Team foodies, with the assistance of Octavius Spiro, had made considerable progress towards the first point on their map.
‘I’m hungry. When do we eat?’ asked Hamlet through the mind voice on her head.
‘I’ll give you a pineapple, friend,’ said Scott as he rubbed the back of Hamlet’s neck.
‘I think Walter reserved the final four pineapples for tonight,’ replied RJ, sounding slightly nervous.
‘He’s sleeping,’ said Scott as he looked over at Walter, who was lying on his back in a pile of hay next to Rico. ‘I don’t think he can count that high, friend.’
‘I’ll look away,’ said RJ. ‘I’ll claim ignorance or plausible deniability.’
Scott quietly grabbed one of the pineapples next to Walter. He then tossed it into Hamlet’s mouth. Hamlet gobbled it up within a few seconds.
The vehicle pulling the carts came to a sudden stop. Walter sat up abruptly.
‘I had a terrible nightmare,’ blurted out Walter.
‘Oh dear,’ said RJ. ‘Did it involve death and destruction?’
‘Worse than that,’ said Walter angrily as he looked at Scott and Hamlet. ‘It involved the deepest kind of betrayal possible.’
‘Well at least it was only a dream,’ said RJ nervously.
‘Yes… a dream,’ said Walter as he continued to stare at Scott and Hamlet.
‘We had to stop here,’ said Octavius as he approached the side of the cart while riding Ducky. ‘We’ve come across an amazing Sapiod village.’
‘That does sound amazing,’ replied RJ excitedly.
‘I’m not jumping to any conclusions until I see it for myself,’ said Walter as he slowly climbed down from the cart while still glaring angrily at Scott and Hamlet.
The team walked to the front of their convoy of vehicles. There they could see a small village consisting of around half a dozen small teepee-style wooden huts. Next to the wooden huts was a variety of farming equipment, which appeared to be still in use. At the centre of the huts were several Sapiods sitting around a small fire. Two of them were roasting cobs of corn on sticks.
‘This is terrible!’ exclaimed Walter, waving his arms in the air. ‘Downs Region is a million times better.’
‘Sapiods have never built their own settlements before,’ said Octavius. ‘They lived rough on the land. With greater freedom, they are now forming their own communities. They have also decided through their own free will to continue managing and keeping the land fertile for us. We should be grateful.’
‘They’re such great team players,’ remarked Scott.
‘You should be more impressed with Sapiod X, who can drive while lying down,’ said Walter as he looked at the other vehicle where Sapiod X was lying prone in the back. He had both of his arms stretched over the fully reclined driver’s seat so that he could hold the steering wheel with one hand and push the pedals with the other hand.
Octavius sighed and then opened the back of the vehicle to pull Sapiod X out. Fluffy Lily jumped out with him.
‘It would be nice to make new friends on our travels,’ said Alex, who had now joined Walter and RJ. ‘Maybe they’ll let us stay awhile.’
‘I could do with a nice warm shower,’ remarked Walter.
‘I don’t think they have that,’ replied RJ.
‘Just terrible!’ remarked Walter, shaking his head. ‘I have the right to make a formal complaint.’
‘Let’s just be friendly,’ said Octavius as he walked past Walter while carrying Sapiod X under his arm.
The Sapiods around the fire stood up and began waving to the team. Alex, Scott, and RJ waved back. Walter crossed his arms and shook his head. Sapiod X leapt out of Octavius’ arms, danced over to them, and began to hug each one of them.
A few minutes later, they had all sat down by the fire. The Sapiods had offered the team some of the cobs of corn they had cooked.
‘The key to the perfectly roasted corn-on-the-cob is to turn it every five minutes rather than just burning one side and leaving the other raw,’ remarked RJ as he bit into his corn.
‘Oh here we go!’ said Walter angrily. ‘Mister “Super Blogger” is now a corn roasting expert. Let me guess you’ve written a blog about it.’
‘Funny you should say that,’ replied RJ enthusiastically. ‘I recently wrote a blog about cornbread. When adding baking soda, think teaspoon and not tablespoon.’
‘Damn it!’ shouted Walter. ‘You’re a real son of a…’
‘You’re doing a great job,’ interrupted Octavius. ‘I like your food.’
‘You’re most kind, friends,’ added Alex.
