Zac and the Dream Stealers by Ross Mackenzie Read Free Book Online

back.”
    â€œWell,” replied Granny, “here I am.”
    â€œAnd the Dream Stealers won’t know what’s hit ’em!” said Barnaby. “But where is Tinn?”
    â€œCome,” said Granny. “I think we should all sit down.”
    â€œGood idea. I’ll fetch some powder-keg punch,” said Barnaby.
    They sat in one of the booths and Barnaby brought a tray full of drinks. Zac lifted a heavy tankard and took a swig of the clear liquid inside. It was wonderfully cold and sweet, and when it hit his stomach, he felt heat burst through his entire body. He gulped the rest gratefully.
    â€œWell?” said Barnaby. “What’s happened?”
    Cornelius began to recount the evening’s events, from Tinn’s capture in the Eternal Forest, to escaping through the Gateway, to finding Granny waiting there with her grandson.
    â€œSeems a bit fishy that the Dream Stealers knew where to find Tinn,” said Barnaby. “I wonder if they’ve been following one of us?”
    â€œIt’s possible,” said Cornelius.
    Barnaby turned to Zac, who became very aware that all eyes were now on him.
    â€œPleased to meet you, Zac,” he said, reaching a fat hand over the table. “My name is Barnaby Smudge and I am the chief watchman of The Forty Winks.” He puffed out his chest proudly, and because there was a lot of Barnaby to puff out, several candles were knocked over.
    â€œPleased to meet you,” said Zac, shaking Barnaby’s hand. The bartender’s fingers were like thick sausages.
    â€œNo one gets into HQ without going through Barnaby first,” said Julius.
    â€œAnd speaking of HQ,” said Gideon, “shouldn’t we be heading there now? We must decide what should be done.”
    â€œRight you are,” replied Cornelius. “Barnaby, take us down, will you?”
    â€œOf course.” Barnaby toddled back to the bar. “Is everyone ready?” he shouted. Then he reached over and pulled on one of the large beer taps.
    There was a loud
clunk-clank-clunk
, and the floorboards beneath Zac’s feet disappeared. He looked wildly at Granny.
    â€œHold on to your hat,” she said.
    The bench in the booth tipped forward, dropping them down through a black hole in the floor.
    Zac found himself sliding down a chute so fast he thought his stomach might bump into his brain. He could hear the others thundering along beside him.
    â€œWheeeeeeeeeheeeeheeee!”
    That was Gideon.
    Before he knew what had happened, Zac whooshed out of the darkness and landed with a bounce on a soft, springy surface. The floor was a trampoline. They had arrived in a large circular room, brightly decorated in red and gold. There were two heavy wooden doors on opposite sides.
    â€œWhat now?” he said.
    â€œFollow me,” said Cornelius. He half walked, half bounced to one of the doors, and pulled it open to reveal a grand corridor.
    Cornelius led the way along the corridor and through a set of double doors to a remarkable room.
    A gold spiral staircase wound up toward the high ceiling, which was painted with a picture of the night sky. In the very center of the picture, a moon actually glowed. A tall window provided a panoramic view over the city and beyond. Every square inch of the walls was covered with books, and there were several ladders on rails attached to the shelves. The room was alive with the sound of ticking, clicking, whirring, and buzzing from intricate devices stacked everywhere. Some devices had been taken apart; others seemed to be in the process of reassembling themselves. Scrolls and parchments were scattered everywhere, and a miniature steam train sped happily around the room.
    â€œRight,” said Cornelius. “Everyone here? Good, good.”
    â€œWhere exactly is ‘here’?” inquired Zac.
    â€œGrandmaster’s quarters,” said Granny.
    â€œBut we’re deep underground!” said