ALL NOVEL Loop 22 - Ethel Hires a Ringer
It wasn’t cheap to hire a private pilot for this flight. It was even harder to find someone she trusted to let a giant talking centipede on the helicopter, but she was old and that came with a lot of old friends who owed her favors no matter how weird they may be. One of her former students now ran a commercial pilot school, and he still sent her thank you letters every year for the help she gave him during school. She doubted Tim believed her story, but that was fine. He had agreed to come with them and personally fly the helicopter, that was what mattered most here.
“Tim, I appreciate you taking me here even though you think I’m nuts.” Ethel thanks her former student after lunch. They had landed earlier that day.
“It’s not that I think you’re nuts, just a little eccentric, you always had a big heart for animals.” Tim took a bite of his sandwich after responding.
“Yes, well to prove a little of my claims, Bug, come here for a minute.” Bug walked over. “I know you are under orders not to speak to anyone outside the family, but I’m giving you permission to talk to Tim. It’s better he hears you now than panics when he first meets the bugs.”
Bug plodded over to Tim and looked up at him. “Hi Tim, it’s nice to finally be able to speak to you.”
Tim’s most recent bite of sandwich fell out of his mouth. “Oh, so we really are transporting a giant talking centipede back home?”
“Sure are, now finish up your lunch, I’m going to go make contact. Come along Bug.” Ethel waved to Bug as she stood up and made her way into the cave entrances. The entrance was dark and humid. She wondered if this was always her first thought when she visited. “Bug you’re up.”
Bug walked further into the cave and turned to her right, she was looking down a side passage that Ethel could barely see. “Many Legs, I know we haven’t met yet in this loop, but I’m your friend from before and I need your help. I’m Bug the dog.” Bug called into the darkness.
Her call was answered with the skittering of legs in the corridor. Something was coming, Ethel hoped the something was a relaxed Many Legs.
Her hopes were shortly answered. “HELLO, DID YOU SAY YOU WERE A DOG. YOU ARE A VERY GOOD DOG.” A giant centipede rounded the corridor, yelling as she came.