The Sapiods stood up and gathered as a group on the other side of the fire. They started some kind of dance.
‘Oh goody!’ said Scott excitedly. ‘They’re putting on a show for us.’
‘I think they want to tell us their story,’ said Octavius. ‘This should be good.’
The Sapiods walked around, looking at each other and shrugging their shoulders. One Sapiod grabbed a large bucket of water and tossed it over another Sapiod. The other Sapiod screeched and jumped up and down. He then grabbed some wooden boards they had. The Sapiod tossed another bucket of water at him. The other Sapiod effectively blocked the water with his wooden boards.
The Sapiod who had tossed the water grabbed a piece of uncooked corn. He held it up to his face. Then he stuck his tongue out and made gagging sounds. Two Sapiods came over to him. They were holding burning sticks. They began to wave them above their heads. After a few minutes, the Sapiods tossed the sticks onto the fire. The Sapiod grabbed a cooked piece of corn and began to make sounds of delight.
All the Sapiods held hands and began to dance in a circle. After one round, they bowed.
‘Hurray!’ cheered Alex. ‘Well done, friends.’
‘You haven’t a clue what they were doing, do you?’ asked Walter as he turned to look at Alex.
‘It was a friendship dance,’ said Alex as he clapped his hands.
‘They told their story of why they built houses and cook their food,’ said Hamlet through the mind voice on her head.
Sapiods responded by nodding their heads emphatically.
‘How about we tell our stories now?’ suggested RJ. ‘I’ll go first.’
‘Argh!’ shouted Walter. ‘You wrote a blog. Everyone died. You hid in a fridge-freezer. You were mistakenly rescued. End of story.’
‘Okay then, why don’t tell us your story?’ said RJ angrily as he turned to Walter.
Everyone looked at Walter.
‘Sure, there’s not much to it really,’ sighed Walter. ‘I have lived in Downs for thirty-seven years. That makes me one of the most senior residents.’
‘Yes, well done, friend,’ said Alex as he held both his thumbs up.
Hamlet onked in approval.
‘As a baby, my parents put me in a basket and tossed me out the train door when it reached the Downs Region,’ continued Walter. ‘I guess they didn’t want me for some reason.’
Everyone became quiet.
‘A nice couple took me in and raised me as their own,’ said Walter. ‘They died four years later of heart attacks. Another family took me, and they also died of heart attacks ten years later.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that, friend,’ said Alex as he rubbed Walter’s back.
‘My heart isn’t that great either,’ added Walter. ‘It’s a bit like a Swiss cheese.’
‘Is it yellow?’ asked Alex.
‘No!’ sighed Walter. ‘It has holes in it.’
Rico walked over to Walter and rubbed his nose on him.
‘Poor health aside, I was pretty happy,’ continued Walter. ‘I had a passion for food. I liked baking cakes and other nice treats. Leaw Food Company gave me a job.’
‘I used to work for Leaw as well,’ interrupted RJ. ‘My cakes were so tasty that I was making everyone extremely fat.’
‘You’re the Black Death of the culinary world,’ replied Walter as he raised his eyebrows.
‘That’s a little morbid,’ said RJ, shaking his head.
‘Anyway,’ continued Walter. ‘I became Downs’ top baker. The residents liked my no-frills offerings.’
‘I remember there was a slogan,’ added Alex. ‘It was "It's not what it looks like on the outside but what it tastes like on the inside”. Am I right?’
‘That’s right,’ replied Walter. ‘Sadly, that didn’t last.’
‘What happened?’ asked Alex excitedly.
‘Julie showed up!’ said Walter in an annoyed tone. ‘Then there was an apocalypse.’
‘Julie makes such great cakes,’ said Scott excitedly.
‘Julie makes the best cakes, yeah, yeah,’ continued Walter. ‘Old Walter’s cakes don’t look nice, and the flavours are bland. I was first. Doesn’t that mean anything to you, ungrateful twats?’
‘Maybe you can work with Julie,’ said Alex. ‘You might make a great team.’
‘You all might think she’s great, but there’s something wrong,’ said Walter, shaking his head. ‘It’s her eyes. I don’t see the Downs in them.’
‘Oh, that’s a harsh thing to say, friend,’ said Alex, sounding surprised.
