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

Bones?”
    Billy nodded.
    “He
is
one who’s awesome powerful.” Mrs. Lumbus’s eyes rekindled their kindness. “Follow me.”
    “Billy me boy, it’s good to see ye!” Pete boomed when Mrs. Lumbus and the young visitor entered the back room.
    Billy leaped into Pete’s translucent arms and was rewarded with a wonderful squeeze. He wouldn’t have traded it for eleven
     back-to-back birthday parties.
    The skeletons fiddled with their pipes, watching the curious reunion as Mrs. Lumbus resumed her post, polishing mugs.
    “I was expectin’ someone else in yer place. Where’s yer uncle?” Pete draped his arm around Billy’s shoulder.
    Pete’s question reminded Billy there was no time to spare. He quickly explained the strange chain of events: the appearance
     of Shadewick Gloom, Millicent’s kidnapping, and the loss of Grim’s head. He finished with, “We’ve got to save Millicent and
     Uncle Grim from Shadewick Gloom!”
    “Then that’s just what we’ll do, me boy.” Pete trumpeted in his most captain-ly voice. “We’re going after Shadewick Gloom!”
    Jenkins pointed a pinfeather into the air and struck a heroic pose. “Awk! Get Gloom!”
    “We’re going nowhere ’til you show us some gold,” Ned said.
    Pete pressed closer to Billy. “Now, lad, I have to ask ye a rather delicate question. Much hangs in balance at yer answer.”
    Billy reached inside his raincoat and rummaged in his ribcage. Yanking out the sack of wishes, he emptied it onto the table
     and then smiled at the delight in Pete’s eye as the coins jingled into a heap.
    “Clever lad.” Pete dragged up a nearby chair, making room for the boy at the table. Bathed in reflections of gold, the value
     of the skeletons’ grins increased tenfold. Before they could sweep the coins into their pockets, Pete warned them, “The loot
     stays here, tucked snug in Minnie’s lockbox ’til the job is done.”
    Ned studied Pete through thoughtful eyes and then turned to Roger. “He’s right. There’s not much to gain by traipsing through
     the Dark Side jingling like jimdandy. It’ll only draw attention.”
    “What about the boy?” Ned grumbled. “Problem is he knows too much. We can’t leave him here, and we can’t take him with us.
     He’ll whimper like a baby at all the vicious doings and horrible creatures.”
    Billy jumped up. “I didn’t come here so you’d leave me behind.”
    “He’s good in a tussle and sneaky as a tick. Not that ye’d guess it by his face.” Pete swelled his luminous chest. “He tangled
     against the Investigative Branch’s finest and came out on top. I promise he won’t disappoint ye.”
    Billy’s cheekbones burned with embarrassment as Ned and Roger studied him with new respect. Those were sizable shoes Pete
     was describing. Billy wasn’t sure if he could fill one of them, let alone two.

Chapter 12
Oversecretary Underhill

    Cecil Benders clacked down the marble floor, limping with the weight of his mail bag. He weaved to avoid the other skeletons
     packing this section of Government Hall, then hobbled to a stop in front of an impressively large door.
    A small brass plate read:
L ORD S AGACIOUS U NDERHILL, O VERSECRETARY OF THE H ALL OF R ECEPTION AND THE D EPARTMENT OF F IBS AND F ABRICATIONS.
    Once inside, Mr. Benders hurried toward a second large door. Behind it, muffled voices were raised in battle. The old courier
     had to leap out of the way as the door unexpectedly flew open.
    Miss Chippendale stomped out. “We shall see what the High Council thinks of your stubbornness, Underhill!” she lashed out
     over her shoulder. “Grim Bones is not fit for duty, and I’ll prove it!”
    An elderly skeleton with a high forehead and impressively large brow bones appeared at the doorway. His purple-trimmed robe
     swished as he dipped a small bow. “Always a pleasure, Cornelia.”
    Adjusting her gloves impatiently, Miss Chippendale nearly knocked Mr. Benders off his feet. She bustled by, nose