Back in the chaos and noise of Sky City Hobbies and Toys, Sunny and Bubba turned and looked at one another, their mouths still agape.
“What just happened?” shouted Sunny.
“Some guys just stole Parker,” shouted Bubba.
“Wait ’til they hear from my lawyer!” shouted Colby.
Sunny and Bubba exchanged a look: Colby had clearly missed the point.
Colby’s dad and Mr. Alvin shouted and called each other names, spittle flying from their wet, shiny lips. The people in the front of the line yelled and waved their arms, commiserating with the people behind them and fighting to get Mr. Alvin’s attention.
“Come on!” said Sunny, and she ran for the warehouse door. Bubba ran after her.
Colby watched them go. “Hey! Wait for me!” He ran for the door.
“Bye, Colbeeeee . . . .”
Colby stopped as he reached the door. He looked back and saw his mom still sitting behind the big cardboard cut-out. She waved, smiling proudly at him. He shoved the door open and ran through the warehouse, packed with tall shelves full of toys and games and hobby supplies.
He ran to the back of the warehouse. A big sign suspended from the rafters by chains read Shipping & Receiving. Black and yellow-striped forklifts were lined up along the back wall, all plugged-in to their recharging stations like giant sleeping wasps. Sunny and Bubba exited through a side door and Colby sprinted after them. The door read Freight Elevator.
On the other side stretched a wide, vast hallway. Tire marks left by busy forklifts covered the cement floor. Along one wall lurked a series of metal roll-up doors, the receiving docks for stores on this side of the mall. Colby ran hard and caught up to Sunny and Bubba halfway down the corridor.
“Where’re you guys going?” he panted as he ran alongside them.
“They went through there,” said Bubba. He pointed ahead. Far away, at the other end of the long corridor, loomed another massive roll-up door. Next to it was a regular sized man-door. Sunny, Bubba, and Colby ran for it. Bubba began to fall behind.
“Our father . . . who art in heaven . . . ” he yelled, “. . . hallowed be thy name!”
“Are you praying for Parker?” Sunny called over her shoulder.
“I’m praying not to puke!” Bubba yelled.
Sunny and Colby reached the door, turned the handle and yanked it open. Bubba came pounding up behind them.
Inside was a second corridor. Instead of roll-up doors, it held great freight elevators, a dozen or more. Each freight elevator was a massive square platform surrounded on four sides by shiny aluminum fences, the front and back of which was built to slide up, allowing access to the enormous platform inside; load from one side, unload from the other; another lesson in efficiency learned from Sky City South. The closest elevator was descending, its overhead machinery and pulleys and flywheels spun and hummed and whirred loudly.
“Now what?” shouted Bubba.
“We have to follow,” said Sunny.
“What?” said Bubba.
“Follow!” repeated Sunny.
“How do we know they’re in there?” said Bubba.
“There aren’t any other exits, stupid,” said Colby.
“Who invited you, anyway?” said Bubba.
“I invited myself, fat boy. Nobody steals my thunder.”
“Thunder?” said Bubba. “It ain’t raining, you moron.”
“Excuse me,” shouted Sunny, “but they are getting away. Why don’t you guys debate meteorology later.”
“He started it, Sunny!” countered Bubba.
“ ‘He started it, Sunny!’ ” Colby whined, miming Bubba.
Sunny arrived at the elevator. She pulled up on a red handle. The gate didn’t move. “Help!”
Bubba and Colby joined her and the three of them pulled with all their might.
*** ***
Who are the mystery men that kidnapped Parker?
Where are they taking him? And why?
Will Sunny, Bubba, and Colby reach Parker in time?
Read BOOK TWO: HALLOWED BE THY NAME to find out.
Click here to purchase BOOK TWO: HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
To learn more about this author and to read more of his work, please visit him online:
Ryan Schneider
Website/blog:
AuthorRyanSchneider.com
Twitter:
Twitter.com/RyanLSchneider
GoodReads:
GoodReads.com/AuthorRyanSchneider.com
Thank you for your interest in my book. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
If you would like to have me autograph your eBook copy of A SHADOW PASSED OVER THE SON, please find me on Authorgraph.com. I would love to sign your eBook!
Finally, please take a moment to leave an honest review of A SHADOW PASSED OVER THE SON:
https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Passed-Over-Go-Kids-ebook
Thank you!!!
Acknowledgements
For a bunch of people.
You know who you are.
In case you don’t:
For Todd McCreery for helping me take the first steps in my purpose-driven life. From kindergarten to now, it’s been quite a journey. And it’s just getting started. Thanks, G.
For Carol Agrifolio for your illogical belief in the book and your unwavering insistence on reading it. And for giving me your copy of A Purpose Driven Life. This is all your fault!
For Michael Holland. I was living in your house when I first dreamed of Go-Boy (literally dreamed, as in, in my sleep, although I had no idea what it meant at the time), and it was in your house the entire story was downloaded into my brain for me to furiously type while I stayed up all night for more than a week watching the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens.
For the Fearless Art Writers’ Group; you were the first to follow the high-flying adventures of Parker and his friends. Thank you for all your help and insight.
For Brad Andrews. A great flight instructor, a great pilot, a great friend.
For the Reverend H.E. Noble. Your feedback and input have been invaluable. Your friendship even more so.
For Patricia Russo. You’re always a mere email away when I need help.
For my parents and siblings, for cheering for me all these years.
As always, for my wife Taliya. You believe in me and my purpose each and every day. Ani ohev otach. I Love You.
You’ve all known of the Go-Kids for awhile now.
I’m pleased that you finally have had the opportunity to meet them.
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends