"Next Stop the Saint Louis Prison!" yelled out Sleaze-Ball Tom at the top of his lungs "the next stop is the Saint Louis Prison, and then on to Kansas City, Kansas!"
The steam-train came to a bone-shaking stop, inside the black gates of the Saint Louis prison.
All the kids on board stood up like little lemmings then headed for the exits, all at once. As the doors opened, steam engulfed the train and surrounding courtyard, Molly, Chug, with Louis disappeared into the rear of the boxcar, into a storage closet. After a few moments, The Show was on. They exited the small storage area in full regal costume. Wigs and dresses on, perfumed and ready to get to work. Molly never looked finer. Lipstick smothered everywhere, only to be outdone by Louis and Chug.
"Louis I feel and look like, an idiot," said Chug.
"You think you look like an idiot, just look at Molly. Hot Tamale Tom is alive, and well in Saint Louis."
"How about Hot Tamale Lewey. Louis the hero, the Chosen One, dressed up like a burlesque dancer, or better yet a circus-clown. How'd I ever get involved with this?" asked Molly as she smacked her lips together, lightly punching Louis on the shoulder.
"Just go with the flow you two. We might not have to perform at all. We might be able to just fit in with these other kids, get a cell for the night, and still be able to steal those things back. Just play along" said Louis while trying to wipe some red rough out of his eyes.
The train emptied.
As the three little entertainers shuffled along the loading docks towards the center of the prison, towards the main yard, Louis caught the eye of Cool Joe Biggs, and Rags Martin who were monitoring the unloading, of all the kids.
"Boy she's a strange looker over there. Look at those crazy blue eyeballs" said Cool Joe. That's a face only a mother could love, and that hair and make-up, she has no idea what she's doin, and look at those lips Rags. She looks like she just got punched in the mouth, or just swallowed a whole bottle of jalapeno' peppers."
"She looks more like she could be your sister Joe. She's just plain ugly."
Rags slapped Joe on the back of the head, which brought a stern warning from Big Sal who was standing outside of her cell, up on the second floor, watching the kids unload as well.
"You two cement-mixers stop horsing around, already. Git those kids down to the main yard and keep quite. I gotta git them to listen to my speech then indoctrinate them into the Rats. I'll be down in the yard in a minute...so git em ready, already."
"Sure Sal. Sure!"
Heads hanging down and blank faces on the kids, are all you could see.
Their minds were not their own. What a sad sight to see.
The prison spotlights lit up the prison yard, sending a strange shadow across Big Sal as she reached the gathering of kids. As she pushed herself along with her wheelbarrow, Black Jack Tilly, and most of the other Missouri Rats were close behind her, looking over her shoulder at the next batch of children to arrive.
"Listen up here kids!" yelled out Big Sal as she came to a rolling stop. She picked up a cooked chicken out of her wheelbarrow, placing it in one hand, and then grabbed a dirty handkerchief to wipe her greasy face.
All of the kids looked over to where Big Sal had just landed.
"Welcome all of you Junior Rats. You made the first step and answered your calling, to become evil. Welcome to Camp-Big Sal said Ms. Rossi as drool began to run out of one side of her mouth.
Louis turned to Molly and spoke.
"This can't be happening Molly. This is so terrible."
"I know Louis and look at Big Sal...my...my...gosh...has she ever missed one meal in her entire life?"
"I don't think so Molly," chimed in Chug, as he tried to hide behind a few other kids to stay out of view of Cool Joe, who was standing on top of the stream train searching the courtyard of the prison, "matter of fact it looks like she doubled up on a few meals, just in case."
Big Sal continued to speak.
"This will be the best summer-camp you have ever been to. I'm going to teach you all how to, steal, pilfer, lift, embezzle, thieve, rob, lie, slouch, laze-around, cheat, defraud, bamboozle, bilk, dupe, swindle, be con artists, and be bullies.
