Episode X: The giants awaken
I awoke from my nap with a clear mind and a clear purpose. I had decided upon a course of actions that would allow Cat to reach the control panel. I realized that had the strange creature in the cave wished me harm, then harm would have been done. As it wasn't, I concluded that the creature may not have been hostile after all. So, I would simply attempt to communicate with it. Failing that, I would distract the creature while Cat made his way to the control room.
I stood and shook off the water that drenched me. Apparently, a rain shower had come and gone during my nap. I was in such a deep sleep that I had felt nothing. I looked about for Cat, but he was nowhere to be seen. Kunax was also gone. Sexy Blue was curled up in sleep next to the tree where I had slept. I quickly constructed a primitive shelter about her in case another shower passed through. Seeing that she would be protected from any future showers, I set out to find Cat.
I saw that the water in the village had risen a couple of inches since the last time I slogged through this mess. I made a mental note to immediately set about clearing the pond once I had finished my business in the cave, if I survived.
As I made my way through the village, I noticed Kunax laying upon the porch of a shoddily built hut. (Sorry, Padma, but you are the village spanker, what do you know about building a house?
) I assumed that Cat would be somewhere nearby as these two are thick as thieves.
I approached the house and glanced in the window. Inside, Padma was dozing with Cat curled up in her lap.
Ahh, how cute, I thought. It would be a shame to wake them, but this situation must be resolved or we are doomed.
I knocked on the door. I didn't think I knocked very hard, but the door collapsed inwards with a mighty crash. Looks like Padma forgot to replace the hinge pins. Inside, Padma and Cat immediately awoke with a start. Cat jumped nearly to the ceiling and Padma jumped almost as high.
Once Padma saw me, she relaxed somewhat. I told her that I would help her rebuild her house, after all we had a contract. She told me "Thank you very much, but I think I can handle it on my own. Why don't you go build a house for that blue vixen of yours? And if this is what you call rebuilding, then I definitely don't need your help."
I apologized for the door and tried to explain that I hardly knew Sexy Blue and that surely Padma must admit that she's got the sexiest feet ever made. Padma began to berate me quite severely. I was unsure why she should feel this way. Perhaps during her time in my lean-to she became more attached to me than I had thought. It's improper of a gentleman to take advantage of his servant
(can't think of a better word, maid doesn't sound any better. And man-servant is certainly not the word. Maybe lady-servant? Assistant?) in this way, but I admit that I was quite flattered by her jealousy. Perhaps I should release her from service and seek a different relationship.
Just then, another earthquake began to rock the land. This drove home the fact that no time should be wasted on clearing this mess up. I begged Padma's forgiveness for whatever improprieties I may have commited and snatched up the cat and fled.
I explained my plan to Cat on the way to the cave. When we got there, it was getting close to dark. I told Cat to wait and follow me in a few minutes. I entered the cave and began to make my way deep into it's recesses.
When I reached the macabre altar, I saw that the plant had proliferated even more than previously. Barely a hint of the trapped villagers could be seen beneath the writhing mass of vines. There were many blossoms with staring eyes inside. The eyes turned towards me as one. A hum began to fill the chamber.
From various side chambers, clay-men began to pour. Hundreds of them. Perhaps this wasn't the best idea. I attempted to communicate with them, but I had failed to consider that they wouldn't understand my speech. Maybe I should have brought some fish with me. They began to advance towards me menacingly. Before they could reach me, I turned and ran. This time they chased me. I ran from the cave and tried to lose them in the forest. I was faster than them, but they didn't seem to tire. I would eventually lose this race.
I was exhausted. The homonculi were almost upon me. This it, I'm gonna die. Just then, a strange hum filled the air. The clay-men stopped in their tracks. Their miniscule glow fading away.
Cat must have succeeded, I thought.
Thank goodness.
I stopped and tried to catch my breath. Just then, the hum grew more and more intense. I began to notice strange streaks of light in the sky.
What's this, I thought. The stars were plummeting from the sky, crashing to the earth and exploding into a shimmering haze. A great earthquake, mightier than any than had gone before, shook the ground for what seemed like forever. Yards away from me, a hand fully 10 feet from fingertips to the heel of the palm erupted from the ground, followed by an even bigger forearm. In the distance, I could make out another hand. And over there a face. A feline face.
What was this?
Streaks of lightning began to lace the sky. Purple lightning.
Purple lightning, that's always a good sign was my last thought as one of the lightning bolts struck the ground in front of me. The world exploded in purple.
(I know, how much more adversity could I create? Sorry, but I can't help it.
At least we don't have to worry about earthquakes any more, or do we?
I wonder what the Great Grouper thinks about all this.)