Fantastic Metropolis

34

So off they trooped bullying whoever was rash enough to slow them down. The giant idol is nearly through the maze. He is limping and groaning from stepping on a hundred obelisks and in a bad mood. Boppy’s escape would never have happened if his guards had locked the gate. They followed him now swaggering about as two striped yellow and black monsters in pickups abruptly arrived.

Having left the ruins of the citadel to the chartreuse ants the monsters finally resumed their antipathy to the truth. You’re ill said the brave she one softly blubbering like a baby delirious I didn’t know. I’m not you. He looked plastered hugging the jolly pig bucket as they steadily overtook the trio of guards. Am I? He ran over one of them and threw it in the back where it mumbled—

lovingly she visited me in the night—

before croaking.

Four miles and ten minutes to run down the other two.

Boppy was astonished at the sight that followed. Suddenly unguarded the idol was thunderstruck. Is it spell bound? The monsters were cautious. They tapped at the huge glowing eyes with a stick.

35

Once satisfied that the giant idol was petrified the monsters boldly unclenched the large yellow fangs and hacked at its tongues with their claws.

Three ghastly months passed as the idol was carved up and taken by truck to the blidas. A dynamo transformed it into waves of dream energy—Burrr-r—Burr-r-r-r-r-r—Burr-r-r-r-r-r Burr-r-r-r-r-r—Burr-r-r—and soon large portions of this painting did not exist.

If Boppy was startled by the mess left by the monsters he kept his chow down. His companions changed up wind from the blood stained débris while he climbed into the skeleton of the idol.

One of us had better tell whispered Iffy. I suppose Shucks eight forty was on his feet again in spite of the danger he is our friend. I don’t want to. Tallow sat down at the foot of the idol. I would rather go home. Rather grunted knickers go on with the narrative.

I will replied Miss Delamere ascending in the gloom. The indomitable old doll’s heart sank like Mimosa Sensitiva until Zari pounced on a dying flit that flitted about and joined her scribbling a note for Boppy that read Have you found the coat of arms—does it fit? Echoes of monstrous laughter and a sickly smell greeted them inside the remains of the idol.

36

Boppy was turbaned and putting on the coat of arms when we found him in the skull. Zari scrambled into an eye socket with an indignant look. What do you say to a dip? The skeleton began to Charleston into the sea as Boppy struggled for control. The water after much pushing and shouting whisked the bits of meat the transparent skin the orange blood away without a word. Strange beastly things crept out of the isolated rocks covered with eyes.