Bob the Cat

=(^..^)= Chapter 8 =(^..^)=

Suddenly, the klaxons broke off mid-wail.  “What happened?” Fred asked in surprise.  His question went unanswered, as Dr. Abe walked in right at that moment.  “Hello, small furry beings,” he said.  “What did you do with Joe!?” Bob yelled.  Dr. Abe hit a button on his remote control and ice water poured all over Bob.  Bob spluttered, trying to speak, then thought better of it and quieted down.  “That’s better.  Anyhow, I have not done anything to your friend.  I merely placed the challenge in front of him.  His incompetence took care of the rest.”

      “We really don’t particularly care about that part,” said Fred, “We just want to know where Joe is!”

      “Whatever you want, furballs.  Your friend is most likely in the underground tunnel system by now.  If you want him back, you’re going to have to get there the same way he did.  I deign to warn you:  I use those tunnels to store all my failed experiments, some of which are quite dangerous.  You’ll most likely die, which will set back my interdimensional experiment agenda:    so inconvenient!”  He turned abruptly and left. 

      The two cats decided that they couldn’t just leave Joe down in the tunnels, so they walked over to the edge and jumped in.  Immediately, the current started tugging them down, down, down towards the bottom, where there was a huge drain with equally huge drain holes.  Finally, they were pulled through, and in a rush of water, fell into a large bowl-shaped depression with another drain, this one with small drain holes.  They struggled to the top of the depression and into a dark room with two tunnels leading out.  “We made it!” exclaimed Fred.  “Now to find Joe…” Bob said.  There were ominous sounds coming out of one tunnel, so they chose the other. “You know Fred, I was wondering…”  Bob said as they walked down the tunnel. “How are we going to get out of here?”

“Err…I have no idea.” Fred replied.  “Exactly,” said Bob.   After a while more of walking, they came upon another room, this one with eight tunnels leading out.  “Let’s go down the third one!”  Fred said randomly.  “Um, okay then…” Bob tentatively agreed. 

      All of a sudden, a giant metal purple ball covered in green flashing lights rolled out of the seventh tunnel.  “What is that?” Bob asked.  Seemingly in response, the ball rolled over to the cats, opened a hidden panel in its side, and with a rush of air, sucked them into its depths!

      “Well, this is exceedingly random.” said Fred.  “You think?” said Bob sarcastically.  “It’s dark in here,” said Fred.  “I noticed.  Anyway, let’s just work on getting out of here, okay?  I’m getting dizzy with all this rolling!” exclaimed Bob.  The cats started pawing at every crevice, trying frantically to engineer their escape.  But it was no use.  They were trapped!  Finally, they settled down as best they could in their spherical prison, and waited to see where the ball would take them.

to be continued…