They nervously took the bags of food, climbed down and miraculously reached the ground without harm.
“See, what did I tell you? Nothing happened to us,” Louis said with increased confidence. “I figured the voice was bluffing!”
“Well, I guess you were right again. I don’t how you do it, Louis.”
Crystal’s smiling face suddenly turned into an expression of fear.
“What’s the matter? You don’t look so good.”
Crystal tried to warn Louis, but couldn’t get the words out. She was terrified. All she could do was furiously point behind him.
“You’re playing a joke on me, aren’t you?” he said to her. “Come on, quit fooling around. We need to get back to the others and save Shining Star.”
Crystal kept pointing wildly behind Louis.
“Okay, big joke. I’ll turn around and you can say ‘Ha, ha. I fooled you,’” he said with irritation. He was puzzled as to why she would do something so silly now.
Louis turned around and saw what Crystal was trying to warn him about.
He saw a gigantic monster three times taller than Louis. It had large bulky muscles bulging from its arms, legs, and chest. The creature had yellow colored scales covering its entire body. The head resembled a rat’s. Large, pointed teeth protruded from its drooling mouth. The claws on its hands were long and sharp as knives. They looked strong enough to slice anything to pieces.
“I am Kompaqk,” the formerly invisible creature said. “You dare fight me for the food? I would be happy to fulfill your wishes,” he laughed heartily. “Of course, if you would prefer to avoid injury and the beating of your life, you can leave the food and I will allow you to escape with your puny lives,” he snarled.
Louis and Crystal couldn’t possibly leave without the food. It was their only means of saving Shining Star’s life.
“But perhaps you need more convincing?” the large monster growled.
The creature pounced forward and grabbed Crystal’s arm. She screamed and struggled to break free, but it was no use. The rat-monster held on tightly.
“If you do not wish me to harm your friend, you must leave immediately!” he commanded Louis. Kompaqk didn’t seem to be bluffing now.
How could I have made such a terrible mistake? thought Louis. He couldn’t leave Crystal behind. He had to save her, but what could he do?
“Well, what is your decision? I grow weary of waiting,” Kompaqk, the rat monster, bellowed.
Louis remembered what his father said, “If you ever think someone is bluffing in poker, one way to win is to make an even bigger bluff. You have to pretend that you have better cards than the other guy.”
He decided that his father’s advice was good and proceeded to try to bluff the monster by acting more powerful. There was something about this creature that didn’t ring true. Louis couldn’t explain it, but the feeling was very intense. Louis sincerely hoped he was right on this matter. Two lives hung in the balance of his decision.
“I will not leave. I will be the one who tells you what to do. First, let her go. Second, give us the food. Third, leave us alone,” he said with authority.
Kompaqk couldn’t believe his five ears. “Well, what makes you think I’ll do what you say?” Kompaqk said, suddenly quite cautious.
“Because if you don’t, I guarantee that you will die after I get through with you!” Louis bluffed again with strong conviction.
The rat-monster stood motionless at these words and remained perfectly still. Was he planning to lunge at Louis without warning, or was he working out a strategy to use Crystal as a shield? Unexpectedly, the large creature started to make muffled sounds as if it were in pain. The sounds transformed into sobs and the creature started to cry profusely. Large green tears flowed in streams down the checks of the gigantic rat. He was sobbing so intensely that Crystal was getting drenched by the falling drops. The creature released Crystal.
“Please don’t hurt me! I was just hungry!” he begged Louis.
Crystal ran to Louis’s side, quite relieved to put as much distance between her and the horrible looking creature.
“Take your sacks of food! All I ask is for you not to harm me.”
“Louis, I don’t understand. How could this big monster give up so easy?” she asked.
The creature spoke up and provided the answer. “Although my looks are frightening, in reality, I could not hurt a fly. My only ability is to dupe others into believing I am a dangerous monster. This is my only means of defense.”
“Defense? Why would you need to defend yourself with all your large muscles, sharp teeth, and gigantic claws?” Crystal asked in surprise.
“This is only an illusion. I don’t really possess the strength and power of the monster I have changed into. This is my true appearance.”
The ferocious monster shrank before their eyes into a rather small, innocent-looking, orange-colored bunny rabbit.
Crystal laughed with glee. “That’s what you really look like?” She walked up to Kompaqk, knelt down to look straight into his eyes, and said, “You’re so cute!”
“And that is the problem. The tribe I belong to all look like me. No one fears us in this form.”
“Which tribe do you belong to?” she asked. Crystal was very careful not to talk too loudly to the creature. She didn’t want to frighten it away.
“I am a Binkee. I belong to the tribe of the Binkees. We are helpless creatures and are too weak to defend ourselves from predators. That is why we move only at night and become invisible by day. We are too timid to show ourselves. When threatened, we use our shape-changing ability to scare off intruders. But, in this encounter, it seems to have not worked,” Kompaqk said sadly.
“Louis, how did you guess that Kompaqk wasn’t what he was?”
“It was another hunch. I figured, if he really wanted to fight me in the tree, why was he hiding himself for? It didn’t make any sense. I figured he might be bluffing.”
