Fundy & The Wandering Sideshow

Page 5

5

THE JUNGLE CHILDREN & THE GIANT SNAKE

────────

The sound of laughing, frolicking children echoed through the jungle. As the sound of laughter neared, the leaves began to jitter, tiny insects teetered, and reptiles quickly scurried. Swooshing out from the bushes was the giant snake. And on its back were little jungle children riding along. It had to be at least three school buses long and it was yellow too.

In the distance, high up in the treetops, Gedly was cloaked in shadow behind leaves and a large spyglass. He was tracking the giant snake with deadly precision. His eyes were icy cold like the hunter he once was. What a prize, he thought, the adrenaline rushing through Gedly’s veins. I’m going to add your head to my collection.

“Give me the spyglass,” irked Magnificent Wintia. As he spied the giant snake a smile slowly crept over his face—it was such a surprise that Magnificent Wintia nearly fell backwards. The minutes crawled by ever so slowly as the men waited impatiently. Suddenly, Magnificent Wintia perked up, the spyglass fumbling out of his hands. “IT’S COMING!” He shouted to Gedly. “The snake’s coming this way! Get ready…. JUMP!”

They dropped like sacks of potatoes right in front of the giant snake. The jungle children screamed. Then recognizing the men instantly: they were the meal that had escaped earlier. Pablo wasn’t so lucky though. He was caught and slowly broiled alive.

The giant snake slithered carefully toward the men. Its large tongue darted in and out like a hound dog’s nose sniffing for clues. It had never seen a grown-up before and it was absolutely fascinated. Magnificent Wintia shared the same reaction as he couldn’t believe the size of the snake. He looked at Gedly and raised his arms in triumph: “The search is over! This will be the greatest sideshow ever seen by man!”

Magnificent Wintia didn’t realize the great big smile sprawled across his face, but Gedly sure did. And was he ever alarmed. “You’re smiling!” Gedly stuttered. “It’s cursed you!”

He quickly grabbed the zap stick from his belt and switched it on. Electricity crackled and popped spewing from the prongs. It scared away the jungle children.

“Put that away Gedly!” barked Magnificent Wintia. “You’re going to scare it off! There’s something different about this one. Can’t you see?”

“It’s no different than a wild jaguar or a raging rhino!” Yelled Gedly switching the knob to MAX. And before the giant snake could react, he blasted it right on the whites of its belly.

“FUNDY!” cried the jungle children. It was the last thing the giant snake heard before total blackness.

© 2008 storyactive.com Ltd. All rights reserved.