the wizard hurled an enormous blockNOhe
screamed of mud at the girl and her gorilla
they disappeared under it
NOthey were just
becoming friends NOhe
screamed
Why
why woud you do tha
the wizard snarked flew off in a spoon chewing a desperatewhite
sugar cube
he watched him disappear into the horizon
then determined he turned around
hed
find his new friends if he could
it
appeared that climbing itstabbing hand and footholds into its side would be faster
to get to the other side he
could see the top edge than
trying to run around it as he couldnt see its end in either direction
leaping onto it he began climbing feverishly
on top he ranslipped aboutfell on his face too many times to count then
nearly went off the far edge as night had fallen and the mud was as black
he felt more than saw its edge dropped onto his backslidingfrantically clawing with his handsjabbing his heelshis
feet went off the edge
but he
didnt
turning onto his belly he wiggled his
legs over found firm clots with hooked fingers thumped its side with the toes of
his boots
slowly blindly he descended
the air grew cooler moister
felt like he was nearing the bottomWould you watch it? Whowhowho who.
Girl
Watch it, you’ll step on my face. Whowhowho
who.
there they were
only their heads outside the block
of mud
he leapt to one side stepped around knelt between their heads
he shoved his hands under his
shirt to wipe the mire free from them then carefully brushed the hair out of
her face
gently he touched the top of the gorillas head
I hoped . . . his voice caught
overcome
with emotion he began to weep
tears fell onto her face
Please, please, stop. Lean back. I would not now want to drown.
Im sorry Im sorry
he composed himself
I thought you were gone I
I I didnt think Id find youtha
you survived
Yet you came.
Hes
a lousy wizard. I would have dispatched you.
We’ve been waiting for the mud to congeal in order to escape.
he leaned over herbegan clawing the mud
away from her throatNo.Stop. Whowho who.
gorilla concurring
Not now, not now. Soon.
I am glad you came you braved this terrible travesty.
Not now. Soon.
You should
rest. You look exhausted.
he smiled weakly
Perhaps.
he turned laid on his back his head between theirs
looking
to her the gorilla to her
Im so happy
you survived
beginning to cry again he fell asleep midsob
Wake up, wake up.
her voice like sweet wind coming through sunwarmed
grass and wildflowers
Wake up.
Yes yes
Im awake
I am awake
the sky was beginning to lighten
We believe it’s congealed enough.
there was a melt and runlets oozingseeping
on them past them
Gorilla.
Whowho.
Would you agree?
Who.
she looked him in the face Move away now.
rolling onto his belly he pushed
backslipping easily on the slop
the gorilla slowly turned his head
righttouched his small ear to the runny milt craned his neck then slowly deliberately turned his head left
touching his ear
he
could swear the gorilla smiled at the her
then grimacingbaring
his fangs wormed his arms free took a deep breathbellowedpushed lifted the enormous block of mud
she slithered out
Help me.
she lungedgrabbed the beast by his armpit
standing he scrambled to the gorillas
other side
Take him.
he grabbed him by the armpit
looking into the gorillas face
Now my sweet, on three, push as hard as you can and we will pull you free. One. Two. Threeeeeethey
yanked on himout
he popped
they pinwheeledfree on the wetted earths sloppy milt
the block of mud quivered he
feared it would collapse
Slowly.
Make it to our feet. Back away. Quietly.
steppingstepping stepping away
silently wings unsheathedunfurled from her back
she grabbed his arm
he hers the gorilla grabbed her grabbed
him with a slight groan she lifted them
into the air and as they rose the congealed base of mud falteredfailedsluffed
under them
the deepred rising sun threw their shadow
against its angledslithering melting face
Now. she
said
To
find that pig.
0559, Tuesday,
2 12. 25
909preferred, Tuesday, 2 12.
25
