Flight of the Eagles by Gilbert L. Morris Read Free Book Online Page B

alert!”
    Tam could not resist giving a mock salute and saying, “Right you are, sir. Yes, sir!” as they made their exit.
    Then Josh, feeling a great deal like some romantic sea captain, went one step too far. “Here you go, Sarah,” he said, and with what he hoped looked like a dashing gesture, he half-lifted and half-pushed Sarah over the side of the tower.
    He had forgotten two things. One was that Sarah did not know that she was going to be thrown off a building. Second, she did not expect to be caught in the hairy arms of a potato-faced giant with a sinister, gap-tooth grin.
    Therefore, when she plunged over the side and the giant caught her and held her tight in his muscular arms, she let out some really earth-shattering screams—loud enough to alert any Sanhedrin up to two miles away.
    Crusoe said instantly, “Shut her up, Volka! Carry her to cover—and keep her quiet!”
    Like frightened rabbits, the group scrambled to the ground and scurried back to the grove. There they fell to the earth, gasping for breath.
    All except Sarah. Since Volka had carried her, she had plenty of breath. She began to use it immediately on the unfortunate Josh.
    â€œJosh Adams! I can’t believe anyone could be so dumb!”
    â€œBut I—”
    â€œYou—I—you! I’m so mad I could spit!” Sarah sputtered. “When you woke up, did someone throw you off a building—to a—a monster?”
    Volka grinned broadly and shook his head.
    â€œWell, no,” Josh stammered, “but—”
    â€œI never want to speak to you again as long as I live!” Sarah said fiercely.
    She probably did not really mean this, but Josh believed her. His shoulders slumped, his face went red, and he felt totally humiliated.
    â€œ Ahem!” Crusoe broke in with a slight cough. “May I have a quiet word with you, Miss—Sarah, is it?” The old man had a nice smile in spite of his ruined face, and he turned it on the angry girl.
    Sarah looked at him, then nodded with a very small smile of her own.
    â€œSuppose you and I go for a short walk, and I’ll attempt to clear this up,” Crusoe suggested. As they turned to go, he spoke to the others. “Why don’t you fix something to eat? And Josh” —he lowered his voice— “don’t worry, my boy. She’ll get over it.”
    â€œWho cares!” Josh simmered. “She always was a stuck-up snob.” He pretended to ignore the pair as they left.
    Tam chose that moment to give the unfortunate boy one more jab.
    â€œAny more orders, Captain?” He gave his silly salute again.
    At last Josh found an outlet for his frustration. Without a word, he leaped on the startled Tam. They started an awkward scuffle, kicking and flailing in the dust.
    â€œMaybe I ought to stop them,” Volka said to Mat.
    â€œLet them fight,” Mat growled. “Maybe they’ll kill each other—or at least beat some sense into their dull heads. But I doubt it.”
    By the time Crusoe led Sarah back to camp, Tam and Josh had made their peace. The food was nearly cooked too—sizzling steaks and steaming potatoes. There was even a portion of crusty bread dripping in butter for each of them.
    Evidently Sarah had changed her mind, for she walked right up to Josh. “Josh, I’m sorry I acted so rotten. I won’t act that way anymore,” she promised. She waited a moment, then put her small hand on his arm and said softly, “Won’t you forgive me, Josh?”
    Turning very red, Josh finally muttered, “Sure, yeah.” Then he hastily shoved a huge piece of buttered bread into his mouth to cover his awkwardness. However, he did look pleased when Sarah got her food and came back to sit close to him.
    They sat up far into the night. The fire and the danger seemed to make them all feel very close.
    For two days they rested, keeping careful watch for the Sanhedrin. Then