A bolt of energy shot out from Frog’s sunder-gun, shattering the cockpit window. There was a deafening FWHUUSH! as a torrent of water rushed into the traceship. General Kurg and the pilot took the brunt of the force and were slammed against the back wall. Frog hung on to his sheep as the churning water battered and buffeted him. In seconds, the traceship was totally flooded.
Frog steadied himself, remembering how to breathe underwater. He spotted Kryl, swimming towards the shattered cockpit as she clung to Princess Rainbow. Frog pushed off against a wall – grabbing Man-Lor by the loincloth as the barbarian floated helplessly by – and rushed through the hole.
Frog looked up and saw sunlight glinting on the surface of the water. With another few kicks, he propelled himself and his passengers to the surface, bursting out of the water with a POOSHH!
“Baa!” bleated Sheriff Explosion in terror.
Frog held his sheep tightly as Man-Lor spat out mouthfuls of water.
“Hold still, Sheriff! I’ve got you!” cried Frog, the waves lapping against his face. A moment later, Kryl burst out of the water with a gasping Princess Rainbow.
“That was your excellent plan?” cried Kryl. “We could have been killed!”
“Bad Greeny!” gasped Princess Rainbow.
“Wasn’t it awe-mazing?” laughed Frog, an excited school of whistle fish dancing out of the water around him. “Sometimes I’m so mighty … it’s…”
Frog trailed off. He’d seen something in the distance – a small island in the water.
“That island … that’s my island,” he muttered. “I knew it! This is the Inbetween!”
“What’s the in-bee-teen?” coughed Princess Rainbow.
“It’s home! My home!” replied Frog. “This is an even more excellent plan than I planned … everyone follow me!”
“Baa!” bleated Sheriff Explosion, as Frog began to swim, holding the panicking sheep above the water.
Man-Lor and Kryl followed behind, with Princess Rainbow clinging to Kryl’s neck. Finally, they reached the shore and struggled on to dry land.
“Baa!” bleated Sheriff Explosion again, springing on to the soil with relief.
Frog stared up at the house. It was exactly as he’d left it only a month ago. The Kroakans had ignored the island – that meant Buttercup was safe! He could almost smell the burpy turnips boiling away… Almost hear his best friend singing tuneless lullabies as she stirred the cooking pot.
“Buttercup!” Frog cried. “It’s me! It’s Frog!”
“Frog, wait,” began Kryl. “I have to tell you some—”
“Baa!”
At the terrified bleat of his trusty steed, Frog spun around. General Kurg’s traceship had emerged from the Inbetween, water cascading from its hull. It hovered ominously in the air a few paces from the shore. Through the blasted cockpit Frog saw General Kurg at the controls.
“You just can’t keep a good traceship down!” the general roared, as the ship’s sunder-cannons glowed with green energy.
“Everybody, move!” cried Frog. “He’s going to—”
The sunder-beams’ shrieks filled the air. Frog prepared for the worst – but the beams passed straight over his head … blowing the house into a thousand pieces.