It was a peaceful afternoon in the countryside. The golden sun hung lazily in the sky, casting warm rays over the small farm where CUTIS lived with his animal friends. Baby monkey, the mischievous yet lovable companion, was playing happily under the mango tree, swinging from low branches, giggling with joy, while CUTIS watered his vegetable garden nearby.
Everything seemed normal—until it wasn’t.
From the distance, a strange sound echoed through the air. It was faint at first, like a buzzing hum. But it grew louder. CUTIS stopped watering and listened closely. His brow furrowed.
Vroooom… VROOOM!
It was the sound of an engine, revving aggressively, and it was coming fast. Dust flew into the sky beyond the hill. Baby monkey paused his play, ears twitching. Something was wrong
Suddenly, from around the bend, a car came screeching into view—completely out of control! It was an old, rusted pickup truck, moving wildly without a driver, swerving left and right. Its wheels kicked up clouds of dirt as it barreled down the narrow path leading straight to the farm.
“Baby monkey! RUN!” CUTIS shouted, throwing his watering can aside and sprinting toward his little friend.
The monkey froze for a moment, eyes wide with terror. Then instinct kicked in, and he scampered toward the garden, but the car was gaining fast. CUTIS jumped over the fence, reached out his arms, and snatched Baby monkey just as the truck roared past—missing them by inches!
The car didn’t stop. It kept going, crashing through CUTIS’s tool shed with a violent CRASH! sending wooden planks and tools flying through the air. A shovel spun like a helicopter blade and landed feet away from them. The chickens clucked in panic, running in circles. The goats bleated and darted for safety behind the barn.
“What on earth is going on?!” CUTIS gasped, holding Baby monkey close. He could feel the poor thing’s heart pounding fast, his tiny arms clutching CUTIS’s shirt tightly.
The car looped around the field, making a wide, erratic circle. It was coming back. Worse yet, it seemed to be heading directly toward them again—as if it was targeting them.
“This is no accident,” CUTIS muttered, scanning the area quickly. “It’s like… it’s alive!”
He ducked into the barn with Baby monkey and slammed the doors shut, breathing heavily. They peeked through the slats. The truck rolled by, this time slower, like it was searching.
Inside the barn, CUTIS pulled out his old walkie-talkie and tried to radio the village mechanic, Mr. Khem.
“Mr. Khem, emergency! There’s a runaway truck on my farm—no driver, completely out of control!”
A crackling voice replied, “Stay inside! I saw that truck earlier. It was stolen from my garage! It must’ve malfunctioned… or someone remote-triggered it! I’m coming with my tools!”
CUTIS hung up and turned to Baby monkey. “We’ve got to keep moving. This thing might come back and hit the barn next.”
Sure enough, the sound of the engine grew louder again. VROOOM!
With no time to lose, CUTIS opened the back door and ran with Baby monkey through the tall grass toward the banana grove, hoping the trees would block the car’s path. Behind them, the barn doors burst open as the truck rammed through, smashing wooden beams to splinters. It was like something out of a nightmare.
The two hid among the thick banana trunks. The truck couldn’t follow them there, but it circled around the grove like a predator waiting for prey. It honked, engine sputtering, headlights flashing randomly—even though it was daytime.
“What does it want?” CUTIS whispered.
Baby monkey squeaked and pointed to the truck bed. CUTIS squinted. There was something back there. Was that…a box? A strange, humming box?
That’s when it hit him.
“That’s a control module!” CUTIS exclaimed. “This car’s not wild—it’s being remote-controlled!”
They had to stop it before it destroyed everything.
Just then, a voice called out from a distance. “CUTIS!”
It was Mr. Khem, riding fast on his motorbike with a big toolbox strapped to the back. He skidded to a stop just behind the mango tree.
“Quick!” CUTIS waved.
But the car saw Mr. Khem too—and made a beeline for him.
“No!” CUTIS shouted.
With lightning reflexes, Mr. Khem jumped off the bike, rolled on the ground, and dodged the vehicle. The truck crashed into the tree and got stuck momentarily. That was their chance!
CUTIS and Mr. Khem ran to the back of the truck, Baby monkey riding on CUTIS’s shoulders. Mr. Khem pulled out a large wrench and began smashing at the control module while CUTIS held the tailgate open.
“Hit it harder!” CUTIS yelled.
Baby monkey, ever brave, grabbed a fallen coconut and tossed it onto the control box. CRACK! Sparks flew.
Suddenly, the truck’s engine sputtered and died. The lights dimmed. It rolled back a few feet and stopped. Silence returned.
Everyone stood frozen for a moment, processing what just happened.
CUTIS hugged Baby monkey tightly. “You were so brave,” he whispered.
Mr. Khem caught his breath. “Whoever rigged this truck is going to be in big trouble. But at least no one got hurt.”
“Well, the tool shed didn’t survive,” CUTIS chuckled weakly.
“Tools can be replaced,” said Mr. Khem. “Lives can’t.”
They all sat under the mango tree, the air finally calm again. CUTIS offered Baby monkey a banana as a reward. The little one munched happily, no longer scared. The sun began to set, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink.
But one mystery remained—who had done this?
CUTIS looked at the broken control module. Inside was a small sticker… a logo he didn’t recognize. It looked like a stylized mask.
“This isn’t over,” CUTIS muttered.
Baby monkey leaned against him, yawning, unaware of the dark secret still lurking.
Tomorrow would bring answers. But for tonight, they had survived the terrifying chase. And that was enough.
