LAND OF THE GIANTS

ARRIVAL TO DANGER part five

Inspector Kobick stared into a gold chest where he thought giants who were very like American Native Indians were hiding Spindrift. He stared in confusion at the empty chest. The Chief said, "Have you seen enough?"

"Yes, I have. Obviously my information was wrong. You, Mister Olland, have been using me to sign your paper."

"No! There were reports of a little people spaceship. That's true!"

"Alright then!" Kobick calmed himself after yelling and turned away from Olland, who disgusted him, "... let us look for them..." Then he turned to the Chief, "... if you will allow it," Kobick said.

"I will, Inspector. My men must follow Olland. We do not trust him."

"I understand." Kobick walked out and Olland, giving the Chief a distraught glance, followed.

"Did you hear that?"

"Yes Chief," Steve had climbed out of a hole in the wicker design of the chair, "We're almost ready to go."

Mark followed Steve out, "Steve, I've been modifying the solar batteries so we can recharge faster."

"Good. How soon?"

"Well, if that rhino hadn't have..."

"How soon?" Steve didn't want a run down of what already happened.

"About an hour."

Steve laughed, "An hour." He was expecting longer, "That's great, Mark." Spindrift was hidden under the Chief's large wicker chair.

Olland took Kobick into the men's room. Three guards followed them in. Kobick began to wash his hands. "I believe they are here," Kobick said quietly using the water as cover.

Olland looked at him, "All an act?"

"Yes but I cannot allow hunting here."

"Oh, who was using who?" From his jacket pocket, Olland dropped a tiny pellet into the sink and it blazed up into a puffy cloud of white smoke. The guards coughed and ran out. They fell, unconscious. Olland, ahead of them, had grabbed Kobick by the arm and pulled him outside.

"What are you dong! Are you mad!"

Olland pulled a gun from under his hat, "To the Chief's room. I want him to see you sign this paper."

"Even if I sign it, you'll have to kill the Chief...and ME!"

"Good idea," Olland pointed the small gun at Kobick's face, "Now move!"

Tenko walked out of his grandfather's room and saw Olland and Kobick returning. Something was wrong. He hid behind a huge flower arrangement which was placed in a long row. Olland pushed Kobick inside the room.

In the Spindrift control room, Fitzhugh, Steve, and Betty looked up. Steve whispered, "I think someone just came in."

Olland shoved Kobick further inside, "Your men, Chief are unconscious." He shoved Kobick to a wall, "And I want you to sign this paper as well as the Inspector here."

"You're mad, Olland," Kobick straightened out his glasses, something he often did to prove to others he was unflappable..which he was not. "You'll never get out of here."

"I think not, Inspector. You see, you and the Chief will have killed each other during a struggle with my gun---which you stole. No one will question the papers."

Fitzhugh said, "It's good to see Kobick getting his..."

"Sshh," Steve puffed. Val, Mark, Dan, and Barry came in. "Quiet, all of you."

"Now Chief, sign here or..."

"Nothing can make me sign it."

Tenko ran in behind Olland with his bow and arrow and aimed it. Olland heard him and turned, shooting. The bullet hit Tenko's left arm and Tenko fell. Kobick took this opportunity to rush at Olland but he was too late. Olland forced Kobick back using the gun in his face and locked the door. "He's only been brushed by the bullet."

"I'm alright, grandfather," Tenko said, showing no pain.

"He is," Olland smiled, pulling his hat up, "For now...but if you don't sign this, he'll be involved in that struggle too. Fatally as with all the rest."

"You are mad," Kobick said.

Olland pointed the gun at Tenko's head while Kobick wrapped a hankerchef on Tenko's upper arm. It wasn't bleeding too badly. "That was hardly a flesh wound but this..."

Steve pushed past Dan and Mark, "We've got to get out there!"

Dan called in a futile attempt, "But Kobick!"

"We can't take off yet," Mark snapped, reminding them.

"We have to help him," Barry ran after Steve. Dan and Mark followed.

Olland's fingers squeezed the trigger ever so slowly. Kobick gulped, more afraid than Tenko. Olland smiled, "Never could stand the likes of you people. Always wanted to hunt one."

"You call this hunting?" Kobick snarled.

"Very well. I see no alternative." Olland let go of the trigger and literally threw the paper at the old man, "Sign it!"

As Kobick took a breath, Steve, Dan, Mark, and Fitzhugh followed a quicker Barry over to a corner which is where the bow and arrow lay. Steve looked, "Let's get it up. Quietly."

Dan and Mark pulled the sling upward. Steve steadied it from behind. Barry and Fitzhugh picked up the long arrow. Barry whispered, "We can fit it in there."

Dan said, "We'll have to brace it real tight, Mark."

Kobick saw the bow rise but didn't let on. Olland looked at the Chief, "What are you waiting for? Should I kill the Inspector now?"

"I need a pen," the chief stalled.

Olland flung one at him. Steve held the bow up straight with Dan and Mark to help him. Barry, with Fitzhugh's help, put the arrow in place. Steve said, "You two get in my place and give me the arrow."

Barry pondered, "But it has to be cocked."

"I know. Now trade places."

The old man began to sign. Olland's face was happy, "Faster, old one!"

"At 103, one can only write your way in such an amount of time as to..."

"Quit talking or do I blow the kid's hairy head off!"