Then even better yet, you will learn to pick locks on safes, steal cars, and exchange dirty money, and best of all you get to beat-up, other smaller kids. You can be mean to your parents, not do your homework or chores, not have to go to Sunday school, eat as much as you want, you won't have to take baths, and you won' t have to go to any kind of school ever again, among other great things.
By the time, you leave this, prison you will all have tattoos, shaved heads, rotten teeth, be the most despicable kids on the planet, and best of all you will all be full-fledged: Missouri Rats. Now who am I? Well future Rats... I'm-a Big Sal Rossi...the New Sheriff of this here-a town.
The place went wild.
Cheers went out from all the kids.
Whistles, catcalls, loud hoots, and shouts greeted Big Sal.
Louis ducked Rags and Cool Joe, losing them in the crowd of kids. None of Black Jack Tilly's clan recognized Louis, Molly, or Chug. Louis's plan had worked so far.
All three made their way to the central holding cell, where all the new arrivals were heading, and where most of the kids in the prison were staying.
Louis turned to ask Molly a question but she was gone. Louis looked to his left then right...no sign of Molly or Chug. Had they both had been lost in the confusion of the moment, or had they wandered off for some other strange reason.
Louis immediately began to worry.
Now noticing Sammy and Growlin Harry at the back of the holding cell, Louis called out.
"Sammy, Harry you two guys have got to get back on that train in the morning, when it comes back from Kansas City. You two are under a spell, can't you see that?"
Both just stared ahead, mumbling something about Big Sal being their mom. Louis called out again, but neither spoke up. There was nothing more that Louis could do to help them.
As the night wore on Louis searched throughout the large holding cell, and a few other adjacent cells, but he still could not find Molly or Chug. Louis was starting to give up hope of finding them during the rest of night, so he stayed at the back of the main holding cell, and well into the shadows of the night, until the last whistle of the evening finally rang.
"Lights out?kids! Breakfast will be served at seven-thirty!" yelled out Big Belly Bill.
All cell doors slammed shut.
The prison went dark.
Louis could not hesitate; he had to act, and now was the time. Being young and skinny has its advantages, and Louis knew it. He sucked in his stomach, slipping though the thick iron bars of the front door, and out into an empty hallway, heading for Big Sal's jail cell on the second floor, by way of the main yard. As he passed through the mess hall, and out the back doors towards the upper stairway, he passed another large holding cell full of kids. Louis stopped to peer into the throng of blank stares, and empty souls.
"Molly. Chug...is you in there?" called out Louis, quietly, so as not to draw attention to himself.
No response was heard.
"Molly it's your Louis!" Again, no response, only the look of hopelessness and gloom could be seen in the children's eyes. Just as Louis was turning to go, he spotted Molly and Chug huddled together, at the very back of the holding cell.
Louis was ecstatic!
He slipped through the iron bars into the cell, heading towards Molly and Chug, just as fast as he could move. As he came closer and closer to them, a horrible thought entered his mind. No...no...It can't be true, thought Louis. The blank stares on their faces, was almost too much for Louis to bear.
"Molly you didn't play with one of those toys did you? Chug how about you?"
Chug raised one arm slowly, pointing to a toy lying on the floor; all the while drooling a little from his
mouth.
"You should try it Louis. When you're done you get to be a Missouri Rat," said Chug as a slight, odd grin appeared on his face, that revealed the ghastly evil that had been sub-planted in his heart and mind.
Goners, they're both goners, for sure, thought Louis.
Louis wiped tears of sadness off his face, smearing his rouge and lipstick.
"I'll show them. Where is that Big Sal Rossi? Turn my girlfriend into a lipstick-wearing zombie, wearing an old-lady wig will ya? I will get these guys," proclaimed Louis as he tried not to tear his dress; as he slipped back through the front cell bars.
Up the hallway, he went following the smell of dirty laundry, rotting food, and body odor towards Big Sal Rossi's cell.
The eerie light of the prison's lone spot light circled the prison, reflecting off the cold cement walls. Now and then, the prison spotlight hit Louis across the face showing a determination and grit, not seen in Louis in quite some time.
