Cloud Riders (15 page)

The waiter bent over and whispered into Paul's ear as Vicki and Fawn leaned forward in obvious hope to overhear. “Why ask me about
your
parallel-imagined-life? Is it your desire to remove the feedbag?"

"I guess,” Paul said.

Plates, utensils and all traces of the food disappeared.

Reshape remodeled himself into an old fashioned wooden radio in a shape resembling a cathedral. “Turn me on, and I will return the favor."

Paul reached over and turned the knob. Rich ballet music filled the room. He at once recognized the emotional Tchaikovsky theme from his music appreciation class back on Earth.

Fawn, in a seeming trance, raised from the table and crossed the room to the mirror covering the back wall. She did various bends and twists, stood on her toes, and performed several leg lifts to the bar to stretch. Her warm-up motions were a dance within themselves.

The beauty of the music combined with the apparent effortlessness of her dance hypnotized Paul. He knew such rotations and toe lifts could only come from long hours of disciplined practice. She raised onto the tips of her pink slippers and whirled in flawless dance. Her body twirled as her feet moved through graceful ballet shifts. Her pace blended with the strains of music. Soaring crescendos brought great leaps into twisting turns so fast she became a blur.

Paul hoped if anyone found his body stretching and twisting in such a manner they would immediately call an ambulance; if clouds had ambulances.

Being a captive of Claude Nab for two years, Fawn had time to practice her enchanted movements until they were spectacular and smooth.

Vicki and Paul applauded when Fawn completed her performance as the music came to a conclusion. She bowed, glided to the table and gracefully lowered onto the chair, breathing like she had just taken a leisurely stroll. Her body had to be in magnificent condition. Paul's face became warm as his frenzied applause drowned out Vicki's.

Music reverberated from a ceiling location as someone outside the room pressed the brass nameplate on the door. As if holding its breath, the radio remained silent.

A deep snarling sound slammed through the ice. “Come out and play, my little playmates!” Claude Nab knew how to spoil a party.

"Go away!” Vicki called.

"I thought there was no music when he was around,” Paul said through grimaced lips.

"When he's in the room and you are on the outside,” Vicki explained, as Fawn nodded, frowning.

The radio switched on once again, sending rock and roll notes visually dancing around the room. Claude Nab's dark fist blasted through the barrier. Ice chunks sprayed throughout the room, ice-bullets attacking Paul, Vicki and Fawn. Ducking the ice splinters, the threesome leaped to a far corner next to the mirror's end, their eyes covered. The radio's rock music thundered in increased tempo, the wooden sides repelling the ice attack with twists and turns of its wood.

Paul's stomach churned in a battle over fear of the gorilla, confusion over his lady-protecting duties, and antagonism over the interruption.

Why would Claude Nab crash through the door when he seemed perfectly able to walk through ice walls without disturbing them? The answer had to be Paul imagined it. But why smash the ice door? To intimidate them? To impress the ladies? His dad once told him: ‘About the time you think you know the WHY of something, another WHY will arise.’ The answer had to be there existed no one answer to anything, no more than there could be only one question.

The gorilla bent over, entered the room, his shoulders tearing out parts of the entranceway. Claude Nab stood to his considerable height, then grew. He raised his arms, his fists punching holes in the ice ceiling to make space for his expansion. His eyes glistened with delight over the quivering Earthlings, his giant hair-covered body and glaring red eyes the embodiment of wildness.

Vicki stepped forward, her hands balled into fists and placed on her hips. The music coming from Reshape's radio-self faded into silence as she spoke. “We don't want to play anymore, you oversized primate!"

A great roar came from the beast's thick lips, swamping the room in ear-displeasing sound. Paul's eardrums rang in discomfort.

Two dark shapes sprinted through the smashed door opening, one human-sized, one cat-sized. Will carried two doubled up fists to the gorilla show. Isno brought fangs and claws.

Will shook a fist, saying, “You're going down, don't you know, I'm thinking! Remove yourself from this room or you'll, like, have to deal with my cat friend!"

Isno, without breaking step, sprang toward the ceiling and soared to the top of the monster's left shoulder, sank his claws deep into the thick hide and sank his fangs into the gorilla's leathery earlobe.

Claude Nab roared and tried to pull his fists out of the ceiling. They appeared to be stuck.

"Isno!” Paul cheered. “Will!” Paul grinned looking at Will's fists pushed forward like the boxers of old, turned upside down and moving up and down as if pumping something.

