The train emerged from the tunnel and wound around a mountain. Stratus’s castle loomed in the distance, and the moon hung over it, bigger than ever before.
Theo entered the engine car and turned the Whatsamadoozle into an ice scepter. He sprayed the furnace with a thin layer of ice, then climbed to the top of the passenger car and waited as the train started to slow down.
Andersen ran into the engine car. “What the blue bazooka—”
But the ice had melted by now, leaving no trace.
“Strange. I thought I put enough coal in.”
As he shoveled in more coal, Theo dropped down and smacked the coupling several times as fast as he could.
Andersen whipped around at the sound of the hammering. “You’re supposed to be dead!”
“So long,” Theo said, whacking the coupling a final time. The cars disconnected.
“You can’t rescue your friends without a key,” Andersen said, waving a golden key in the air. He snickered.
Theo turned the Whatsamadoozle into a whip again and snatched the key out of Andersen’s hand. “Thanks.”
Enraged, Andersen howled while the engine barreled away. The passenger car slowed to a stop.
Heinrich and Bethany cheered as Theo unlocked the cage.
Gasket licked Theo gratefully, and Heinrich embraced him. “Oh, you’re a miracle wrapped in fur!”
“I knew you’d rescue us, buddy. I didn’t believe those clowns for one minute when they said you’d died.”
“I’m sorry,” Theo said. “I shouldn’t have left you guys.”
He looked at Lucinda, but she was facing the other way with her arms folded.
“What, you’re not going to accept my apology?”
Lucinda puffed. “Apology! You could’ve gotten us killed!”
“And I apologized.”
“You still don’t get it,” she said. “It’s all about you. From the moment you came here, it’s been all about you. You act like we exist only to serve you. Well, guess what? We have lives of our own, and you don’t care about us. You only care about Grant—quit pretending. So no, I don’t accept your apology.”
A screeching sound outside could just be heard over Lucinda’s rant. Heinrich looked out the back window and started to sweat. “Um—”
Lucinda ignored him. “And I’ll tell you something else. We might as well have died. Our festival is ruined because of you!”
Theo bunched up his lips.
“That’s right,” Lucinda continued. “For the first time, you’re speechless. It’s nice to be able to talk for once.”
Bethany joined Heinrich at the window. “Um, Lucinda—”
“Be quiet,” she shouted. “I am tired of being nice. I’m going to speak my mind!”
Gasket joined Heinrich and Bethany at the window and whimpered.
“Go to the castle,” Lucinda said, pointing to the window. “You’re nearly there. And you’ll probably get in, too. But leave us alone and let us live in peace.”
Theo looked out the window. “You have to be kidding me.”
The caboose was approaching, its turbo rockets blazing in the rear. Ludwig and Verona jumped on the roof, shouting frantically.
“You thought you could get rid of us,” Ludwig said. “But we were prepared!”
“They’re the most persistent clowns in the universe,” Theo said, readying the Whatsamadoozle.
SMASH! The caboose crashed into the freight car, sending toy parts flying. CRASH! The freight car shot up the tracks, pushing the passenger car until it smashed into the engine car, where Andersen was standing with his arms folded. He coupled the car to the engine and entered. Ludwig and Verona coupled the caboose to the freight car, ran through it to the passenger car, and entered from the other side.
“What took you so long?” Andersen said, laughing. “You guys aren’t going anywhere.”
Andersen looked different now. He wore a robotic suit that made him taller, his hands were claws, and his feet had become piston-actioned metal talons that screeched the ground as he walked. He put on a metal helmet with a glass cover that protected his face.
“Call me Robo Andersen.”
“Yeah, Robo Andersen!” Verona echoed.
“I’d be scared right now if I were you,” Ludwig said.
Andersen karate-chopped a booth in half and did a few roundhouse kicks for show. “I like it when my henchmen are agreeable. Hyuk hyuk.”
Ludwig and Verona brandished knives, and Andersen assumed a karate pose.
Theo, Heinrich, Bethany, and Gasket stood with their backs together as the clowns approached them from both sides of the car.
“I’m still mad at you,” Lucinda said to Theo.
“How about you be quiet and be mad at me later?” Theo said.
“I like that very much,” Heinrich said, flexing his muscles.
“Save your squabbles,” Bethany said, swinging her lasso. “We got bigger troubles right now.”
Lucinda fired a dream blast at Andersen, but it dissolved against his suit.
“My turn to attack,” Andersen said, running at her.
Theo readied the Whatsamadoozle, and then noticed the chandelier above. “Lucinda, shoot it!”
Lucinda fired a dream blast at the chandelier, but it didn’t fall; instead, it just swung around.
“You really thought that would work?” Andersen said. He reached up, ripped the chandelier out of the ceiling, and threw it at them.
Theo turned the Whatsamadoozle into a claw, snatched the chandelier out of the air, and hurled it against the wall. It shattered, and glass shards scattered across the carpet.
Andersen leaped at Lucinda, ready to kick her, but she held out her hands and fired a bigger dream blast at him, knocking him out of the air. She rolled under him as he crashed to his knees.
