A Close Escape
The friends flopped down on a pair of overstuffed couches in the middle of the room.
“This must be Morbidius’s library” said Chilli, taking in the comfortable chairs, bookshelves and rugs filling the room.
“And it looks like he enjoys company when he reads” agreed Ty, “look at that.” He pointed at a grizzly bear rug in front of a marble fireplace. Its head had been kept intact, its face frozen in a fierce snarl.
In front of the bear rug was a fireplace large enough for four adults to sit inside. In its hearth lay the ashen remains of a large wooden log. Above the mantlepiece was a framed inscription. It read:
“Foolish is he who believes that a loving heart
Can conquer a heart filled with hatred.
For the powerful weapon I wield is Fear,
the destroyer of all Love,
A weapon that strengthens me and weakens you.
So, beware all who dare challenge my Dark Heart.
Morbidius Ultimatum Esq.”
“Now that” said Chilli, pointing at the plaque, “makes me feel soooooo much better.”
“He’s just a bully. Anyone who has to put that junk on his wall to make himself feel good is a coward,” remarked Ty.
Oubaas limped over to Chilli and sat down on the couch next to her, his head drooping in defeat. Having faced death once before in his life, he was having a hard time facing it a second time. Chilli stroked his head to comfort him and whispered “It’s okay Oubaas, we won’t let them hurt you.”
“What’re we going to do, Ty? The door’s locked, and even if we could get out of here we’d get lost. All the passages look the same.” The situation seemed pretty hopeless to Chilli.
“Weeeeellll... let’s ssseeeee” replied Ty, “all we have to do iiiiissss escape from a sealed room, stop Morbidius from destroying mankind and the planet and save your parents and a beached whale. Sounds easy.”
“Stop fooling around, Ty” Chilli scolded, “we’re in deep trouble. We’ve got to get out of here, and we’re running out of time. We can’t just wait for Morbidius to decide what to do with us. What we need right now is an armoured tank and a few guided missiles!”
Exhausted, Chilli rested her head against the back of the settee. She stared at the ceiling, trying to think of ways to avoid becoming bug food. “I’ve got it!” She suddenly sat up in excitement, scaring Oubaas half to death.
“Got what?” asked Ty, sure that his friend may be losing her mind from a lack of oxygen.
“I know how to get us out of here!”
“And how’s that, exactly?” Ty asked her doubtfully.
Chilli pointed at the ceiling. “Look! Remember what Stanley said? He said that he couldn’t help us, but he’d make sure there was enough fresh air in the room. He was giving us a clue! That airvent must be the way out!”
Ty glanced up at the ceiling. “Good thinking Chills! That may be the way out, but we still don’t know how to solve our biggest problem – Mister Morbidius Ultimatum. And I think we should have some kind of an action plan before we escape from the Tower.”
Chilli sighed sank back in the settee again, deflated. “Stanley also said that the answer we’re looking for is in this room. What did he mean by that?” She craned her neck as she looked around the room, searching for a clue.
“He obviously wanted to help us, but he was too scared because of what Morbidius might do to him. But he knew we’d try and get out. And the only way he could help us was to let us know how we can help ourselves. What d’you think he was talking about?” wondered Ty.
“Ya know Ty, something about that saying by the fireplace has been bothering me” remarked Chilli. “It talks about a ‘brave, loving heart’. When Lettie gave me that crystal heart she used the same words. She said that a ‘loving heart will conquer a heart filled with hatred’. And Gaia said exactly the same thing.”
“So we need to find out more about all that ‘Dark Heart’ business then,” Ty reasoned.
Chilli started pacing up and down the room. She found that exercise always made her brain work better.
“Can you remember what Morbidius said about the power source he used for this building and his enviroputer?”Chilli asked hopefully.
“He said that it was his secret and then he crossed his heart and hoped to die,” answered Ty.
“That’s it! Morbidius’s heart! That’s how we get rid of that jerk. Don’t you see? Morbidius is so vain and he thinks he’s so smart. He couldn’t resist letting us know how smart he thinks he is. He reckons we’re just no-brain kids and that we’d never figure it out,” cried Chilli.
“His heart must also be the source of power for this place!”
“Well, hullo Mr Ultimatum. Do we have we a surprise for you!” said Chilli, pleased with herself.
“Then let’s get out of here. Help me move the table under the airvent. I’ll pull off the grill so that we can climb into the shaft,” said Ty.