The enormous ape's right fist yanked out of its hole in the ceiling and reached to crush the cat.

Will's fists bounced harmlessly off the gorilla's knees. He looked up at the angry expression, ducked and ran to the group. “I'm thinking Isno is better at this ape bashing, don't you know."

Claude Nab stopped his swing as the cat leaped off his shoulder and bounded to where the group stood. “Knock monkey no he-self out?” his voice meowed.

Keeping his eyes warily on Claude Nab, Paul lifted Isno, cradled him in one arm and scratched behind his ears as treat-repayment for his courageous deed. “Glad you showed up, Isno."

Fawn reached over and petted Isno. “You can talk?"

"Talker good I."

"Stop it, Mister Claude Nab!” Vicki demanded and stepped forward. “I know you think you're the scariest thing in the sky. But I know you knocked yourself out trying to hit our cat. Isn't this all kind of silly?"

Claude Nab hung his head like a kid being bawled out for a wrongdoing.

Thinking everyone seemed too calm, Paul jumped forward to pull his sister back. He looked up into the face of the flat-nosed monster. How could anyone not sense the danger?

A tear trickled down one black cheek. The beast managed to pull his other fist out of its ceiling. He lowered his arms and hung them at his side almost touching the floor. “But you said we could play,” Claude Nab whined, his booming voice choked with emotion.

"Playing? You call it playing to drop my sister into space?” Paul shouted. He backed to Fawn's side.

Vicki turned and put a finger to her lips and whispered, “There are a few facts you aren't aware of."

A scream came from the far right passageway, high-pitched and energetic, easily carrying into the room.

Fawn explained, “That's Brigitte, Paul. She screams at two each afternoon except on Fridays."

Will cleared his throat. “Excuse me, mate. Could you introduce me to everyone, kind of like?"

Vicki looked at Will, standing to his trim and muscular six-foot height, and smiled. “I'm Vicki Sue Winsome, Paul's sister. I'm eleven and scheduled for Monday's corridor for a 5:00 A.M. scream. Holly is in Friday's corridor and screams at 7:00 A.M. I don't know her Friday time scream schedule. Sorry. I don't know my Friday scream yet, either. You've been up here for five years? You've been up here for as long as Holly?"

"Thank you, Miss Vicki,” Will said as if the great gorilla hovering above them didn't exist. “I'm from England. I know I'm African and Holly is Chinese, but she was adopted a year before I was born. That's also why she's a year older, don't you know. You have met her, for real?"

"Yes, Will. I've met all the girls. Claude Nab introduced me. And trust me, they all know Claude Nab. They've all been in his grip, or they wouldn't be up here. From England, you say.” She stared at the tall boy.

"It's the black thing, isn't it, I'm thinking?” Will said. “It's okay, Miss Vicki. I get a lot of that. Most people expect black people to be more brown. My parents were originally from Central Africa. They're both professionals and—"

"Of course I noticed your color, Will,” Vicki clarified. “Isn't that the first thing we all see when meeting someone? I was staring because I can't believe you're here. How did you get up here from the right tower's lower floor? I knew there was some kind of a stairway, but I thought only Claude here, and Calamity Horrid could use it."

"Isno Gravity and I never knew this, Miss Vicki, for sure."

Reshape the old fashioned radio, said, “Maybe the stairs are only dangerous to the ones who know they are dangerous. Now, Paul, do not jump on me.” The radio laughed in a waltz.

"And this is Fawn, my brother's new friend,” Vicki said. “She screams at 6:00 P.M. On Friday's she screams at 8:00 P.M."

"Hello, Fawn. I take it you dance sometimes, I'm thinking. Going by your costume and the mirror and all.” He smiled.

"Yes, Will.” Fawn laughed. “I've never met Holly. Vicki Sue and I became friends the moment we met.” She glanced at Vicki. “So, my leotard gave me away?"

Paul glared in jealously at Will grabbing Fawn's attention. Enter the tall dark stranger and all the women flock to him? Paul looked at his sister with wonder. Her back being turned toward Claude Nab baffled him. “You have your back turned to Claude Nab on purpose, Sis? You tell time by the screams? You boss Claude Nab around? When he dropped you into space, was that a game? Are you going to answer any of my questions?"