Theo turned the Whatsamadoozle into a mallet, and Lucinda fired a dream blast at it. It glowed purple, and Theo knew it was infused with magic.
Heinrich charged across the car and picked up Theo. He swung him around like a discus and threw him at Andersen. “One teddy bear with a side of Whatsamadoozle, coming right up!”
POW! Theo smashed into Andersen, and the clown staggered back. Then Heinrich headbutted him into the wall.
“Two ouchies for you,” Heinrich said, uppercutting Andersen and following with a body slam. “Four ouchies, and many more to come until you give up your foolishness.”
Theo turned the Whatsamadoozle into a sword and slashed Andersen across the chest.
“Watch the suit,” the clown said, looking down at the slash. The suit was sparking.
WHAM! Ludwig crashed into Andersen and bounced off the suit. The clown lay groaning on the floor. “Sorry, boss . . .”
Bethany, perched on Gasket at the other end of the car, twirled her lasso and yelled, “Yee-haw! Serves you right, you stupid clown!”
Andersen’s suit beeped, and it hummed as if it were charging. “Rats. I need more time.” He dashed out of the car, and Lucinda and Heinrich flew after him.
“Where are you going?” Theo said, swinging the mallet. He was about to follow when he heard Gasket whimper; Verona was approaching Gasket with a knife, grinning. Bethany twirled her lasso again. Gasket looked as if he wanted to blow fire, but he couldn’t because he would set the car ablaze.
Theo turned the Whatsamadoozle into a slingshot and pelted Verona on the back of the head.
“Ow!” Verona said, whipping around.
“Leave them alone,” Theo said.
Verona bared her teeth and ran at Theo, but Gasket swiped her with his tail, knocking her down.
Bethany laughed and said, “Nice job beating the fat one, fellas.”
Verona jumped to her feet and stomped, shaking the car. “No more jokes about my weight!”
“It ain’t a joke,” Bethany said, spinning her lasso. “It’s the truth.” She threw the lasso at Verona. Verona screamed, grabbed the lasso and yanked Bethany off Gasket and into a booth, breaking it.
“Ouch . . .”
Bethany tried to stagger up as Verona marched toward her.
Theo turned the Whatsamadoozle into the giant kissing cockroach. The roach made a smooching sound as it tapped her on the shoulder.
“I’m busy right now,” Verona said, not turning around.
The cockroach tapped her on the shoulder again and she whipped around. Seeing the bug, all the color in her face drained and she dropped her knife.
POW! Bethany punched her then grabbed the clown by the feet and dragged her outside the car, puffing as she heaved Verona across the floor.
“Let me go!”
“This is payback for kidnapping Gasket,” Bethany said, pulling harder.
Verona kicked Bethany, almost knocking her off the train. Bethany stumbled back and Verona jumped on top of her, pulling her hair.
Theo turned the Whatsamadoozle into a Taser and zapped Verona. She twitched involuntarily as Bethany rolled from underneath her.
“Good riddance,” Bethany said, kicking her over.
“You’re going to pay for that!” cried a voice. Ludwig had sneaked up behind Theo. He jumped into the air, ready to stab him.
CRACK!
The lasso whizzed over Theo’s head. Bethany roped Ludwig out of midair and whipped him off the train.
“Adios,” she said. She gave Theo a high five. “We sure gave those misfits a roundup, didn’t we?”
Gasket licked her.
Their celebration was interrupted by clashing on the roof. Theo turned the Whatsamadoozle into a propeller and flew outside, where Beasley and Heinrich were boxing. Andersen and Lucinda were cheering them on.
POW! POW! Heinrich and Beasley took turns wailing on each other.
Andersen snickered and a pistol popped out of his suit. He aimed it at Heinrich.
Theo turned the Whatsamadoozle into a hundred-pound weight and landed on Andersen, crushing him.
“Ow . . .”
Heinrich uppercut Beasley, and the clown staggered backward. Lucinda hit Beasley with a dream blast, knocking him off the train.
Andersen’s suit glowed. An electric blast zapped Theo away.
“I’m fully charged now,” Andersen said. “It’s time to end this.”
The suit beeped, and an electric force field appeared around Andersen. He assumed another karate pose and kicked the air a few times. Then he spun and kicked Heinrich, who shook as volts surged through his body.
Theo swung the Whatsamadoozle at Andersen, but the clown jumped back and assaulted Theo with quick karate chops and kicks. Theo ducked, rolled, and jumped out of the way as the clown hi-yahed maniacally.
“I’m invincible now,” Andersen said. He looked at Theo. “My offer still stands. You can join me now, and I’ll promise your friends a quick death.”
Theo turned the Whatsamadoozle into a high-pressure water hose. “Never.”
WHOOSH! Theo sprayed water on Andersen, and the force field sparked violently before disappearing. The suit beeped and lost all its power. Andersen leaped out. “My suit! You drained the power from it. Now it has to charge all over again.” He grunted and pulled out a pistol, aiming it at Theo. “This one’s loaded. Hyuk hyuk.”
