Part 11 is here.
Goldberg wasn't used to driving at night, and the country roads weren't particularly well-lit, so the journey home was slower and more cautious than usual.
Sarah watched the forest's shadow gliding past, looked up at the dark trees as they stretched their eerie fingers into the murky sky, and thought back on the day's events. It had been frightening at times, true, but it was also the most excitement she'd ever had. Goats, she decided, must take whatever excitement they can get.
Pete wondered what to do next. Should he forget the whole ordeal, go back to being a goat and live out the remainder of his fifteen to eighteen year life expectancy wondering what could have been? Or should he continue to secretly betray his friends in the hope of a reward that may never come? It was a good question. He didn't want to be a goat for the rest of his life.
Cliffey fell asleep the moment they got in the van, and stayed that way right up until they encountered the troll from under the bridge.
Nobody saw it coming. One moment the road ahead had been clear and peaceful; the next, it was being blocked by half a tonne of repulsive, angry troll.
Goldberg had slammed on the brakes in time to avoid hitting it, but instantly decided that this was the wrong thing to do because running it over would have at least bought them some time.
But now the troll was charging at them, head down, roaring his insane roar.
The impact made a mighty WHUMP and sent the van spinning back down the track. Goldberg mashed the accelerator with under his foot in an attempt to flee, but this just caused the van to stall.
The engine sputtered pathetically, then went horribly silent.
"Damn!" cried Goldberg. "Damn damn damn!" Desperately, he wiggled the key in the ignition, trying to get going again.
WHAM! The troll once more collided with the van, nearly knocking the vehicle clear off its wheels.
The goats were terrified. The engine seemed to have given up completely. Goldberg, in a last effort to scare the thing away, honked the horn loudly.
No reaction. The troll bowed its ugly head, preparing to deal the final blow.
Goldberg and the two goats braced for impact.
Wait a minute.
Two goats?
* * *
Peikko and T'pon had been searching the forest for what felt like hours now, and they had found no clue as to where their colleague might be.
"What I don't understand," grumbled T'pon, "is why everyone voted for Jo-Tunn to be League president. He was lazy and worthless back then and he's the same way now. Except he's fatter."
Peikko cocked a warty eyebrow in bemusement. "You didn't vote for Jo-Tunn?"
"Absolutely not," T'pon retorted. "I voted for Karl."
Up went Peikko's other eyebrow. "Karl?!" he exclaimed in surprise. "You must have been the only one."
"I don't see why. I guess all the other trolls couldn't see past his stupid human name. Close-minded idiots. I should have run for the presidency myself, rather than let everyone get behind Jo-Tunn just because he's got a nice, traditonal troll name."
"But surely you'll admit that Jo-Tunn is good at keeping things organised?"
"I'll admit no such thing. We both know that you're the brains of the operaton, Peikko. Jo-Tunn's just a-"
T'pon's political ranting was cut short by an unhinged and rather trolly roar coming from the road behind them.
The two trolls looked at each other in dismay, then started running towards the noise's source.
"Karl? Was that you?!"
* * *
Goldberg looked around the van.
Cliffey was strapped in his seat, wide awake and paralysed with fear.
As was Pete.
Very slowly, Goldberg turned his gaze back to the road.
The troll was not charging at the van. Instead, his attention had turned to the small goat running in circles around him.
"Hey TROLL!" shouted Sarah, her voice quavering ever so slightly. "You want the goat who demolished your marshmallow wall? Come and GET me!"
Of course, Cliffey was the one who had devoured the marshmallow wall, but trolls are notorious for being unable to tell the difference between one goat and another, so Karl chased after Sarah as if she had stolen his soul.
"RAAAAAAAWARGH!"
Sarah was terrified, naturally. But she was quick, and her brave little diversion gave Goldberg time to get the van going again. With engine roaring and headlights on full beam, he stepped on the accelerator and sped towards the troll that was menacing his goat.
Karl may have been mad with fury, but he wasn't stupid. As soon as he noticed that dented behemoth roaring towards him, he wasted no time in getting out of its way.
Sarah kept running, just as Goldberg had hoped. He drove up alongside her as she ran, leant out of his window, reached out his arm, and...
...failed to pick her up. Oh no.
Goldberg hit the brakes and began a three-point turn to try again.
"Hurry up Goldberg!" cried Pete, leaning out of the passenger side window. "The troll's right behind her!"
Indeed he was, and Goldberg did his best to turn the van around as quickly as possible. But Goldberg was no stunt driver, and as fast as Sarah ran towards the van, Karl had no trouble catching up to her.
Sarah collapsed, exhausted and petrified. Gasping for breath, she could only screw her eyes tightly shut as the troll's ghastly stench got nearer and nearer and nearer...
TO BE CONTINUED
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