Then, thump! Payne stubbed his toe on something. It was hidden by hay, in smoky darkness, covered with an old oilcloth, and practically invisible. “Fudge, that hurt,” grumbled Payne.
“Fudge! What, you found some fudge?” asked a hopeful Horris.
“No boy,” said Payne. “It’s just an expression.” Horris looked miserable. Payne was going to say something but then just gave up. What was the use? He fished in his pocket and gave Horris a dusty old lemon drop. Then he turned his attention to whatever was under that sheet. Gently, he lifted it by an edge and moved it aside. And there it was. A hoop! A hoop? What the..?
But before he could give it any more thought, he heard voices. “Quick,” he whispered to Horris. “We need to hide.” Working fast, he covered the hoop again and they slipped behind a stack of boxes.
The barn door slid open, flooding the room with light. Payne was at the point of panic, thinking they would be discovered, when the door slid closed again.
Matilda and Mrs. Morgan were carrying something. It was a box. They set it down, uncovered the hoop device, and Mrs. Morgan spoke into her walkie-talkie. “Ready when you are. We’re good here.” And then, just like that, from out of nowhere, Manny appeared. Payne’s jaw dropped. Horris sucked on his candy.
Then Manny picked up the box, spoke to the two women, saying everyone was well at the Bridge, and walked into the hoop… and was gone. Walked into the hoop… and was gone? Payne’s jaw snapped closed again. He almost chipped a tooth. What just happened? What?
*****
“Don’t you get it, Horris?” insisted Payne.
“Yeah, Manny is a magician, like Houdini,” Horris responded.
“No, no,” said Payne, shaking his head. “Listen, this is what I saw:
1. Manny appeared, poof, from that hoop thing.
2. He picked up the box Matilda and Mrs. Morgan had carried there.
3. He said everyone was well… at the Bridge.
4. Then he disappeared back through the hoop thing, box and all.”
“Now, do you get it?”
The concentration on Horris’ face was cosmic. His brain played with an idea, and paddled the thought around like a pinball with all its lights a-flashing and bells a-ringing. Every neuron in the rifle range that was his brain started firing… but sadly, each and every one missed its mark. The target was left intact. He dribbled a little.
*****
“Where have you two been?” cross-examined the Wolf. “We’re almost ready. We need you and your silly little thumbs.” The Wolf looked deep into Horris and Payne’s eyes and spoke slowly, clearly, and confidently. They were mesmerized. They were transfixed. They… were being hypnotized. “You will destroy the Bridge. Nothing and no one can stop you. Do you understand?” They nodded yes. “You will destroy. You will destroy. You will destroy. Now, where have you been?”
“Uh. Huh? Sorry, but we’ve been spying on our friends, and we found something,” said Payne excitedly. “Manny and the others have some sort of a transporter device. I think that’s what it is. We saw Manny come and go from the Bridge to the farm and back again. They hid it in the barn.”
The Wolf cursed softly to herself. “The Mistress must have given it to them. She still haunts me.” And with that she pounced onto the wolf closest to her with her two huge paws, and flattened it to the ground. It rose bewildered and with a whine ran off into the forest. The rest of the wolves shuffled uncomfortably away, taking pains to avoid her eyes, as did Horris, Payne, the Snake, and the Vulture. But she did not even notice; she was lost in her anger and hate.
“But Wolf,” said Payne, turning his palms up and tilting his head. “Now that we know, we can use it against them.”
The Wolf’s eyes burned inward, her soul on fire. “Yes, Perhaps I can. But for now all I want is to teach them a lesson they will never forget. I will destroy them, one and all.”
“Sure, that’s another way to go,” said Payne with a grin.
*****
Everyone at the Bridge and back at the farm waited as the afternoon wore on, slowly and rather painfully, since there was no way for any of them to know when the inevitable attack would come.
And the sun seemed rather reluctant to set that day. Perhaps, after having witnessed countless struggles unfold upon our tiny planet, that ancient star sensed something our friends could not, sensed that dusk would be the signal for the carnage to commence.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Maggie sat by the waterfall with Molly and Tim. She was thinking about her Mom, her home, and when life had been, well, normal. A time when animals did not talk. Certainly did not threaten. When strange inventions that could warp time and space did not exist. But that life seemed so far away now. She felt so much older now. And as she looked into the eyes of her friends, she was sure they both felt the same way too.
