Rev's Odyssey by R. R. Kaufman (the reading list .txt) 📕

see myself getting out of here.

 

Rev

I do. I just need some leverage. Hold on.

 

Rev climbed down the elevated arm.

 

Slane

What are you looking for?

 

Rev

A long steel bar. Something to pry the shield open with.

 

Slane found a metal pry bar and handed it to Rev.

 

Rev

Keep an eye out for any drokes.

 

 

Rev climbed the steel rungs of the lengthy arm of the crane. She was almost to the top when her foot slipped on a crossbar. She let out a large groan, as she slammed down hard on the metal and slid over the edge as she held on by one hand.

The pry bar clanked down the cross bars of the machine’s arm before it thumped to the ground.

Everyone kept quiet.

Slane looked towards the entrance for drokes while Stike peered out the holes from above.

 

Stike

What happened Rev? Are you okay?

 

Rev swung her feet up on the rungs and pulled her body to a resting position on the crane. Slane retrieved the pry bar and climbed up part way to hand it to Rev.

Suddenly the long arm made a loud creaking noise and fell rapidly towards the ground. Before they could all catch their breath it stopped falling. The distance to the ground from Stike’s prison was reduced by about half but it was still lofty.

Rev cautiously slid down and grabbed the bar from Slane.

Slane made it back safely on the ground as Rev climbed to the top of the crane. Three chains that came together on a huge ring that hooked to the crane held up the mighty magnet and its prisoner. Rev wiggled her way down so she was standing on the round thick magnet. She balanced herself as the magnet and Stike’s enclosure swayed back and forth.

 

Rev

Just hold on, Stike. Rev to the rescue.

 

Stike

Get down. There’s a droke coming.

 

Rev flattened herself just as a droke shone its headlight over the rail yard. It stood outside the gated entrance for a little longer and then strolled back towards Brix. Slane came out from behind a train car and stared up at Rev from below.

Rev continued to balance herself above Stike. She wedged her pry bar between two adjoining shields near the top of the locked cage. She leaned back for maximum leverage. A screechy squeal pierced the silence as the metal locks weakened.

 

Rev

It’s coming loose. A few more tugs and you’ll be free. I just need to separate one of these shields.

 

Stike

Be careful you don’t fall when you’re leaning back.

 

Slane took cover as Rev gave a stronger tug on the pry bar. One of the shields went sailing to the ground. In an instant Rev lost her grip on the pry bar and fell back on the chains.

The cage swung perilously high up in one direction.

 

Stike fell on his rear and slid out the opening. Grabbing hold of one of the remaining shields with one hand he reached out his other hand for Rev.

Rev swung down to the top of the crane and caught his hand just in time.

Stike released his other hand and Rev tried to swing him towards the crane.

A sinking feeling surged throughout Rev’s body as her grip slowly let go of Stike’s hand.

Stike bounced off the crane below and collapsed to the ground.

 

Rev

Nooooo!

 

She scrambled down the crane and comforted Stike. Slane was quick to respond and both of them helped Stike to his feet.

 

Rev

I’m so sorry. How bad is it?

 

Rev could tell that Stike was in considerable pain.

 

Stike

I’ll live. But I can’t put any weight on my right foot.

 

Slane

I’ll take your shoe off before it swells up. We have to get out of here.

 

Slane took Stike’s shoe off. Rev and Slane each lifted Stike by an arm. They crawled through the fence hole and skulked back to the professor’s shop. They snuck in through a back window in the alleyway to escape the drokes.

 

Chapter 29

 

 

They reached the hidden downstairs’ rooms. Stike writhed in pain as they placed him on his bed. Rev examined his leg and ankle.

 

Rev

Nothing is broken.

 

Stike

It sure doesn’t feel that way.

 

Slane came back with some ice in a towel and wrapped it around his ankle. Rev prepared a herbal tea to ease the inflammation. A couple of pillows elevated Stike’s leg as he drank the tea. When Slane was done applying the ice pack Rev wrapped Stike’s ankle with a firm supportive bandage. Stike dozed off.

 

Slane

He needs to rest but we can’t stay here long. Eventually the drokes will find us.

 

Rev

There’s nowhere else to go.

 

Slane

There are secret tunnels that run underneath the town. At the center of town an underground safe house will protect him. Food, water, and supplies are stored there for emergencies. We can send for a doctor once we reach it. I’ll show you the hidden passageway.

 

Slane and Rev went to the end of the professor’s workshop. Slane reached under a tall bookcase and soon it slid sideways. Behind it, on a paneled wall, he pressed another hidden mechanism. A small door swung open to reveal a dark tunnel.

 

Slane

Once Stike wakes up we must leave.

 

Rev prepared a makeshift crutch for Stike. Slane handed her some fresh clothes. Rev was happy to get out of the dirty blue coveralls. The clean pants, shirt and jacket felt comfortable.

