At the name the jungle trees seemed to sway and shake, a wind had picked
up and the call of far-off howler monkeys became louder and closer.
"Come, we must go," said the Queen. "Wait," said Fred. But before he could say another word the Queen turned and strode off leaving Fred in the hands of her soldier-women. They bound Fred with cords of toughest vine and led him away like a prisoner. As they walked into the jungle he heard the taunts of the women, "This one's a big one..." "Ha! trespassing in our territory...." "I wonder what's for lunch...." Meanwhile, a small dark-skinned man squatted and giggled at the bauble in his delicate fingers. "Heeheeeheeehaheeehahaha! The Malbra shall be mine and all the asper quantaine with it!" Another man then entered the shade of the banana trees: "We have a problem," he said. "The divining pool has shown me that a new player has entered the game. A man stands among the Amazons and he has brought with him an object of great power." The dark man looked up. "A man? With the Amazons?!? Why, they'll brand him for breakfast, flog him for lunch and rape him for supper! How can a man bring us any harm here?!!!?" "I don't know, Junior, but--" "Don't call me that!!!" screamed the man on the floor. "How many times do I have to tell you my name is Zerm the Second!! Don't call me Junior anymore! Why, if my father was still alive--" "IF your father were still alive he'd have gotten the asper quantaine already! But, seeing as how kind I am, and how I wouldn't wish to see your blood preassure rise unduly, I shall acquiesce to your will." "That's more like it," said Zerm the Second. And then the two men prepared a simple noon meal of fruits, vegetables and a little sloth meat.
|
5/8/2000 11:28:21 AM
21320974 episodes viewed since 9/30/2002 1:22:06 PM.