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The cauldron rolled slowly at first, gradually picking up speed. Soon, it was moving down the island's hilly paths faster than any of the natives could run to catch it.
"This was a great idea!" Jane shouted, trying not to think what the motion would do in the dizziness department later. The path to the shore lay straight ahead of them. Only a single fork, coming rapidly ahead, seemed to stand in their way. A signpost proclaimed "Left: Shore, Right: Scenic Trails".
"Lean left!" one of the ninjas yelled, as the cauldron headed for the cliff gap between the two paths. The people leaned— but this only sent the cauldron turning to the right, away from the promised path. "Lean right!" someone else yelled on seeing this... but the new lean only sent the cauldron skidding even more to the right.
Into the trail network.
Seeing where the cauldron had gone, the natives started to cheer. They knew this ground. Several of them scuttled off to various routes, hoping to catch the escapees.
Meanwhile, the cauldron was picking up speed. The trails were steep, plunging as they crossed great gaps, only to go over and under other trails as they forked and recombined in confusing switchbacks. By now, the signs were whizzing by too fast. It was all the riders could do to keep their improvised steed on course.
Just then, a native jumped out of the brush ahead of them. "Ahhhhhhh ha! Wwwwwwe now have you— AAAUGH!"
As he realized the caudron wasn't going to stop, the native turned and ran, as the giant rolling ball advanced with intent to bowl over. He didn't stop to look back, neatly tripping a few of the tourist traps lining the trail as the pirates advanced on him. As a new fork appeared, the native pulled out a whip, latching onto a branch and sending himself swinging out of danger.
The intersections were coming faster now, and the abundance of hills (with EasyClimb™ stairways) meant the ball rolled at a speed so fast that it was impossible to be sick. The paths switched between packed forest trails to smooth gravel overlooks to stone native roadways with abandon, the cauldron shooting sparks at carved idols as it passed. Only the frantic leaning of its passengers kept the pot on course. Soon, the paths began going downwards more often, as the trees thinned out.
Then, the pot and its passengers collided with a large, flat board, which abruptly flipped up, sending them flying.
"Iiiiiiiiit's time for a nice gaaaaaame of Escape The Island Pinball!" called one of the natives, who was watching from something resembling a lifeguard's chair. Another native manipulated a control board which sent the flippers (for that's what they were) flying. The would-be escapees bounced off a number of extraordinarily springy wood pillars, before knocking against the side of the arena (stone), and falling back towards the flippers waiting below. The announcer didn't help any.
"Iiiit's Deadly Danger mode! Can our escapees squish 5 giant razor-toothed beetles before the time runs out?"
As the cauldron passed over the thick beetle hides, the smaller ninja groaned, "...never... coming... back..."
"Avoid the Sand Vortex!"
The pirates leaned with all their might. Fortunately, the native on the flippers was a good shot, and routinely sent them hurtling away.
"Can you survive.... the GAUNTLET?"
The ball passed through the last dart-shooter gate with much cursing and swearing on the part of the cauldron riders.
"Aaand nowwwww for the finaaaaal chhhhhhallennnnnnge!"
The 'ball' hit the Tsunami bumpers, was sent flying down to the gap, where the natives waited, was narrowly juggled on the flippers by the native at the controls, then with one strong, pure flip, was sent back up another chute, leading to a stone path—
"That'sssss aaaaammmmmmaaaaazing! The super-ultra-hard Volcano Escape Shot!! EXTRA BALL!"
The cauldron, meanwhile, was traveling up a spiraling stone path, one without side trails or forks. The EasyClimb™ system's power had been doubled, sending the pirates flying up the path, which leveled out, until it led to a ramp, which was aimed...
...straight at the volcano.
TIme seemed to slow of a brief second while the cauldron was upright, giving the passengers time to gaze upon their impending doom. Everyone did a single take.
Noticing the ramp at the end, Jane did some very quick calculations. Then, she yelled, "We'll be upside down at the ramp. Everyone get ready to push!"
The ramp was almost upon them. True to Jane's word, the Cauldron had almost turned upside down. Jane yelled, as the cauldron zoomed up the ramp, "Aaaaand.... now..... PUSH!!!!!"
With one arc, the cauldron flew up, up.... and over the great crater of the volcano, landing just on the other side and continuing to roll. Now, the path led downwards, twisting and turning around all the vistas of the island as (through bridges, tunnels, and the occasional crossroads) the new road led over, under, and around paths the escapees had traveled before. Signs flashed by, with their ink actually shifting to the red. By the second go-round, the end was in sight. The path led them onward, over a rope bridge, above the 'pinball game' on an overhead ramp (several of the pirates waved as they passed by), then forwards, gradually rising as it led to the cove where the ships were moored.
The ball accelerated one final time, as it reached the cliff above the mooring points. The path led around to another viewpoint, but a lean moved it onto a side path the islanders had built, which led a short distance to the cliff point at the highest, most jutting tip of the island. Where the natives had set up a launching ramp.
With all the speed the cauldron had built up, it was impossible to stop. In a sharpened second, the makeshift escape vehicle had covered the path and was flying off the ramp, the cheers of the escapees sounding loud as the cauldron flew like a great cannonball....
....straight at the ship of Cap'n Toboz.
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Behind every great man can be found a great woman. Or the secret conspiracy bankrolling him.
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