‘Maybe there’s a bit of green in your eyes,’ remarked RJ.
‘They’ll be a bit of red on your nose after I hit you,’ said Walter angrily to RJ.
‘Calm down, all,’ chuckled Octavius.
Walter stared at RJ while tapping his right fist with his left index finger.
‘Thank you for your heart-warming story, Walter,’ said Octavius.
The Sapiods clapped excitedly.
‘Please tell us your story, friend,’ requested Alex.
The others turned to look at Octavius.
‘I’m a private type of guy,’ replied Octavius.
They all continued to stare at him.
‘Okay fine,’ sighed Octavius. ‘Just a little about myself.’
The others applauded him.
‘I was born into the wealthy Spiro family,’ said Octavius. ‘My parents wanted me to be a mad scientist.’
‘That’s a great career path, friend,’ said Alex, nodding enthusiastically.
‘I was good at science, physics in particular,’ said Octavius. ‘I liked inventing things. I invented the Spirocopter and the RollerSphere.’
‘Downs Region doesn’t have a RollerSphere,’ said Walter angrily. ‘What’s the deal with that?’
‘The Government didn’t think it was necessary for agricultural regions to have one,’ replied Octavius.
‘What a bunch of losers,’ said Walter, shaking his head.
‘I started my own companies,’ continued Octavius. ‘My favourite was the hotel complex in the Lake Region. The whole place was connected by rollercoasters and waterslides.’
‘I never heard of this place, friend,’ said Scott.
‘It was quite exclusive,’ said Octavius. ‘You need a pile of holiday tokens before you’re sent even a brochure.’
‘I don’t think we had holiday tokens in Downs,’ said Alex, scratching his head.
‘Of course,’ said Walter. ‘They never wanted us going to other regions.’
‘I’m really sorry about that,’ said Octavius.
‘Sounds like you’re giving us your resume,’ said RJ. ‘Tells us about the real you?’
‘Yes, okay,’ sighed Octavius. ‘Growing up, I had two really close friends. August Rezif and Maskameera Wolf. We would spend almost every day together. We loved adventure. Well, me in particular. We would go rock climbing, hiking, and even hang-gliding. We camped a few times in the East Mountains. We would sing songs. Maskameera would dance around the fire. She was so happy then.’
‘Let me guess,’ remarked Walter. ‘Something terrible happened.’
‘Not exactly,’ said Octavius. ‘I didn’t realise how much hate she had inside her. I didn’t realise how power-hungry he was.’
‘You couldn’t ditch them because they were your friends?’ asked RJ.
‘That’s what it was like at the beginning,’ replied Octavius. ‘I knew they were deeply flawed, but I really cared about them. Then I made the worst decision of my life.’
They all looked at him with perplexed expressions on their faces.
‘I became this,’ said Octavius as he gestured towards his body.
‘You lost me on that, friend,’ said Alex.
‘I look like a twelve-foot-tall lizard creature,’ said Octavius.
‘Wow!’ replied Walter. ‘I thought you were just heavy-set.’
‘Thanks,’ said Octavius. ‘Almost nobody else thinks that way. When I lost my ability to shapeshift to a regular size. I became a recluse. August and Maskameera were the only two I knew who would accept me for what I looked like now.’
‘That makes me so furious,’ said Walter angrily. ‘Discrimination based on a slight difference in appearance. Downs residents would never do that.’
‘I’m only realising that now,’ said Octavius, nodding slightly. ‘Thank you for being so accepting.’
Walter got up, walked over and gave Octavius a hug. The others got up and did the same. Even the Sapiods joined in.
‘This means so much to me,’ said Octavius as a tear rolled down his cheek.
‘You’re part of our family, friend,’ said Alex as he continued to hug Octavius’ arm.
That night, team foodies returned to their vehicles to sleep. Hamlet decided on a late root before sleep.
Julie had landed her flying vehicle a short distance away. She sneaked through the trees and then approached Hamlet. ‘Hey, Hammy,’ said Julie in a soft voice. ‘I’ve missed you so much.’
Hamlet onked gently and nestled her nose into Julie’s chest.
‘You’re so beautiful, Hammy,’ said Julie as she kissed Hamlet’s cheek. ‘I have a little something for you.’
Around five minutes later, Maskameera, who had shapeshifted from Julie into an enforcer, approached the parked vehicles.
