Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson Read Free Book Online Page B

later, soaking wet, water streaming from his shoulders.
    “He’s gone, Cap’n,” he reported. “He musta sunk to the bottom.”

    Hook looked up, the fury on his face now mingled with mystification.
    “You drowned your own friend, boy!” he shouted. “Some hero you are!”
    Peter only smiled, enraging Hook stil more.
    “I thought we had a bargain, boy!” shrieked Hook. “You coulda saved the lad!”
    “You never planned to hold up your end,” said Peter. “Your men were going to capture James and the Mol usks.” Remembering the Mol usks—at least he would have them as prisoners—Hook whirled, looking around the clearing. He saw only his men, sheepish looks and downcast faces.
    The two Mol usk warriors were gone.
    “Where are the savages?” bel owed Hook.
    “They…they got away, Cap’n,” a crewman said. “We fol owed ’em into the jungle, and they was right in front of us, and…they just vanished. ” Giggles from overhead. Giggles, and the sound of tiny, mocking bel s.
    For a moment, Hook stood absolutely stil , reeking of fish guts. And then it erupted from him, a string of oaths so vile that Peter reached out to cover Tink’s tiny ears. The sound of the oaths fil ed the clearing for thirty seconds, a minute, with both Peter and the pirate crew watching in fascination.
    And then there was another sound, this time from the jungle. A deep growl. Then a tremor in the ground. Then the sound of thick vegetation being thrust aside by a massive, lumbering shape.
    “Cap’n!” shouted Smee, bursting from the fort. “It’s…coming!”
    At first, Hook, stil loudly spewing bile, didn’t hear. It was only when he felt Smee’s urgent tug on his tattered coat sleeve, and saw the terror on the faces of his men sprinting past him toward the fort, that Hook looked to the clearing’s edge and saw, emerging from the jungle, the giant crocodile known as Mister Grin, his two cannonbal -size eyes glowing red above the gaping, tooth-studded jaws, big as a grand piano.
    Shoving Smee aside, Hook turned and sprinted for the fort. Mister Grin, with astonishing agility for his vast bulk, launched himself across the clearing, his quarry, as always, Hook. It was a close race: Hook sprinted through the fort gates only a few yards ahead of the beast, screaming “CLOSE THE GATES! CLOSE THE GATES!” The men behind him managed to slam the two gates shut and bar them a half second before Mister Grin reached the fort. The giant croc, finding his path blocked, emitted an earsplitting roar, sending Hook racing to his hut, where he lay on the floor and curled into a bal , whimpering like a child.
    Watching from above, Peter smiled in radiant triumph; he’d beaten Hook again. His smile disappeared at the discordant sound of angry bel s in his ears, reminding him that al was not yet resolved.
    “James!” he said, clapping his hand to his forehead. Then he whirled and shot forward, zooming across the jungle treetops, leaving the great beast roaring in frustration at a tasty meal lost.

CHAPTER 10
DEAD EYES
    S LANK LED THE WAY DOWN the overgrown jungle path, folowed by Lord Ombra, Captain Nerezza, and the dozen large scurvies.
    Head of the line was not a place of honor. Slank knew that if the natives were unfriendly, he would be the first to take an arrow or spear. His eyes nervously roamed the darkness ahead. A lifelong sailor, he’d never taken to land, especial y when he could barely see it. He didn’t care for the squishy things underfoot, the crying things in the darkness overhead.
    Another step, and he shuddered as his face was suddenly caught in an invisible, clinging, and sickeningly sticky spiderweb. He clawed at it, trying to untangle himself, spitting to keep the acrid taste out of his mouth. Just then, its creator—a hairy spider the size of his hand—landed on his head, apparently planning to eat him.
    Slank grabbed at the spider, felt its thick fur and scrabbling legs. He was about to emit a most un-seamanlike