“What’s ‘bluffing’?”
“It’s a long story. The important thing is you’re safe and we have the food now. Let’s get going. Time is running out for Shining Star!”
“Wait, please don’t leave me behind!” the Binkee pleaded.
“Why would you want to come along with us?” Crystal said softly.
“I was separated from my tribe when we were attacked by the Bungeez. They are the sworn enemies of my tribe. They aren’t fooled by our disguises and are vicious animals. We scattered to save ourselves, but I ran so far away that I couldn’t find my way back to my village. That is when I stumbled upon your campsite the other night. I was very hungry from running, so I took your food. I’m sorry, but I was starving!”
“But that doesn’t explain why you want to come with us. We’re on a dangerous mission. I think that you’d be safer up there in the tree,” Louis explained.
“We, Binkees, are extremely afraid of heights.”
“Then why were you in the tree?”
“I only climbed the tree because I was even more afraid of being on the ground where the Bungeez might find me. I am asking for your protection and permission to come along with you until I can locate my tribe. I promise not to eat too much and I won’t be a problem to you. If I am left alone in the forest, I doubt I will survive.”
“Please, can he come with us? He’s the cutest little creature that I have ever seen. Besides, he was only hungry. We know how that feels, right Louis?”
“Okay. I can’t see any harm in him coming along. Let’s run back to the others. I’ll carry Kompaqk, he doesn’t look like he can run too fast.”
“Can I carry him? He’s so fuzzy and cuddly. I want to carry him. Please, please, please?” she begged.
“Okay, okay! I suppose a small, fuzzy orange bunny is too cute for you to resist, right?”
“Right!” she agreed.
Crystal scooped Kompaqk up in her arms. The creature promptly became invisible.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot you guys sc
are easily. I’m sorry.”
Kompaqk reappeared and made a soft purring sound.
“I guess that means he feels better,” she giggled. “Kompaqk, I’m going to put you in my large dress pocket. That way, you’ll feel safe and secure while we’re traveling.”
They took the rest of the sacks of food and ran quickly through the forest, following the crumbs back to their campsite. They were exhausted from running, but they couldn’t even afford to stop and catch their breaths; Shining Star’s life depended on the food they had in their possession.
Oddly, Louis began to slow down until he unexpectedly stopped.
“What’s the matter? Why are you just standing there?” Crystal asked. “We don’t have time to waste. Let’s go!”
“I don’t think we can do that,” Louis replied.
“Why? What are you trying to say?”
“Look over there.”
She saw hundreds of squirrel-like creatures happily eating something on the ground.
“They look pretty excited. I wonder what they’re eating?” she asked.
The awful answer flashed in her mind. “Oh no, they’re eating our crumb trail! How are we going to find our way back now?” Crystal asked with desperation in her voice.
“I wish I knew,” Louis said extremely discouraged. “I wish I knew.”
CHAPTER 12
MENACING MARAUDERS
“Where could those guys be?” Gus said impatiently. “It’s been more than an hour since they left. Shining Star needs food. Maybe I should go and look for some food too.”
“That would not be in our best interests. If you leave, that is one less person to defend Shining Star from any possible danger. I request that you stay. Besides, if you depart you would be placing yourself in jeopardy by being on your own,” said Mr. Bixbee.
“But we just can’t sit around and do nothing!”
“On the contrary, we are doing something very important. We are providing Shining Star with support and comfort. We are guarding him from danger. These are very important duties we must not be lax in.”
Gus couldn’t argue with that, but he still wished he could be more actively involved.
A weak, faint voice interrupted his thoughts from behind.
“Food. . . food. . .I’m. . .so. . .hungry,” Shining Star whispered. His normally bright orange and purple stripes were very faded.
Mr. Bixbee knew this was an indication that the Zeeboo was dying. He kept this to himself as he did not want to upset Gus.
“Do you think he’ll be okay?” asked Gus.
“Zeeboos are noble and very strong creatures. I am counting on him to make it through this difficult time.”
But time was what they were running out of. Gus sensed this and said, “You don’t really think he’s going to make it, do you?”
“Statistically speaking, of course, the odds do not favor his survival. But I have witnessed many extraordinary things as of late, so I will hold to the sanguine position and possibility he will be triumphant in overcoming his dire predicament.”
Mr. Bixbee looked at Gus’s blank stare and said, “I think he’ll be okay.”
“Oh. I figured you said something like that.”
Shining Star was breathing slowly, as if to conserve what little strength he had remaining, in order to cling onto life. It was painful to see him suffer. Gus didn’t want to dwell on this, so he asked Mr. Bixbee a question to lighten the mood.
“Mr. Bixbee, if you came here to Tetra when you were a boy, how did you get so smart?” Gus asked innocently.
Mr. Bixbee laughed and said, “My formal education began when I arrived on Tetra. The creatures and inhabitants taught me many things, of which I shall be forever grateful.”
Mr. Bixbee stopped when he realized they were no longer alone.
“Gus, do not make any sudden moves. If you slowly look around you, you will see that we are surrounded by Xingerhs.”