Tim spoke first. “Are you g-guys scared?” he said, speaking softly so only Maggie and Molly could hear. “Because I am… j-just a l-little… b-but I am.” The girls each put an arm around his shoulder. Then Maggie spoke.
“Of course we’re scared. Everyone here is scared. But you came through for us when it mattered, Tim. Because, you see, brave is not about having no fear. Brave is about facing your fear.”
“Yeah,” said Molly. “It’s like, how can you call someone brave if they’re not afraid? But if you’re scared to do something, and you do it anyway… well, now, that’s brave.”
“Thanks g-g-guys,” said Tim, beaming. “Hey, let’s make a pact that we’ll always be there for each other. No matter what, and no matter when.”
“I got your backs,” said Maggie.
“Me too,” said Molly, making a little finger gun with her thumb and index finger.
“Then it’s unanimous,” said Tim.
They sat together in the glow of their new resolve. United and unbeatable. Friends forever. The Deer smiled inwardly. Truly she had not intended to spy, but with her built-in sonar-like ears, she had heard every word.
*****
The daylight was now fading fast. The angry sun was once again losing its daily battle with the night, its flame being summoned into darkness.
Manny and company decided to go into the tent and rest. No use milling around. From the half-opened flap of the enclosure they could monitor the Bridge.
And then the wolves moved into place. Slowly and carefully, making no sound, they positioned themselves in a circle, surrounding the Bridge and the campsite. They crouched low and waited.
The Wolf, Snake, and Vulture remained behind the brush, as still as stone, poised and ready to attack when the time was right.
Horris and Payne stood behind a tree and waited for a signal. It came, as the Wolf nodded. They walked into the open and stood side by side. Hands empty, no weapons. But they did carry rather large backpacks. Payne spoke.
“We’re here to join you,” he said in a voice he hoped sounded sincere.
His words were met with silence. He tried again. “We know where the Wolf’s lair is and we can lead you to her.”
Still no response, as the seconds ticked away. It was getting warm, he thought, as he tugged at his collar. He and Horris turned toward where the Wolf was hiding as if seeking guidance.
Finally… Horris yelled into the bushes, “Hey, are all of you stupid? We’re talking to you! Answer us.” Mister short fuse could no longer take this cat and mouse game he and his uncle were playing. He was a more direct kind of guy. Someone driven by his primal instincts in spite of what actions were appropriate to the situation. He operated on the level of a lizard. Payne cringed.
“Are you looking for someone?” said a familiar voice behind him.
He and Payne spun around quickly, coming face to face with Maggie, Molly, Tim, Manny, Mr. Morgan, and the Deer.
“What the…” gasped Horris.
“Horris, be quiet,” barked Payne, his hard eyes quickly brimming with unmasked contempt. Then, just as quickly, his face softened and he shifted back into
smiley-face liar mode.
“Glad you’re here,” he sparkled at Maggie and crew. “We will help you,” he offered magnanimously and held out his hand. No one took it. After several awkward moments he dropped it back to his side.
“We don’t trust you,” said Manny, frowning. “It’s as simple as that.”
“And we think you should leave,” suggested Maggie.
“And s-soon,” offered Tim.
“So go,” insisted Molly.
For some unknown reason, Molly really irritated Horris. Always had. He made a menacing move toward her and both Tim and Mr. Morgan stepped in to block him. Mr. Morgan boomed, “Back off, young lad. Just back off.” Molly smiled up at her Dad.
“Yeah, s-stay away, if you know what’s good for you,” said an angry Tim. Molly smiled an even brighter smile at him. Horris backed off and kicked at the dirt.
Mr. Morgan looked down at Tim and put a hand on his shoulder. Then he spoke to Horris. “Son, I think you’d better go on home.”
By this time the Bear had joined them. He tip-pawed softly and stood directly behind Horris and Payne. Then he said very loudly, “Boo.”
