The hikers have run into the tunnel.
Unwise.
It is dark in the tunnel, and there are rail tracks to trip over.
Up ahead, Little Mystic is glowing.
Stop guys! says the first hiker.
What is it? asks the second.
Something blue on the line, says the first hiker.
They approach slowly.
Kek-kek! says Little Mystic.
It's a bird! says the third hiker. What kind of bird glows blue and sparkly?
No kind, says the second.
Looks like a baby masked lapwing, says the first hiker. Except for the glow.
What do we do? asks the second hiker.
Pick it up gently, says the first hiker, and take it out into the sun.
I'll do it, says the third hiker. You keep on looking.
The first and second hikers move on.
The third hiker picks up Little Mystic.
What happened, little fellow? asks the third hiker, not expecting an answer.
Well, says Little Mystic. Ever heard of temptation?
Sure I have, says the third hiker.
I saw the glow worms on the roof of the tunnel, says Little Mystic. Glow worms are insects, and I had not eaten anything since I ate that tasteless slug. Apparently I should have pierced it first, but I was too hasty and anyway my beak is quite blunt.
Is this story going anywhere? asks the third hiker.
Yes, says Little Mystic. I decided to try eating a glow worm, just one. But I had not factored in the long strings of mucus, and I became entangled. I dangled in the air until Terence and Gaius came back for me. Terence pulled me down.
And left you on your own in the dark? asks the third hiker.
Terence ran out to get the skateboard, says Little Mystic. But he hasn't come back yet. Something has gone wrong.
He's having trouble getting it out of the pullalong, says the third hiker.
Why didn't you help him? asks Little Mystic.
Perhaps we should have. But instead we rushed into the tunnel. Is someone else injured? The one you called Gaius?
No, not Gaius, says Little Mystic. I heard Surfing-with-Whales swearing and groaning. It must have been him.
My friends will help him, says the third hiker. And here we are in the sunlight. You won't glow so much now.
But I'm still sticky, says Little Mystic.
What you need is a good wash, says the third hiker.
Yay! says Terence. Little Mystic is saved!
Thank you, hiker, says Roo-kai.
I'll head back in, says the third hiker.
Take the skateboard, says Terence.
The third hiker takes the skateboard and heads back in.
He has not gone far when the first and second hikera appear in the gloom folowed by Gaius, with Surfing-with-Whales leaning on his shoulder.
Looks like you won't be needing the skateboard, says the third hiker.
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