The Fire Within (The Last Dragon Chro) by Chris D'Lacey Read Free Book Online

squealed against the kitchen tiles. “That’s it. He’s building a … Oh, no!” Without another word he was away down the hall.
    “Da-vid? What about your dinner?” Liz threw up her hands in despair.
    “I’ll get him,” offered Lucy and went scooting down the hall before her mom could stop her. Ten seconds later, she joined David at the doors of Mr. Bacon’s garage.
    “Lucy, what are
you
doing here?”
    “Why did you run away so fast?”
    David gritted his teeth. “Does Mr. Bacon like squirrels?”
    “No. He hates them — especially Shooter.”
    David turned away with a hand across his face. He pushed his hair back hard at the roots. “Go home.”
    “Why?”
    “Because —”
    “WHO’S THERE?!”
    With a bang, the garage doors opened and Henry leapt out, wielding a golf club.
    Lucy squealed and hid behind David’s back.
    “Stop, Mr. Bacon!” David cried.
    “Oh, it’s you,” said Henry, looking disappointed. He let the club flop tamely to his side. “What are you lurking for, boy? Thought it might be robbers.”
    David glanced through the open garage door. On the workbench he could see a long narrow box. “What’s that?” he said, pointing at it.
    A smile touched the corners of Henry’s mouth.
    “Bacon’s patented rodent remover. Come and have a look, boy. Work of genius.”
    “What’s a rodent?” asked Lucy, tugging David’s sleeve.
    “Another name for a rat,” he said. “Stay here, Luce. No arguments, OK?”
    Lucy looked a little disappointed, but planted herself by the doors anyway.
    David followed Mr. Bacon inside.
    Henry tapped the box with the heel of his club. “Knocked it out in a couple of hours. Had a little trouble with the spring at first. Works great now. Want to see it in action?”
    David crouched down and peered at the contraption. It was made from solid sheets of plywood and was big enough to catch a dozen rats. At the front of the box was a sturdy, hinged door, with a window made from wire mesh. Mr. Bacon pulled it open. It swung upward with a gentle chafing sound. Mr. Bacon hooked it in place with a slim strip of metal screwed to the inner wall of the box. David peered inside. In thefar top corner was a covered light, with a small red motion sensor underneath. The only other object was a fine metal wire, dangling from the center of the ceiling of the box. David raised a finger to touch it, and got a golf club across his knuckles for his trouble.
    “Safety first,” Mr. Bacon hissed. “Finely tuned system. Hair-trigger response. Wire sets it off, boy. That’s for the bait. Going to dangle a smelly chunk of cheese on that. Pity Mrs. P. didn’t have any. See that?” He pointed the club at the covered light. “Stays on all night to attract the rodent. When Ratty sneaks in, the light blips off. Ratty gropes around in the dark for the bait and …” Mr. Bacon prodded the wire with his club. The door came down with a spiteful snap.
    Lucy gasped loudly and flapped her fists.
    David stood up straight. “Mr. Bacon, stop this. Now.”
    Henry knitted his wispy eyebrows. “What are you talking about, boy? We can’t have Ratty and his chums in the garden.”
    “But it was Conker!” Lucy shouted, storming in. “David didn’t see a rat, he saw a —”
    “Cat,” said David, clamping a hand across Lucy’s mouth. “Conker the cat. Lives four doors up. Slim, gray animal. Easily mistaken for a large rat.”
    “Cat?” Mr Bacon scoffed. “The only cat around here is the girl’s awful beast.”
    Lucy stamped on David’s foot and worked herself free. “I’m going to tell Mom!” She dashed from the garage.
    “Lucy, wait!” David called, skipping sideways after her. “Don’t do it, Mr. Bacon,” he said from the door.
    “It’s my garden,” barked Henry. “I’ll do what I like.” He swished his golf club to show he meant business.
    David hurtled after Lucy. He caught up with her in the hall.
    “Get off,” she shouted, as he grabbed her shoulder.
    “Lucy,