Payne simultaneously froze and melted. Horris yelped. Both whipped around to find themselves facing the big brown Bear.
“Don’t bite me, don’t bite me,” they screamed as they fled toward where the Wolf was hiding.
“Why would I bite you?” frowned the Bear, as he watched them flee. “How gross!”
As the two stumbled and screamed their way toward the brush, the Wolf sneered and muttered to herself, “Worthless, all worthless. Can’t do anything right. Must I do everything myself?”
With a sigh she emerged from hiding, and she and her underlings walked over to face Manny and company. “Well, it’s showtime,” she said. “You have a choice. We can do this the easy way. You move aside… Or the hard way. We move you aside.”
Manny spoke. “We’re not going anywhere, my friend. Look around. It’s the five of you against the eight of us. And two of you look like you’d rather be anywhere else than here.”
“Hmm, five to eight, you say?” said the Wolf. “Perhaps not. Look around. Perhaps the odds are no longer in your favor.”
Manny had no idea what she was talking about. That is until the Wolf let out a chilling howl, and in the distance he saw dark patches starting to emerge from the shadows. And these dark patches were snarling, and growing larger by the moment.
The Wolf turned to Horris and Payne and shouted, “Now, do it!”
From their backpacks Horris and Payne pulled out a small sledge hammer and a chainsaw. Both had regained their composure and looked wildly excited by what they were about to do. There was no doubt. They were setting off to destroy the Bridge.
With everyone’s attention being drawn toward the oncoming onslaught, the Wolf, Snake, and Vulture unexpectedly lunged at the Bear and Deer. The Wolf snapped viciously at the Bear, leaving the Deer to fend off attacks from both ground and air. And as these battles raged the Bear found himself being moved further and further away from his friend. “Marise,” he yelled. And he tried to move toward her, but the Wolf leaped into the air, jaws wide, and grabbed him by the throat. He was slammed to the ground. Marise, the Deer, fighting a two-on-one battle, was slowly losing her fight.
*****
Mr. Morgan, followed by Manny and Milda, ran after Payne, while Maggie, Molly, and Tim rushed after Horris. The battle scene was painted in the stark colors of pre-chaos. But never fear; the surreal colors of pure chaos were about to emerge. And all the while the growling shadows kept moving closer.
*****
Horris took a wild swing at Molly with his sledge, grazing her head and causing her to cry out in pain. And with that, Tim was on him, pummeling him as fast and as hard as he could, with a fury he had never known, and with a strength that had never before existed. This threat to Molly’s safety had given him a burst of super-human strength and energy. Our mild-mannered Tim was firing on all cylinders now!
“Hey, leggo!” screamed Horris, as he frantically tried to pull himself free of Tim. He had dropped his hammer and he and Tim now rolled and scuffled on the ground, their fists flying wildly. Then they slammed into Maggie, knocking her down, where she was pulled into the tangled fray. All three were now locked in a desperate struggle. It was hard to figure out whose arms and legs belonged to who. Then, crash, Tim and Maggie smacked heads together… hard, and were stunned. Horris seized the opportunity and leaped up, starting after a still dazed Molly. But not before he retrieved his hammer.
Molly shook her head to try to clear her vision. There were two Horris’ coming at her. And each was holding a hammer. This could not be a good thing. She had to run.
She ran towards the mover, certain that Horris would overtake her at any moment. Certain that his hammer would find its mark. Certain that she was a goner. But she was wrong. Tim had shaken off his head bump and managed to run after Horris and leaped upon him. They scuffled wildly. Tim fought like a boy possessed, but he was still quite woozy, and Horris finally knocked him aside. This had, however, bought Molly valuable time. Time enough to run through the mover, where she found herself in the barn.
Horris ran to the spot where Molly had just disappeared, looking right and left and every which way for her. He stared curiously at the hoop. Then he remembered what Payne had said to him. This thing, this device, could transport someone… him… to where Molly was… but he was afraid to step through.
