountains, we found they were covered by pretty, pink snow caps. Light orange clouds drifted over them, gently dropping little bits of snow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Upon closer inspection, we found that these little orange clouds had little puffy faces. They also had puffy portions on their sides that were functioning like hands. And the little bits of snow that were gently dropping on the mountain tops were actually snowballs being thrown from one cloud to another. Since they were having a snowball fight, they must have been younger, cloud children,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Hey, Rosie,” shouted one of the clouds, “look at the weirdoes over there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “A meat-person!” she shouted back, “aren’t they the ones poisoning our cousins in the third dimension?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “I think your right. Get him,” he shouted again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> The clouds ceased tossing their pink snowballs at each other and began tossing them at us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Rob, can you emit short heat blasts?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Good,” I replied, lowering his protective field, “quick blasts of just the right amount of heat to melt those snowballs.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative,” he replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Rob extended his arms and shot three quick bursts from his pincers. The snowballs all melted instantly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “That metal thing’s melting our snowballs,” cried one of the other clouds. His cry was more of a whine.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Then we’ll just have to rust him,” stated one of the larger clouds, slowly turning a deeper shade of orange.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “And let’s soak that scrawny kid, too,” added the cloud known as Rosie.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Hearing that, I quickly reinstated Rob’s protective field.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Our job’s done here, Rob,” I smiled triumphantly, u-turning to fly back toward the others, “Just keep a sensor out for those clouds. Let me know if they stop following us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Affirmative.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Flying quickly down the sides of the Mauve Mountains, we were pursued by the clouds. Not only were they trying to rain on us, but the began hurling bolts of lightning at us. Fortunately for us, the electrical bolts just bounced off of the Multi-Purpose Protection Fields. This, of course, made the little orange clouds even madder; and the madder they got, the redder they got.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Once or twice it looked as if the clouds might have been abandoning their chase, but they weren’t going to get off so easily. I lowered Rob’s field and let him send a few bursts out to electrify them. That made them turn around even angrier and redder than before and they would soon be on our heels once again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Arriving back at the clearing, I was surprised to see that in our brief absence, it had turned into a battlefield. It looked as if a cyclone had hit it. I swooped down over the Green Devil and his robotic army. The now-completely red clouds followed; raining and tossing lightning bolts all the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> The armies continued their attack as the downpour began. General Spruce had instructed his fruit and nut bearing trees to throw them all at the robots. General Boulder’s men were rolling themselves under the treadles of the robots and had managed to topple a few of them. Unfortunately, this only slowed them down as they all had self-righting mechanisms that put them back on their feet again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> General Iguana had readied his men to provide back-up as needed, but upon my arrival with the clouds, the lizards retreated into the dryer portions of the park. All of the other attacks came to a gradual halt as the assemblage quickly became drenched by the clouds children.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> After a few minutes of bone soaking rain, the clouds got bored by the lack of retaliation on our part. They soon turned and headed back up to the Mauve Mountains. The three suns shone brightly down upon the wet warriors. I took this opportunity to land right in front of the evil Green Devil, Lived Neerg. Rob landed right behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “You!” shrieked Lived Neerg, in that grating squeaky voice of his. “You puny excuse for a meat-person!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Now, don’t get personal, Neerg” I grinned.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Robots, attack this miserable mortal!” he shrieked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> There were a few flickering lights left on the panels of a couple of the units, accompanied by a few creaky groans and sputters. To Lived Neerg’s surprise, the only movement those robots made was to slump forward in defeat. The robots had been rusted solid.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> The others in the clearing began shaking off the water from the rains, now that the clouds had all returned to their kingdom. The three suns dried everything very quickly. Everyone approached the front line that had been set up by Lived Neerg.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “My robots! My lacertinium robots! You stopped them!” cried the Green Devil.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “If you hadn’t been in such a hurry to conquer this place, you would have taken your time to ensure that the impregnable metal you stole from Lizard Land was applied properly—welded together with watertight seals,” explained Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Watertight seals! He didn’t use watertight seals! Any fool would have used watertight seals,” squealed Jeremy with delight, rolling around on the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Defeated by a meat-person and some stupid clouds,” moaned the Green Devil, “a meat-person! Of all the idiotic lifeforms.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Sorry, Neerg,” stated Lisa proudly, “but your plundering days are through.