Greek Runaway

Πενήντα δύο(Fifty Three)

3rd Peron's POV

"Welcome, everyone, to the Grand Reopening... of the newly renovated Hayden Planetarium... here at the Museum of Natural History. New York's glitterati have all turned out...for what has promised to be a memorable evening... filled with the dazzling special effects...and technical wizardry we've all come to admire from this museum...and its renowned Night Program." A news anchor said to a camera. Inside the museum, people and animals were getting ready for their roles.

"Tonight gonna be fun-fun! Here come Dum Dum!" The Easter Island Head said as Larry walked past him.

"Hey, how we doing, Sac?" Larry asked Sac.

"Rexy is waxed and buffed. Teddy is grooming his mustache. Oh, and I reviewed fire safety procedures with the primordial men. By the way, have you seen them lately? The museum has added a new one."

"What? No. Oh, and make sure the centurions stretch, all right? They really went for it in the dress rehearsal... and they're just not used to those kinds of dance moves." He said as Sac nodded her head looking over her clipboard. "Okay, everybody. Everybody, listen up. I don't want to make anybody nervous... but the mayor and the governor are both out there. And, I'm not 100 percent sure, but I think Regis Philbin, too." He called out to them.

"Reeju Philbo?" Atilla asked, eyes lighting up.

"Yeah, Reeju Philbo." Larry said. As he went by different people and animals he would mutter something to them. "Okay, Rexy, do me a favor. Watch the tail, okay? There's gonna be open flame. Oh, Dexter...how you doing, my man? All limbered up? Looking good. I like the tie. Got kind of a Chipp and Dales thing going on. All chalked up, ready to go?" Dexter chirped to him. "Good. Okay, everybody relax and have fun, okay?"

"Larry. You better come see this." Ahkmenrah said looking worried. Larry followed Ahkmenrah to where Katalina was standing, looking at the tablet. "Has it gotten any better?" Ahkmenrah asked her.

"No. Nothing's changed." She said and nodded to Larry who came over and looked at it as well.

"Have you ever seen it like this before?" He asked shining his flashlight on it seeing green like rust on the bottom part of it.

"Never. This corrosion has never happened before. It's always been exactly the same. Have you Katalina?"

"Oh, no, I don't usually come near it." She said.

"I wonder what's up with it." Larry muttered to himself.

"I have no idea. And to be honest... my father knew the secrets of the tablet better than I did. Unfortunately, he swore he'd never reveal them. He never did." After looking at it a little while longer Ahkmenrah started to sway on his feet while Katalina paled as more green cover the tablet. Larry let his arm out to catch a falling Ahkmenrah.

"You guys okay?" He asked.

"Yes," Katalina said.

"Yes, I'm fine."

"Just take it easy out there tonight, all right? You got 15 minutes till showtime. We're gonna figure this out tomorrow."

"All right," Ahkmenrah said. Larry left Ahkmenrah and Katalina alone to go and make sure everyone else was getting ready.

"Look at that! Doggone it! Did you see that? They're trying to catch the light." Jedediah yelled laughing at the computer screen as cats were chasing a light. "I know. But you can't do it, boys! You can't catch light! It's as elusive as human happiness!"

"I should like to comment. Summon the apparatus." Octavius comanded.

"Yeah."

"Summon the apparatus!" One of his men yelled to the others.