Continued from Part 1:
The boy was jarred back to reality. A strange noise, like a pocketful of dimes jingling in a jar, came echoing down the hallway. A key unlocked the lock and the cell door swung open. The open door revealed the oddest sight the boy had ever seen. There in front of him was a small, gray squirrel in a gray uniform. On the arm was a red arm-band with a white circle. Inside of that circle was an acorn. The squirrel marched in carrying a small plate of nuts. The squirrel looked up at the boy — his eyes were are red as the arm-band on his arm. The boy felt the bump on his head.
Lunch was served.
A high-pitched whine came from the speakers. Vibrating and pulsating tones filled the air. The squirrel froze — almost like a statue. A soothing voice followed: It was time for the morning announcements. The squirrel was oblivious to the boy.
The boy waved his hand in front of the squirrel. He was in a complete trance. The soothing voice had him hypnotized.
This was the chance. The boy set the plate of nuts off to the side and snuck past the squirrel. He ran down the hallway to where he thought he heard the bark. “Banjo come here!” He ran faster and faster!
The boy noticed all the posters along the way. Planes. Tanks. Scores of squirrels. Then, without warning, the boy tripped, sailing like Superman and hitting the ground with a thump.
He looked up immediately and was licked in the face. It was Banjo. He, too, had escaped when his guard became transfixed during the announcements. His guard, however, had met a more sinister fate.
Banjo hated squirrels. He REALLY hated squirrels. But he thought they were tasty. And besides, he wasn’t about to eat a plate of nuts for lunch.
Banjo and the boy ran through a giant room full of red-eyed squirrels. All were standing with their right arm raised, transfixed as the announcements continued. Judging from the acorn shells, it must have been the dining hall. Banjo growled as he passed; the boy whistled to get his attention. There in front of them was a map to the way out. The route to freedom was through the big throne room.
They ran toward the entrance of the vast chamber.
Giant vine covered roots formed columns that ran to the ceiling. Red banners with the white circle and acorn hung every ten feet. Thousands of squirrels could have filled that chamber. Instead there was just one. A white squirrel in a tan uniform sat on a giant throne. He had deep red, pulsating eyes and was talking into a microphone. In between them and the white squirrel was a walkway crossing a giant chasm.
“Don’t look at his eyes Banjo!” the boy yelled. Banjo couldn’t have seen the eyes anyway; he was blind with rage. He started running across the walkway toward the squirrel leader.
The boy started to chase him but noticed a golden cage off to the left of the white squirrel. It was huge, man-sized and seemed to be holding a single occupant. The boy squinted — and his jaw dropped in disbelief.
It was his father.
“DAD!” he screamed!
The boy started running after Banjo and toward the cage. The white squirrel calmly pushed the microphone away and pressed a red button on the arm of his throne. Suddenly all the squirrels broke out of their trance and began running after the boy and the dog.
A loud alarm bell began to ring.
BONG!
BONG!
BONG!
BONG!
The boy made it to the cage and opened the door. Banjo lunged toward the squirrel leader, gnashing his teeth.
BONG!
BONG!
BONG!
The floor dropped out from under them.
And then they fell.
BONG!
Falling.
BONG!
Falling.
The boy looked over at Banjo and blacked out.
Darkness fell over him once again.
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The ringing woke the boy up from his nap. His head was on his pillow and Banjo was at his feet on his bed. He quickly sat up.
BONG!
BONG!
BONG!
The ringing was the doorbell.
The Banjo and the boy ran down the stairs. There was his mother hugging a man. She wasn’t sad anymore. The boy rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
The man was the boys father!
“DAD!” he cried.
All three of them held on each other, vowing to never to let go. Standing next to them was a very happy small dog.
Banjo barked, wagged his tail and looked out into the yard. There, sitting under the tree, was a white squirrel with red eyes. Banjo growled and bolted out of the door. He chased the squirrel into the neighbor’s yard.
The End.
© 2011 Marshall Ramsey