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “That’s what you think!” he yelled, grabbing the little pointy hat off his little green head. He reached around and grabbed his tail as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Just before he had a chance to stick the tip of his tail into his hat (which would have caused him to immediately disappear into a puff of green smoke), I hit a couple of buttons on Rob’s chest plate and aimed his pincer. An intensified, concentrated heat blast—at a much higher level than we used on the clouds—shot out. It seared right through Lived Neerg’s tail, snipping off the tip.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “My tail!!! You’ve taken my tail!!!!!” he bellowed in pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Be glad he didn’t take your life!—you lousy heap of slime,” stated a familiar voice. We turned around instantly, only to find our old friend, Bringle Brand of Jingleland.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Sorry I’m late,” he smiled, “but I was delayed by the Kowdoon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “You’re here, too!” shouted Lived Neerg.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Yes, I’m here too,” replied Bringle calmly, “your days are indeed through here. Shrinking me was bad enough. Turning me into a mouse was even worse. But when you begin to dimension hop and to kidnap lower lifeforms—no offense intended.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “None taken,” I said, in a slightly offended tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “You know damn well that meat-people know nothing of this world. Your actions have opened up this dimension to untold dangers. For that alone, you should be punished,” finished Bringle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “I’m not through with any of you yet,” threatened Lived Neerg, “I’ve still got tricks up my sleeve.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> With that he began waving his arms and mumbled few words that I didn’t catch. Just as I swore I saw a hint of green smoke appearing around his feet, Bringle made a full sweeping motion with his left arm, directed right at the Green Devil.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> A large puff of purple smoke enveloped Lived Neerg. He emitted a loud, piercing scream that sounded as if it trailed off into the distance. The purple smoke dissipated and what we saw brought joy to everyone’s heart. Lived Neerg, the Green Devil, had been turned once and for all, into a statue; hat in one hand, tail in the other, his face in the hideous image of a scream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-429459774477928207.post-18759572455700556402010-10-29T08:27:00.000-07:002010-10-29T08:27:23.838-07:00The Green Devil Strikes Again - Chapter 20<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"How To Defeat A Green Devil"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Section1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Arriving at the entrance to Living Land, Cleo lamented the fact that there were no guards at the gate as was customary. The massive stone archway was ornately engraved with the heads of all sorts of animals, plants, rocks, etc. All had majestic faces carved upon them, and the archway overall was covered with sculpted vines and flowers. The entire effect was quite breathtaking.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Welcome to Living Land,” stated the archway in a deep, authoritative tone, “Please excuse the mess; we are temporarily experiencing an invasion. Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Grand Archway,” addressed Cleo, “Where is Lived Neerg and his troops?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “The field of battle is currently in the clearing next to Fountain Park.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Thank you,” shouted Cleo in reply. He galloped through with Cindy clinging tight to his mane. Woba picked up tried to pick up the pace, but Lisa wouldn’t hear of it slowed him down. Melissa and I strolled after them, busily gazing at the marvelous visions of Living Land. General Iguana kept his lizard army marching in fine precision.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> On the other side of the gate, we only had to travel a short distance before arriving at a large heap of rubble. There was a little sign post lying on the ground. Melissa went over to it and seeing that it read “Decontamination Station” she picked it up to show us all.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Oh, thank you,” smiled the sign, who spoke in a sweet-sounding little girl’s voice, “Thank you ever so kindly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Oh,” gasped a startled Melissa, dropping the sign post to the ground again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “It’s okay,” reassured Cleo, “just remember, this is Living Land; virtually everything is alive.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “When you said everything, I didn’t realize you meant ‘everything’,” chuckled Melissa, picking up the sign post once again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “I am sorry I frightened you,” smiled the sign, “Would you mind sticking me back in the ground?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Not at all,” stated General Iguana, motioning to some of his troops to break formation and take over the task from Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Thank you again,” the sign post said sweetly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Did Lived Neerg do this?” asked Cleo referring to the pile of rubble formerly known as the small and infrequently used Decontamination Station.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “I am afraid he and his army of robots are not being very respectful of the inhabitants of Living Land,” she replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Don’t worry,” eagerly added Cindy, who never talked to a sign post before, “we’re here to help....”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Before the sign post could reply, Cleo quickly took off again with the rest of us in rapid pursuit. Just as we came around a bend in the road, we heard a loud scream.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Rob, analyze,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Sensors indicate that the audible sound appears to be coming from a geologic formation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “A rock?” asked Cindy, “But rocks don’t have mouths.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Don’t let them hear you say that,” laughed General Iguana.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> We rushed forward through a wooded area. It reminded me very much of a great park in the middle of a large city. There were water fountains and park benches, playgrounds and lots of little, winding paths heading off in various directions from the main path. The only thing missing were the people—or I guess in Living Land, I should say inhabitants.