Paraworld Zero (24 page)

    The crowd screamed wildly as two trapdoors opened up on the stage. Slowly,
two giant figures emerged from the floor. They were the biggest Puds Simon and Tonya had ever
seen.

    Simon still didn’t know what was going on until he saw the big Puds start to
fight. Somehow, the large men were being remotely controlled by the little Puds. For instance,
every time Alvin or Bo-Bob swung an arm, their counterpart in the ring would swing his arm as
well.

    The two giants exchanged blows to the face—one after the other—until Bo-Bob’s
Pud began to bleed from a cut under his eye.

    “This is barbaric!” Tonya cried.

    “Yeah, this doesn’t seem very fair,” Simon said.

    Thorn smiled. “Don’t worry, guys. The pain receptors aren’t transmitted to
the little Puds—just the movement. Alvin and Bo-Bob are quite all right.”

    Tonya rolled her eyes in response.

    The blue light that surged through the top rope surrounding the ring started
to flash the primary colors.

    “It’s berserk time!” exclaimed the announcer over the roar of the
crowd.

    The large Puds ran to the sideline and quickly picked out weapons. Bo-Bob
selected a wooden bat, and Alvin chose two rubber batons. In a demonic fury, the giants lashed
out at each other.

    At first, it looked like Alvin was going to lose the fight. Bo-Bob kept
hitting Alvin’s fighter across the back, but then his bat suddenly shattered. With two seconds
left in the round, Alvin clashed his hands together, as if he were clanging two cymbals. His Pud
followed suit by smashing the rubber batons against the other Pud’s sides.

    A loud buzzer rang, and the round ended.

    Tonya turned to Mrs. Troodle, who was clapping like crazy, and yelled over
the hysteria of the crowd, “I thought little Puds didn’t have time for frivolous things. This
fight doesn’t seem like a very productive use of your time.”

    “Konya, you’re missing the whole point. The fight is just a demonstration of
the new advancements in security collars. We’re getting a peek at the future!”

    “At the expense of injuring two helpless people?”

    “I wouldn’t really call them
people
, Konya,” Dr. Troodle chimed in. “The whole purpose of this line of science is to
control the animalistic nature of the big Puds. I can’t even imagine what the world would become
like if we didn’t have security measures like this.”

    Tonya murmured under her breath, “I don’t think it’s the big Puds with the
animalistic nature.”

    The buzzer rang, and round two began.

    Sweat poured down the bodies of the large Puds, causing their muscles to
glisten in the spotlight. Even their owners perspired as they threw their fists into the air.
Simon thought it strange to see the dramatic expressions on Alvin Bottlebrush’s face as he shadow
boxed in unison with his big Pud. Bo-Bob Dungbeat, on the other hand, remained cool and
collected; every movement he made was well thought-out and purposeful.

    During this round, the fighters became much more rambunctious than before.
They used their feet to kick, and they danced around the mat to avoid getting hit. Although
Bo-Bob and Alvin were somewhat hindered in what they could do, they were still able to maneuver
their fighters around with remarkable skill.

    The crowd roared with excitement when the chaos light flashed again. Alvin,
the challenger, made his Pud run to the sideline to get a weapon. This time the selection was
more deadly than before. His fighter picked up a knife, but before the large man could turn
around to use it, Bo-Bob’s Pud kneed him in the back. Being a more experienced fighter, Bo-Bob
had decided that, instead of getting a weapon, he would make a surprise attack instead.

    After Bo-Bob completed his first assault, he compelled his fighter to pick up
Alvin’s Pud and throw him off the stage. Bo-Bob raised his feet as though climbing a ladder,
which in turn forced his Pud to climb up the ropes and stand on the top rung. The little Pud
waved to the crowd and then threw himself to the ground. His Pud did the same, but instead of
hitting the mat, he smashed heavily onto the other big Pud.

    “
Ooooh
, that’s gotta hurt!” the announcer commented. “If Mr. Bottlebrush doesn’t start
doing better soon, he’s gonna have to find himself a new Pud.”

    The crowd laughed, and the round ended.

    Simon turned to Thorn and asked, “They don’t kill each other, do they?”

    “No, hardly anyone ever gets killed,” Thorn replied. “They just beat each
other up until one of them can’t fight anymore.”

    “
Animals!
” Tonya spat.

    “Yes, they are animals,” Thorn said.

    “I meant you—everyone here! Except for the ones in the ring, you’re all
animals!”

    Thorn screwed up his face. “How can you say we’re animals? Look at what we
can accomplish! We have the power to control—”

    “Your people are the real animals because you don’t seem to have the power
for compassion.” She stood up, and everyone around them gasped at seeing her long red hair.
“Civilized people don’t take advantage of others. They treat each other with equality and
civility.” Simon perked up when she used those words. “Your technological advancements are
worthless if they don’t help you to become better people. Even my father wouldn’t participate in
something like this!”

    “Sit down, young lady,” Dr. Troodle said in a stern voice.

    Deeply embarrassed, Mrs. Troodle hid her face so that none of her peers would
recognize her.

    “No! I won’t sit down! I won’t just sit and watch this go on any longer! Come
on, Simon, let’s stop this fight right now.”

    She grabbed the boy’s arm, but he resisted. “There’s nothing we can do,”
Simon said, staring at the floor.

    “There’s always something you can do,” she scolded. “Simon, you need to stand
up for what’s right. When a problem comes up, you can’t just ignore it and hope it goes
away.”

    “But—”

    “But nothing! Listen to me, runt. You and I don’t really meet this
paraworld’s intellectual standards. You never know… maybe after a while, they’ll turn us into
slaves as well.”