"I'm going get that evil book and that compass; what's it called, The Compass of Nubia. I'll show them how a real thief does it," mumbled Louis as he shuffled along the dark hallway.
Louis stopped cold in his tracks.
Unimaginable fear entered his mind.
He felt a tug at his soul and a pull on his mind.
His legs began to shake as a bead of sweat fell off the tip of his nose. He now stood in front of a lone darkened jail cell; he looked up and read:
Here lives Squint-Eye Pete
The meanest and most evil person alive
Enter at Your Own Risk!
Louis's teeth rattled.
He could not swallow.
A moment of clarity came to him.
He must enter.
Without giving it another thought Louis paused, then quietly slipped though the iron bars, into the welcoming arms of pure evil.
He stood face to face with his destiny.
Petar was asleep, deep into his dream world of plotting nastiness and filth.
Plotting and scheming, even as he slumbered.
Evil knows no fear.
Evil never sleeps.
Louis cautiously looked about the prison cell, trying to look closely into the darkness. The foul odor of wickedness filled his senses; overtaking his mind.
Dread gripped him, once again.
His legs quivered wildly.
Placing his hands against the cold, lifeless, cement walls for support, he felt his way around the medium-sized cell. He accidentally kicked the edge of Petar's bed. A large, hairy rat, showing two outsized front jagged teeth, revealed himself from under the dirty, tattered covers.
Louis bent over to get a better look.
The rat made a rat face at Louis.
Louis made a rat face back: he scrunched up his nose, bought his hands up tightly under his neck, and then wiggled his fingers together, as if he had rat whiskers. The rat moved towards the edge of the bed, saw Louis's, wig, lipstick, and rouge then darted back under the covers for safety, just as quickly as a rat could possibly move.
Wimp thought, Louis.
Louis kicked something else.
Looking down he saw of all things, his backpack. It was the one stolen from him off the Cimmaron Cutter last year.
Louis's heart was lightened at last, a good sign, when one was needed most. Grabbing one strap, he slowly pulled the bag off the floor, quietly placing it over one shoulder. Petar did not move.
His breathing was still steady, his foul body odor ever-present, The Black Fire was asleep, and the Eye of Horus was still covered underneath his leather patch, sleeping along with its Dark Master.
Louis stepped lightly towards the front cell bars, into the faint light of the prison spotlight that was still circling the prison with its silent, searching eye.
Louis scavenged though the backpack. His hand came across a cold metal object. Pulling the thin, circular object out of the darkness, and into the stale air of the prison cell, Louis's eyes lit up.
The Compass of Nubia was back, within his grasp once more.
His heart found renewed strength.
His courage was starting to grow again.
His legs and teeth stopped shaking for a moment. Upon reaching back into the backpack, he could not find the Magic Jingle Bell. The Bell of Amun-Ra, the bell that Charlie had given him, in Mr. Beamer's barn; what now seemed like so...so...long ago.
A horrible thought came too little Louis.
Petar must be wearing, Amun-Ra. Where else could it be? A longing to be home, to be safe, and warm in his bed filled Louis's mind. A faint smell of his father's cologne seemed to fill his nostrils. The warm touch of Hattie May's hand, raised goose bumps on Louis's arm.
If it was, only true...
Petar abruptly rolled over in his bed. Two large rats jumped out from under the tattered covers, scurrying for another place to sleep. Both rats looked back at Louis in disgust.
"I hate rats," thought Louis as he made another rat face, to his delight.
Petar's shirt was loose at the neck; three buttons were open. When the prison spotlight passed by again, Louis spotted his prize. Amun-Ra was in sight.
Creeping slowly towards the sleeping beast, Louis pulled back the sleeve of Molly's dress, exposing his twitching fingers. Looming over his target Louis reached down, and ever so gently pilfered his bell back from Petar Deegan Aden, Master of Mehan the Serpent."
