Segment One: In The Heat Of The Moment
Thomas nestled down in the little bird’s nest that lay on the kitchen widow sill and prepared to wait. His squad of runaway toy model archers were all hidden in one place or another along the kitchen bench, all waiting. Waiting for Percy, the smallest of the squad was out scouting the surrounding territory. Thomas wiped the sweat off his forehead and muttered to himself. The ever present, ever nagging heat reminded him of his mission. To turn off the heater.
Thomas was the leader of an elite group of archers who acted as the ears and eyes of the ruling body of the house, the Toy Council. Thomas and his friends had lived in a nice little model shop but when the store faced liquidation resulting in selling of the stock at half price (The worst embarrassment for any thing on sale) to a large supermarket the 10 model soldiers had ran away and found this house. The house, 45 Road Train Drive out a little into the country, was empty with the owners away for another 6 weeks of travelling to relatives in Russia. With the owners away the toys took control of the house. Several toys had a go at being King. Most were pretty bad, only wanting to have parties and have fun. The few rulers who were any good never had the support of many army generals and would all be overthrown with the toy’s equivalent of a bloody battle.
The most ‘deadly’ weapons the toys had were ones that made the target go into a great sleep for 3 days. But then a massive army of grasshoppers with weapons that put the victims into the great sleep for 5 days invaded the weak and warring fractions of the toy federation. And now the virtually powerless Toy Council was split on what to do with the invaders. Some members, such as Jove the fighter pilot and Sir Jimuel and his best friend, the three headed dragon Samuel wanted to expel the grasshoppers, while other members such as Jill the leader of the Doll committee and Officer Shingle of the army was content to stay under the control of the Grasshopper Lord, Gruienu’anan. Just to make sure 45 Road Train Drive stayed under his command, Gruienu’anan had ordered that the his engineers turn the heater unit at the hottest possible temperature, which happened to be 35 degrees. Leaving the heater unit controls under consistent guard. With the heater on all the time it kept everyone in one place, immobilising the tiny army and the Toy Council until the heater was turned off.
Only Thomas and his command could do much active service in the stifling heat, as during their outdoor adventure after leaving the small shop had made them used to extreme heat.
Fearing everyone would lose their vision for their freedom Jove the fighter pilot had begged Thomas and his band of archers to turn off the heater. So Thomas had lead his men, sneaking around Grasshopper outposts all the way to the kitchen. Now Percy was scouting out the next obstacle, the stove topped oven and the pantry, checking for guards before Thomas and his Archer Scouts launched the hit and run attack. It would give the Toy Council a chance to breathe. James, Henry Gordon and Mathew had tools to disable the heater’s remote control for a long stretch of time.
“He shouldn’t be long now.” Thomas thought worriedly.
Just then a small brown head popped out from behind a box of finely grounded black coffee.
“Security pretty lax Cap’n.” Percy reported in the non-formal way of the Archer Scouts. “’Bout 30 troops, spearmen and swordsmen playing marbles of all things right in the middle of the pantry. Four more spearmen are playing cards on the ground below the control unit but I didn’t see any sentries.”
Thomas thought hard about a way around the problem. 34 Grasshopper Spear and Sword warriors vs. 10 expert House Scout Archers. Suddenly he perked up. “How far… NO that wouldn’t work, they’d just call for help.”
“Hang on…” The smart thinking Fred interrupted. “Look over there.” He pointed. Thomas watched as Mathew and Gordon helped themselves to the salt of a saltshaker, which was conveniently on its side next to a peppershaker. “I think I’ve got an idea.” Fred declared.
Comments
Apr. 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Raora
Hi Joshua!
That's really cool about the Spitfires planes. I didn't know that. And I was reading your short story, (I'm not quite done yet) and so far I thought it was very well written and very interesting. I write fiction myself, (which is why I loved reading yours) and have been for several years. I am still quite young and have not got any of it published yet, but when I finish the fantasy novel that I am presently writing, I plan on publishing it. If you're interested I could give you a link to a teaser chapter.
Well, that's all, I got to get back to your story!
Namarie,
Raora