Bicycling Through Space and Time by Mike Sirota

Author:Mike Sirota [Sirota, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction, General, Fantasy, Science Fiction; American, Cycling, Time Travel
ISBN: 9780441057351
Publisher: Ace
Published: 1991-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Thank You, Old Guy

So, what do you think happened after that? Just what you might expect when you've done away with something so evil. Sunshine broke through the smog of Areelkrokka, and the Aqapod River looked like the place where Sparkletts got their water, and the humungous reptiles were gone, and all the mutated ETs began dropping like flies, and birds sang, and all that good stuff. As for me, the Bukko was back around my neck, and I must've been kissed by every woman in Dohnwana, so you think I was happy?

Naaaah.

We had one problem: You see, in keeping with the theme of evilness and vileness, Atoris had built Dohnwana in the middle of a mucky swamp. Now, without his powers, it was sinking into the mire. It would take a while; I mean, it wasn't dropping like a stone. But as this foul-smelling mud began oozing up through the cracks, we knew it was time to go. We searched the place, making sure every woman there (women really were all he had) was led to safety.

Later, everyone was gathered at the river; it looked like a big communal baptism. Dohnwana was now halfway under and sinking more rapidly. No great loss, that wretched building; it would never have made the cover of Architectural Digest. A fitting tomb for Atoris the Evil, I would say.

There were a couple of things on my mind. First, it occurred to me that since the time I'd laid eyes upon Kamamakama a few days ago, this trip to Murlug had been one continuing episode of deja vu. Change the names and the faces, and I knew this story pretty well. I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to write another Brain Ingestors of Musi again.

And the second thing was, I wanted to be wearing spandex pants, and a road jersey, and my Padres hat, and be back on my bike again, and out of here!

Sure, it was a long way back to Kamamakama, but I wasn't some ordinary shlub anymore, was I? High overhead, bat-birds floated aimlessly on wind currents. Their riders, probably creations of Atoris the Evil, had perished, but these things lived, because they were real. Holding up an entire hand this time, I drew one of them down slowly. The beastie even let me pet it, which impressed Kimbal and the women no end.

"Don't tell me," the kid said. "You intend to ride this back to Kamamakama."

"Right on, pal."

"If you don't mind, Chatana and I will go with you. We must let our people know what has happened."

The scores of women had already begun taking charge of their destiny. They would leave this place in four large groups on the way back to their various homelands, where they would resume their lives. Most had only been away a couple of years or less, Atoris preferring them young and fresh. I didn't even want to think about what he'd done over two decades with those who had grown too old.

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