The Road to Nevermore by Christopher Lincoln Read Free Book Online Page A

table. His boots landed with two smart
whap
s. “If you like, I can tell you where it is, and who’s in charge.”
    Ned looked at him like his brain was as fogbound as Pete’s.
    “Thing is”— Roger hinged his fingers open and extended a palm toward Pete —“I need to see all hundred wishes before I say
     another word.”
    Pete dropped back in his chair, massaging his stubbly chin. His parrot, Jenkins, struck a matching pose. “My friend usually
     arrives well before anyone’s ready to see him. I can’t imagine what’s keeping him.”

    With a clatter of sparking hooves, Billy and Fleggs arrived outside the Boneyard. The whoosh from their entrance swung the
     tavern sign. It was handpainted, depicting a graveyard with skeleton arms sticking out of its plots. They were holding beer
     mugs, raised in a foamy toast.
    Billy looked around as the sign creaked to a stop. The street was empty as a headless man’s hat and the Boneyard looked closed
     for business. Not a light flickered inside.
Now what?
    Billy swung off his saddle and dropped to the cobblestones. The resulting clatter led him to an important discovery. He held
     up a bony hand, flexing his fingers.
I’m a skeleton again!
    As Billy stood goggling, Fleggs nosed the boy’s pocket. After a few more luminous eye blinks, Billy took the hint. He pulled
     out Grim’s note, noticing the unusual fold. Typically a note-writer folds the paper to conceal its contents. But his uncle
     had written on the outside (a very un-noteworthy thing to do).
    Billy shook the folds open and discovered someone else’s message inside:
    Grim,
    Aye, I’ll be happy to help ye with yer task. As ye might guess, I’d like nothing more than to clear me name.
    Meet me at the Boneyard Tavern in Edgeton. Find Minnie Lumbus. I told her to expect an awesome powerful bloke. She’ll lead
     ye to me. And don’t forget the bag of wishes. I’ll need every ounce of gold.
    Thank Cecil Benders for me for takin’ this note to ye.
    Hope surged in Billy as he checked over the note again.
Grim must have been on his way to the Boneyard to meet Gramps Pete! But what about the golden wishes?
And just as if Billy had spent a golden wish to find out, Fleggs turned to leave, jingling with every step.
    “Hang on, Fleggs,” Billy called as he grabbed the horse’s halter.
    After a quick clamber up to the saddlebags and an even quicker one down, Billy held a purple silk sack bound tight by a gold
     drawstring. It was fat with golden wishes.
    Fleggs nickered. It sounded like a soft chuckle. Then with more sparks and clatters, but significantly fewer jingles, Fleggs
     shot through the fog and vanished.
    Billy wondered where he could hide the gold and then remembered one of the great advantages of being a skeleton. An empty
     ribcage is a wonderful place to stash your loot. Gold secured, he bounded toward the tavern door.
    Hammer slammers! I hope this thing is open!
He whipped up the steps, flinging the door open.
    “Young man. Most people know not to come messing about in the Boneyard.” Mrs. Lumbus cracked her large knuckles. She gave
     Billy the once-over. “Don’t you have a pretty blue glow. Not very common for a skeleton.”
    “I’m here to see my great-many-greats grandfather Pete.” Billy’s grin flashed at the idea of seeing the old pirate again.

    All warmth drained from Mrs. Lumbus’s manner. She muttered, “He said to expect someone awesome powerful … Must be some kind
     of a trick.”
    “He’s here, isn’t he?”
    “Nope. Not here.” Mrs. Lumbus crossed her sturdy arms.
    “He has to be!” Billy’s jaw opened and closed as he struggled to think. How could he have failed Millicent so soon?
    “I’m sorry to turn you out, young man, but you have no business being in here unaccompanied by an adult.” She herded him toward
     the door. “I could lose my tavern license.”
    Billy clutched her arm. “But … I’m … trying to help Uncle Grim.”
    Mrs. Lumbus hesitated. “Grim