Terror Bugs: Part 5 - A Freezer Mice Adventure
[Continued from ‘Terror Bugs: Part 4 - A Freezer Mice Adventure’]
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A water cannon screeched around the corner on two wheels
Four and twenty Terror Bugs were nipping at its heels
Their acid blistered paint work but it barely harmed the steel
For this was high grade stainless steel and Stan was at the wheel
He pulled up by the Freezer Mice and one door opened wide
Churchill said, “Excuse me, Miss,” as all three climbed inside
Sat there next to Stanley was a lady looking glum
Stanley Dann said, “Let me introduce you to my mum.”
Stan’s mum said, “It’s cramped in here but if Stan told no lies
I’m given to believe that you can all reduce your size.”
The Freezer Mice all clicked their fingers which made extra space
And shrinking down to mouse like size enlivened Stan’s Mum’s face
Mrs Dann said, “Stanley likes the plan that I’ve proposed,
But if we are to do this thing, that side door should be closed.”
The slamming of the door meant that the scent of shrew was gone
The Terror Bugs were left with just the truck to set upon
Some bugs leapt and some bugs flew and some sprayed viscous acid
In the water cannon’s cab the occupants were placid
Stanley whispered, “When they make no progress, this will pass,
This truck is top spec hardened steel, the screens are toughened glass.”
A Terror Bug jumped on the truck which startled Mrs Dann
Churchill said, “I think it’s time to listen to your plan.”
Mrs Dann said, “I’ve had words with industry insiders,
The stuff we’ve brought is what we need to kill those horrid spiders.”
“Those Terror Bugs aren’t spiders,” Churchill said in acrid tones,
“Spiders, Mrs Dann, have no desire to munch our bones.”
Mrs Dann said, “Two legs and six arms add up to eight,
And eight limbs means they’re spiders and this truck will seal their fate.”
Crocket shook his head and said, “Look, Mrs Dann, we’re sorry,
We won’t be drowning spiders with the water in this lorry.”
Cody couldn't help himself. “My God, I’ve realised…
You’ve filled the tank with conkers, pulverised and liquidised.”
Mrs Dann said, “That’s an old wive’s tale and you’d be bonkers
To try to kill those hairy bugs with juice made out of conkers
So we bring no horse chestnut juice for that would be pathetic
Instead I bring you acid of the kind we call acetic.”
“That’s vinegar to you and me,” said Stan, “and if I’m right,
My mum has brought the potent kind and that’s the kind that’s white.”
His mother grinned and said, “So far we’ve had way too much luck
Those creatures haven’t managed yet to tear apart this truck.”
Churchill gazed at all the bugs that drooled corrosive ooze.
“It seems, all things considered… that we don’t have much to lose.”
I guess we should try all the tools that sit within our power
So hit the fire button and let’s give those bugs a shower.”
Stanley grasped the joystick to direct the liquid blast
He hit the fire button spraying acid hard and fast
The Terror Bugs stood frozen as the acid soaked their hair
And as their pelts began to burn they shed them then and there
Stepping out of cast off skins the bugs were now scale covered
But still their squeals were agonised as these new skins were smothered
But even in their agony the bugs advanced once more
Though now their feet were burning from the acid puddled floor
Many bugs had lost their wings when ravaged skins were shed
Others were more fortunate and hovered overhead
The ones that dived upon the truck in numbers hard to count
Tried to yank the nozzle off of its rotating mount
“Stanley,” Churchill hollered, “drive those creatures to our ship,
We’ll make them follow us inside and then give them the slip.”
Stanley’s mum said, “All those bugs ain’t gonna fit in there.”
And Cody tapped on Churchill’s head. “He’s hatching us a dare.”
Churchill said, “That ship of ours ain’t going back to space
The three of us are pretty cozy back at Stanley’s place
I do suspect the two of you won’t like my little plan
But what I have in mind is ‘Operation Sardine Can’.”
Stanley yelled, “This plan of yours, you’d better act on it
The bugs are almost at your ship but they ain’t gonna fit.”
The Freezer Mice clicked fingers and were man size shrews once more
Cody pulled the handle and they leapt out through the door
With Terror Bugs retreating but with vinegar depleting
The Freezer Mice raced to their ship; their visit would be fleeting
Cody pushed a lever and the ship expanded greatly
The Terror Bugs invaded; neither wisely nor sedately
Crammed inside the massive craft the Terror Bugs were frantic
Cody ducked behind his seat which felt a pointless antic
But every bug fell silent like a witch had cast a spell
Crocket yelled, “The vinegar! They cannot smell our smell.”
Churchill drew his phaser, watching Crocket do the same
“Cody, pull that lever and let’s end their little game.”
The Terror Bugs all turned to where the two of them were hid
And Cody said, “Goodbye, Old Girl.” The lever smoothly slid
“Get out now and click your fingers; time we should be shrinking.”
Churchill double checked to see his friends weren’t over thinking
The Freezer Mice clicked fingers and they ran from whence they hid
Their favourite faithful spaceship shrunk more slowly than they did
Out through missile launcher tubes located in the aft
And followed by compressed air forced out from the shrinking craft
They span around; the ship shrank down; all life aboard was spent
And blood and gore spewed out through every launcher tube and vent
***
Stanley’s mother ran up, Stanley, panting, way behind
“I think when we were in the truck, those bugs were rendered blind,
I think that its because those creatures see in infra red.”
Churchill said, “No matter now… they’re well and truly dead.”
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[Continued in ‘Terror Bugs: Epilogue - A Freezer Mice Adventure’]
Copyright ©
Terry Flood
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