Excerpt: Down to the Uncker!

Here's another little tidbit from my upcoming book, Your Call Is Important To Us. This is a sequel to my last black comedy, Thank You For Your Cooperation

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A panel hidden in the floor under the poster of Delsin Thorch quivered, shifted, and slid aside. In the gaping hole that was revealed, a narrow and flimsy looking ladder plunged into the darkness.

“We're waiting for you at the bottom of the manhole,” Raven told him.

Barney was shocked and appalled, as any upstanding citizen in the presence of Delsin Thorch would be. “You want me to go in there?”

“Yes. And get a move on. It's a long way down.”

Barney glanced at Chops. “What about my helpbot?”

“Leave it.”

Barney hesitated. He had paid a lot of credits for Chops.

“Bots aren't welcome down here.”

From behind them back in the direction of the plaza they heard shouts. It was only a matter of minutestretches before they would be seen.

“I can't just leave him,” Barney protested.

“Why?”

Barney wasn't sure. It was more than the money. “I just can't.”

“It's not equipped to make it down the manhole.”

“Not true!” Chops announced and immediately exchanged the drillbits at the ends of his manipulators for magnetic grapplers that were perfectly capable of executing a controlled slide down the ladder. “You can ride with me, sir!”

The Com-fy Handle emitted a short but frustrated sigh. “There's no time to argue! But it's coming at its own risk, Barney. Don't say I didn't tell you.”

Chops rolled over to the manhole and firmly grasped both sides of the ladder. “Come on, boss! Climb on!”

Grudgingly, Barney obeyed. “Descend at a reasonable pace,” he instructed as he took Chops' head between his legs. “I'll let you know when I'm read –”

Chops released the magnetic stoppers.

The ceiling dropped suddenly and frighteningly away. The light dimmed and then when out as the manhole cover slid back into place.

Barney's screaming trailed them distantly as they plummeted towards whatever awaited them far, far below.