They dragged the table into position. Ty climbed onto it, yanked off the vent’s cover and peered cautiously down the shaft.
“Whoa, it’s dark in here” Ty whispered, “we’ll have to feel our way.” He popped his head out again. “We better be really quiet. C’mon, I’ll help you guys up.”
Chilli clambered onto Ty’s shoulders and climbed into the vent. Then she reached down and grabbed Oubaas’s paw. The baboon didn’t need any encouragement and quickly scrambled into the vent.
Chilli reached down and helped Ty haul himself into the duct. “Which way should we go?” she asked.
“Let’s head in the direction of the Tower of Silence’s door” Ty suggested.
“Okay. Lead on.” It sounded a good a place as any to start their search for Morbidius.
The vent’s steel surface was cold and slippery and the shaft was so narrow they had to crawl on their elbows and knees. Even Oubaas found it difficult going.
Ty suddenly stopped. He sat back and listened.
“What’s wrong?” asked Chilli.
“We’ve got a problem. There are two vents leading off this one. I don’t know which one to take.”
“We’ve got a fifty-fifty chance of being right or wrong. Let’s just take the left one,” Chilli suggested.
“You’re the boss. Left it is. Fingers crossed.” Ty clambered back onto all fours and took the left passage. Then he stopped again.
“There’s a light coming from an airvent ahead” Ty whispered.
They inched slowly along the tunnel, careful not make any sudden movements that would make a noise, and stopped at the grate above the lit room. Ty immediately recognised the room - by sheer luck they had found Morbidius’s bedroom. The two friends looked at one another and gave each other a thumbs up.
At first there was no movement in the room. Then they heard a door slamming and footsteps coming towards the vent. It was Morbidius! He strode into view wearing striped pyjama pants and a large towel draped over his head and shoulders, clearly having just stepped out of the shower. He stopped in front of a large mirror, removed the towel from his head and started to comb his wet hair. Chilli clamped her hand over her mouth to stop a scream, her eyes bulging at Ty in horror.
They were finally seeing what lay underneath Morbidius’s handsome façade. The only parts of his body covered in flesh was his head, hands and neck. The rest of his body was a human skeleton, devoid of skin, muscles, internal organs or blood vessels!
Morbidius admired his reflection in the mirror, humming tunelessly as he posed like a supermodel. He was very pleased with himself.
“Hhmm” he mused aloud, “time for a change, I think.”
Morbidius sauntered over to the elaborate gold frame housing the lion’s head. He unhooked the great animal’s head and then returned to the mirror. The children watched in wide-eyed terror as he grabbed his human head with both hands and started twisting it around and around on his spinal column. It was like someone screwing the lid off a pickle jar! Morbidius removed his head and placed it on the bed. Then he picked up the lion’s head and screwed it firmly into place on his spine. Very pleased with himself, Morbidius combed his fingers admiringly through the lion’s shaggy mane flowing over his shoulders. The lion’s head opened up its jaws and spoke. “Oh, Morbidius, you are such a handsome cat” he simpered.
Ty tapped Chilli on the shoulder and jerked his head at her, encouraging her to follow him down the vent. She didn’t need a second invitation. She and Oubaas scrambled after Ty, not caring where they were going. Just as long as she didn’t have to watch Morbidius any longer.
They crawled down the airway until they were out of earshot, then slumped into exhausted heaps, their hearts beating a hundred to the dozen.
“He’s not human. He’s... he’s some kind of a freak. It’s like he’s made himself out of spare parts,” gasped Chilli.
“At least we know one thing for sure; he really is heartless,” grinned Ty.
“And lungless, and liverless, and kidneyless.” Chilli couldn’t resist the joke.
“But we’ve got an even bigger problem now.”
“Oh goody, now what?” The last time Chilli had asked this question, she hadn’t liked Ty’s reply.
“We have to destroy his heart, remember? But the trouble is - where is it? We know it’s not where it’s supposed to be – in his chest” Ty reminded her.
“I didn’t think of that. But we haven’t got time to figure that out now. My parents can’t hold out much longer,” replied Chilli.
“That’s where you’re wrong, Chills. I think I know what we’ve got to do to save your parents and destroy Morbidius’s heart. C’mon, let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” asked Chilli as she followed her friend.
“Just trust me. I’ve got an idea.”
The trio continued crawling down the shaft, following their instincts as to which direction to take.
Then Ty whispered: “There’s another light coming into the shaft”. They quickened their pace then stopped at another opening in the duct.