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> As we rushed past one particularly large, water fountain, it hollered after us, “Hooray, it’s the cavalry! After you get them, a refreshing swim waits for all!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Thank you, Ms. Fountain,” replied Cindy, obviously enjoying talking to normally inanimate objects.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=429459774477928207" name="KILROY"></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> We pressed onward, being cheered by beds of flowers, swing sets and monkey bars (that actually were made out of real monkeys!). As we passed a glorious looking carousel, all of the animals shouted out their best wishes to us, as they revolved around. Arriving at the edge of a clearing—the lizards cocking their rifles ready for anything—we saw what we had come for.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> On the far side of the clearing was a line of eight robots, almost identical in appearance to Rob, except for their size. These robots were nearly nine feet tall. Peering out from behind them, we saw the sinister Green Devil, Lived Neerg. Being about half the size of the robots, he looked like a timid little kid peeking out from behind his parents.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Lived Neerg—which as you know is the Green Devil spelled backwards—was a very odd creature. He was lime green and somewhat overweight; shaped like a pear, he only stood about four and half feet tall. He had a wart on the side of his hooked nose and a long, pointed tail—much like that of a devil. He wore no clothes other than a hat—the kind of tattered, black, pointed hat a witch would wear. Instead or hands or feet, he had claws.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Off to either side of the clearing, were groups of all sorts of creatures in military formation. There were armies of trees, armies of rocks, small groups of assorted animals, birds and plants. As Cleo had already informed us, the trees and rocks assumed the role of the military units of Living Land whenever the rare occasion arose. The situation in front of us appeared to be at a standoff; everyone just waiting to see who was going to make the next move in this war.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> I suggested we all stay back out of sight. If Lived Neerg didn’t know we were here yet, I might just give us the advantage of surprise over him. Besides, as long as there was a standoff, nobody was getting hurt. The last thing I wanted to do was give Lived Neerg a reason to resume the fighting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Out of nowhere, we were approached by a quickly scurrying, little creature. He resembled a chipmunk but had a big nose—much like the beak of a toucan. He had a little pair of spectacles perched upon it and was wearing a little, white, lab coat. He began hyperactively looking us over; sizing us all up, one at time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Oh, my! Oh, dear!” he chattered briskly, “Oh, it can’t be! Creatures! Extinct creatures! And meat-people! Meat-people! Oh, dear! Oh, my!” He quickly scurried away again and headed over to the armies of trees and rocks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “What was that?” asked Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Looked like one of the laboratory technicians from LLARAIMCO,” stated Cleo, “they always had the finest techs, you know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> After chattering something to one particularly large boulder, the little lab tech turned and scurried back toward us. He was immediately followed by the boulder—who rolled along after him—and a very, military looking tree, waddling his way toward us on some sturdy roots.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> The boulder was about three feet in diameter and had a broad slit on the side facing us, which acted as his mouth—at least it had a cigar hanging out of it, so we assumed it was the mouth. He had sad but friendly holes for eyes and little patches of brown moss that acted as mustache and eyebrows.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> The most curious thing about him—if being alive wasn’t curious enough—was that when he rolled, his face always remained on front. It didn’t move! He didn’t roll over it, it just stayed right on front where it belonged.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> The tree was a majestic looking spruce, though he was only about ten feet high. His face was made up of knots and gnarls in his bark. He also had mossy eyebrows and—since he had no mustache—I guess you could say he was clean shaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Here they are! Here they are!” pointed the chipmunk tech, “loitering in the woods! Meat-people! Meat-people! It’s not good! No, no, not good at all!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Iggy, my friend,” proudly stated the boulder upon seeing his lizard counterpart.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> The boulder cast a suspicious glance at Rob and then began puffing harder on his cigar. General Iguana took note of that.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Rocky! Good to see you, you old chunk o’ granite,” replied General Iguana, slapping the boulder on the back. “Oh, don’t worry about him,” he added, pointing toward Rob, “he’s not one of those. Where’s Big Red?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “I’m afraid Neerg got him. Chopped him down. This is his replacement, General Bruce ‘Sprucie’ Spruce.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Eh-em!” interrupted the little lab tech, clearing his little throat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Oh.., and this little one is Jeremy,” continued General Boulder, half-heartedly, “He seems to be the only lab tech we could find from LLARAIMCO.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Pleased to meet you, General Spruce.” The iguana and the tree shook claw and branch.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “I’m sorry to hear about General Redwood,” General Iguana added gravely.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Eh-em!” interrupted the little lab tech, again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Pleased to meet you, too,” nodded the lizard.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “What about them! Meat-people! And these two! Extinct! Extinct!” shouted the hyperactive Jeremy, running little loops back and forth in front of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “General Boulder,” started Cleo, “this is Larry and his friends; Melissa, Lisa and Cindy. They’ve come to help us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “But they’re meat-people,” started the skeptical sphere, “how did they get here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “That’s a long story, and completely unnecessary at this time,” assured Cleo, “trust me—koleapi don’t lie.