Zits from Python Pit #6 (15 page)

I was only out for a few seconds. When I woke up again, the pain in my face was gone, except for in one spot.

I reached up and felt something hard and thin stuck in my cheek.

I yanked it out—“YOW!”—and looked at it.

It was a fang from Inkanyamba.

I looked over to see that the battle had moved inside the ruin. I hoped there was still enough time.

I stood up quickly just as Monkey Robot set Inkanyamba down on the ground next to me.

“Thank you,” I said.

Monkey Robot pointed at Inkanyamba's back.

“You want me to ride Inkanyamba?” I asked.

Monkey Robot nodded.

I jumped onto the giant wet serpent and held on to her back.

HISSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

The sound vibrated through the earth and through me. It made my toes tickle.

HISSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

There was silence from the ruin.

“Is she calling the snakes?” I asked Monkey Robot.

It nodded. Then it made a motion to “hold on.”

I held on, and Inkanyamba shot forward, slithering quietly over the plain, past the bodies of dead snakes and destroyed monsters.

“Whoa!” I yelled as she glided up the stairs of the entrance and into the entryway.

Snakes were leaving the ruin. They stopped and bowed to their Master, and Inkanyamba hissed in return.

Inkanyamba sped to the room with the tower entrance. Snakes were pouring out into the jungle through the open wall of the ruins.

“He's up there!” yelled Director Z, watching me with amazement. “Hurry!”

Inkanyamba increased her speed and slithered up the spiral staircase.

We quickly crept up on Grigore and Kossi. “Watch out!” I yelled. They turned into their flying forms and followed us.

As Inkanyamba burst through the doorway, I tumbled off to find Shane and Roy chasing Tikoloshe down.

“Stop!” I yelled.

Tikoloshe turned around and stuck out his tongue at me.

“You're too late,” yelled Tikoloshe. “Oooh, I got slowed down when the snakes turned on me, but now I'm in control of the situation. I WIN.”

He reached his shrine and screeched with excitement as he grabbed the statue.

“So pretty,” he said, and kissed the statue. “Where shall I hide you?”

Inkanyamba hissed at the doorway.

“You have nowhere to go,” I said.

“What, do you think this is the first time I've ever climbed down a tower?” giggled Tikoloshe.

“Get him,” I yelled, and Inkanyamba shot forward.

Tikoloshe stuffed the statue in his pants and then turned invisible. Inkanyamba hit the back wall.

“Ha, it's safe now!” he yelled. “I can run around this place for all eternity and you'll never find me.”

“Block the windows,” I yelled.

Roy moved to a window and spread his arms.

Shane moved to another window. “Chris, look!” he yelled. He pointed out of the window.

“Kongamato's coming!” I said. “Hit the floor!”

We all hit the cold floor just in time.

SCREEEEEEEEEEE SMASH!

The tower shook, and the roof caved in halfway, sending a shower of bricks down on us.

“Ow!” I yelled. Bricks were hitting my legs, arms, and back.

SMACK.

A brick hit Tikoloshe right on the head, and he went from invisible to visible.

“Grab him!” I yelled.

Shane jumped forward and was just about to grab Tikoloshe when . . .

SCREEEEEEEEEE SMASH.

Kongamato hit the building again.

What was left of the roof was blown off with a powerful wing flap.

“That's enough,” I yelled into the sky. “We've got this!”

But a very angry Kongamato returned and scooped up Tikoloshe.

The statue flew out of his hands, and Shane caught it.

“Help!” Tikoloshe screamed.

Kongamato flipped him in the air and caught him by the leg. Tikoloshe dangled upside down.

I saw both pendants fall from his neck.

I caught them and put them around my neck.

“Roy, would you like to do the honors?” asked Shane, holding up the statue.

“With pleasure,” said Roy.

Shane slid the statue over to Roy, who stomped on it like it was a spider sandwich.

SMASH CRUNCH SMASH!

“Noooooooooooo!” screamed Tikoloshe from the sky. “My beautiful statue.”

Kongamato dropped Tikoloshe from above the tower.

“AHHHHHHHH!” yelled Tikoloshe as he fell.

Inkanyamba lifted up her head, opened her mouth, and . . .

GULP.

. . . ate Tikoloshe.

“Well done,” I yelled.

“Yeah!” yelled Shane, and he high-fived Roy.

I patted Inkanyamba on the back.