    Her words pierced his heart like a knife, and he felt awful that he had been
so passive about the whole thing. Feeling a strange courage he had never felt before, Simon leapt
from his seat and followed Tonya down the steps towards the stage. He vowed never again to look
the other way when someone needed him.

    A million thoughts ran through his head. He wondered if there was a spell he
could use to free the giants. Perhaps he could transport them out of the city. But what if he
couldn’t control the magic? And how would the little Puds react to his spell? Now was not the
time to doubt.

    He looked up and saw that Bo-Bob’s Pud held some type of revolving blade—like
a chainsaw. Alvin’s Pud had only a rod of iron to defend himself. The chaos light flashed
wildly.

    Simon and Tonya were almost to the stage when the big Pud who welded the
chainsaw took a swipe at his opponent, slashing him across the abdomen—but only slightly. The
injured man doubled over from the pain, and the crowd went wild. Fortunately for Alvin, the thin
blade had only grazed his Pud.

    Bo-Bob raised his hands up high and readied himself for the kill. The
heartless crowd screamed in approval. Without warning, Alvin Bottlebrush thrust up his hands,
causing his Pud to swing the rod of iron with all his might at his would-be executioner. The rod
struck the other Pud across the neck so forcefully that it knocked him backwards onto the
mat.

    Staggering to his feet, the giant clutched his throat and broke off the
shattered collar that had saved his life. He looked around the ring in a dazed stupor. Suddenly,
he made eye contact with Bo-Bob, and a spark of hatred ignited within him. He charged at his
master full force, but before he reached the ropes, the other big Pud, controlled by Alvin,
tackled him to the ground.

    Half a dozen little Puds jumped into the ring to help. They zapped the fallen
giant with energy sticks that flared with every jab.

    Determined, the large Pud grasped through the ropes at his master, but he
couldn’t quite reach. Bo-Bob Dungbeat just stood there with a solemn look etched across his face…
He had just been defeated for the first time.

    Simon covered his ears to drown out the screams from the hysterical crowd. He
looked around at the people in dismay. Many raised their fists and jeered or called out for a
rematch. Some were disappointed, while others overjoyed. Most of the Puds near the Troodles had
not recovered from seeing Tonya’s flaming red hair and overhearing her derogatory
comments—neither had Mrs. Troodle.

    The doctor stood by his wife, statue-like, except for the tightening of his
clenched jaw muscles. Thornapple hung his head down. A gulf seemed to separate Simon from his
tiny friend. The Earthling had turned his back to the family who had taken him in. He had trodden
over their culture, embarrassed them beyond measure, and for what? Nothing had changed. Nothing
he did would ever make a difference.

    “Thank you,” came a broken whisper from within the chaos.

    Simon turned to Tonya and saw the tears streaming down her face. He reached
over to pat her shoulder or to hold her hand—anything to comfort her. She threw her arms around
his neck and sobbed.

    “Thank you, Simon,” she said again. “You stood by my side when no one else
would. Thank you.”

    Simon held her, amidst the roaring crowd. He closed his eyes and opened them
a few seconds later. Further up the coliseum, he spotted Thornapple, standing in the aisle,
alone; his parents were already marching towards the exit.

    Thorapple’s ashen face remained void of expression—the gleam gone from his
sullen eyes, his customary smile dissolved from his face. The little Pud gazed at Simon and Tonya
with big, troubled eyes. All Simon could do in response was stare back and frown. A shiver of
dread ran down his spine. What was he doing on this strange planet? He didn’t belong on Pudo. He
wasn’t sure if he belonged on Earth, either, but at least there he knew where he stood. Had his
friendship with Thornapple just been severed—torn apart, along with half of his heart? Tonya held
the other half. Simon embraced her more tightly and wondered what the future would bring, now
that his world had just been turned upside down.

Chapter 16
    

    

    It took over an hour for the tow truck to bring Simon, Tonya, and the
Troodles home from Hollywhip Stadium. Exhausted and upset, they all went to bed without saying a
word.

    Simon waited for the familiar sound of Thorn’s rhythmic snoring before he
crept out of bed. His legs throbbed, so he decided to use his hover chair to carry himself to the
kitchen.

    “Har—you awake?”

    He opened the plastic flap in the wall and peered at the large Pud sitting in
the dark, bobbing his head uncontrollably.

    “Are you okay?”

    The large boy looked at Simon and blinked. “Si—Si…” he fumbled. “Si-moan
hungry?”

    “No, I’m not hungry. I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday.” Simon
handed him the present he had purchased at the concession stand. “Open it. It’s for you.”

    Confused, Har broke open the white plastic wrapper and brought out a little
chocolate cake. A tear dropped down his cheek.

    “For Har?” he asked.

    “Yes. Happy birthday, big guy.”

    “Thank—you, Si-moan.”

    The large boy stared into the darkness once more and continued to bob his
head up and down.

    Simon brushed a tear from his eye and whispered, “Have a good night.”

    He zoomed back to his room and got into bed. The soft covers were warm and
inviting, but his muscles refused to relax. He sighed deeply. Tomorrow was not going to be a fun
day. He rolled over, yawned, and looked across the room at Thorn. As his eyes focused in the
dark, he realized Thorn was staring back at him. Simon drew in a quick breath and sat up.

    “Are we still friends?” the little Pud asked.

    “I… I don’t know. I think so,” Simon answered slowly.

    “Do you think I’m an animal?”

    “No.” He paused. “But I do think you should treat Har better. He’s had a
rough time lately.”

    “So that’s who you’ve been going to see every night.”

    Simon gasped in shock, but Thorn just smiled. How long had the little Pud
known of his midnight excursions?

    Thorn continued. “Did you know that today is also Har’s birthday? We’re the
same age.”