Kobick looked, "Chief, if you sign that he'll kill us all anyway. It'll be the first gesture of Mr. Olland's gratitude."

"Kobick, you'll be first. Too bad there were no little people though, I could have used a few laughs on them."

"Hunting them no doubt."

"Not unlike you, Inspector..."

Steve easily traded places with Barry and Fitzhugh and by now the girls helped to steady it. "Okay, just hold on. When I pull, you pull the other way. When it goes off, head for the ship!"

The Chief put the paper down, "I should read what trickery there is before I sign."

Olland yelled, "Just sign it! Do you want to die now, old man!" He put the gun to the Chief's head.

The Chief did not blink, "Go ahead."

Kobick gasped, "If you're going to do something..." Kobick said but he was really talking to the little people, "...you'd better do it now."

"I am," Olland began to squeeze the trigger again---slowly.

Steve pulled with all his might---on the arrow's end. He pulled as the others held the middle bow. They had the bow sideways and on each end they held it in two small groups. Steve let loose and the arrow thumped away. The Earthlings all dashed for the chair as the arrow hit Olland's ankle and went in enough to shock him. The Chief pulled Olland's gun away from his head while the hunter screamed. Kobick dashed forward and removed the gun from Olland's hand.

Olland slumped to the floor, crying, "I'm bleeding. I may bleed to death! NO!"

"Well, I won't let you die," Kobick said, "I want you to do that after you've been on death row awhile."

The Chief was tearing up the paper. Kobick said, "Surprised, Olland? It was little people. Your contacts were right."

Olland cried, "Little people? Oh, help me, please. Call a doctor."

Kobick looked around the dark corners of the room, "Where are they, Chief?" He finally asked, returning his gaze to the old man. "In this room someplace. No vents here so they must be..." Kobick looked at the chair, "In genius. Chief, you must get up."

The Chief did so. Kobick removed the chair and saw the Spindrift. He stood there shocked. "Amazing," he said slowly, "Is there nothing they can't do?"

Tenko got up with an arrow pointed at Kobick's head, "Inspector, I don't want to do this but I am letting them go."

"No! Never!" Kobick started to turn with the gun.

"They just saved your life," Tenko said, "But don't turn!" He put the arrow at Kobick's neck. Olland had passed out by this time.

The Chief took the gun from Kobick, "If you will, Inspector. You know it is only right."

"Right! Right?" Kobick yelled and took off his glasses. Then he calmed himself, "Why yes, of course."

He looked at the red ship which Tenko began to lift. The Chief pointed the gun at Kobick but there was no need to. Tenko lifted the spaceship and Kobick stooped to look inside. In the control room, Steve and the others ducked aside. "Burton! That was him," Kobick said, amazed. Tenko opened the door out and heaved the ship out of the room. "Next time, Burton," murmured Kobick, "Next time." Tenko shut the door just as three guards, recovered, ran up to it.

Tenko told the guards, "Slightly injured man inside. Watch that the one with my grandfather does not follow me. He wants the little ones." As Tenko bustled the ship away, the warriors walked into the room. They saw the Chief holding a gun on Kobick and Olland on the floor unconscious.

One warrior asked, "What do you eat for such vitality, Chief?"

EPILOGUE

Tenko carried the Spindrift over a large rock hill. Steve called from the mike in the control room. His voice came out from a small speaker, "Thanks, Tenko. This is both high and far enough. We'll lift off soon so as not to cause your people any more harm."

Placing the ship down on the flat of the hill, Tenko looked inside the window at the seven little people and their dog, "My grandfather could always handle the government."

Val laughed, "It looks as though you'll be walking in his shoes...uh...moccasins."

"Tell him thanks," Fitzhugh waved.

Tenko waved, "Goodbye friends." Tenko climbed down the hillside, his head vanishing from sight moving downward under the ship's view.

"Outside," Steve ordered.

"What now?" Betty puffed.

"Check for any foliage or bad spots that'll endanger our blast off," Dan surmised.

Barry lagged behind when the others ran out. He looked at his clothes.

Outside, Fitzhugh stood. "Looks fine," Fitzhugh yawned, stretching.

"Sure," Dan pulled a twig from under the ship, "Other than that, Fitzhugh's right, Steve."

"Okay, then back in," Steve commanded.

"It's all go isn't it?" Val commented in a jovial voice. She, Betty, and Mark pushed gently past Barry who now wore his regular, normal clothes. Val laughed to him, good humored, "Don't be late for lift-off."

Fitzhugh stared at Barry, who held something wrapped up in his arms. Barry went outside the hall. Steve pointed to the cliff for Dan, "We can shoot right off that way."

"Fine," Dan smiled and ran in, "I'll get started on pre flight check." Dan was just aware that Barry has passed him.

Steve looked at the ship again and started to move back as wondered how many more adventures it would take them to. As he moved back, he stepped on something crumpled up. The sound made him look down at it. Barry came up from behind him, "Coming, Captain?"

Steve stared at the crumpled up clothes, "Barry? Don't you want these?" He stooped to pick up the clothes--Barry's cowboy outfit.

"No, I don't think I want to be the cowboy anymore, Steve," Barry said slowly and with maturity.

"Come on," Steve said good humored as he smiled and put an arm around the boy as he lead him inside the ship. The door slid closed behind them. As the ship lifted off, a whirlwind of dirt and dust covered up the cowboy suit.