Chapter 11
Again, apologizing for the delay, but I didn't know it was so hard to write a buildup for excitement. It's typical that I know exactly how this story will end but all the steps of getting there are sometimes so tricky. This one might be a little shorter than the last ones, but there's enough content in it to hopefully get a picture.
In the camp, Igthorn was more furious than ever. The ogres were growling among themselves and cleaning up after the mess that was made during Sir Gawain's attempt of fighting them. Inside his tent, as Toadwarth were busy letting Toadwarth floss his teeth, he interrogated Zook and Gad.
"And you've fure..." he said with floss and Toadwarth's hand half in his mouth. "...dere were no more... jufe on in?"
"Huh?" Gad said.
"What Dukie say?" Zook asked.
"Dukie ask if here were more gummiberry jucie on the gummi bear." Toadwarth said as he turned towards them, not seeing that he almost dragged his master's face with him as his mouth were tied up with floss.
"Nope no no, no juice." Zook said.
"But did he fay..." Igthorn got tired of having Toadwarth's hand in his mouth and grabbed a hold on his pelt. "Off me!" he cried out and threw Toadwart across the tent before spitting on the ground and wiping his mouth while he made a face. "Did he say if the boy sent him?"
"Who?"
"The gummi boy, you worthless lump of fur!" he hit both fists hard on the arms on the chair.
"But there were no boy, Dukie. Only little gummi."
"GET OUT, YOU MORONS!"
Zook and Gad got so scared of his yelling that they almost dragged the tent along when they ran out. Igthorn growled and sat back on his chair again, moaning loudly.
"Ehm, Dukie?" Toadwarth said and appeared from behind the boxes. "Toadie not think gummi boy would be so dumb to send only one gummi."
"Hm, that's true. But I bet he's up to something. Or the bears." he turned to the little ogre. "Double the security around the machine. I don't want them to destroy it before I get my juice! And put someone to keep an eye on the prisoners. We should know better now than to leave gummies and their human friends alone!"
"Okey dokey, Dukie. Eh..." He suddenly stopped and turned on his heel towards his master. "Dukie need more floss?"
The Duke looked at him with small eyes and a frown. "If i need your filthy hands in my mouth again, I'll ask." he said with a sarcastic tune.
"Okey, Dukie!" Toadwart siad and left the tent.
"AND DON'T CALL ME DUKIE!"
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Beside his tent, poor Gusto were tied up to a smaller pole right next to Sir Gawain. They watched as both the huge ogres and then Toadwart were chased out of the tent.
"Dukie's not bored at least." Gusto said sarcastically.
"I feel I must apologize, my dear fellow." Sir Gawain said at last. "I'm sorry I ruined your escape plan. It's just that when I felt that boost through my body, I..." he sighed. "I thought for a moment I was fifty years younger, back to my old... I mean young self were so bold and without fear and... I guess I was just... dumb. I am so glad Cavin didn't see me like that. Oh dear, what he would have thought of his old man..." he bowed his head with shameful eyes. "What was I thinking?"
"Hey, don't poor all the porridge out at once, Sir Gaw." Gusto said. "I was the one who screwed up here. I should have told you about the limited effect of that blasted juice. I just took it for granted that- ARGH!" he leaned his head back on the pole. "Now, if I had any hint of wisdom I would have waited for the others. But nooo..." he frowned and looked up at the sky. "Augustus Gummi is used to handle things on his own after living on an island for twelve darn years and isn't used to ask for help because it was no one there except a bird to talk to, and therefore I make all kinds of silly decisions that has as much sense as a pebble! There! That's me in a nutshell! And the only thing that frustrates me more, is that that's a perfectly good looking composition by the tree over there, and I have neither my scetchbook OR my hands free to draw it!" He wasn't aware that he had raised his voice, but the silence that came after made him realize how frustrated he really was over the situation. He made a muffled moan and leaned his head back.
Sir Gawain had of course watched him and were now staring at him with curious, old eyes. "Your name is Augustus?"
"Hm, yeah." he said. "Gusto for short."
"And you spent twelve years on an island?"
"Yup! Till Tummi and Gruffi came and found me. End of that story." he laughed nervously. "At least it would have been my end hadn't they come."
"Oh, well in that case..."Sir Gawain got a glimpse in his old eyes. "Why won't you start with the beginning? I would love to hear how you survived."
Gusto arched an eyebrow at him. "Really? But there's not much to tell, if you look away from the dragon, then..."
