Author's Note: Thisis a short chapter, but it was really fun to write. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 32: Escape

"Not again," Melman protested.

"What are we going to do?" Gloria exclaimed, watching the armed man draw closer.

"We need fuel!" Skipper answered.

Private shouted back, "But Skipper, where are we going to get fuel?"

Skipper tapped his forehead, "Think Skipper, think... fuel...fuel..."

"Hurry!" Marty yelled.

"Damn it! Give me some time to think!" Skipper shouted. He proceeded to beat his flipper against his head. Suddenly, a memory of appeared into the penguin's head. He remembered watching Julien pour a bit of winoki on the fire making it explode into flames. "The winoki juice!" he shouted.

"What about it?" Julien asked.

"No time," Skipper hurried, "Alex pull that lever!"

The lion obeyed. The bus door opened with a hiss. Skipper dropped his katana and grabbed hold of the jug of winoki. The man aimed a shot at the penguin. Skipper quickly exited and disabled the man with a karate kick to the shin and then the neck. Then, the penguin then leapt towards the end of the bus.

"Alex!" Skipper shouted, "Pull the tab underneath the door control!"

Alex did so. The lid to the gas tank popped open.

Quickly, the penguin emptied the winoki jug's contents into the fuel tank.

Skipper took a quick glance towards the tent, more people were coming and all of them armed! The penguin threw down the empty jug, andquickly jumped back into the bus. "Get ready, Alex!" Skipper ordered. Alex rest his foot against the gas pedal. Skipper then reconnected the cut wires, "GO NOW!"

The bus came to live with an explosive pop. Alex put pushed the pedal with all his might. The bus rocketed forward with unnatural speed, all the while an unsettling cracking came from the engine.

Skipper glanced out the back window, trying to make out what was behind the cloud of dust now accumulating behind them. Hurriedly, the people scrambled into the three jeeps, and followed. The bus was gaining speed, but the jeeps were slowly getting closer.

Suddenly, the bus lurched to the left.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Julien yelled.

"I'm sorry!" Alex apologized, "I've never driven before! Besides, we're not even on a road!"

"Are we even headed in the right direction?" Marty asked, trying to speak over the crackling and popping beneath their feet.

Skipper commanded, "Alex, just turn a bit more to the right. We're headed eastward, towards Mombasa!" The lion did so.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Melman clutched his stomach.

Gloria's eyes widened, "For both our sakes, DON'T!"

Suddenly, the tan bus jettisoned over a hill.

Melman made a ghastly choking sound. Luckily nothing came out.

Skipper took another glance back. "Son of a beach ball!" he shouted in frustration.

"What is it?" Alex was getting more and more nervous.

Skipper explained, "The people are right behind us!"

The jeeps came closer and closer. Suddenly, a smacking sound came at the window. The people had shot a dart at it.

Marty looked back at the window. A infinitesimal crack resided on a small corner of the window.

"Ha ha, you're going to have to do better than that!" Skipper teased them.

BOOM! The back window shattered into a million tiny shards of glass. Gloria let out a scared shriek. Luckily, no one got hurt.

Skipper got on top of a seat and peered out to where the back window once was. One of the men in the closest jeep was holding a shotgun. The penguin shouted, "GO FASTER, ALEX!"

Private summoned up the courage to stand once more. He looked out the front windshield, "Watch out! Theres a ravine up ahead. Turn!"

Alex was about to obey but Skipper stopped him. "Wait!" Skipper said, "Keep going."

Alex questioned, "What? Why?"

"JUST DO IT!" the penguin asserted all his authority over Alex.

"This will all end in tears..." Melman put his head between his legs.

"Giraffe! Hippo!" Skipper called out, "Get to the middle of the bus, NOW!"

The two exchanged horrified glances.

"HURRY!" Skipper commanded. With restraint, the two staggered towards the middle aisle of the bus. Meanwhile, Alex was speeding ever closer to the large crevice in the earth. Melman let out a squeaking sound in terror.

Skipper pointed at Melman and Gloria, "On my signal, jump to the back of the bus!"

Gloria nodded, her heart beginning to pound. Melman gave a dry sob.

"I hope this works," Alex muttered as he approached the ravine.

Julien climbed to the top of Alex's head, using the lion's ears to stabilize himself.

Marty shut his eyes tight.

Private made a catholic cross across his chest.

Rico and Kowalski gripped the seat tightly.

"Here it comes!" Julien yelled.

"NOW!" Skipper signalled.

With no delay, Gloria and Melman sprung off their ankles to the back of the bus.

The massive vehicle leaned upwards and became airborne.

Julien crossed his fingers tightly.

The bus soared over the ravine.

The air rushed against the windshield making an eerie whistling sound.

Marty felt his stomach sink.

And then, the bus began to go downward once more.

Marty's stomach now raised up, making him feel ill.

Alex closed his eyes, awaiting their impending doom.

SMASH! They landed in the center of the vehicle. Half the bus leaning into the abyss below. With a creak they began to lean backwards, ready to slide back into the black chasm under them.

"EVERYONE TO THE FRONT!" Skipper yelled at the top of his lungs.

Quickly, Marty, Melman, the penguins, and finally Gloria dashed towards the front windshield.

Skipper instructed, "Pedal to the metal!" The front wheels began spinning with incredible speed. The needle on the RPM gauge zoomed to the far right.

Again, the bus began to lean, but towards the front. Finally the front wheels came in contact with the ground and the bus crawled onto solid ground once more. They then zoomed forward.

Skipper looked back again. The jeeps stopped in front of the ravine, the people climbed out from their jeeps looking defeated.

Julien cheered, "We did it!"

With the danger passed, the animals shared glances of relief.