Part 26 (1/2)
”I guarantee,” Menge continued, ”that-after the ray is used-he will also be much more polite.”
”My. Really?” Roger's mother nodded, obviously impressed. ”Well, in that case-”
Menge, still smiling, reached for a b.u.t.ton on the side of the silver machine, a b.u.t.ton labeled with the usual large cardboard sign: zeta control.
When Menge looked away, Zabana leapt for him.
”You no zap Roger!” the jungle prince exclaimed. ”Zabana zap Zeta!”
There was a brief, unequal struggle. Menge was picked up by jungle-bred muscles and thrown roughly against the machine, his elbow hitting the Zeta b.u.t.ton.
”Bunga bonga blooie!” the prince of the jungle cried.
Zabana closed in on the supervillain, ready for the kill.There was a crackling noise. The machine jerked as Menge and Zabana grappled.
”Run!” Louie shouted. ”The thing's gonna go off!”
Almost everybody ran. The crackling turned into a loud, whooping sound, and a yellow ray shot forth, bathing the only person who hadn't run-Roger's mother-in golden light!
”What's happening?” Roger yelled. ”Mother!”
Zabana grabbed a fistful of wiring from the silver gizmo's undercarriage. He yanked it free. The ray cut off abruptly.
”Oh, dear,” Mrs. G. remarked. ”I feel so different. Hee.” She placed a hand delicately over her mouth. ”Hee hee. Heeheeheehee!” She began to laugh uncontrollably.
Menge the Merciless had managed to free himself from Zabana's grip. He ran a few feet away, nodding grimly as he retreated.
”The Zeta Ray has done its h.e.l.lish work.”
h.e.l.lish work? Roger looked back to his laughing mother. What could Menge mean by that?
”Mother-” he began again.
His mother turned to look at him, and showed a smile Roger had never seen before.
No, this was not the smile of a loving mother. It was not even the grim smile of a mother about to administer a paddling. It was, instead, a smile of pure evil!
When she spoke at last, her voice was low and full of menace. ”We'll teach sons to ignore their mothers! Hee-heehee! Heeheehee!”
Menge the Merciless ran to her side.
”Yes!” he cried triumphantly. ”But not now! You have to destroy him by surprise, when he least expects it!”
Mrs. G. frowned petulantly. ”Why?”
”It's much more”-he hesitated in the finest style of Dr. Dread-”evil that way.”
The nasty grin returned to her face. ”Of course! Why didn't I think of that?” She clapped her hands. ”This is going to be so much fun! Hee hee hee heeheehee!”
”Oh, Mrs. G! Together, we will rule the Cineverse! Ah hahahaha! Ah hahahaha!”
Menge took her hand in his.
”See you in the funny papers!” he cried.There was the usual blue smoke.
”Oh, dear,” Delores said softly. ”Oh, Roger.”
Roger didn't say anything.
His mother? A villain?
The Plotmaster was right.
This was terrible! How could it get any worse?
”Roger!” Delores yelled.