Chapter 13

[seymoure]

Chapter 13
“How Green Was My Valet”

       All the power in the town went out at the same moment, thanks Baxter and his patented “Teslavator’ device. It had not shut down any generators, nor damaged any power lines, it merely drew all the electricity out of every device and sent it into the clouds. Two minutes after the town was dark, the lightning rolled and the thunder rumbled and would continue to do so until Platt turned off his machine.
       Within the highly charged air, flashing particles would have blinded anyone not wearing the special tinted glasses that Mr. Mike created to counter the effect that Mary Jane had chemically created so many times before.
       The huge creatures around the city did not move. Nor did it seem they were in any discomfort or distress.
       Out of the factory came a troop of thirty or so, walking in close formation. Behind them,. but never leaving the building, stood “Boss” Feratu.
       J.J. had watched the stride of the only moving guard creature, and from it could calibrate exactly how long it would take them to reach any point in the town.
       On J.J.’s signal Mat let go the three gargoyle statues that had stood on the city hall for nearly one hundred years.
       But they did not fall directly to earth.
       With their heads wrapped the “aluminum/steel” wire Doc and Mary Jane had perfected, the massive statues swung towards the tower of the factory that loomed a couple of stories higher than the city hall. As they swung, they swept all but three of the blue-green creatures like bowling balls crashing through bowling pins.
       The three still moving creatures continued on without a notice of their companions’ plight.
       At this point Doc Thursday let fly, in rapid succession, three flaming arrows. Every shaft flew true, and went not only into the heads of the monsters, but through them.
       The three things stopped for a moment, as if mildly aware they shared a five inch gapping hole through their head. After an uncertain ten seconds, they fell to the ground.
       Seven pairs of eyes turned to the cadaverous figure in the factory window, but he was no longer there.
       Renny Field stood there for a moment, and then the window was spattered with red. The window now erupts as the shattered body of the mobster flew through it.
       Doc Faustus no longer had an ally on the inside.
       Now, something really unsettling happened.
       Three more of the creatures emerged from the factory. But these things were a good four feet taller than the others had been. Their mouths were more articulated. They were snarling.
       They emitted a growl that could be heard blocks away.
       They stood on the steps of the factory for a good two minutes, and then stepped aside.
       From behind them came “Boss” Feratu. But he was not alone.
       In his arms was a little girl.
       She couldn’t have been more than three years old.
       He held her roughly and she was terrified.
       “See this?” He shouted to whoever might hear it.
       “I have six more of these things inside, the last children in the city,” He smiled in a way that made the child cry.
       “If you do not show yourselves by the time I count 5, “ He waited for effect, “My beasts will feast before your eyes!”
       “1” He counted.
       “2” There was a touch of self-satisfaction in his raspy voice.
       “3,” He looked up at his giant servants and said, “Yummy, don’t you think, boys?” The growling increased.
       The terrified child sobbed.
       “4” He said as he looked around.
       “Alright,” came a voice, “You got us, let her go!”
       Mary Jane was the first to walk out on the street. When the monster released the child, the little one ran to the girl with the sword for comfort.
       Behind her was Doc Thursday, J.J., Mat, Mr. Mike & Baxter.
       “Kill them,” The white faced monster screamed at the blue-green faced monsters, “Kill them all!”
       The growling of the things increased, and now it came from all sides.
       The group was ringed by at least 10 of the great beasts.
       “Then, to celebrate,” Feratu smirked as he rubbed his hands together, “We’ll toss the lot into the vats.”
       The thunder rolled.
©2005 C. Wayne Owens