10 A Voice from Above

Chapter Ten A Voice from Above Foggy led the troop through more tunnels. He was now carrying Finn and Elias under each arm. They were both still awake but exhausted from being slowly digested. "I can't believe this," said Finn. "Digestion is such a gross way to die." "Well," said Jern, "you're not exactly being digested. That brain isn't that brainy. Not the sharpest tack in the tack box. Not the brightest bulb in the bulbatorium." "Please," said Abigail. "Just say it." "Well, digestion means breaking something down, right?" said Jern. "Decomposing it. That's not what's happening to you. More likely it's the pressure of being inside a giant planet that's getting to you. You're a couple miles underground now. That will do a number on you."

"Not sure that makes me feel better," said Finn. "Oh, okay," said Jern. "Then yeah, you're being slowly digested by a giant alien." After shimmying past a gallbladder and bouncing off three different spleens, the troop found themselves in a wide tunnel. "Chums!" said Foggy. "We are almost there. It turns out I was wrong about there being only two ways out of Saphrite. You'll be glad to know that Saphrite has a belly button. And when she inhales, a small opening appears in the button. Lucky for us, a small opening on a planet is plenty big for us to squeeze out."

Foggy paused for Vale to make a joke. But Vale wasn't in the joking mood. Vale looked at his friends. Finn was nearly asleep. Elias was limp in Foggy's arms. And Abigail looked like she had run a marathon, she was so sweaty. "Okay," said Vale. "I know I haven't always made the best decisions. But I think I have a plan,

and you guys are in no shape to argue." He paused, waiting for them to argue. "Great," he continued. "Here's how it's going to go down. Foggy, you take Finn, Elias, and Abigail, and you head for that button. Me and the bug are going to bust his buddies out of the hoosegow." "The what?" said Jern. "The clink," said Vale. "The big house. The cooler. The crowbar hotel. The stony lonesome. The lonely stonesome." The beetle looked confused. "Prison," said Vale. "Once we see it, we'll break them out, and then meet up with my friends on the surface." "Vale," said Foggy, "I don't think you should be the one—" "STOP WHERE YOU ARE." A voice echoed through the tunnel. It seemed to be coming from the walls. "NO ONE ESCAPES ME." It was Saphrite. The giant planet had finally taken notice of the explorers. "Good thing we're not no one," said Vale. "We're Explorers Troop 301, and we always

complete our missions." "YOU MAY NOT THINK I CAN FEEL YOU, BUT I CAN. YOU MAY NOT THINK I CAN HEAR YOU, BUT I CAN. YOU MAY NOT THINK I CAN SEE YOU, BUT I CAN." "That's... really... creepy," said Elias. He was having a hard time staying awake. "AND I AM NEVER LETTING YOU GO!" "Why not?" said Abigail. "You're a planet eater. We're nothing to you. Let us go, and we will never bother you again." "YOU MAY WANT TO ESCAPE..." "Yeah, that's what I just said," said Abigail. "BUT I WILL NOT LET YOU. MY ANTIBODIES WILL BE UPON YOU SOON, AND YOU WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GIVE UP AND BECOME MY LUNCH." "The lady loves her lunch," said Jern. "You're not going to convince her." Finn looked around. There was a red light up ahead. He slipped out of Foggy's arms and crawled to the opening. Inside was a small brain. Its bright red sparks flew around its tiny cave. He turned back around.

"Guys, I don't think that's Saphrite," said Finn. "There's a red brain up ahead. I think it's some sort of alarm system." "STOP WHERE YOU ARE," Saphrite's voice rang out again. "NO ONE ESCAPES ME." "See?" said Finn. "It's an alarm. I'd bet you a thousand dollars the next thing Saphrite says is, 'You may not think I can—'" "YOU MAY NOT THINK I CAN FEEL YOU," said Saphrite at the same time as Finn. "It's like a recording," said Finn. "So Saphrite can't actually see or feel us?" said Abigail. "We just tripped a wire? It's all