Another+Time+Another+Place

If there was an answer he’d find it there. Chris stood tall in the cart that has been propelling them down the railroad track. He looked to his left and then turned to his right. They were completely surrounded by water. The only land that was present was the land that they now rode on. In the far off distance he could make out a tiny outline of a castle. There goal was there. The chalice that so many from across the world have tried to locate was only a few hours away from the very spot that they stood.

The wind picked up sending the three of them flying down the track. Chris sat down back down from fear of falling over the edge of their cart. After getting himself comfortable he watched as his two friends bickered. Shannon was nagging Austin for what must have been the fifth or sixth time during there adventures.

“Austin, what are you doing hiding in the corner? Don’t you get it this is our last adventure? If you don’t finally man up and quite being so scared you’ll never get anywhere.” Pestered Shannon

“Quit bothering me Shannon you know I’m scared of trains.” Austin Replied

“Yeah, and dogs, and snake, and pollen. God Austin you’re even scared of Tony the Tiger.”

“It’s not my fault about that stupid tiger. He chased me in the mall when I was like four.”

“First off you were more like eight, and he was only trying to take a picture with you.” Sharron corrected

“Whatever it’s just a stupid tiger.” mumbled Austin

“So are you going to stand up and enjoy this, or am I going to have to make you.” Shannon threatened. Chris, who had been observing their whole conversation, now felt the need to speak up. Because he knew if he didn’t Shannon would wind up giving Austin a bloody nose and if he started bleeding they would have had to turn around, and leave their final adventure unfinished.

“Yo, will you two cut it out. This is our last adventure; I don’t want my only memory of this to be you two fighting. Do you?” Chris questioned.

No response.

“Good then let’s just have a good time.” Replied Chris to himself

“Yeah, Chris is right. I’m done trying to help you overcome your fears Austin.” Said Shannon

“What? Overcome my fears, it’s not my fault I’ve had traumatic experiences with most of the things found on earth.” Austin replied

“You know what you can just shove it up your-”

“Guys could ya stop?” Chris interrupted

“Ohh yeah.” They said in unison

Chris stood back up and surveyed his surroundings. He noticed that a the track in front of him had diverged into two separate railways. Chris pulled out the map that he had already memorized perfectly, but still checked to make sure that he was going in the right direction. The map was made of ancient paper that had yellowed and begun to crease and tear. The upper left corner was charred and it was written in old English. The map said that they had to take the right track.

“Hey guys.” Said Chris “Help me turn the mast so that we can turn.”

“Wh… Wh… Why are we turning.” Stuttered Austin

“Were turning because the track is split into two.” Chris said “Don’t worry Austin the map says to turn right.”

“Phew I thought there was something chasing us.”

Shannon and Austin stood up, and together the three of them pulled the mast of the cart to the left to stop it from moving. It took them about four tries to finally get it turned but their efforts paid off. All three of them jumped out of the cart starting with Chris and ending with Austin.

“Ok adventures let’s push this cart to the track split.” Explained Chris

“All right.” They replied in perfect harmony

They walked to the back of the cart, and began to push. The first few steps were hard, but once they got past those steps it was smooth sailing. Then out of no where a huge gust of wind came and blew the cart onto its right side.

“Oh crap” Said Shannon “Now where going to have to pick that up.”

“It’s Ok” Calmed Chris “It’ll only take us a few minutes to pick it back up.”

A few minutes, though, was an understatement. A resonating sound erupted from the waves around them resembling a deep growl. The sound picks up and Austin trips over the track behind him.

“What was that?” He quivers.

“I’m not sure.” As brave as Chris was, he couldn’t make sense of the unknown noise.

The growl comes again, clicking this time, making Shannon look around. “We need to tip that cart back onto the track.” Immediately, she jumps down to the rocks on the right and tries to will the cart upward.

“Come on Austin, she’s right.” Chris replied.

Austin doesn’t move, “But what if it’s Tony The Tiger?”

“Austin!” Shannon exclaims.

He picks his body up from the tracks and, shaking, walks toward his comrades. They grab the cart’s side and as they get it to move the growl repeats. The noise sounds closer this time and the three drop the cart again.

“Don’t worry about it; it’s probably just the wind.” Chris reassured.

“I’ve heard the wind before; there’s no way that’s the wind.” Austin answered.

Shannon replied, “The cart. Quit thinking about it Austin, we need to get the cart on the track if we want to make it to the castle.”

A splash of water wets their faces and, in unison, they spin to investigate. A ripple expands behind them and bubbles coat the surface. “There’s something down there!” Austin cried.

Shannon freezes and speaks unsurely, “It’s just a fish.”

“Let’s get the cart up. Forget that.” Chris said, trying to take control of the situation.

“I’ll look out for us.” Says Austin.

Shannon shakes her head, “I swear, I’ll pop you Au-“

Chris cuts her off, “Come on Shannon, we can do it.”

She obliges with a grunt and grabs the rails of their cart. Chris grips the other side and the two of them lift it back onto its original course. Another ripple comes and Austin wails, “Guys!”

They ignore him and, instead, make sure the cart is aligned properly. Austin runs to the cart and leaps inside and ducks below the edges. “Austin! What are you doing?” Shannon balls her fingers into a fist and points it at him.

“Turn around!” He exclaims.

Chris and Shannon turn to see a slimy head breaking the surface of the water. A single eye rests on the center of his head and it blinks as he surfaces. Shannon looks at Chris, and then to Austin, and decides to take the same lunge Austin had taken. Chris follows and all three board the cart. Unfortunately, the sail was damaged and they are unable move ahead.