BURP.

“I hope he doesn't give you indigestion,” I said.

We all laughed. Even Inkanyamba.

A few hours later, the ruins were quiet. Monsters lay around the stones, relaxing and chatting. My friends and I were talking with François and Director Z.

“Have you ever heard of a Ghanaian fantasy coffin?” Kossi asked Grigore as they passed by.

“No, but tell me more,” said Grigore.

“Basically, they can create any coffin you can imagine,” said Kossi. “It's just about the same size as a regular coffin, but in any shape you'd ever want. A car. A fish. A bat. A Coca-Cola can. A cow. Whatever.”

“Oooh,” said Grigore. “I'd have to think about vhat I vant. Anything?”

“Anything,” said Kossi.

“It's so good to see everyone so happy,” said François. “For as much as the battle wore them out, I think it brought some energy back into them as well.”

“I'm sure it was good to see young monsters again,” said Director Z. “Healthy monsters. Monsterdom might not be doomed, after all.”

“Oh, speaking of bringing back the energy,” I said, “I believe that this is your pendant.”

I pulled François's pendant off of my neck and put it over his head.

“It feels good to be back,” said François. “But are you sure you have to leave? You're more than welcome to stay and help out. You were a wonderful Director, and we'd hate to lose you.”

“No,” I said. “We've got to get back to the States. We've been away a long, long time.”

“Don't worry, though,” said Gordon. “I wouldn't be surprised if Diblo and the boys come knocking on your door and ask to help.”

“Just make sure that claw thing is turned off,” said Director Z, swallowing hard.

“Do you really have to leave right away?” asked François.

“We don't even have time for a nap on your tarantula bed,” said Shane sadly.

“Would you like me to ship you one?” asked François. “What's your address?”

“I don't think it would make it through customs,” said Ben.

“So is Tikoloshe destroyed forever?” Nabila asked François.

“Tikoloshe is far too ancient to be destroyed,” said François, “but traveling slowly down Inkanyamba's digestive tract will be good punishment. He'll come out later looking like a really angry piece of poop, but he'll certainly leave us alone.”

“Better have a big pooper-scooper ready!” Nabila said.

We all laughed until the monkey that saved the day with the robot padded into the room. I squatted down and gave him a big hug.

“We couldn't have done it without you!” I said.

He chattered happily as a dozen other monkeys came into the room. He joined the other monkeys and went into the cafeteria, putting things in order for the move back to the abandoned facility. They cleaned up broken trays and placed utensils back where they belonged.

“It's good to have the Nurses back,” said François.

“Wait, so that monkey was a Nurse?” asked Shane. “Huh, that's why he was always one step ahead of the game.”

“Speaking of one step ahead of the game,” I said, “we'd better get going. What sort of monster transport is there around here?”

“Kongamato might be able to help you with some air-based transportation,” said François.

“This has been an awesome journey,” I said. “But I'm going to be happy to be back home!”

He Who Would Save Us saved us! His task complete, he journeyed safely to his home. Meanwhile, there was much work to be done at The House of Eternal Rest. I called my staff into the back of the cafeteria.

“Thank you for obeying me and staying far away from our poor old friends,” I said. “Though I needed to keep an eye on the situation, it was best for you to take shelter in the jungle.”

“It was hard,” Dosufe said. “We're Nurses! But we knew it was right.”

I patted him on his soft, hairy back.

“Thank you,” I said. “Now that you are back, and François is able to carry on, we can get down to the work of helping our dear residents get back to their normal lives or afterlives. Come now.”

I walked through the cafeteria to the entryway beyond.

“Wait,” said Lionel. “First, can you tell us everything that happened? We're dying to know.”

“Yes, of course,” I said, knowing it was an important story that would be passed down for generations. “Let me tell you about
He Who Would Save Us
.”

My staff gathered closer.

“It was said that he would come. But when it happened, it wasn't a man in a huge silver plane, as I always thought it would be. No, it was a boy who rode on the backs of crocodiles . . .”

A
BOUT THE AUTHOR
 . . .

M. D. Payne is a mad scientist who creates monsters by stitching together words instead of dead body parts. After nearly a decade in multimedia production for public radio, he entered children's publishing as a copywriter and marketer. Monster Juice is his debut series. He lives in the tiny village of New York City with his wife and baby girl, and hopes to add a hairy, four-legged monster to his family soon.

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