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “I was right,” I said patting myself on the back.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “About what?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Koleapus’s or koleapi,” I smiled, “it’s koleapi.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Very good, Webster,” she smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Webster?” asked a confused Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “You know,” started Cindy, “the dictionary dude.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Dude?” asked a now, even more confused Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Never mind,” I said, in a sort sneer, “let’s get back to the issue at hand. General Boulder, could you please fill us in on the present situation?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Well, right now,” started the geologic General, somberly, “it looks as if that green devil just might be winning.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “He’s destroyed LLARAIMCO,” chattered Jeremy, in a very disgusted tone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Yes, he has,” sighed General Boulder, “but if you don’t mind, this is my briefing.” The General began puffing on his cigar again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “No, no, go ahead.” Jeremy was definitely a nervous little animal.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “To continue,” began General Boulder, taking a good hard suck on his cigar, before blowing out a large smoke ring, “he’s killed off all of the plants and the grasses that have approached him...”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Their attack plan was to clog the tread on those robots,” informed General Spruce, proudly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “He has also covered up all of the openings to the Ant Kingdom, so that they can’t even get out to muck up the insides of those metal monsters. It will take them days to dig themselves out,” concluded General Boulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Poor King Teddy,” said Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “I can help there,” I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “You can help dig the ants out?” asked General Iguana.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Better than that, I can shrink myself and fly into the robots and do the job myself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Shrink yourself?” asked a very excited General Boulder, “how is that possible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “He has the Grotog and ‘The Spell Book of Androganine’,” informed Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Then he is indeed a powerful ally to have,” smiled the broad slit in the General’s face.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Negative,” stated Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “I’m not a good ally?” I questioned.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Negative,” started Rob, “you are a good ally.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Then why did you say ‘negative’?” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “The first ‘negative’ was a reply to your statement, ‘...I can shrink myself and fly into the robots...’“ Rob quoted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “And why can’t he?” asked Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Sensors detect the presence of armed security circuits within the robots which are currently active.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Very active, indeed. Excellent sensory perception for a JPM-4 model,” noted Jeremy, who had been actively looking Rob up and down. “I do see some unauthorized modifications though. Tch, tch, tch, tch, tch...”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Besides,” pointed out General Boulder, “even if you were to disable a robot or two, he’s got eight of them metal monsters and the others are sure to try to stop you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Rob, analysis,” I instructed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Robots are based on the JPM-6 model, which my scanners indicate is the most recent modification to what I am. Sensory and programming circuits are fully protected,” started Rob, “other data, incomplete.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Tch, tch, tch, tch, tch,” sounded Jeremy, shaking his head, “such a shame. A perfectly good JPM-4 wasted on meat-people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Hey, he’s not wasted,” snipped Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “My,” observed Jeremy, “what a feisty meat-person.” Jeremy then took the liberty to poke Cindy on the calf, but she just slapped his hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Jeremy,” began Melissa, trying to ease him back into everyone’s good graces, “how much do you know about the JPM-6”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Ha, what do <u>I</u> know?. What do I know? Ha, they want to know what I know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Well?” prodded General Boulder, puffing some smoke right in Jeremy’s face. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Jeremy coughed for a few seconds and then boasted, “I’m just the chief designer of all modifications that make the JPM-6 a far more superior model than the outdated JPM-4.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> I heard an odd gurgling sound coming from Rob. After realizing what it was and before I could stop him, a little spurt of used oil spit out from one of his vents and landed right on Jeremy’s head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Hey!” shouted the bespectacled, lab tech, wiping the dark fluid from his fur and his eyeglasses.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “My apologies,” I began, fighting back a little chuckle of amusement, “but as you know, the venting of used lubrication is an involuntary function in the JPM-4.” (And who said robots don’t have any feelings.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Should I kick him, now?” asked Woba, squinting his little round eyes at the tech.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “All right,” snapped Melissa, “let’s stop this right now. Rob, say you’re sorry.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “My apologies for venting in your direction,” started Rob.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> There was a pause and then he continued, “I should have performed a sensor scanned prior to discharge.