Tightly holding the small bell in his left hand, Louis tenderly took two steps backwards.
Petar did not rustle.
One small drip of sweat burned Louis's left eye.
Pure relief now came over Louis. His breathing returned to normal; with a few quick steps, he went missing.
Louis slipped though the iron bars like the cat burglar he was, slinking down the hallway away from the spawn of evil, towards Petar's fawning mother...Kauket, better known as, Big Sal Rossi.
Big Sal was sprawled out in her cell, sleeping on the cement floor. The bed below her had been crushed again, broken, and found in shambles. She still slept comfortably. Her five-o'clock shadow showed under her thick chins, and about her swollen cheeks. A cigar was held loosely between her fat lips. Her wheelbarrow found nearby, was full of dirty dishes, and bones from a past grazing.
It was two-o'clock in the morning, the prison was still quite.
Louis started to slip though the cell's bars into her cell when Sal suddenly awoke. She slobbered on herself, blew snot from her fat nose, and spit to her left side. Louis jumped backwards into the shadows of the hallway as Sal rummaged around her cell for a few moments. Louis could hear the sounds of breaking bones. Sal was having her late-evening snack.
For over three hours, Louis stood in silence in the hallway. His heart pounded in unison with each crack of a bone, and with each empty plate that hit the floor.
Louis grew tired and weak as the time slowly passed.
The maps and the evil Book of Aka Manah was within his reach, he could sense it.
Another hour passed.
A pale sunlight started to creep into the soulless hallways, and cells of the prison.
Louis was running out of time.
Silence once again was heard.
Not hearing any sounds coming from Sal's cell for over fifteen minutes, Louis knew this would be his last chance. He poked his head around the corner of the cell wall; quietly he examined the inside.
Kauket was back asleep.
Leaving his backpack in the hallway, he passed though the small openings in the bars. Louis was once again a thief in the night. Being careful not to step on any plates or crack any bones lying nearby, he moved forwards towards the massive lump of sleeping-blubber that was Big Sal Rossi.
In the light of the morning under one enormo
us cheek of Sal's, butt Louis saw, a small pile of maps and blueprints. Mr. Beamer's name was visible on one corner.
Bingo!
Sal rolled back over the other way.
You whale, thought Louis.
How do you move two tons of blubber?"
Bingo again!
Food!
A clever thief, he was.
Louis found a partially un-eaten spare-rib lying in the corner of the cell. It was smothered in BBQ sauce, the perfect lure. Louis waived the delectable smelling ribs under Big Sal's nose. The aroma caught her senses. Sal lunged forward, rolling to her left, as she grasped about the air for the rib, in a dream-state. Louis gently stuffed the rib into a corner of her open mouth, knocking the smoldering cigar out of the other corner. She fell into a deeper more restful sleep while her mouth automatically began to gnaw on the well-seasoned bone.
The maps and blueprints were exposed.
With one great tug, the papers were in Louis's clutches.
As Sal continued to roll, back and forth, in her dream state, the strangest thing happened next.
"Oooooh?ahhhh...wow, I'm finally free. I have been under that fat butt for over three hours!"
Cool Joe Biggs surfaced on the other side of Sal's overweight butt.
To his surprise, he looked up at Louis standing in front of him, in drag.
"Man is you ugly."
"You're not too much to look at either" quipped back Louis as he smacked his big red lips together, and adjusted his wig.
"At least my teeth are beautiful to look at," said Joe as he cracked an insidious smile.
Louis reached for a hand-mirror lying on a nearby table, pointing it towards Toothless.
"All you need is some lipstick on those lips, and you would have the perfect look for the runway this year. What is that new look, Ugly-Sheik.
Joe looked into the mirror, smiling broadly, once again.
"I'm beautiful, look at that smile. Ice! I just love Ice?BOY!!"
The jig was up; Louis knew it!
Out of the corner of Sal's other butt cheek, Louis noticed a, well-worn leather-bound book, which on its cover read: The Book of Aka Manah.
