Planet of the Ape

YAH!!!! I finished chapter 2 in less then a month.


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Chapter 2
Unbeknownst to the crowd, a tall, lithe boy had been stealthily climbing the wood roof of the executioner’s hall. Well, technically one could not call him a boy. With his curly mop of golden-brown hair, mischievous green eyes, and impish demeanor, he was, in fact, a young man.
Nimbly, he jumped down from the roof, and aimed a flaming arrow at the executioner’s block. He grinned wildly as the arrow hit his mark. . . .
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Thayet smiled easily, while the audience gasped. Luke pushed his way toward her as he scampered down toward the noose. Legions of armed guards frantically followed after him.
They wouldn’t reach him, of course. They never did.
Thayet scowled as Luke reached the noose. “Took you long enough.”
He grinned, “Sorry. Did you worry I wouldn’t come?”
She rolled her eyes.
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Rori wrinkled her nose as she made her way through the long corridor leading away from the executioner’s hall. She sighed dejectedly. Executions were both horrifying and terrible. Why would anyone like to see another human being killed before their very eyes? Even a criminal ought to be dealt justice in privacy. So why had she agreed to come? Char had begged and pleaded, that was why –
The sound of running feet brought Rori back to reality.
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“Take the bloody rope!” Thayet yelled at Luke who was doing his best to avoid the numerous guards at their heels. She pointed to a hall leading down a different pathway. “I’ll go that way.”
Luke nodded. Splitting up. An excellent idea.
He rounded a corner and ducked behind a pillar. A grin lit up his face and he noted, with a degree of satisfaction that the guards continued running by, not noticing him.
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When a handsome stranger ran down the hallway, Rori began to feel slightly nervous, but when she spotted a legion of guards in hot pursuit, a panicked feeling overtook her.
Now, the green-eyed boy had reached her. He slowed his steps. “Move!” He ordered, feigning viciousness.
“No!”
He sighed exasperatedly, “Please, move.”
“No!” She repeated, more firmly this time.
He ran a hand through his curly mop of hair and turned his back to her. The guards had increased in numbers.
He turned back to face her again, “Now will you move?”
Rori glared at him. “As a loyal citizen of this town, I cannot allow you to pass me!”
He sighed, once more. “Then, mademoiselle, I’m afraid you leave me with no choice.”
He then proceeded to slink her over his shoulder, while listening to Rori protesting over the indignity. “Put me down, you – you” unable to think of an insult befitting him, she finished her sentence with a very unlady-like, “ARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!”
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Thayet tapped her foot impatiently. She’d managed to lose the guards, take a small canoe (it’d been abandoned at the docks, so who could actually call it stealing.) and was now waiting for Luke by the waterfront. Confound the boy! Always keeping her waiting! Perhaps . . . perhaps the guards had outwitted him. No! No, that was a foolish thought. Nobody could outwit Luke. That was one thing Thayet could be sure of.
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Luke struggled. The girl on his shoulder was pounding her fists against his back. He grimaced. It was quite painful.
He tuned his ears, “You bloody vermin! Put me down, you criminal! Just wait until my father hears about this. You can be sure he’ll have the Royal Navy looking for me! And when he does, you’ll be sorry!”
Luke blushed crimson when he noticed the old man sitting on the side of the curb. His wizened cheeks crinkled into a leering smile, and he blew a ring of smoke from his pipe. “Stubborn chit, ain’t she,” He snickered.
Luke attempted to set the man right. “No, you’ve got all wrong. You see, I . . .” realizing he couldn’t exactly tell the truth; Luke hoisted the girl on his other shoulder and quickened his pace down the road.
Thayet was pacing back and forth along the docks. The look on her face when she spotted him, was (to say the least) vicious.
“Where’ve you bloody been?! And why is she on your shoulder?!!!” She took a closer look and thundered. “The navy is looking for us! And they’re EVERYWHERE!!!”
Luke nodded, “I ran into a bit of trouble . . . as you can see.” He eased Rori on to the floor, but still held an iron grip on her shoulder. “Look, we can just leave her here, get on the boat, and just sail away -”
“In the name of the law, put your hands up!” Newly promoted Commodore Motti of the Royal Navy grandly made his way down to the two criminals. A brigade of soldiers followed him, bayonets drawn. “What have we here?”
Thayet sighed and looked over at Luke. They’d done this so many times now.
She inched her feet toward the water. It’s was Luke’s turn to keep them busy.
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He quickly pushed the girl in font of him. “Lovely morning, isn’t it,” He smiled.
The commodore eyed him evenly. “It will be. Once you are behind bars.” He then pointed to Thayet. “Stop right there, missy! Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way your feet inch closer to the water.”
She sighed. Luke shook his head. “I’m afraid you’re missing the big picture, Mr. . .”
“Commodore,” he corrected. I’m afraid you’re missing the big picture, commodore. You see, I have, within my clutches, the daughter of a very prominent member of this town. I’m sure he wouldn’t be very happy when he finds out she has . . . or could’ve been harmed.” Rori scowled at him.
The commodore sighed, “I’m listening.”
“I thought you might,” Luke grinned impishly. “Now, I suppose we should establish just exactly what each party wants.”
Commodore Motti nodded sullenly.
“It’s quite simple really. Thayet and I go free and you get the girl back. Fair enough?”
Motti frowned. “Yes, well, I’m afraid that won’t work for me. I was thinking more along the lines of allowing a degree of leniency.”
Luke shook his head. “Sorry, mate. That’s not really workin’ out for us.” He turned to point a finger to Thayet and was surprised to find that she had vanished. Good! She’d made herself useful while he’d been stalling them.
Motti gasped! Where had the girl gone? Hadn’t she just been standing there? “After her!” He turned back to the boy.
No!
Both were gone too!

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Hmm?