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Well,” began Jeremy, “a little hot, lubricating oil is always a treat for my fur. Apology accepted.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Now can I kick him?” asked Woba.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Look Woba,” motioned Cleo with is front paw, “there’s a nice patch of eating grass!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Oh, goody! Wombas love grass,” cried the little creature, galloping off to do some long desired munching.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Jeremy,” asked Melissa, now that everyone seemed to be back on friendly terms, “how long did it take for Lived Neerg to manufacture his army of robots.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Oh, that wasn’t necessary at all,” began Jeremy, regaining his confidence, “those robots had already been manufactured.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “He’s right,” began General Spruce, “during the short period of time that Lived Neerg has been here, the only thing he had to do was to apply the lacertinium from Lizard Land.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Poor Tyrannosaurus Bob,” lamented General Iguana, bowing his head. The lizard army followed, removing their little caps.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Were all of their circuits fully functional then?” asked Melissa, after a brief moment of silence for the lizards’ sake. “Keep in mind that he first had to take over the factory, melt down the lacertinium, apply it, and then reprogram the robots.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Fully functional and ready for delivery. You’re looking at the entire output of LLARAIMCO for this dorpid. Isn’t much call in Jingleland these days for robots,” lamented Jeremy. “Anyway, those robots where grade-A, finished, ready to go...” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Rob,” I interrupted, “set your sensors for a lacertinium scan. Let me know if that shielding is solid.” This only took Rob a few seconds.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Negative. Lacertinium outer shielding is full of inconsistencies.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Probably due to the fact that only had about a day or so to slap that stuff on,” noted Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “What’s a day?” asked the two Generals and Jeremy, almost simultaneously.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Twenty-four hours,” replied Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “What’s an hour?” asked the three, again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Never mind,” laughed Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Rob,” inquired Melissa, “what would it take to penetrate those monsters?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “My sensors indicate that any number of liquids could short circuit their systems.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Impossible,” stated an insulted Jeremy, “the JPM-6 is completely waterproof.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Negative,” began Rob, “the integrity of their outer shell has been compromised by Lived Neerg’s application of the lacertinium.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Which means?” asked General Boulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Which means,” I began, “that the Green Devil was sloppy in his work. Which means that his impregnable army will rust like a Tin Woodsman.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “What’s a tin woodsman?” asked Woba, returning to our little group after his snack.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Never mind,” comforted Melissa, “it’s a storybook character.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “I like story books,” he replied, smiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “So, one good rain shower would do it, huh?” I pondered.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Where’s a good Kowdoon when you need one,” said Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Cleo, didn’t you mention that there were living clouds in this place?” asked Melissa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Yes, they live up in the Mauve Mountains. They usually swing by every now and then—at the request of the flora, of course,” stated General Boulder, “we don’t bother much with them and they don’t bother much with us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Like the lizards,” said Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Hey!” replied General Lizard, “that’s just a misconception. We like our own country very much. We just don’t venture out of it unless we have to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Our apologies, General. We didn’t mean to insult you or your people,” Melissa smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Lizards, ma’am,” reminded the aide.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Cleo, which way is it to the Mauve Mountains?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “They’re just over there, beyond the woods, on the other side of Lived Neerg and his robots.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “But you needn’t bother with those clouds,” stated General Boulder, “King Nimbus is not a friendly sort. As for the rest of them, they are definitely one grumbly lot who will not help anyone. They wouldn’t water the flora if it wasn’t a masinian-old agreement.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “What’s a masinian?” asked Cindy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “Lots and lots and lots and then, even more deefons,” smiled Cleo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “It’s their un-friendliness I’m counting on,” I started, “please don’t make a move until I get back. Hopefully I can pull this off before the Green Devil makes his. Rob, follow me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> I quickly placed Multi-Purpose Protection Fields around the two of us and we headed back into Fountain Park.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “All right,” said Woba in a strained tone, “but my neck’s going to get awfully stiff if he’s not back soon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “What are you talking about?” asked Lisa.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> “He said not to make a move,” replied the womba defensively.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> Everyone just sort of chuckled at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"><br clear="ALL" style="page-break-before: always;" /> </span>Larry Weisberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12608896994495275607noreply@blogger.com0