Bug Fables: Return of the Giants

Chapter 11

"This is making me really nervous!" whispered Queen Bianca. She and Queen Elizant were crossing the Giant's kitchen in an attempt to get to the staircase.

"Bianca, there's nothing to worry about," said Elizant, loudly and clearly.

"Shh!"

"C'mon, the Giant isn't anywhere near here! He's been gone, what, three hours now?"

"That doesn't mean he couldn't walk through the door any second!" argued Bianca.

"That's not gonna happen if we hurry!"

"Grrr..."

It took a few minutes, but the two queens darted around the chairs and cabinets until they were out of the kitchen. The floor they were running across went from a cold, solid-white tile, to a dark, hardwood floor.

"See?" said Elizant. "We made it out of the kitchen, no problem!"

"Yeah, we got real lucky."

"Lucky pshh! We calculated this move expertly!"

"Not really—"

"I was kidding," said Elizant.

"Whatever..." Bianca said back. "Now, how are we gonna get up these stairs?"

"That's kinda...why I was asking about your wing earlier."

"Heh, hoping I was gonna fly us up the stairs?"

"A little, yeah," said Elizant.

"I've got an idea."

"Oh yeah?"

"See that? Next to the stairs?"

"The hand rail?"

"Exactly!" said Bianca.

"I suppose we could hike up the stairs that way," said Elizant. She scratched her chin. "Only problem is...how are we gonna get up there."

"Yeah, that's the tough part," Bianca replied. She looked around for a few seconds before she noticed something. "Ah!"

"What?"

"The kitchen counter is really close to the handrail," pointed out Bianca. "I say if we can climb up there, we'll be able to jump across and land on the hand rail!"

"Woah, woah," said Elizant. "Is this the same Bianca who was scared of walking across the kitchen a few minutes ago?"

"Desperate times..."

"True, true. Desperate measures," said Elizant. "I hate to ask this question for the billionth time—but how are we gonna get on top of the counter."

"Just look at the place!" Bianca said. "There's so many little knobs and cracks. I'm sure we'll have no problem finding a way to the top!"

"Let's head that way," said Elizant.

And so the ladies crossed back onto the cold tile and ran to the counters. They stared up at the counter, trying to figure out what to do.

"If I could just find a way to grab onto that first knob," said Elizant. "I could grab onto the next knob. Like...rock climbing or something."

"You do rock climbing?" asked Bianca.

"Oh, heavens no," answered Elizant. "Well, not anymore, that is. I did it when I was a lot younger."

"Oh, fun!" said Bianca. "I've always wanted to give it a try. I'm much too busy, though."

"Hey, now's your chance!" said Elizant.

"Lucky me!"

Suddenly, the front door of the house swung open, and both queens nearly jumped out of their skin.