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

belly of the pit. One small cavity showed the only way out. Rev crouched down and started to weave her way through. After a short time it opened into a huge cavern with multiple shaft openings.

Rev breathed a little easier but the stuffy musty air made her cough.

And then out of the eerie silence a loud growl echoed within the cavern’s chambers just as her light went out.

You stupid girl, Rev scolded herself. How did you get yourself into such a mess? At least the anger replaced the panic she had previously felt.

She remained still, in the pitch black of the cavern, as she heard the sound get closer. A strong odor penetrated Rev’s nostrils. The fowl breath of the beast ruffled her hair.

Rev’s flashlight suddenly flickered on.

All she could see were large sharp teeth, and a big tongue to match, almost touching her face. Then it closed its mouth and quickly opened it with another deep growl.

Rev’s eyes almost popped out as she jolted backwards. She realized that her animal affinity on this planet was powerless. Her flashlight became more intense and that’s when she looked closer at the beast’s nose. It had a white shape of a diamond on it.

 

Rev

Stango. I’m Wolfie’s friend.

 

And then the tiger rolled on the ground and nuzzled up to Rev’s feet. She crouched down and petted Stango’s mammoth underside. Rev never felt so alive in all her life. What a magnificent animal.

 

Rev

You really scared me. Can you show me the way out?

 

Stango bounced to his feet and slowly sauntered towards a passageway. Rev followed right behind. Eventually it led to a sharp incline and Rev could see light ahead. They were out of the darkness of the cave. Stango seemed to know where he was heading down a forest path. Rev kept pace beside him.

Through the trees ahead, she noticed the sun reflecting off a large metal object.

Stango continued beside her. Rev could hear the sound of thundering water to the right of her. They exited the forest and entered a flat plain. Rev and Stango stood there as Rev glanced to the left and saw a sleek streamlined train.

And then she heard a voice call Stango.

And then it all made sense.

Razor and Vice stepped out from a small cave enclosure behind a waterfall.

Stango walked over and stood beside Razor.

The tall lean figure stood within an arm’s length of Rev and stared right through her.

It was the loneliest feeling that Rev ever felt in her whole life.

 

Chapter 47

 

 

Razor

I like to bring Stango here. He enjoys his romp in the forest and underground passages. He likes to chase that white rabbit I made for him. But I see that you caught the rabbit before Stango could. Ha, ha, ha. You fool. Vice, put Stango on the train.

 

Vice

Don’t you need me here to watch over Rev?

 

Razor

For what? I think I can handle this little girl. You’re useless, anyways.

 

Vice slinked away with Stango. Although Rev disliked what Vice did to her by trying to steal the gold chip, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. She remained quiet.

Razor brought out a small wand like device. She waved it around the edge of Rev’s body. She put the wand away.

 

Razor

No gold. Where is it?

 

Rev

I lost it.

 

Razor

I wish you had lost it. But I know you’re lying.

 

Rev

I’m sure you can make another one. Why do you want it so bad?

 

Razor

Because it’s mine! You stole it. Don’t you remember little girl?

 

Rev

I’m not little. I’m tall for my age.

 

Razor

You make me laugh. You’re so sensitive. I wasn’t talking about your height. I was referring to your inexperience. Yet here you are. I must give you credit for that. Even admiration. Ever since you arrived in Brix I’ve been cursed. I despise you. But in a heartbeat I’d swap Vice for you any day. You’ve got guts and smarts. I need you on my side. Together we could achieve anything and defeat anyone.

 

Rev

That’s not going to happen.

 

Razor

Well if I can’t have you then I’ll destroy you. Come let’s sit down over here and have a serious talk.

 

Razor motioned to Rev and they walked over to a cave like formation that was behind a cascade of water. A table and two chairs were positioned across from each other. They seated themselves.

 

Razor

I had a strange dream the other night. You were in it. You came to visit me.

 

Rev

In prison, I hope.

 

They both laughed out loud together.

 

Razor

That’s what I like about you, Rev. We both have a sense of humor. You’re like me in a lot of ways. Anyways, in the dream you were begging me for help. You wanted me to join you, to defeat a monster that was destroying your kingdom.

 

Rev

But that would be you. You are destroying my world.

 

Razor

Stop interrupting me. So we join forces and defeat this monster and we become the best of friends. The whole world adores us and we are unstoppable.

 

Rev

That’s not a dream. It’s a nightmare. You’ve got to be making this up. Next thing you’ll tell me that Vice and I got married and all your grandchildren ruled the universe.

 

Razor

Oh Rev, I love you. See, it’s all going to work out for us both.

 

Rev couldn’t help but laugh at this pathetic woman. She noticed a tattoo of Stango on Razor’s middle finger. Her other fingers on both hands were adorned in gold rings and alternating finger tattoos. But the Stango tattoo impressed her. Maybe she could appease Razor and hopefully escape her clutches.

