Clockwork Mechanicals - the Complete Trilogy by Peter R Stone

Author:Peter R Stone [Stone, Peter R]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Published: 2015-03-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“How do we get past them then?” I ask.

“The lo-lo-lockers?” Robby suggests.

“What about them?”

“If they’re n-n-n-not too heavy and we can pu-pu-pu-push one through the web, it sh-sh-sh-should...break it.”

“Right, let’s try it. Megan, give us a hand,” I say.

“Okey dokey,” she replies.

The three of us hurry to the closest locker, and quickly empty it of a spare pair of overalls, shoes, boots, a worn backpack, and a few books.

We grab the locker and try to wrestle it away from the wall, but it doesn’t budge.

“No good,” I exclaim, my hopes dashed.

“You need something made of metal, right?” Megan asks.

“That’s right,” I reply.

“Well – duh,” Megan says as she picks up one of the steel toe capped boots and dangles it in front of my face.

“Why didn’t I think of that?” I face palm myself, grab the boot, and rush over to the door.

The bronze spiders must have finished their web, because now they’re just sitting in the middle of it, daring us to try to get past them.

I take hold of the boot with both hands and hack its steel toe cap against the invisible web. At first there is resistance, but then something finally gives way. I keep swinging until there’s no resistance left at all. Some of the spiders fall to the floor while the others climb back to the top of the doorframe.

I’m about to ask Robby if he thinks it’s safe to leave the room, but Spidey and Roach answer my question when they dart through the doorway together.

“Quickly, let’s get out of here – before they repair the web!” I say as I rush out after them.

Robby and Megan jump through the doorway too, followed by the swarm of butterflies.

We’re free! All the same, I don’t want to stay anywhere near those evil little spiders, so I rush down the walkway, gesturing for the others to follow.

I haven’t taken more than a dozen steps when I realise I can smell smoke.

At that very moment, the public address system comes to life and the boss’ voice booms out: “ALL PERSONNEL – REPORT TO THE FREEFALL LIFEBOAT FOR IMMEDIATE EVACUATION. THIS IS NOT A DRILL!”

The message repeats on a continuous loop.

Panicked shouting erupts from the workmen on the deck down below.

One voice stands out – the supervisor’s. He says, “Davis! Get those kids and stick them in the lifeboat!”

“On it!” Davis shouts back.

“Wait up – we can’t use the elevator or we’ll run right into him!” I exclaim.

Spidey, who’s carrying the bolt I had thrown for him, turns around and runs back the way we came.

“Come on, this way!” I shout as I race after him. He’s awfully fast for a little clockwork machine.

Megan turns around, but Robby doesn’t move.

“Come on, Robby!” I say.

“No way – I’m g-g-g-going to the lifeboat with the m-m-men,” he says.

“But...”

“The oil rig’s on f-f-f-fire, Brad! We have to ev-ev-ev-evacuate!” he insists, pointing over my shoulder.

I turn and see thick, black smoke pouring out of a raised structure on the far side of the oil rig.

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