‘Enforcer here!’ shouted Maskameera. ‘Everyone out, now.’
Team foodies slowly climbed out of their vehicles. Octavius, Ducky, and even the Sapiods walked over to Maskameera.
‘Is this the annual misfits’ conference?’ scoffed Maskameera as she scanned the group with her eyes.
‘No, friend,’ said Alex in a chirpy tone. ‘Eugene’s giving out tickets next month.’
‘What do you want?’ demanded Octavius in an angry tone as he walked to the front of the group.
‘I have an arrest warrant for Walter,’ said Maskameera as she looked up at Octavius.
‘Sorry, I’ve never heard of him,’ replied Octavius.
Alex was about to speak, but Scott quickly covered his mouth.
‘Fine, we’ll do it the hard way,’ sighed Maskameera. ‘Hand over Walter or Hamlet dies.’
Hamlet staggered over to them. She was making choking sounds.
‘What the hell have you done to our friend, arsehole!’ shouted Walter.
‘I gave her a poisoned muffin,’ shouted Maskameera. ‘Hand yourself over and I’ll give her the antidote, arsehole!’
‘Give her the antidote or I’ll bite your head off,’ shouted Octavius as rage grew in his eyes.
Maskameera became invisible.
‘Oh shit!’ said Walter as he rushed towards where Maskameera was standing. ‘I’ll go with you. Just save Hamlet, please.’
Maskameera reappeared. ‘That’s better,’ said Maskameera as a big smile came over her face. ‘Violence will get you nowhere, fatty.’
Maskameera tossed Walter over her shoulder.
‘Antidote, now!’ shouted Octavius.
'Sorry, I lied,’ giggled Maskameera. ‘You lose your stinky friend and get to watch your Downs “Hero” die in the same day.’
‘Grab that tubing from the blue vehicle,’ commanded Octavius. He turned to the Sapiods. ‘Bring me your buckets of water now!’
Scott and RJ ran to get the tubing, and the Sapiods ran over with several buckets of water. Maskameera turned around and skipped away. Walter screamed out expletive remarks.
Octavius shoved the tubing down Hamlet’s throat. ‘I’m going to fill her with water, and then I’m going to suck it all out of her,’ said Octavius in a desperate tone.
A Sapiod gently poured the water into the tubing. Alex and Scott put their arms around Hamlet and hugged her as she desperately gasped for air.
‘Another bucket,’ said Octavius as he looked at a Sapiod. ‘We need to loosen whatever’s inside her.’
The Sapiod poured another whole bucket down the tubing. Hamlet’s body began to spasm.
‘Great, well done!’ said Octavius. Then he placed his huge lips around the tubing and began to suck as hard as he could.
Octavius pulled his mouth away from the tubing and spat out several litres of a foamy liquid. Then he sucked on the tubing again. He repeated this half a dozen times and then flopped down next to Hamlet in exhaustion.
Hamlet’s breathing had slowed, but she was unable to move.
‘Is she going to be okay?’ asked RJ as a tear rolled down his cheek.
‘She needs to rest,’ gasped Octavius. ‘I sucked out as much as possible. It all depends on how much her body has absorbed. Octavius leaned to one side and began to vomit.
Meanwhile, Maskameera had returned to her flying vehicle. She had gagged and tied Walter up and had placed him on the back seat.
‘You know what?’ said Maskameera as she turned to look at Walter. ‘I forgot to take a photograph of their precious faces when they realised fatty Hammy was going to die.’
Walter stared angrily at Maskameera. His eyes were red and bloodshot.
‘Oh my gosh!’ said Maskameera as she pulled out her phone. ‘I think you hate me. I didn’t think you, trisomy types, were capable. I guess another great milestone.’
As the flying vehicle slowly ascended, Maskameera took several close-up photographs of Walter’s face. Then she turned around and began to sing joyfully as they headed west.
Sapien Loop: Worlds Collide is the final book in the Sapien Loop trilogy. It continues directly after the events of the second book. The world above and the world below merge into one world. The conflicts in the underground world are brought to the surface. The new ruling elite attempt to crush any resistance from above and below in an attempt to create a new global empire.
Currently, three books from the series have been published on Amazon; see the links below:
All individual chapters can be found on my 