Gus laughed. “What’s a Xingerh? That’s a funny sounding name.”
“You will not be so amused when I tell you that the Xingerhs are roving packs of insects which devour anything that crosses their path. They eat virtually everything.”
“Everything?”
“Yes, and unfortunately for us, that also includes us.”
“Great. Here we are, waiting for food to arrive, and we become the food for those monsters. I think the word I can use here is ‘ironic’,” said Gus.
“Very good,” replied Mr. Bixbee. “You are learning and expanding your vocabulary.
“I won’t be learning for very long if I get eaten by those insects. . .”
There were approximately thirty Xingerhs. They looked like ants, except very, very large. Gus estimated they were the size of horses.
The Xingerhs marched toward them and formed a circle, surrounding Gus and Mr. Bixbee to prevent their escape. Encircling seemed to be the preferred method of capturing victims in Tetra, Gus observed dryly.
“Hey, this looks familiar. Didn’t we go through something like this before?”
“Unfortunately for us, yes.”
“You like to use the word, ‘unfortunately’ a lot, don’t you?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
Gus would have laughed but the danger they found themselves in removed anything humorous out of the situation.
“Do you have a plan to get us out of this?”
“I was just about to ask you the same thing,” replied Mr. Bixbee.
The Xingerhs were closing in on them, making the circle smaller and smaller. Their jaw-like mandibles were snapping open and shut in anticipation of a very tasty meal. They had not eaten for days.
Mr. Bixbee caught some movement up in the sky. “Perhaps all is not lost yet. Perhaps not all is lost.”
Gus didn’t understand what Mr. Bixbee was referring to until he glanced up. “The Bonky birds, I forgot all about them!” he said with hope.
“Correct. When I sound the alarm whistle, the Bonky birds will react by producing a blinding flash of light that will blind the Xingerhs.”
“Great, that means we will be able to escape!”
“That is not an option.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It will only postpone our eventual fate of becoming sustenance for these monsters. Shining Star cannot move and we cannot abandon him,” reminded Mr. Bixbee.
“You mean all it will do is to stall them and we can’t leave Shining Star.”
“I believe I said that.”
“Well, there’s nothing else we can do. At least it will give us some time to think of something else. Go ahead and blow the whistle! They’re about to attack!” Gus said frantically.
The Xingerhs were all in step with one another, marching in formation like soldiers in a parade. It was an amazing thing to see. They stomped their feet louder and louder as they moved in for the kill.
“Gus, we must close our eyes tightly so we won’t be blinded by the light. I’ll cover Shining Star’s eyes with my hands.”
Mr. Bixbee took a deep breath and blew the alarm whistle. The flock of Bonky birds hovered over them and squawked excitedly. The birds flapped their wings in perfect synchronization several times. Their wings started to glow. In a moment, the glow increased to a glaring intensity. A violent flash occurred and the insects were instantly blinded by dazzling white light.
Gus and Mr. Bixbee opened their eyes and saw the Xingerhs confused and unable to see where they were going.
“Ha! That will slow them down for a while. How long will they be like that?” asked Gus.
“We have approximately ten minutes before they regain their sight and resume their aggression upon on us.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem, Mr. Bixbee. All you have to do is to blow that whistle again and the Bonky birds will flash their wings like before.”
“That is not possible.”
“Blowing your whistle?”
“No, the whistle is not the problem. Once the Bonky b
irds flash their wings, they cannot repeat the event until they are able to recharge themselves. They need to regenerate their energy.
“How long does that take?”
“I would say about thirty minutes.”
“But that means the ants will get their sight back before the birds can flash again.”
“Correct.”
“We’re in trouble.”
“Correct again.”
“What are we going to do now?”
“I wish I knew.”
#
“Did you see that?” Crystal said as she pointed far off in the sky.
“I saw it too. I thought it was lightning. But how could that be? The sky is clear and there are no clouds. Besides, I don’t hear any thunder, do you?” Louis said, somewhat puzzled. “How can there be lightning without clouds?”
“I don’t know, unless it wasn’t lightning. But if it isn’t lightning, what could have caused something so bright in the sky? I’ve never seen anything like that before,” she said.
“Me neither, but I guess there are lots of things here that we’ve never seen before.”
They continued to look in the direction of where the flash of light occurred when Crystal noticed a bird fly overhead.
“Look Louis, its one of the Bonky birds. I bet he got lost from the flock that was following Mr. Bixbee. I hope he finds his way back. He’ll be in danger unless he finds his friends.”
Louis dwelled on Crystal’s words. He felt that the words “danger” and “friends” were somehow connected with the appearance of the bright light. But what could it be?
“What’s the matter, Louis? What’s on your mind?”
“It’s something you said. I have a feeling something important has to do with that bright light we saw, but I can’t figure it out.”
“What was it that I said?”
“You said that Bonky bird was lost and was probably looking for his friends.”
Crystal elaborated. “Sure, Mr. Bixbee told us Bonky birds were helpless and could only defend themselves when they were in a flock.”
Louis agreed. “Right, the only way they defend themselves is to. . .”
Louis in the Land of Tetra Page 13