“It’s the enviroputer room!” exclaimed Ty. It was unmanned, or rather un-cockroached.
“I don’t see any Mutandii on duty. C’mon, let’s jump down,” Ty whispered. He stuck his fingers through the duct’s grid and carefully undid the catch. Once the clasp was undone, he slid the grid to one side and then jumped down into the enviroputer room. He silently motioned for Chilli to join him. She dropped down from the shaft as quietly as she could. Then they both reached out for Oubaas, indicating that he should jump. Oubaas stuck his head out of the vent and peered nervously at the distance he would have to drop. What little courage Oubaas had left failed him. He made a chattering sound and refused to jump.
“Come on, Oubaas, jump!” Ty urged in a hoarse whisper, “we’ll catch you.”
But Oubaas wasn’t budging.
“Leave him” whispered Chilli, “we’ll sort him out later.” Ty nodded in agreement. There were more urgent things to deal with.
“Maybe if we stop the clock we can give ourselves time to find out where Morbidius hides his heart,” Chilli suggested. “Maybe his heart’s in this room!”
“Look for a hammer or something that can do some serious damage” suggested Ty.
Chilli walked over to a tool kit under the gantry housing the enviroputer. She opened it up, and found a set of strange looking spanners.
“Here, take this, Ty” said Chilli, tossing a large spanner to him. “If we see anything that looks like a heart, we’ll have to give it a good thump. That should do it.”
“I hope so.” Ty shuddered at the thought of the steel spanner hitting flesh.
“The enviroputer looks like the best place to search” said Chilli, starting to climb the stairs to the machine.
But Ty only enough had time to catch the spanner.
The entrance door suddenly burst open. In the doorway stood an enraged Morbidius, his lion’s head snarling angrily at the children. He drew its lips back to show teeth that could tear human flesh like a wet tissue. Morbidius hadn’t had time to dress and his torso and arms were bare, revealing the bones of his ribcage and arms.
“What do you think you are doing?” roared Mobidius, “and how in the blue blazes did you get out of the Tower?”
Ty could almost feel those teeth in his neck. He quickly hid the spanner behind his back.
“And you!” Morbidius marched up to Ty and grabbed his arm. Ty was surprised that Morbidius's bony arms were so powerful, considering that he had no muscles. “What’ve you got behind your back?” He wrenched Ty’s arm in front of him, and snatched the spanner. Morbidius flung it to the ground, sending it skidding across the room.
“I should have had the pair of you stuffed and mounted the moment I laid eyes on you. Troublemakers, the pair of you. Just like those blasted parents. You,” Morbidius shouted at Chilli “come down here immediately!” He spat out the words. Spittle flew into the air and dribbled down the fur on his chin.
“Leave her alone!” demanded Ty. This incensed Morbidius even more.
“Leave her alone?” Morbidius jeered. “Do you two really think you can stop me? Don’t you know that you are nothing, you little pipsqueak? Nothing, I tell you!”
Ty saw his chance and took it. “We know what you use as a power source!” he blurted out. He wanted to distract Morbidius’s attention away from Chilli who was tip-toeing down the stairs.
“Oh really! And just what do you think you know? Hmm?” Morbidus challenged him.
“Your heart! It’s the evil in your heart that gives you power,” Ty said triumphantly.
“You surprise me, yet again” smirked Morbidius, “but that won’t matter tomorrow. When you’re dead!” At that moment he spotted Chilli running for the door.
“Stop right there! Detritus, come here immediately!” he yelled. Chilli stopped in her tracks, too afraid to move a muscle.
“Do you two really think I would be so stupid as to keep the source of my power here! In the very place many would want to destroy if they knew about it? I am afraid you have underestimated me. You’re not quite as bright as you thought. Detritus, come here this instant!” In his anger, Morbidius was slowly twisting Ty’s arm.
“Ow, leggo! You’re hurting me!” Ty yelled, struggling to free himself.
Then pandemonium broke out.
Oubaas, hearing Ty’s shouts of pain, leapt through the vent, landing directly on Morbidius’s bony shoulders. Surprised by the baboon’s attack, Morbidius let go of Ty.
“Get off me you... you monkey!” roared Morbidius. But Oubaas was determined to defend his friend. He grabbed hold of Morbidius’s shoulder blade and shrieked triumphantly as he snapped it in two with a sickening crrrack.
“Go for it Oubaas. Let him have it!” Ty yelled.
