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Description
Still shaking his head and smiling at the tender scene he’d left behind near Portorosso, Kaa entered the next gate on his list and found himself atop a tall building. Lavishly adorned with furnishings and plush comforts, the beautiful setting seemed to be a part of an expensive apartment. Above, the blue sky was nearly filled with the sight of a massive Zeppelin airship creeping ever closer.

Kaa looked around, unsure. “Thisss ssshould be the right place,” he said. His eyes were fixed for a moment on the Zeppelin, whose massive form seemed on course for a near collision with the building.

As he examined the scene, Kaa heard the sound of a roaring engine in the distance. It was different from the constant low rumble of the Zeppelin’s motor, and it grew louder with every passing moment. A flash of flickering flame caught his eye, the approach of some sort of rocket. Kaa watched the moving object more closely and saw that there was a man attached to the rocket… In fact, there appeared to be two men, with one holding onto the other. A struggle seemed to be underway between them. Kaa had to duck down as the rapidly speeding duo raced past before looping back and coming to rest hard on top of the building beside the python. Both men clattered into heaps and struggled to stand.

One of the men was attached to the rocket, which was fashioned into a flying backpack of sorts. He sported a metal helmet and brown leather jacket. The other, who was mustached, wore most of a formal tuxedo, though the jacket was nowhere to be found. The second man staggered to his feet first. Between heaving breaths, he yelled, “Give… me the… rocket, Secord!”

Kaa watched cautiously while the other figure rose, staggering. “Not a chance, Sinclair. I don’t give in to Nazis.”

Kaa cocked his head while they argued, but flinched as the helmeted Secord lunged forward and punched the unprepared Sinclair in the face, knocking him back a few steps. The rumbling of the Zeppelin’s engines was growing incredibly loud now, and Kaa was not sure how he’d even made out the words.

Sinclair spit blood from his mouth. “Damned Rocketeer!” he said, struggling to rise again and failing. He seemed to have lost consciousness for the moment.

Kaa saw this as the perfect moment, and used the overpowering sound of the engine to mask his approach as he slithered up behind the Rocketeer and his enemy. With no effort, he was able to lift himself and slide along the rocket pack before the helmeted Cliff Secord even knew he was there.

“What in the flyin’-“ Secord said in sudden alarm as Kaa began to wrap himself around in front of the young man.

“Ssso impresssive, Rocketeer! Cliff Sssecord, the flying hero,” Kaa hissed, hypnotically, looking into the eyes of the helmet. Cliff’s arms were fighting to pull the large python off of him, but his gaze was fixed on Kaa’s. Kaa giggled and held his unseen eyes in his hypnotic stare. Behind Kaa, Neville Sinclair stirred slightly, moaning. Kaa turned back to the drowsy Nazi spy with an idea brewing in his devious mind.

***

A few minutes later, Kaa felt the air whipping across his face as the Rocketeer and Neville Sinclair carried the powerful python through the air on the rocket pack. High above Los Angeles, Kaa could see the city beneath, with the massive Zeppelin now a tiny shape over the buildings. Kaa laughed in delight as his conquests carried him into the clouds and down again, all the way back to the rooftop, where they followed him compliantly through the gateway.

Next: The Sleepiest Place on Earth

Description
Still shaking his head and smiling at the tender scene he’d left behind near Portorosso, Kaa entered the next gate on his list and found himself atop a tall building. Lavishly adorned with furnishings and plush comforts, the beautiful setting seemed to be a part of an expensive apartment. Above, the blue sky was nearly filled with the sight of a massive Zeppelin airship creeping ever closer.

Kaa looked around, unsure. “Thisss ssshould be the right place,” he said. His eyes were fixed for a moment on the Zeppelin, whose massive form seemed on course for a near collision with the building.

As he examined the scene, Kaa heard the sound of a roaring engine in the distance. It was different from the constant low rumble of the Zeppelin’s motor, and it grew louder with every passing moment. A flash of flickering flame caught his eye, the approach of some sort of rocket. Kaa watched the moving object more closely and saw that there was a man attached to the rocket… In fact, there appeared to be two men, with one holding onto the other. A struggle seemed to be underway between them. Kaa had to duck down as the rapidly speeding duo raced past before looping back and coming to rest hard on top of the building beside the python. Both men clattered into heaps and struggled to stand.

One of the men was attached to the rocket, which was fashioned into a flying backpack of sorts. He sported a metal helmet and brown leather jacket. The other, who was mustached, wore most of a formal tuxedo, though the jacket was nowhere to be found. The second man staggered to his feet first. Between heaving breaths, he yelled, “Give… me the… rocket, Secord!”

Kaa watched cautiously while the other figure rose, staggering. “Not a chance, Sinclair. I don’t give in to Nazis.”

Kaa cocked his head while they argued, but flinched as the helmeted Secord lunged forward and punched the unprepared Sinclair in the face, knocking him back a few steps. The rumbling of the Zeppelin’s engines was growing incredibly loud now, and Kaa was not sure how he’d even made out the words.

Sinclair spit blood from his mouth. “Damned Rocketeer!” he said, struggling to rise again and failing. He seemed to have lost consciousness for the moment.

Kaa saw this as the perfect moment, and used the overpowering sound of the engine to mask his approach as he slithered up behind the Rocketeer and his enemy. With no effort, he was able to lift himself and slide along the rocket pack before the helmeted Cliff Secord even knew he was there.

“What in the flyin’-“ Secord said in sudden alarm as Kaa began to wrap himself around in front of the young man.

“Ssso impresssive, Rocketeer! Cliff Sssecord, the flying hero,” Kaa hissed, hypnotically, looking into the eyes of the helmet. Cliff’s arms were fighting to pull the large python off of him, but his gaze was fixed on Kaa’s. Kaa giggled and held his unseen eyes in his hypnotic stare. Behind Kaa, Neville Sinclair stirred slightly, moaning. Kaa turned back to the drowsy Nazi spy with an idea brewing in his devious mind.

***

A few minutes later, Kaa felt the air whipping across his face as the Rocketeer and Neville Sinclair carried the powerful python through the air on the rocket pack. High above Los Angeles, Kaa could see the city beneath, with the massive Zeppelin now a tiny shape over the buildings. Kaa laughed in delight as his conquests carried him into the clouds and down again, all the way back to the rooftop, where they followed him compliantly through the gateway.

Next: The Sleepiest Place on Earth