25- Appointment with the Emperor
A couple of the janitorial staff showed up to the closet. They parked their golf cart a few feet away from the door.
"Why did they even put the carpet leading up to Stratus's entrance?" One of them said.
"Dude, don't look at me!" the other said. "I'm not the one who went all out on the Roman theme.
Kim felt a couple hands wrap around her handle. They placed her in the back of the cart and drove off.
Herbert shook. "Stratus?"
"You mean, his Imperial majesty?" Vonda replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Kim opened her eyes. The cart drove past a series of water slides. A few people were getting slushies. A handful of happy children splashed in a pool.
The cart stopped in front of a series of Roman-style columns. Kim was taken out.
A handful of people left the ride. The entrance was temporarily closed.
"Don't worry," a uniformed employee said. "Stratus will be open again shortly."
Kim's plug was fit into the socket.
Apparently, someone was eating in front of the ride and had gotten some food on the carpet.
Kim was left alone when the park closed. She wheeled towards the station.
"Good evening, citizen!" A high-pitched whiny voice said. "You must be the new vacuum."
Kim groaned.
"Don't do that in the presence of your emperor," the coaster said.
The sound of a horn blaring interrupted the conversation.
"Oh, what is that ungodly noise?" Kim left the station. The golf cart sat in front of the columns.
"Sorry, we couldn't come sooner," Vonda said. "Bruce couldn't figure out how to drive."
"Drive?" The golf cart asked. "I'm still new here."
Vonda hopped down from the cart.
"Gilbert still has much to learn."
Kim climbed in, though it was difficult.