In a Latitude of Temperance (The Adventures of Ichabod Temperance Book 5) by Ichabod Temperance Read Free Book Online

corrosion from the salty air. Don’t worry about me, I shall be fine, here aboard ship. You humans run along and enjoy yourselves.”
    “Thanks, Mr. Cogito! Come on, y’all, this is gonna be fun!”
    “Henh, here is a coach that will accommodate us all.”
    “I say, this fine, four horse coach should be able to bear all five of us and our incoming party, eh hem?”
    “Hang on a second, y’all! Lookey over there at what I see!”
    “Oh, my, I see, Mr. Temperance, you have spied a local example of engineering novelty.”
    “Henh, vhat is it vith you, Herr Teemperauntz? This coach vill serve our needs!”
    “Ah, but Mr. WrenneFeyldde, this here contraption’ll do the trick, too, sir!”
    “Eh hem, Mr. WrenneFeyldde, you do not grasp Mr. Temperance’s overriding enthusiasm for all things ‘steam’.”
    “Senor Tempseranci, as I am a Spanish nobleman, you will, no doubt, understand my preference for the horse.”
    “Oh, please, Senor Diego Ignatio Ricardio MontelKahn?”
    ~sigh~ ”Very well.”
    “Yay! Thanks, y’all!”
    “Herr Teemperauntz, no! Flugle! Blast that little idiot, he is already scampered up the street to hire that dangerous looking jalopy.”
    “Ha, ha! I count, one, two, three! Three wheels on this silly scooter.”
    “I say, the appearance of this device is not one which inspires confidence in passenger safety, eh hem?”
    “Nor dignity, for I feel as if we are to be on display for all of Rio to gawk upon.”
    “Ain’t she a beaut? The driver calls her his ‘Assembla de Tryke’.” Come on, y’all. I don’t think it’s really as dangerous as it looks.”
    “I say, we shall just have to accept your confidence as a reassurance. Tell us, Mr. Temperance, do you have a preference for seating?”
    “Yes, Ma’am, Miss Plumtartt, Ma’am. How about letting Senor Diego Ignatio Ricardio MontelKahn and Count Sezami ride up on the balcony level right behind you, me, and Mr. WrenneFeyldde as we ride on the platform that sits at ground level at the front. The two forward wheels of our land ship are right underneath our bleachers. As you can see, the driver sits atop the third wheel that both propels our steam trike and steers her. Boy howdy, I betcha’ when he turns that little ol’ third wheel, this sucker’ll spin right on top of a shiny centablo.”
    “Heh,heh,heh, h-h-h-n-n-n-n-driver... Please to take us to the ‘Hotel GnuTerry’.”
    “This is a most disconcerting manner of travel, si! I feel as if I am a masthead, thrust before her ship, for there is nothing between myself and anything before us except the unlucky trio that sits on the seating level before me as if we are in a theater. What is the meaning of this ridiculous taxi?”
    “It’s on account of this here city of Rio de Janeiro enjoying an annual celebration known as ‘Carnivale’. This horrifying carriage was built as a viewing stand for this event and is used as a mobile observation platform at that happy event.”
    “You are confident in this vessel’s stability, Mr. Temperance?”
    “Um, well, now that we are up to a pretty respectable speed, I ain’t really so sure.”
    “Henh, this stupid driver is drunk!”
    “Si, he has allowed this vehicle to attain an unwise amount of momentum.”
    “Woah! Hang on, y’all, we’re slowing down!”
    “I say, what a surprise, here we are at our destination and still alive. How charming, eh hem?”
    “Hey! That was lots of fun! Excuse me, mister, I don’t think we are gonna be too long. How’s about sticking around a minute and give us a lift back to the docks?”
    “Si, Senor.”
    “Thanks, buddy!”
    “Blast you, Tempseranci! I refuse to travel by that infernal contraption again!”
    “Ha, ha! I count our little band lucky for surviving that little jaunt. Now I count six steps leading into the hotel lobby!”
    “Henh-hey, you there, the old goat with the bushy gray beard and bemused look on your face. Are you the dysc clerk of the ‘Hotel