Apsuzette Prison

  Cellblock 3

  "I'm here, Fenfeld," Sassy Fox says, joyously skipping through the water on the cellblock floor. "I'm here. I've got the keys."

  Fenfeld grips the cell bars with his sextuplet of hands, a wide grin on his toothy mouth. He almost laughs out loud, watching Sassy approach his cell like a playful schoolgirl. He reaches through the bars with one hand, beckoning her forward. Sassy unlocks the front of Fenfeld's cell and then takes his hand. The apeman draws Sassy close, kissing her. Only the metal bars between them prevent Fenfeld from crushing the sultry fox to his bare chest.

  "Thank you, Sassy Honey," Fenfeld whispers softly.

  "Of course, Fenfeld. Anything for you, Fenfeld," Sassy coos breathlessly.

  Fenfeld glances over Sassy's shoulder. Kaatreel has finished wrapping Grator in his giant coils. The vengeful snake hisses with triumph and begins suffocating the armored brute. Korri, the koala guard, is still unconscious. He lies unmoving and face down in the water which has flooded the corridor. For all Fenfeld knows, the koala could be drowned. Better get out of here then. The sooner the better.

  "Come on, Sassy Dear," Fenfeld says, pushing the cell door open and stepping out. "We need to go. We need to go right now."

  "Okay," Sassy says, nodding her head calmly and obediently.

  "This way," Fenfeld whispers. "Stay close to me."

  "Right!"

  As the fleeing dual pass by Kaatreel, Fenfeld stops to admire the enormous snake's skill at eating. Kaatreel's jaw is no longer in its usual position. The reptile unhinges his jaw wide enough to allow Grator's head and shoulders to pass easily through. Everything else, will be a piece of cake to swallow. Time to chow down.

  "Uh, Kaatreel?" Fenfeld mutters, when Grator's head is less than a foot from Kaatreel's gaping mouth. "You don't think it would be possible to lend me the big lug's uniform? I mean...For escape purposes? You know....Because we're pals?"

  Kaatreel's slit eyes narrow and he tilts his head to one side. The giant snake unhappily pops his jaw back into place, squeezing Grator even tighter. Kaatreel rises up on his bunched coils, staring threateningly down at Fenfeld and Sassy. The female fox releases a frightened gasp. She frantically clutches at Fenfeld's arm. The apeman laughs, discomfort in his voice, studying Kaatreel with weary eyes.

  "I have no friends-s-s," Kaatreel says. "There i-s-s only me and my prey. And my mate at breeding time. You s-s-should leave, Fenfeld. Or I might just be forced to s-s-ave your apeman corps-s-se for an entree. And your pretty fox friend for dessert. Hehehe."

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  "Ah. Got ya!" Fenfeld says. "See you later, then. As in...Never again. Bye."

  Fenfeld and Sassy Fox continue on without Grator's uniform. The water level within the prison is still rising. Sassy's cotton chemise and long drawers are soaking wet. She is forced to walk slower, the weight of her clothes dragging her down. Fenfeld soon outpaces his fox lover. She calls to him pitifully.

  "Fenfeld, wait. Wait for me, Fenfeld. I can't keep up!"

  "Sorry, Sassy Honey!" Fenfeld calls over one shoulder. "The hangman cometh. If I dawdle...He'll have the noose around my neck for sure."

  "What? Fenfeld? You're not going to leave me?" Sassy cries in disbelief. "After all of the trouble we went to...To bust you out of here? I even baked you a nice cake. How could you, Fenfeld?"

  "Easy," Fenfeld says, "I'm an old pro. But you're a good girl, Sassy. Old Kaatreel told me so. This is your first offense. The Apsuzette authorities will go easy on you. You hang around with me, and you'll get the same punishment I get. I wouldn't want that. Sorry, Sassy Honey. It's better this way. Goodbye."

  "No. Fenfeld! You crazy ape. Fenfeld! Please, let me go with you. FENFELD!?!"

  By this time, Fenfeld is practically jogging through the water, his six arms pumping wildly. He disappears around a corner, leaving Sassy Fox to tread through the open pool--which used to be a prison cell block--alone.

  -

  -

  Fenfeld turns the corner, leading away from cellblock three, and races down the halls. He lowers his head like a charging rhino, pumping his numerous arms harder and forcing more speed out of his legs.

  "Hey!" A giant guard frog says, leaping from his position near the front door of the prison. "Who let you out?!"

  Fenfeld rolls his eyes and charges the giant frog. He clotheslines the frog with his three right arms, as the guard leaps into the air to intercept him. The frog ejects his tongue, which slaps against the side of Fenfeld's face.

  "Yuck!" Fenfeld groans. "Keep that thing to yourself."

  Fenfeld grabs the guard's extra long--and sticky--tongue before he can retract it back in. Using the frog's own tongue, Fenfeld ties the guard up. He wipes his hands on the open folds of his leather jacket, disgust contorting his simian countenance.

  "What a joke!" Fenfeld mutters. Twirling the guard's keys on one finger.

  "Fenfeld!?!" Sassy Fox shrieks, finally swimming around the corner. "My clothes are ruined. Ergh. I'm gonna kill you, Fenfeld Kaiser. Errr!"

  "Uh-oh," Fenfeld moans. "From love to hate already? Damn. Why do I even bother?"

  Turning back towards the front entrance of the prison, Fenfeld surges forward. He unlocks the large metal front door of the jail and bounds outside. A wave of water follows him out, spreading over the warm pavement. The sly apeman doesn't get more than three feet from the jail. Almost immediately, he slams into the wide chest of the giant gorilla from the courtroom hearing.

  Fenfeld glances upward, a weak smile touching his lips. The gorilla grunts but doesn't say a word. He doesn't have to. The ape commander from the town square steps forward. The commander briefly reclines his head and laughs raucously.

  "Fenfeld...Fenfeld...Fenfeld. Hahaha. You are so predictable. You may be good. But I am better!"

  To the gorilla guard, the commander says, "Now that the water has been shut off...Take the prisoner back to his cell."