 

Rev

I really like that tattoo of Stango. It’s a striking resemblance.

 

Razor

Yes tattoos are a very personal expression. I love Stango. He’s very dear to me.

 

Rev

I’d like a tattoo of Stango.

 

Razor lost her smile and raised her voice.

 

Razor

You can’t. Stango doesn’t belong to you. I told you that tattoos are personal. I own Stango. Not you.

 

Well, so much for appeasing her. Rev could feel the air fill with hostility. She wasn’t going to submit to this woman but at the same time she was in no position to push her buttons. People always fascinated Rev. She had a keen perception of how anyone could switch personalities within a split second. Rev took a deep breath as she inhaled the fresh air from the waterfall.

 

Rev

I see your point. But what do those other finger tattoos mean?

 

Razor

Each one represents a symbol of power. They’re ancient hieroglyphics from the Egyptian civilization.

 

Rev

What is that?

 

Razor

I don’t have time to give you a history lesson about this planet. You’ll have plenty of time to learn, since you will never leave Earth.

 

Rev

I see. But what’s your fixation with all those gold rings and bracelets?

 

Razor

I love gold. It’s everything. Gold is one of the greatest mysteries in the universe. The more I own, the more power I have. Now, enough of your questions. How did you know that Stango wouldn’t hurt you?

 

Rev

I didn’t.

 

Razor

What do you mean, you didn’t?

 

Rev

At first I was scared. But then I saw the white diamond shape on his nose.

 

Razor

Who told you about Stango?

 

Rev

Wolfie.

 

Razor’s jaws clenched as she raised her voice and focused her eyes on Rev.

 

Razor

What else did Wolfie say?

 

Rev

That Stango really belonged to him. That you deceived him.

 

Razor lashed out.

 

Razor

He’s a liar. Wolfie is the most disgusting human I ever met. I hate him. It’s people like him that give me a bad reputation. What else did he say?

 

Rev

About Stango?

 

Razor

No. About me?

 

Rev

That he really loved you.

 

Razor

Shut up. Don’t get stupid with me, little girl. What other venom spewed from his mouth?

 

Rev’s emotions were about to surface. She had enough of this abusive woman. There was only she and Razor here. Vice had disappeared and if there was anybody else around they were on the train, some distance away.

She couldn’t jump over the falls. She had looked. Too many rocks at the bottom. It would be deadly. If push came to shove, Rev believed she could give Razor a good tussle and then run.

This woman was the reason Rev stuck her neck out this far. She never wanted to meet Razor, but here she was. The decision she would make next would decide the fate of Brix, herself, her mother and uncle.

One quick blow to Razor’s knee and another to her throat would disorient Razor enough to get hold of her arm, and with the proper leverage, catapult her over the waterfalls. But then her father’s voice overpowered all her emotions as she remembered his last words to her. Be extremely careful, Rev. Stay away from Razor.

Rev found a calm space within herself and continued.

 

Rev

He talked about how your planet was flooded by constant rain. How people blamed you for the planet’s demise because of the polluting energy that you owned and sold to the people.

 

Razor

Did he personally blame me?

 

Rev

I don’t know. I didn’t understand how such a catastrophe could happen.

 

Razor

Exactly. That’s why I’m going to give it to you straight. Because I believe you are a bright girl and you will understand the stupidity of the people on this planet. Years ago I invented a clean energy that would not harm Earth’s air nor disrupt the natural flow of all life cycles on this planet. This clean electric energy could be used in all industries and transportation. Are you following me so far?

 

Rev

I’m listening.

 

Razor

Good. Because here’s the really interesting part. Nobody wanted my clean energy invention. Can you believe it? They didn’t want to change. The governments throughout the world didn’t want to put any money into supporting it. Nobody cared. It’s as if they were too lazy to flush their own toilets.

 

Rev

So what happened?

 

Razor

The forces of evil, the dirty energy polluters all got together and had me shut down my ingenious invention. They loved money more than fresh air. Or maybe these controllers didn’t want to give up their power to me.

 

Rev

So you’re the good guy in all of this?

 

Razor

I hope you’re not being sarcastic, but yes, I am the good guy. I wanted to prove how wrong they were. Since I’m a genius when it comes to almost everything and especially technology I came up with a plan to give the people what they wanted and make myself tons of money. Over time, I manipulated the market of all the dirty energy producers and took control of their companies. So I gave the people what they wanted. Cheap filthy energy.

 

Rev

But how does that explain all the flooding?

 

Razor

Because the crap from burning the dirty energy went up in the atmosphere surrounding the planet and changed its natural climate patterns. Nobody could stop the rain. I gave them what they wanted but they all sought to blame anybody except themselves. They turned me into the bad guy. The idiots.

 

Rev

It doesn’t make sense to me. Why didn’t everybody get together and stop this