Whatever After #6: Cold as Ice by Sarah Mlynowski Read Free Book Online Page A

robbers forced you to help them rob people, wouldn’t you?”
    “I definitely would,” I say.
    “Also, my name is not Rudolph.”
    “I know your name isn’t Rudolph,” Jonah says. “It’s just a song. It was a joke. What is your name?”
    He squares his reindeer shoulders. “Ralph,” he says.
    Jonah giggles. “Close enough.”
    “Well,” I say. “It’s very nice to meet both of you, Gerda and Ralph.”
    “We’re sorry the robbers took you prisoner, too,” Gerda says, still jumping. “I’m not staying long. I am getting out of here. I have to find Kai. That’s why I’m doing jumping jacks. To stay in shape and keep my energy up!”
    I clap my hands. “Oh! Kai! We saw him!”
    She stops in mid-jump. “You did? You know Kai? Is he okay?”
    “He’s in a trance,” I admit. “He’s with the Snow Queen.”
    “I knew it!” Gerda says, thumping her fist in the air. “I knew he was under her spell.”
    “He definitely is,” Jonah says. “He’s not totally frozen, though. He’s walking around and building snowmen. He’s just kind of spaced-out. He’s half-frozen.”
    “A frozen zombie,” I add. “A frombie.”
    “Ha!” Jonah laughs. “Funny. Not as funny as ‘dogsicle,’ but still funny.”
    “The Snow Queen froze our dog,” I explain to Ralph and Gerda. “Totally froze. He couldn’t even move.”
    Ralph nods solemnly. “That’s what happens when the Snow Queen blows too many kisses at you,” he says. “You go completely numb. When she blows you just one kiss, you go just a little bit numb. It’s like you’re in a trance.” He nods at Gerda and says, “Like your friend Kai. But then, with more kisses, your entire body freezes. Even more kisses and you die. That’s what I’ve heard, anyway. I’ve never met her myself.” A shudder goes through the reindeer’s body.
    I swallow. At least Prince was alive when we saw him. One more kiss and he might not be. We have to get there FAST.
    “I’m sorry she froze your dog,” Gerda says. “And I hope she won’t hurt Kai.” She looks eagerly toward the door. “Sharon said she would let Ralph and me go tonight . I told her my whole story and she felt sorry for me. We’ll tell her to let you guys come, too! We’ll save all of them! Wahoo!”
    “Perfect,” I say. I like Gerda’s enthusiasm. She’s what my mom would call a real go-getter. “Is Sharon the tree girl?” I ask.
    “The who?” Gerda asks.
    “The girl who’s dressed as a tree. The robber girl.”
    “Yes! Sharon is the robber girl.”
    “Great,” I say. This is going to work out perfectly. I grab Jonah’s hand and look at his watch. It says it’s two o’clock back home. “Do you know what time it is here?”
    “Six,” Gerda says. “Sharon usually brings dinner down at about eight. Hopefully, she’ll let us go then.”
    I nod. We were right about the time difference. Every hour at home is three hours here. That means we have five home hours left and fifteen hours here. We’re cutting it close, but we can make it. This wasn’t exactly the pop-in to get Prince that I’d had in mind.
    Queasiness settles into my stomach. What if my parents wake up before we get home? For a second, I’m worried I’m going to be sick.
    I take a deep breath. I can do it. I can get back to the Snow Queen’s palace, defrost Prince, and make it home before wake-up. I can do it! I’m a go-getter, too.
    Gerda resumes her jumping jacks. “Come on, guys, let’s get some exercise. Who’s with me?”
    “I am!” Jonah exclaims, and jumps up.
    “Why not?” I say, and join in.
    “Pass,” says Ralph from where he’s lying, hooves splayed across the floor.
    “One!” Gerda yells. “Two! Three —”
    My back starts to feel kind of sweaty. This polar bear costume is hot. It wasn’t made to be worn during exercise. Also it’s itchy.
    I stop jumping and walk over to the corner to sit down. Maybe Gerda can be the go-getter while I go get a break.

W hen Sharon comes back