"A dragon?! Oh, you have lit my curiosity, dear fellow." The old knight suddenly got exit. "I insist that, while we're here as well, that you tell me your story from the start."
"Oh well... It's not like there's much else to do right now, so..." Gusto suddenly smiled at the old knight'sinterest in his past. "Well, you see, I'm an artist, and I was on this inspiration journey when I came across this beach, and..."
While Gusto was eagerly telling Cavin's Grandfather about his twelve years on the island, none of them were aware that Artie were above them. The tucan made a squack as he stopped himself in the middle of the air, flapping still for a moment as he realized the error.
"Nuts!" he sighed. "You've forgotten how to wait, pal!"
The tucan turned 180 degrees and flapped as fast as he could in the opposite direction.
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"Look, there he is!" Sunni said and pointed up towards the sky.
The tucan flapped fast towards them and landed on Gruffi's outstretched arm. "What's the situation?"
"You're pretty close now, but... Ah... Slight problem." the tucan said. "It seams they've spotted him, and caught him."
"What?" Gruffi widened his eyes.
"He's all tied up next to the old man."
Cavin had to bite his bottom lip to prevent himself from crying out loud, but he pulled his hair from both sides and let out a deeply frustrated moan. "Why?" he managed to utter.
"Ah, I should have gone myself." Gruffi said and looked around to the others. "Alright everyone. Before we make any movements, we need to get a clear picture at what's going on here. We divide into two groups, one looks after Sir Gawain and Gusto while the other check on that plan of Iggy."
"I wanna see how Gramps are!" Cavin said eagerly.
"Of course you will, dear." Grammi said, taking his hand to calm him down. "We'll go and see to him while Gruffi goes the other way."
"Cavin?"
The human boy looked down at Gruffi.
"I know how difficult this is for you, but we trust you not to make any hasty movements. So you know what NOT to do!" He gave him a stern, but at the same time mild look. "We will free your grandfather somehow. That is a promise!"
The human boy felt a sting in his eyes when he spotted the bottle of gummiberry juice that Gruffi was handing over to him. He hesitated for a moment as he thought back. Swallowing hard, he shut his eyes hard and tied his fists arounf he bottle. "I've made one mistake today. I will NOT do that again!"
He opened his eyes when he felt a two paws gathering around his hands, and spotted Gruffi looking at him. "We all do, from time to time! And let's face it; Iggy's never actually made it easy for any of us."
Cavin blinked and gave a grateful smile back.
"Alright!" Gruffi became serious again. "Zummi and Cubbi follow me. The rest of you go check on Sir Gawain and Gusto."
As they split up crawling in opposite directions, Cubbi looked back over his shoulder. His eyes spotted Cavin's back as he went with the others. With a sigh, he turned back to follow the others. Therefore he failed to notice Cavin turn his head back to watch as Cubbi disappeared with the two others. Then he turned forward again and followed Grammi and the others.
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The little trio were hiding inside a huge bush near the camp, looking directly in it. Cubbi stood on a little branch and peeked out in one direction while the two elders looked in another.
"Do you see the machine, Zummi?"
"That machinery looks like something I have seen before, in one of my old books!" Zummi said and squinted his eyes through his spectacles. "It looks like some kind of ancient canon."
"Or the impression of one." Gruffi rolled his eyes. "It looks like he's had his ogres build it."
"Maybe, but I recognize the design." Zummi studied it a bit before he spoke again. "Yes, now I see what its supposed to look like. It's a rock shooter."
"Well, that's what canons are for, aren't they?" Gruffi replied sarcastic.
"No no, you don't understand. The gummies used them to shoot holes in heavy rocky walls to create tunnels. It could shoot ten times stronger than a catapult."
"Well, if that's so..." Gruffi wrinkled his forehead. "He's most likely gonna attack the Castle with it."
"You might be right, Gruffi." Zummi replied. "But I don't see why he would need gummiberry juice if he's got something as powerful as that."
"But Zummi! Maybe that's why he needs the juice." Cubbi jumped down from the little branch he stood on and faced him. "Gummiberry juice has been used as fuel to gummi machinery before. Perhaps he can't make it move before he's got it."
"Yes, you right be might, Cubbi... Eh- might be right." Zummi said stumbling. "But I would like to know how Igthorn's got the knowledge to build such an advanced construction."
"At least now we know what he's up to." Gruffi said. "I think we've seen enough. Let's go meet the others."