"Gotta go ugly sheik, I'll set up an appointment for ya with my dentist when I get back to Centerville. D.D.S. Mr. Pearlman is his name. He can fix you up right quick. You'll still have a chance to find a nice girl, just fix that one tooth left, and rub that ugly off your face."
Joe rolled up his stained tee shirt, showing off his casket-tattoo, "Nobody double crosses me, Louis the Red!"
Louis didn't need any more enticements than that to high tail it. With maps, blueprints and evil book in hand, Louis made thin, flying towards the openings in the cell bars with Cool Joe Biggs fast on his tail, with fingers reaching and grasping at Louis.
Louis made his escape.
Passing through the bars, not looking back went Louis.
"Sal wake-up!" screamed out Cool Joe in a high-pitched whine.
Sal was slow to wake from her deep slumber, as Joe whaled out again.
"That little red haired, freckle faced thief, has got your evil book Sal, and those maps!"
Big Sal opened her one good eye.
She sat up, spitting out the spare rib.
"What are you screaming about you toothless wonder? No one is brave enough, or stupid enough, to try and steal from Big Sal Rossi!"
"Petar wake up?we've got company!" screamed out Cool Joe.
Sal reached to her left, then pulled down the fire alarm. A loud ring echoed throughout the prison. Louis immediately ran for the farthest hallway, towards the stairs leading into the central courtyard.
"Petar git up, we've got a shoplifter in our mitts," screamed out Cool Joe at the top of his lungs, which rattled his yellow and green tooth.
Big Sal tried plopping her large belly into her wheelbarrow, but was having troubles.
"It's that cowl-licked, red-haired kid dressed up as a little girl. I think he's off his rocker, or got an identity crises goin on. He's stolen those maps and the Book of Aka Manah, Pete!" yelled out Joe.
Petar was quick to stir; he jumped to his feet, wiped the sleep out of his one good eye, un-locked his cell door, quickly swinging it open; now heading for the balcony handrails. Upon searching about the yard, he found his little pickpocket running for the loading docks, over by the train tracks.
Louis scampered onto to the far side loading dock, as the Luck 7 could now be heard coming back up the railroad tracks, heading towards the now open, front main-gates.
"Shut those gates!" screamed out Petar above the wails of the fire alarm.
Louis racing across the loading dock, fleeing for his life looked to his left, towards the far corner of the prison yard. Out of the corner of his eye, to his dismay he saw a horrible site.
Another Great Wrapping-Machine was under construction.
It was an exact replica of the one in Santa's Village.
Louis's heart dropped in his chest.
He thought, the children?no?no?it can't be!
The iron train slammed into the gates as they began to close, sending them flying out in all directions.
Wha...a...a...a...ck?!!
Louis ducked the debris showering down all round him.
As Louis regained his bearings, he dashed towards the train that was now coming to a complete stop in the center of the yard.
Louis stumbled on a large piece of metal, sending the book of Aka Manah falling from his hands. The book upon hitting the ground opened to the last chapter and a blank page. As the dust cleared around Louis's head, the Pen of Jupiter Satquiel rose above the pages.
Louis?paused to gaze at the beauty of the pen then stared at the open book. Upon looking down, being drawn, he could see the large head of a fiend-serpent. The pen continued to move across the page, now two monstrous fangs appeared, then a thick black forked tongue slithered out from its gaping mouth?it speared a small, boyish, yet indiscernible figure standing close by. Louis could have sworn the boy had red hair.
A quick gulp by the serpent and the small body disappeared, into the dark abyss, down its throat. The eyes of the serpent shown a brighter red as the omnipresent, devilish tongue flicked wildly again.
The pen lowered to the pages once more and began to write:
THE TIME OF MAN WILL SOON BE NO MORE
DARKNESS WILL DECEND ON THIS EARTH AS BEFORE
JUST LIKE THE CHANGING OF THE TIDES AND WINDS
SO IT WILL SOON BEGIN