Erin Stimmler, Week Five

The Abduction
-Erin Stimmler
"Have you heard from Larry yet today" Bob tilted his head and took a swig of the cool liquid.
"Nah... He was still asleep this morning before the rain, I didn’t want to wake him after what he’s been through yah know?" Ed dug into the crisp lettuce before turning towards Bob for his response. The two were sitting near the entrance and could see the bright sun from the doorway. The rain that morning had lasted only a few minutes, no longer than usual, and then came the sunshine just like always.
"So were you there when it happened? I was on the other side of the yard and heard the noise, and I ducked under the rocks there!" Bob’s questions continued on as Ed finished up his mid morning meal.
"Yeah I was right there, I saw the whole thing and let me tell you," Ed gestured quickly, slapping the granite for emphasis, "There wasn’t even enough time to react before it got him. There was a shadow that crossed over our heads and before you knew it..."
"Shut up! Here he comes" Bob barked at Ed, Larry was crossing the sunny sand entrance to their favorite eatery when Ed abruptly stopped telling the story. There was nothing unusual about Larry’s appearance that they could see. He walked with the same slow swagger, his belly shifting slightly from side to side.
"Hey guys, you didn’t wake me up, what’s that about?" Larry looked accusingly from Ed to Bob, "Is there something you guys were talking about that you wanted to let me in on, or are we keeping secrets now?"
There was something different about Larry, but the two just couldn’t put their fingers on it. He looked no different, and he spoke just the same as before. There was something though, they just didn’t want to ask him, and it was obvious from his attitude that he wasn’t volunteering either. They all lived in pretty close proximity, so it was not unusual that they spent most meal times with each other, especially since there was such easy food access at the granite bowl.
"Nah dude we were just worried about you since you didn’t show up yesterday for dinner. And then you were still asleep this morning so I didn’t want to wake you." Ed quickly glanced over to Larry, who now stood fully in the entrance, then back down at the lettuce in front of him.
"Why wouldn’t I be fine," Larry shrugged a little and continued forward to where the guys were sitting.
"Well you know... after what happened we just thought that," Bob shifted nervously where he sat, "after what happened there might be something wrong, that’s all."
"There is nothing wrong." He turned sharply and left them again only going far enough to find a warm spot to stretch out in the sand.
In a hushed voice Ed continued the story of what happened, " So anyway there was this shadow and the noise, obviously you heard that, and then this giant thing. It looked like a claw you know, but sand colored and before I could even get away it had Larry and was pulling him up towards the sky. I couldn’t do a thing, he was gone, and I ran under the palms."
Without warning Larry was dashing past them into the shadows.
"Run guys!!!" Ed and Bob were quickly following behind him. There was a great shrieking noise from the sky, and all three cowered beneath a leafy bush, and again there was that noise like none they recognized. Louder still was that of a great, strong voice.
"Hey Randy, come over here and check out my lizards," It boomed from the sky and shadows were cast all about. Larry, Bob, and Ed were certain that death was soon to come.