He’d just put his finger on the trigger when Gasket swooped down and engulfed him in fire. The clown screamed and dropped the pistol off the side of the train.
Gasket landed, and Bethany slapped the roof of the train with her rope. “That’s for kidnapping Gasket, you stupid clown!” Bethany shouted.
The toys approached Andersen and he stumbled backward. “I’ll never give you the satisfaction,” he said.
The train crossed a bridge; a rushing river ran far below. Andersen leaped off the train. A parachute popped out of his clown suit, and he waved as the wind carried him away.
Bethany spat in Andersen’s direction. “And don’t come back!” she shouted.
Theo patted Gasket. “Good work, pal.”
“We gave them the ouchies of a lifetime,” Heinrich said.
Theo sheathed the Whatsamadoozle. He saw Andersen’s metal suit, still propped on its knees at the edge of the car.
~ Theo left the suit alone.
~ He pushed it over.
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Lucinda glanced ahead. “We’re almost at the castle.”
“This is your chance, Theo,” Bethany said. “You’ll be able to rescue Grant now.”
~ This really is my chance.
~ I need to make sure my friends are safe first.
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“Are you sure?” Heinrich asked.
~ “I’m sorry you guys were kidnapped, but I have to go.”
~ Theo was silent.
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Lucinda hovered away and didn’t acknowledge him. He shook hands with Heinrich and Bethany, and he patted Gasket.
“Good luck,” Bethany said.
Theo nodded.
The toys gathered on Gasket, and they flew into the sky, away from the train. Theo watched until they disappeared behind a cloud.
At least they’re safe now.
The castle neared, and Theo turned the Whatsamadoozle into a sword.
“I’m coming, Grant.”
CHAPTER COMPLETE!
~ Continue.
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Chapter 10
The Castle
The castle gates opened. The train whistled to a stop in the middle of the courtyard, and Theo jumped down into the grass, which was dead and overgrown with weeds. The castle rose high into the sky, and its gray bricks were missing here and there.
I’m finally here.
He thought about the caravan, and hoped that they would forgive him. But then again, if he killed Stratus, he would free them forever and they would have no choice but to forgive him.
He faced the castle doors. They were big stone doors, and they opened on their own, inviting him into the darkness.
The castle was lit by torches on the walls. A grand staircase spiraled up to the second floor, and he ran upstairs and into the throne room, where Grant was lying on the ground. A portal swirled next to the throne, and Grant’s room was on the other side.
“Grant!” Theo cried. He ran to Grant’s side and touched him on the shoulder.
Grant opened his eyes. “Theo . . .”
“It’s okay, pal. I’m going to get you out of here.”
Grant’s eyes widened, and Theo turned around just in time to see Stratus rising behind him.
Theo turned the Whatsamadoozle into a sword and he slashed Stratus’s torso. Stratus groaned and toppled over; a waterfall of shadow and fog spilled across the floor, and he was gone.
Theo helped Grant up. “Stratus is gone now.”
Grant struggled and dragged his feet. They entered the portal, and they landed in the bedroom.
Grant began to scream and cry, and Theo went stiff.
No. Not again. I rescued him. Why is he screaming? I defeated Stratus!
Mom and Dad rushed into the bedroom and embraced Grant.
“Where have you been?”
Grant shook his head. He stopped screaming and wiped his eyes.
Thank goodness. I thought it was going to like when Shawn came back. You’re safe now, pal.
Grant followed Mom and Dad out of the room, and Theo sat up and sighed.
“Mission accomplished.”
The toys in the toy box climbed out and cheered.
“What was it like in the Stratusphere?” Tompkins the Tow Truck asked.
Before Theo could reply, Grant returned to the room, and all the toys went stiff. He picked up Theo, stared at him for a
long time, and he sighed. He set him on the bed and left the room again, and a few seconds later, he returned with a large box. He picked up the toy box and dumped all the toys in, and then he threw Theo in. The toys looked up in shock as Grant taped the box shut.
Theo tried to right himself as Grant carried the box, but he kept tossing and turning with the other toys until they crashed to the ground.
“Where is he taking us?” Planeby asked after Grant’s footsteps faded away.
They heard a loud engine, and then more footsteps on concrete, and the box went up again, and it felt as if someone hurled it. It crashed against a wall, and the top split open, and the toys spilled out.
They were in a garbage truck. Theo saw the windows of the house before the garbage man shut the back door of the truck.
The other toys cried.
“He abandoned us!”
“We’re as good as dead!”
“This is your fault, Theo!”
Theo tried to stand, but the trash he was standing on gave way, and he slid down.
“Be quiet,” he said. “I’ll get us out here.”
“How?” Nora the Boombox asked.
Theo tried to think, but he saw Stratus’s grinning face in his mind’s eye.
He tricked me.
“The walls are moving!” Tompkins cried.
The walls rumbled and began to close in. Theo pursed his lips as they moved closer and closer.
There was no escape.
THE END.
~ Accept it.
~ Never lose hope!
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Festival of Shadows Page 37