Once Stike woke up they turned out the lights and left the downstairs hideout to go into the secret tunnel. Slane pulled on a lever by the tunnel door. The bookcase and door returned to their previous location inside the professor’s workshop.

Rev led the way with a flashlight. Stike used his crutch and Slane for support. They reached the underground safe house ten minutes later.

Stike became comfortable. They all relaxed while Rev told her story. Everybody she met. Everything that happened to her since she ran from the stadium.

 

Rev

I forgot to congratulate you on your victory over Razor.

 

Stike

Thanks, Rev. I’m just happy that you made it back. Not to mention rescuing me. Thanks so much. There is hope for Brix.

 

Rev

Yes, by defeating her you’ve exposed a crack in her armor.

 

The three of them shared some food. They continued talking about their adventures that happened over the past couple of days. They all took a rest. When everyone opened their eyes, Rev was the first to speak. For a few seconds she tried to form her words in her thoughts before speaking.

 

Rev

There is something I left out of my story. I’m sorry to say this but Razor’s men on Earth are holding our parents captive.

 

On hearing this Stike seemed to be in more pain than from his fall.

 

Stike

We have to rescue them.

 

Rev

You’re not going anywhere. I wish you were coming with me but I have to do this alone. Time is running out. Faze said that Wolfie has a plan to get me across the canyon to Lux Crag. There is no way that I’m going to sit around and do nothing.

 

Stike

I really messed things up.

 

Rev

How? By beating Razor. You did your part. Now it’s my turn.

 

Stike

Just don’t go near her.

 

Rev

That’s what everyone keeps telling me. I won’t come close to her. She’ll be in Brix. Hopefully I’ll be on another planet rescuing our parents. I need to return to Wolfie as soon as possible.

 

Stike

Slane will show you the way out. The passage will come out near the river. Be careful. If anything bad happens…

 

Rev

Put that thought out of your mind, cousin. I already have.

 

With that they smiled and hugged. No more words were needed. They both knew what the other felt.

Slane led Rev towards the underground exit. When they reached it he slowly opened the trap door and peered around cautiously. He said goodbye to Rev and wished her a good outcome as he closed the secret exit behind him.

 

Chapter 30

 

 

Razor

I would just love to destroy this whole rotten town. These Brix simpletons need a crash course in obedience.

 

Vice

I like the people here.

 

Razor

Don’t interrupt me when I’m on a tirade. This Rev is one lucky little girl. I’ll give her that. Everything was going to plan before she showed up and disrupted everything. You’ve failed me again, Vice. You’re driving me to drink.

 

Vice

She’s smart.

 

Razor

Just because she’s smarter than you doesn’t make her smart. No she will trip up and that will be the end of her. I have to be patient. Something I have to work on. Patience. I need to get grounded. I’m returning to Earth for a short time. You and Klutch can take care of things here.

 

Vice

I want to go too.

 

Razor

Want. Want. You always want. Besides you can stay here with your fellow simpletons. After all you said you liked them.

 

Vice

Please mom. I’ll be good this time.

 

Razor

This time keep your mouth shut with your friends. Okay? I don’t want anyone knowing what my plans are when we get back there. Top secret. Understand? Now get ready. I can’t wait to see our two prisoners there.

 

Chapter 31

 

 

Wolfie bolted up from his fireplace chair. Awakened by a knock at his door he cautiously approached it. How could anyone get past his wolves? And all the way up to his sanctuary?

He looked through the peephole. He let out a sigh of relief as he saw Rev shining a light on her face.

Wolfie opened the door and laughed.

 

Wolfie

Isn’t it past your bedtime?

 

Rev

Sorry Wolfie. I lost track of time.

 

Wolfie

It’s okay. I like staying up late. Come in and warm yourself by the fireplace.

 

Rev settled into a chair and warmed herself. She needed someone to talk to and Wolfie was her captive audience. She told him everything that happened after she left him earlier in the day. Talking faster and faster she started to lose her breath and soon found it hard to breathe. Wolfie realized she was hyperventilating probably due to emotional stress.

 

Wolfie

Purse your lips and just breath slowly. Try to hold it for ten to fifteen seconds. Release it slowly and repeat. Put your thoughts in a calming scene.

 

Rev reached a space of serenity. She remained silent. Wolfie talked her into getting some sleep.

 

Chapter 32

 

 

After breakfast Wolfie and Rev drank some juice around a garden table. Rev finished telling her story about what Faze said.

 

Wolfie

So you are determined to go through with this?

 

Rev

Absolutely.

 

Wolfie

Nothing I can say will stop you.

 

Rev

Nope.

 

Wolfie

A fifteen-year-old girl journeying to a new world on a strange planet. Are you sure?

 

Rev

You did it. And if I find my mother and uncle I won’t be alone. Besides Faze told me to believe in myself.

 

Wolfie

And what shall I tell your father when he asks me why I didn’t stop you.

 

Rev

Tell him you tried just like he did.

 

Wolfie laughed and shook his head.

 

Rev

So what