"Yes,” she said. “Eventually.” She turned to face a subdued Claude Nab. “You behave, or I'll tell Calamity Horrid. You don't want me to tell Calamity Horrid, do you?"

The great beast dropped to its haunches and put his palms together as if to pray. “Please, little Vicki Sue Winsome.” Tear streams dropped from his cheeks and splashed to the floor.

For the first time in his life, Paul backed away from his sister. Isno jumped out of Paul's arms and claimed ownership of a far corner. Will followed, momentarily silent.

Fawn caught Paul and whispered into his ear, “It's okay. Wait, you'll see."

Vicki strode up to the monster with total confidence. “You rightly fear Calamity Horrid, queen of all castle residents."

"I'll be good,” Claude Nab whispered. “I'm so sorry about holding you without being invited. Can you ever forgive me, sweet Vicki Sue Winsome?"

"Of course, Claude Nab. Once you have repaired our door, you may leave."

Total defeat of Claude Nab? Paul didn't think so as he looked at the beast's red eyes as they opened wide. A mocking smile claimed ownership of his face as he dropped his game-playing face.

"Sis!"
Paul tried to warn her.

"Attack he!” Isno joined the chorus of warnings.

Fawn seemed too surprised to manage an alert.

"Miss Vicki! Save yourself lady!” Will joined in. “His intentions aren't honorable, I'm thinking. Run!"

Claude Nab leaped up from his haunches and swooped Vicki into one massive hand, while at his feet a round trap door opened to reveal another hole into space. “Who do you think gives me my power, sweet Vicki Sue Winsome?” More tears slid down his shiny black cheeks as if on cue. “Oh, see my tears, a waterfall. What say you now, sweet Vicki Sue Winsome?"

"But you promised it was only a game,” Vicki said. “You asked me for permission to play."

The huge ape pushed back its head and mockingly roared, “This
is
the game!"

[Back to Table of Contents]

Isno sprinted toward the towering gorilla, changed his mind and retreated, his paws slipping and sliding on the ice floor.

Paul decided this parallel-imagined-life of his dictated he play the game boldly rather than acting defeated by the overwhelming odds. “Claude Nab, get away from that hole and set Vicki down on the floor, gently. Do it now.” He turned toward the radio. “Reshape, change out of that ridiculous radio shape and do something to help us!” Nothing changed. He turned to Fawn and saw she had a hand to her mouth and her eyes wide open; same as Will.

The huge gorilla giggled in a distorted imitation of Vicki, which sounded absurd, Claude Nab being such an animalistic tower of malevolence. Yet, the laugh imitation taunted as it raked across Paul's mind, clawing and squeezing. His stomach tightened. He stepped forward. “What's the purpose of all this?” He readied himself to dive after Vicki if it became necessary. “What's your reward for being such a King Kong bully?"

"Claude Nab!” the gorilla growled. “My name is Claude Nab!"

"I assume you know I can imagine myself beside my falling sister and wish us up onto the back of Silk, my personal cloud unicorn?” He felt a pride in what he said. This he'd done once and could do again. “There must be a purpose beyond repeating this game you cannot win.” He looked at Claude Nab's expression of pure joy. “Okay, I'm asking. Why?"

The growl came in a lowered voice, lashing at Paul's eardrums. “Stupid lad, would you have me pull off your new friend Fawn's legs? Think she could dance without legs?"

"So, wouldn't it be more fun to start a new game?” Paul said in a fake calmness, hoping to change the subject.

"Who are you to tell me what's fun, dumb boy?” Claude Nab's voice blasted like unexpected fireworks. “You who can't even control your cat!"

Isno growled back. “Owned I? Gorilla? Owned you!” He hissed, spat and made a false threat to move toward Claude Nab. “Out knock you."

"Mate, I don't like this, don't you know. How can I help like?” Will offered, and clamped a hand over his mouth to cut off any more moronic offers. His other hand balled up in a tight, useless fist.

Fawn cooed, “I'll dance for you."

"Yes, you will,” Claude Nab said, as Vicki tried to kick her way out of his grasp. A sharp shake caused her to go limp.

"Miss Vicki!” Will called in panic. “You okay?"

Paul knew his sister. This seeming acceptance of the situation didn't mean she had given up, but rather waited for an opportunity to escape.

"I would be eternally grateful if you would allow me to dance for the price of Vicki Sue's safety,” Fawn said, stepping forward. “Please, Mister Nab. Vicki Sue and I are like sisters."