The A-team to the Rescue in the Labyrinth!

Chapter Four – Max the Goblin

Outside the walls of the Labyrinth, Hannibal, Face, and Murdock met Hoggel's smart and younger cousin, Glyndl, who was searching for them. She had lots of curly red hair braided in pigtails and wore a green and white dress with frilly trimmings of eyelet lace. She had a broad red nose, lots of energy, and greeted the visitors saying, "Glyndl, at your service!"

Face asked, "Could you tell us where the nearest entrance to the Labyrinth is?"

"You mean…how do you get in…?" responded Glyndl with her head slightly downward and wide, playful dark eyes looking straight up at them. She whispered, "Always remember, my friends, you must ask the right questions!" She winked at Face in a flirtatious way thinking he was cute.

"Yes, how do we get into the Labyrinth?", inquired Hannibal, taking her tip.

"You get in there!" Glyndl responded, completing the passcode, and the secret gate swung open.

She warned the trio to not take anything for granted in the Labyrinth. She was happy to be of service and knew the A-team was there to rescue Sarah. She asked them to search for Hoggle, her lost cousin, as well. "If you find one of them, chances are you'll find the other one too!" said Glyndl, right on track as usual.

Lastly, she said, "I would go in there with you and help you get to the castle, but Jareth would only give me (and you fellas) nothin' but grief the entire way due to my meddelin'. He's watching every second." Face replied, "Thanks, Glyndl!" As Glyndl waved goodbye she thought, "They're so brave to stand up to that creep who thinks he's all that! Jareth's in way over his head once again this time!"

Inside the Labyrinth, the A-team met William the Worm, the same worm Sarah met near the entrance. He warned them to be very careful of oubliettes, dark pits of no escape, and to stay clear of the Bog of Eternal Stench, unless you want to smell bad forever. He offered them a nice cup of tea.

As the rescuers continued their journey, they asked every creature they met along the way if they had seen Sarah and, if so, when they last saw her. None had seen her, at least not recently, since she was fifteen.

Hannibal said, "If only we had an airplane, helicopter, or even a jeep, we could get through this Labyrinth in no time!"

Hannibal, Face, and Murdock then found their way to the part of the Labyrinth riddled by green hedges instead of stone walls. There they spied a goblin, short in stature, about as tall as Murdock's knee. He was bald, wore a leather cap, had big light brown attentive eyes and scraggly facial hair.

The goblin was testing out his new invention, a small speedy rocket. He launched it with a small creature tied onto it, a Snapper, a creature with no fur, big mouth, and very big, sharp teeth. The rocket soared high into the air and the creature on it screamed, "Wait! Not without a helmet!" as it flew off.

The trio followed the projectile the best they could around several hedges just over a hill and found it before the small goblin did. When Murdock tried to pick it up, the Snapper on it tried to bite him. Murdock then took off his magician's hat. He pulled it over the creature's teeth, head, and whole body to blind and muzzle it. The creature immediately began to chew and crumple the hat. Murdock waved his magic wand to see what would happen and said "Abracadabrato-escargo!" as the Amazing Gratissimo might say, and "Poof!"

When Murdock uncovered the creature it had changed into a large green garden snail the same size as the Snapper (Did you think it would be a rabbit? Not in the Labyrinth!). Murdock untied the snail from the rocket and it crawled away with a new disposition in life.

"It finally worked!" Murdock said enthusiastically, "Though my hat's ruined!" "The hat really didn't suit you anyway!" remarked Face.

Max the goblin then arrived, out of breath, and yelled, "Hey, that's my rocket!" Murdock replied, "Finders keepers!" Max argued, "That's not fair! What can I give you in exchange for my own invention?"

Hannibal said, "You can show us the quickest way to get to the castle at the center of the Labyrinth." "You drive a hard bargain." was Max's reply, "I often get lost too!" "That's not a good enough excuse", replied Hannibal, "at least you can try". "Alright, I'll see what I can do.", Max said, grudgingly giving in.

Meanwhile, Sarah, at the Werewolf Castle, was sad at the turn of events. She wasn't allowed to go to the dungeon alone to talk to Hoggle; an escort was always required.

The castle was dark, not well lit. It was crumbling, not in great condition, and worse than Jareth's castle for sure. Sarah noticed birds flying and resting on its towers and balconies and wondered how she could get a message to someone to rescue her, if only she could talk to the birds, if they were nice of course, or if she could find anyone nice to talk to at all who could help her.

A royal banquet and masquerade ball was planned for Sarah to meet James, her new fiancé. Queen Lileth told her the fairies had a decorating contract with the Werewolf Kingdom, so it should be very elaborate.

Eight small fairies flew through the window to measure Sarah for her new gown for the ball. She had grown since she was fifteen. Sarah recognized one of them. It was the same fairy she saw outside the Labyrinth walls years ago, the one who bit her. The fairies were on their best behavior now, however. They didn't bite since they were to be rewarded handsomely by the Queen. The fairies worked quickly and indifferently.

Sarah smiled and said, "Remember me?" and the fairy replied in a high-pitched, rude voice, "You are so plain and bland! I don't know what Jareth or even Sir. Prowl-foot sees in you!" "Mean fairies!" Sarah commented under her breath.

Then the lead fairy of the group flew up to her shoulder so Sarah could hear and said, "Alright, we're outa' here! Com'on gals!" then pointing at Sarah she added, "If the gown doesn't fit quite right, it's your fault!" and all eight of them flew away through the window.