A Hoboken Hipster In Sherwood Forest Read Online Free PDF Page B

have snared this hart," he says with an evil-sounding chuckle. The other two men laugh appreciatively at what I guess they consider a joke. I glance at Robin. He puts a finger to his lips, warning me to be silent.
    "Now answer me, boy," the soldier continues. "Did ye or did ye not kill the king's deer?"
    "I was starving, sire," the boy protests in an adorable little English accent. Like the kid in Oliver Twist. Or Tiny Tim without the crutches. "We all are. I dunna mind going without, but me sister is sick. She needs food and we 'aven't any."
    Well, I'll be darned. I totally remember this scene from the Robin Hood stories. They try to cut off the kid's hand and then Robin comes dashing in to save him. I glance over at the outlaw, grinning in anticipation. Adventure number one, coming right up. I can't wait to see this.
    "Do ye know the price of your trespass?" one of the other guards asks. His mouth twists in a sinister smile. "By order of the Sheriff of Nottingham, thieves like you are to have their hands severed from their arms. 'Twill prove rather difficult to shoot a deer with one hand, will it not?"
    Yup . Just as I remembered it. How very cool to be living a legend. I can't wait to see Robin swoop in to save the kid's day. This back-in-time stuff is almost better than vegan food trucks.
    Go for it! I mouth.
    "Please. I beg you!" the boy sobs. He falls to his knees, hands clasped together, pleading for mercy.
    The soldier with the sword looks impatient. "Hold out your hand, boy, or I will run you through."
    "Aye. Be quick about it. We've wasted enough time already."
    Seeming to gain some resolve, the little boy bravely rises to his feet, sticking out his hand, palm up, unmasked defiance on his face. The soldier chuckles and turns to his friends.
    Um, okay, Robin. Any time now would be good.
    "Who would like the honor?" the man asks.
    I look back at Robin, who for some reason doesn't seem to be rearing into action. "Aren't you going to do something?" I hiss.
    Robin gives me another stare of disbelief. "Risk my life to save the hand of a peasant boy?"
    I stare at him for a moment, not sure I heard right. Could Robin Hood actually be refusing to help the helpless? In order to save his own neck?
    "So, let me get this straight," I whisper back. "You not only don't do the whole 'rob from the rich, give to the poor’ thing, but you're refusing to help this helpless kid?"
    He shrugs. "He will surely live with one hand. If they catch me, 'twould be my head they sever from my body."
    "Oh, you're pathetic!" I can't believe how lame the real Robin Hood has turned out to be. "Well, screw you. If you won't do something, I will."
    I search the ground and find a good-sized stone. I wrap my hands around it and, just as the soldier starts his blade's descent, I huck the stone as hard as I can. It slams into the man's horse's flank, and the beast bucks in surprise and pain, dismounting his rider.
    The other two guards stare in the direction of my throw.
    Damn. I don't think I quite thought this through.
    "Nice," Robin says, with more than a hint of sarcasm. He grabs my hand, drags me to a standing position, and motions for me to start running. "Congratulations. Now you're an outlaw like the rest of us."

     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Way to go, Chrissie. Real smooth.
    We race through the forest, dodging trees and diving into bushes. Brambles scrape my face, my arms, and rocks stab into my bare feet, but I can barely feel them, I'm so scared. I can hear the soldiers' cries as they attempt to follow. Luckily the underbrush is so thick in this part of the forest, where Robin leads, the horses seem to be having a hard time navigating through it. Otherwise we'd be so dead right now.
    "This way," Robin says, grabbing my arm. Maybe it's due to my frazzled emotions or the lack of breath in my lungs, but his fingertips burn my skin and the whole thing suddenly seems oddly romantic. Not that he intends the gesture that way, I suppose, seeing as he