Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow by Nathan Bransford Read Free Book Online Page A

handcuffs.”
    There was a bang down below in the hold, and they heard the cargo door open and then close. Footsteps echoed across the wood plank floors. The footsteps reached the stairs, at which point the sound of the footsteps moved from the wood plank floors to the metal staircase. The footsteps slowly moved up the metal staircase until everyone in the cockpit saw a black helmet with a reflecting black visor. As the footsteps moved still closer, they saw that the helmet belonged to a small person wearing a black spacesuit, who walked up the remaining steps into the cockpit.
    The small person took off his helmet, and a boy their age, with a mess of black hair, blue eyes, and a pale white face stood before them.
    â€œWho are you?” Sarah asked, peering behind him to see if Mick Cracken was on his way up the stairs.
    â€œWho am I ?” the boy asked incredulously. Then he threw back his head and laughed loudly. “Oh. You’re joking. That was good, you almost fooled me.”
    Jacob stepped over beside Sarah and cleared his throat. While he didn’t point the blaster he was carrying at anyone in particular, he made sure it had a conspicuous presence in the proceedings. “No really, who are you? Where’s Mick Cracken?”
    Officers Erard and Bosendorfer stepped behind the boy and gestured frantically at Jacob, shaking their heads and mouthing, “No! No!” The boy saw Jacob looking over his shoulder, and he turned around to look at the officers, who abruptly stopped their wild gestures and instead raised their hands in surrender.
    â€œMr. Cracken,” Officer Erard said. “Er, shall I say Mr. Cracken sir, uh, esquire . . . your most excellent excellency . . . uh . . . majesty. Officers Erard and Bosendorfer at your service.”
    Sarah Daisy’s mouth dropped open. She looked at the kid again. He was barely taller than her. “ This is Mick Cracken?”
    Officer Erard winced. “She didn’t mean that.”
    â€œ This is the most fearsome buccaneer in the galaxy?” she asked.
    Mick Cracken turned and winked at her. “Ah,” he said with evident satisfaction. “So you do know who I am. I thought so. I’m kind of famous, you know. Correction. Not ‘kind of’ famous. Extremely famous. Comes with the territory when you’re as good of a thief as I am.”
    Jacob raised the blaster, and while he stopped short of pointing it directly at Mick, he did point it straight at the cockpit window in what he hoped was a somewhat menacing gesture. “I’m going to have to ask you to step off of this ship,” Jacob said.
    â€œYoung man,” Officer Bosendorfer said. “I would advise against that.”
    Mick Cracken stepped toward Jacob. “And why should I be scared of that?” he asked, pointing at the blaster. “What are you going to do?”

    Jacob knew that when dealing with bullies, the best opening strategy was a show of confidence to try to intimidate them, even if he didn’t really want to fight. Jacob swallowed, mentally crossed his fingers that the cockpit shield was resistant to blasters, and pulled the trigger to fire a warning shot. He heard a pop, and a stream of brightly colored pink and yellow confetti rained down on everyone in the cockpit. “Happeeeee New Year!” the blaster shouted with a tinny voice, followed by sounds of cheering and glasses clinking.
    Officer Bosendorfer glared at Jacob and brushed the confetti off of his uniform. “Young man, this is no time for a party.”
    Mick Cracken smirked and beckoned the group to follow him. “You’re coming with me.”
    Officer Erard’s shoulders slumped. He grabbed his helmet and started walking after Mick.
    â€œWhy should we go with you?” Dexter asked, and then covered his mouth as if he immediately regretted saying anything.
    Mick stepped over and attempted to look Dexter in the eye, but Dexter avoided eye