Cloudchild

Chapter 9 - Depths

"BURRRURRRRHHHH! HRRRRURHHH! URRRARR—" Something huge and dumb smashed head-first into the pump trolley and bounced off, knocked out. Annani gasped as her ride tottered, bouncing to and fro on either set wheels, throwing her back and forth.

The pump trolley wobbled until back in place. Annani regained her balance and returned to operating the machine. She looked back—the silhouettes increased in number, footfall echoing along with their breathing.

Annani's jelly cap illuminated the closest pursuers: dim-witted, apish beasts nearly three metres tall with huge noses and rubbery skin of every colour imaginable. Large beards and long hair flailed, swatted aside by sausage fingers, the Trolls inevitably smacking one another.

Contrary to their heavy musculature, the monsters ran like angry toddlers, big feet flopping against the earth. Brandishing clubs and axes, some Trolls tripped along the railway or for no discernable reason, trodden by those behind.

The Trolls grumbled with heavy accents, voices so deep they were difficult to understand.

"Smashed the box!"

"Chased the rolly!"

"Eaten the thingy!"

"Crushed the jelly!"

"Small meal was mine!"

Annani wheezed, pumping wildly. "You're not gonna eat me!" she squealed. Her pursuers growled, swinging their weapons; clubs and axes smacked into oversized skulls and the chase devolved into a running melee.

"Didn't tripped me!"

"No! I not wanted fallen! Nnooo—"

"Don't stepped on me!"

"My foot stomped over dumb face! Ohhh-whoa—"

Annani stared impassively as her pursuers tripped over one another. "Trolls are really dumb..."

The pink peacock whizzed through the fallen Trolls, one trying to grab his tail.

"Hey! You're back! Jump in so we can escape together!" He ran past the pump trolley, disappearing in the darkness ahead. "Oh? Well, nevermind then."

More growls echoed. Annani pumped hard again, arms heavily pulsating with pain.

The cluster of rampaging giant babies spread, some continuing the pursuit in the right direction. To Annani's luck, the railway divided into two caverns. Her cart rolled down one and half of her pursuers ran down the other.

"WRRRURGGHH! RRRURRRAAARR! HURRRARRR!" A particularly fast Troll—a fat purple one—ran alongside Annani's vehicle, his hair so messy it flopped over his face, blinding him, only his big nose sticking through until colliding with a column; more Trolls cascaded over him and each other.

Wheels grinded against rails along a large curve, sparks dashing backwards against the smarter Trolls, though they nevertheless failed to turn and smooshed against the curvature of the cave wall; those they ran over trampled them and charged Annani's vehicle, her gelatinous hat wiggling as it sat on her head.

Annani ducked as the monsters swung their weapons, often hitting the back of the cart, which only pushed it more while they slobbered, their moist breath horrible.

"Smashed the box!"

"I smashed first!"

"No, was me!"

Annani's ride wobbled from repeated blows, she bouncing around. Trolls gradually flanked the pump trolley, swinging their weapons with such gusto they often hit each other.

As the pump lever clanked up and down from inertia alone, a Troll growled and swung at it; his club bounced off the raising half and he hit himself in the mouth. "OW! That hurt! Who was!?" He clubbed nearby Trolls, creating a whirlwind of aggression.