Story #27: Escape to the Tomato Layer

Escape to the Tomato Layer

     It was a cold and stormy night on Sandwich #237. A salt and pepper storm had been buffeting the outer layer of white Italian bread for hours now, and it would seem to keep going on throughout the night. All citizens of Sandwich #237 were ordered to evacuate their crummy homes in order to retreat to the tomato layer. There, it would be cool and moist, but also protective from the storm raging above. Frank, a tourist visiting from his hometown of Burger #34, was unaccustomed to this type of storm. Back in his hometown, the only bad weather he received was a sesame shower every now and then, and those were more annoying then dangerous. 30 minutes ago, the evacuation broadcast had been sent out. It was now 10:30, and he was the only one that was still on the crust. It was evident that he needed to retreat to the tomato layer, but he was new to the Sandwich Cities and had no idea where to go. After all, he was still in the airport! The only hope he had would be to go to the nearest condiment stand to grab a map. There, he could find his way to the entrance of the airport and then figure out how to get to the tomato layer.

     Frank arrived at the entrance, and was amazed to see this salt and pepper storm for the first time. It was horrible, no wonder everyone was told to evacuate. A man could only last a few minutes outside before being torn apart by the harsh winds. “Guess they don’t call it a category 5 for nothing!” he thought. A low rumble, gradually increasing in volume sounded from the right, and as he walked toward the entrance doors, he could barely make out a pair of headlights. They seemed to be growing bigger and brighter, although the raging storm hardly left them any room to shine. “What kind of lunatic would be driving a car in this type of storm, and how is it even on the ground, let alone still together?” he pondered. “Never mind that, this could be my chance to get to the tomato layer before this storm tears this air port apart.” Frank grabbed his suitcase and headed out the door.
     Before he knew it, the vehicle had come to a squealing stop in front of him. Frank was outside of the airport now, but under some minor shelter of the entryway, which looked like it would not last too long. However, the important thing was not to worry about the endurance of the foundation, but whether or not he could secure a ride to the tomato layer with whoever was in this vehicle.
     The vehicle, as Frank could now see it, was some sort of mobile chunk of steel. It had small, reinforced plexiglass windows with enough room so one could at least see out of it, and the rest was basically a formation of aerodynamic layers of steel. Although the size of a regular car, this vehicle had 16 wheels of varying sizes. Whatever it was, it was definitely solid, and could probably withstand anything that was thrown at it. There were no doors, so it seemed impossible to enter or exit. “Well, I give it points for durability, but as for practicality, I’d say-” Frank was cut off mid-thought. A sound of pressure being released emanated from the center of the vehicle. Soon after that, a door-like section of the metal layering retracted like a curtain. If that wasn’t enough cool enough, fog flowed out from the door, and inside was pitch black except for some bright lights that seemed to symbolize a rave. A man came out of this opening, with a hand extended. He wore a white lab coat, black penny loafers, and long, white tube socks. A pair of goggles were hanging from his neck, and he had seemed to make due with his receding hairline. His white hair was sticking out all over the place, but his somewhat long beard seemed to be perfectly groomed. A genuinely happy smile spread across his face, and his eyes seemed to gain perception of everything around him, but not quite focus on reality. At first glance, a mad scientist. 

     Not wanting to be rude, Frank accepted this man’s greeting and went to shake his hand. As this handshake were happening, the strange man introduced himself. “Hello there, chap! Isn’t it a glorious day? Perfect for science!” A moment passed as the man released a loud, single laugh that seemed to bellow from deep inside his chest. His grip released and he continued, “Haven’t seen your face around this place before, and I know everyone! What brings you here?”
     “Well, I was ju-”
     “Nononono, let me guess! Hmm.. You are a tourist visiting here for the first time, and you are searching for the tomato layer, right?”
     “Yeah! But, how did you know?”
     “That, my boy, is a secret. Ah, I’m just kidding. That visitor sticker on your chest and map of the evacuation routes in your hand are very telling. But anyway, you should be heading to that layer right now, right?”
     “Uh, yeah. I was hoping I could hitch a ride with you.”
     “Hitch a ride? Hah, elementary my dear Watson! Just stand over here,” The man signaled to the end of his vehicle, and Frank followed. “Now, let me just punch in this code and.. whalah! You’ll be teleported there momentarily.”
     “Wait, teleported?!”
     “Yup, just keep calm, relax, and try not to scream.”
     “I.. I don’t think this is such-” Frank was cut off by the sound of something charging up. The end of the vehicle started to shake, making Frank take a step back instinctively. However, no amount of distance would matter now, as an orb of energy shot out of the exhaust pipe. It struck Frank’s shin, and then enclosed around him in a matter of seconds. There was some light, some heat, and then a loud POP, and Frank was gone. 

     And then, he was there. Frank had entered the tomato layer among a crowd of people, and just that. Nothing special was going on, nothing was being teleported, and no crazy scientists were introducing themselves. “Ahh, lovely. Just lovely,” Frank thought.