reluctant, until the large beast of a spider burst through the foliage and knocked him, most impolitely into the hole. I myself slipped in after with Thunderboy at my side. However, the Mayor was overcome and could not join us.
We found ourselves in a huge underwater corridor with full circular windows looking out over the expanse of the ocean floor. Sea creatures peered in through the large portholes. The chasm loomed above us. The flickering shadows of a thousand spider legs scuttled across the walls of the steam vent.
" I have an idea!" cried Percy, who had often had beneficial ideas during the course of our adventures. " If we can lure those creatures further down, and then release the steam all at once, it may cook those terrible arachnids!"
Thunderboy said, " I will lure them down if you can make the machine work!"
" I have studied these types of ships most diligently during our vacation, as I am most wary of the consistent crashing of every vehicle in which we travel, and I did not want to be caught unawares in yet another instance. In theory, I can..."
" Just go!" cried Thunderboy. And he began to taunt the spiders above, making a display that he thought most suitable to encourage the insect ' s appetites.
Percy and I ran to the pilot ' s station where the automaton First Mate stood at the helm. Its head turned to us and said, " The lowers decks are currently closed to guests and will be open for visitation from eleven o ' clock to noon."
We told the First Mate that giant spiders were attacking the ship, and Percy mentioned his plan, and we were most cordially assured that the problem would be dealt with. Whereupon the First Mate moved down the corridor to an intercom station, picked up the little trumpet,
and its voice rang out through the lower decks, " Will all giant arachnids please report to exhaust vent 3-B for immediate extermination. Your cooperation is much appreciated."
The First Mate then moved to a wall and started turning valves. Percy and I began to help, when indicated. However, I found my valve most rigidly stuck, and even when Percy came to help it remained obdurate. " Can you help us turn this valve?" Percy asked.
" Thank you for asking," replied the First Mate. " Yes, as a licensed Monster Hunting Tour automaton, I am equipped with functional hands which can grasp objects and—"
A giant spider reached in from the top of the doorway, shooting a sticky web over the poor robot. The First Mate spoke " For your safety, please refrain from approaching the wild spiders. The wild spiders may look tame but can be wild, unpredictable and dangerous. Thank you for your cooperation."
With that, the spider pulled the robot into the steam vent! Percy and I leaned with all of our might on the valve, and it released! We fell to the ground just in time to see Thunderboy being overcome by hundreds of spiders. Six great spider limbs wrapped around Percy and dragged him into the vent. The little beasts began to reach for me, and ignoring their waving arms, I reached out my hand to grab ahold of him, but it was too late! The steam released in such a violent manner, that all the spiders and the boys themselves were thrust outward, as a cannonball from a canon, and straight up into the sky!
Fearing the worst, I made my way back to the surface via a tiny, cramped ladder. I used my parasol to ward off a few minor spiderlings, but the automatons were out in full force beating off the remaining menace. It seems the majority of the spiders had been in the vent, and they rained