JETHRO’S ACE OF HEARTS

a thirteen-part story, EXCLUSIVE to Trapped By Monsters

story (c) Sam Enthoven / illustrations (c) David Melling, 2009. All rights reserved.

(Click here for previous slices: 1 ; 2 ; 3 ; 4 ; 5 ; 6 ; 7 ; 8 ; 9 ; 10)

-Eleventh Slice-

There was a pause.

‘It’s, ah, a little difficult to explain…’

‘Try me,’ said Jethro, firmly.

‘Hmm,’ said Mr Theophilus. ‘It’s rather hush-hush, actually. If I were to say that it’s an invention of my own, involving clockwork and compressed air, could we leave it at that? Microhydraulics. Very advanced. Very complicated. There now, I think I’ve said enough.’

‘And… how long will it last?’ asked Jethro, a grating note of desperation entering his voice.

‘Well, the main thing is to keep your air pressure steady. You’ve a valve under your right armpit: if you top yourself up whenever you feel a bit flat, then as long as you don’t tamper with the replacement heart there’s no reason why it shouldn’t last just as long as the rest of you does.’

‘But why didn’t you just kill me?‘ Jethro wailed.

‘My dear chap!’ said Mr Theophilus, astonished. ‘What a suggestion! In fact, that’s the very point where myself and your “serial killers” part company. While it’s true, to my eternal regret, that the operation has killed a number of guests of mine in the past, I assure you that was all before I perfected my system. No, dear boy, I don’t want to kill you. In fact…’

Mr Theophilus smiled his most dazzling smile.

‘I was rather hoping you might join my colleague and I for a spot of dinner.’

-Click here for final double helping: Slices Twelve and Thirteen-