“Whatarewegoingtodo? Whatarewegoingtodo?” squealed Austin

“Don’t worry Austin all we have to do is kill whatever it is.” Shannon replied “Quit being such a baby.

“Wh… what is it?” Questioned Austin

“Who cares what it is, let’s just make sushi out of it.” Shannon threatened reliving her sword from its holster “it’s just an ugly fish.”

“It’s not just any fish Shannon. It’s a Swindasaurus.” voiced Chris

“A Swinda what?” Shannon asked “Ahh who cares I’ve been itching for some fighting.”

“It’s the most dangerous of all the sea monsters. It has claimed the lives of many sailors, and ended many quest to early.” Chris further explained

Right on cue the Swindasaurus rose from its watery containment, exposing its form in its entirety. It had eight purple tentacles four on the lower portion of its spineless body, and two more larger tentacles on each side of its slim ridden body. Each tentacle had thousands of tiny suction cups lined with hooks that could tear flesh from bone. The tentacles lead up to the body of the behemoth in a smooth transition from purple to green. The body was long and slime like that of a snake. The body led to the pointed head that had two fin like ears stemming from it. None of this frightened the adventures more then the large mouth hole lined with four rows of razor-sharp fangs. Each row spun in the opposite direction of the one in front of it, creating a funnel of shear destruction.

“Ok maybe this is going to be harder then it I thought” Admitted Shannon

“What are we going to do?” Austin repeated

The Swindasaurus rose slowly began to raise its enormous tentacle in to the air.

“Give me a minute” responded Chris “I remember reading about what to do if you encounter an aggressive Swindasaurus.”

The tentacle was still slowly rising into the air, and had almost reached it’s full extent.

“Chris we don’t have a minute we have to get out of this cart before we become bugs under this things foot, or hand.” Shannon barked

“Tentacle.” Austin stated

“What?” Shannon said

“It’s a tentacle not a hand or foot.”

“Thanks Bill Nye.” Shannon sarcastically responded.

At that very moment the tentacle reaches its zenith and it on a straight course for the very cart in which they sat. Gaining momentum as it sped downward Shannon had finally had enough of Austin and stood him up just to push him back down on the other side of the cart. If it hadn’t been for this the three of them would surly have met their ultimate demise. That push was all it took for the already off balance cart to tip over spilling its contents and passengers out. At the next instant the tentacle landed on the tipped over cart shattering it into pieces of debris.

“Holy Sh-” Shannon began before she was interrupted by the siren-like cry of the Swindasaurus that now pierced their ears. They all covered their ears instinctively although it did them little help. Shannon screamed something to Chris who was rummaging through the supplies that fill out of the cart, but her shouts were left unheard because of the screech. Shannon feeling helpless decided to take it upon herself to slay this creature from the sea. Grasping her sword tightly in her hands, she cursed to herself and ran forward. The Swindasaurus watched her approach and when she gets inside of his range, it reaches its tentacles out.

Shannon jumps over the first arm and continues to run to the beast. “Rawr!” She shouts. The monster whips another one of his tentacles forward and creates a blockade between him and Shannon. Bracing herself, she finds out how horrible of an idea she had.

“Shannon!” Cries Austin.

The sticky pads on its scales grab the sword from her and she runs into one of her own. The slime holds her tight and the beast lifts his tentacle into the air. With another bloodcurdling shriek, it lifts Shannon and swings her around to the ocean. She dips in and goes under.

“Chris, we need to save her!”

“I know.” He switches his sword to his other hand and reaches into his pocket. A mirror is present and he snatches it out. “This is the only way to stop a Swindasaurus. They’re so vicious that even the sight of itself frightens them.”

“You want me to scare it?!”

Chris shakes his head, “I’m the leader, it’s my job.” He jumps over the edge of the track and runs toward the distracted Swindasaurus. It continues to dip Shannon in and out of the water creating a window of opportunity for Chris. He steps over its tentacles until he is beside its stomach. ‘Hey up there.’ He yells.

It holds Shannon above the ocean currents and turns its eye to Chris. His right arm rests behind his back and a smile stretches across his face. The creature utilizes its other tentacle to grab the leader and Chris allows it. He is lifted into the air beside Shannon for the beast to examine.

Chris is drawn directly below his eye and it blinks gushing a waterfall down its slimy body. Chris breaks his mirror free and waits for the chance to use it. He looks to Shannon, “Are you ok?”

“Dumb fish!” She exclaims.

Chris nods and pulls the mirror into sight. Although small, the sight of his slimy arms and ugly eye do the trick and the monster loosens his grip. Both Shannon and Chris feel themselves slipping out of its grasp and spot a landing place below.

“It’s working.” Shannon says happily.

Chris holds the mirror up still. It begins to crawl back into the ocean with its hold breaking more and more with the passing seconds. About ten feet from the ocean surface it breaks the grip completely and the kids slip into the chilly water. The monster vanishes leaving the kids and their cart alone. Austin begins to make his way over.

“Where did you learn that?” Shannon asks. She finds the rocks and shivers with the passing wind.

“I saw it on the History channel before.” Chris answers.

Austin reaches them and sits on the track, “You guys ok?”

“We’re good Austin.”

“No thanks to you.” Shannon replies snootily.

Austin sighs, “We still going to the castle?”

Chris looks at his tired travelers and shakes his head, “It might be dinner time. Tomorrow we can finish?”

“I’m game.” Says Shannon.

“Might as well.”

“It’s decided then, our last adventure will continue tomorrow.” With that, they drop their sticks and step out of the creek. An inflated slimy balloon lies on the edge of the water and a flattened cardboard box sits a few feet away from it.

Shannon, Austin, and Chris walk off through the woods until they vanish completely.