Captive! by Gary Paulsen Read Free Book Online Page B

“Those two are acting like they’re real bus drivers and trying to get cars to stop and help.”
    “Look.” Woody pointed out the window. “That delivery truck is pulling over.”
    A man dressed in a crisp white uniform stepped out of the truck and walked back to the bus. They saw Ripper give the man atoothy grin, shake hands, and lead him off to the side.
    Spoon hastily squeezed through the bus doors and climbed the steps. “All right, everybody, there’s been a slight change in plans. I know you’ll be disappointed, but it turns out that some of you don’t get to go on our little field trip after all.” He moved down the aisle, looking at the students. “You.” He pointed at Mitch. “Get outside. And you three in the back of the bus. Get off.”
    Roman put his head back and closed his eyes. He let out a deep breath, stood up, and started down the aisle after Mitch.
    Jeff grabbed Woody and pushed the smaller boy ahead of him. He whispered loudly enough that Roman could hear him. “Look at the big man. Everybody at school thinks you’re so tough. You’re nothing but a big wimp—a yellow coward.”
    At the front of the bus, Miss Bently gave them a feeble smile. “Try not to worry, boys. I’m sure the authorities are doing all they can.” She had tears in her eyes as the four boys moved down the steps and off the bus.
    Outside they saw the delivery man lying facedown in the dirt beside the front wheel of the bus. Blood trickled from an open wound on the back of his head.
    Ripper growled at his partner. “Get these kids in the truck, Spoon, and make it quick. We’re behind schedule.”
    Spoon jerked open the back door of the delivery truck and motioned with his gun for the four boys to get in. He locked the door and headed for the driver’s side.
    Roman pulled his jacket around him and sat on the cold metal floor of the panel truck. The other boys crowded near the back and watched out the small round windows as they pulled away and the school bus disappeared from sight.

C HAPTER 4
    It was late at night, and in the back of the truck it was hard to see. Just about the time their eyes adjusted to the darkness, they would pass through another small town and the glare of the streetlights would flood in through the circular windows in the back door.
    Mitch had discovered two loaves of bread that the delivery man must have forgotten, or hadn’t had time to deliver, and passed them out.
    Woody felt around in his backpack and found an apple left over from lunch. “Anybodywant some? I don’t have anything to cut it with, but …”
    Roman pulled a knife out of his pocket. “Here, use this.”
    Woody fumbled with the knife and managed to slice the apple into four parts. He passed them out and handed the knife back to Roman. “What do you think those guys are going to do to us?”
    Roman put the knife in his pocket. “For now … nothing. They need us alive.”
    “They obviously don’t intend to feed us.” Mitch bit into his piece of apple.
    “I could have been long gone by now,” Jeff muttered. “Next time—”
    “Next time we’ll wait for the right opportunity. Not some stupid move that’ll get us all killed.” Roman settled back against the wall.
    “Who died and put you in charge?” Jeff smirked.
    Roman sat up straight, dwarfing the other three boys. “Look, we’ve all got something to contribute here. Take Mitch. He’s so full of bull, he could talk a bum out of his last dime. And the Worm’s got enough brains to make anatomic bomb. And if we’re real lucky, we might even find a use for you, Super Jock.”
    Jeff’s jaw tightened and his fists doubled. “Oh yeah? All I know is you were the one who wimped out on the bus.”
    Roman leaned back again. “Save it, football brain. I’ll be happy to settle the score when we get out of this.”
    The truck pulled to a stop, and the boys scrambled to the windows to see where they were. The truck was parked beside some old gas pumps at a