Tim tried to stand and give chase. But as he stood he became dizzy and fell. He wouldn’t be able to catch Horris. Quickly, he whipped out his walkie talkie to warn Molly that Horris was right behind her. So, just as she stepped out from the mover, she heard, “M-Molly, he’s coming after you. He’s got a hammer. G-g-get away, run!” Tim sounded scared. And the fear in his voice scared the heck out of her.
She picked up the unit and half dragged, half carried it out of the barn. And as she struggled, she formulated a plan. She stumbled toward the chicken coop, fell to one knee, tore her jeans, and immediately was up and running again. It won’t help to panic, she thought. Girl, just do what you gotta do!
After reaching the gate to the coop, she fumbled furiously with the combination lock, threw open the door just as, to her horror, she saw Horris’ hand reaching through the loop. With all her strength she pushed the device behind the wire fence. Then she slammed the gate closed and quickly snapped the lock shut.
Then a very strange thing happened. As Horris emerged, Molly gasped.
In horror, Horris looked up and saw he was trapped behind a towering fence; and he also saw a super-sized Molly standing right behind that fence. But actually, Molly and the fence were no larger than usual. It was Horris who was now quite small. In carrying the unit, Molly had inadvertently repositioned the trim dial setting to 25%. That meant Horris had come through the mover at one quarter of his normal size. He stood a towering 15 inches… aah… tall. He dropped his tiny little hammer on his tiny little foot.
But that wasn’t the worst of it. Oh, no! A bewildered Horris, looking to escape from the Giant Molly Monster, ran into the coop. And as he did, he crashed into a nest, knocking an egg to the ground, where it cracked. He gasped and something screeched.
What had screeched was the angry mother hen of that poor lost chick. She catapulted herself right at Horris. He screamed and swatted and ran for cover as she pecked and squawked at him. Soon, more hens had taken up their sister’s cause and were attacking Horris. Finally, he was driven to hide behind an old vegetable crate, where he crouched, cried, and waved an old #2 pencil to keep the birds at bay. It was pitiful.
Not that Horris deserved any pity after all he had done, but Molly did take pity on him. He was just a boy and she was afraid the chickens would hurt him (and if they could’ve, they surely would’ve). So she opened the gate and ran to his aid. The birds scattered. Perhaps they thought this big human would finish what they started.
When she saw the chicken-Horris stan
doff, she smiled. “Serves you right,” she said. Then she reached out and grabbed him by the front of his shirt and lifted him up to her face. He dropped his pencil and shrieked.
“D-d-don’t hurt me,” he squeaked. “I didn’t know…”
But Molly cut him off. “Didn’t know what? That you’d get caught?”
Molly shook him in anger. And for the briefest moment it felt good, but then she felt ashamed. Horris was the bully here, not her. And here she was, acting just like him, like a bully.
“I’m going to save you from the chickens, you chicken,” she said. And she carried him out of the coop and into the house.
Mrs. Morgan and Matilda nearly dropped their teacups when they saw Horris. Molly explained everything. Matilda laughed so hard that tea came out her nose. Then Molly asked, “What can we do with him? We can’t just let him go. I know he’ll just cause more trouble.”
“I have an idea,” said a laughing Matilda, looking toward the staircase.
“What are you going to do with me?” asked a fearful Horris.
“I don’t know, but we’ll all see soon,” said a stone-faced Molly, as everyone climbed the steps to the second floor.
Minutes later, a lone Molly was headed back to the coop and the mover. “Tim, Tim, can you hear me?” she asked, speaking into the walkie talkie. But Tim did not answer. So she reset the dial to 100%, stepped through the hoop and disappeared.
Horris sat in the middle of his cell, which was actually Bernie’s steel crate. Bernie stood guard and growled occasionally, making sure Horris stayed put. Horris shivered as waves of hot doggy breath assaulted him.
*****
During Molly and Horris’s adventure, Payne had fired up his chainsaw and was using it to hold off Mr. Morgan, Manny and Milda. He alternately cut chunks from one of the Bridge’s half-rotted supports, then swung his saw menacingly towards his adversaries. They could not get close to him. Not with the threat of spinning steel roaring in their faces. The Bridge, old and creaky to begin with, could not take too much more of this slow but steady destruction. It creaked and shifted ominously. And Payne kept gouging away mercilessly.