“Help! Detritus! Help!” Now the tables were turned. It was the captor’s turn to be afraid. Morbidius spun around crazily, waving his arms wildly as he tried to wrench Oubaas off his back. Delighted at his prey’s anger, Oubaas grabbed hold of Morbidius’s exposed spine.
“How does it feel to be the one in trouble for a change? Hey, Morbidius?” Chilli shouted.
“NO! Not the spine! Not the spiiiiiine!” Morbidius screamed.
There was no stopping Oubaas. He yanked the backbone hard, and the vertebrae shifted grotesquely. Morbidius’s body leaned at an odd angle as the spine started to collapse.
“Aaargh! Get him off me!” Then Oubaas finished the job. He jerked the spine again. This time the vertebrae tore cleanly apart, snapping the backbone in two.
“Wahoooo!” cheered Ty. “Now who’s the monkey?”
Morbidius collapsed to the ground in two pieces, sending Oubaas flying through the air. The baboon landed neatly in front of Ty; a grin on his face.
Morbidius lay on the ground in two halves. On one half was his lion’s head, his bony shoulders and arms; the other half was his hips, legs and feet.
“You and your monkey friend think you’ve succeeded in stopping me” Morbidius snarled defiantly, “but this has only begun. I will complete what I have started. And nobody will stop me!”
“Oooh, we’re scared. Heavy words for a guy in pieces. Dontcha think?” scoffed Ty. But he was celebrating too soon. He had forgotten about Detritus.
The giant cockroach and his troops came clattering into the room, their claws raised in attack.
“You were saying... you little miscreant?” It was Morbidius’s turn to gloat.
I’ve got to do something before we’re taken out of this room. We’ve got to buy some time, thought Chilli. She looked around frantically.
Then she saw the spanner Morbidius had taken from Ty. She made a lunge for it.
“Detritus! Stop her!” But Morbidius was too late. Chilli grabbed the spanner and flung it as hard as she could.
“Nooooo!” shrieked Morbidius as they all watched it fly through the air towards the clock.
Clunk! The spanner landed directly inside the giant clock’s mechanism.
“Great shot!” Ty hollered.
“No, no, no, not the clock” moaned Morbidius. His broken body writhed grotesquely as he struggled to lift his broken torso onto his elbows.
The clock’s cogs shuddered and groaned as they strained against the spanner’s handle. Their teeth locked against one another and rocked to and fro as they tried to turn. Finally, the mechanism ground to a shuddering halt and stopped ticking. But the damage was not yet complete. The grinding noise of metal on metal came from inside the clock and bits and pieces of it sprang out of the casing and fell to the floor with a deafening clatter.
“Enooouuugh!” roared Morbidius. “You have sealed your own fate and that of your parents and your friends! Enjoy your last few hours on earth. I shall take care of you when I have repaired the clock. Use your last four hours alive to regret your actions.”
“Detritus, take those three abominations to the Room of Sealed Fates. I neither wish to see nor hear them until morning. Get them out of my sight!” It was macabre to watch Morbidius issue orders from what was left of his body.
Ssssssssss. Hissing loudly, the cockroaches lumbered forward and unceremoniously threw the three friends over their shoulders.
Chilli thought the foul smell wafting from the cockroachs’ bodies was stronger than before. It occurred to her that the more afraid she and her friends were, the more powerful the stench. It seemed you could smell fear, after all.
“Great! You’ve given us another four hours” Ty jeered, giving Morbidius a thumbs up as Detritus carried him out of the enviroputer room. But things weren’t looking too bright for them. Morbidius was incandescent with rage, and now he wanted them out of his way quickly and permanently.
“Hey, watch it there, Stanley. That hurt!” shouted Ty. Detritus had carelessly scraped his leg against the rough wall. “Didn’t your mother teach you to be nice to people? Wait a minute. I forgot, you don’t have a mother!” Ty didn’t care what he said to the disgusting creature any more. He even gave Stanley a slap on his wing for handling him so roughly.
“And besides, I thought we were friends, huh, Stan?” Now that Ty was past fearing the cockroaches, he was enjoying taunting Stanley.
“You sssssshould not have hurt the massssster. You have betrayed my trussssst. You ssssshould have essssscaped when you had the chanccccce.”
“But Stanley, we...”
“There isssss nothing to sssssay. I ssssshall ssssstick to my kind.”
“Looks like we’re on our own again” grimaced Chilli, as she bounced against the cockroach’s wing.
“Hang in there, Chills. We’ve got four more hours. We may be down, but we’re not out!”