Akiko in the Castle of Alia Rellapor Read Online Free PDF Page A

there?” came a small voice from the other side of the doorway.
    Spuckler and Mr. Beeba shot each other a knowing glance. Poog stared intently at me, the slightest trace of a smile on his face.
    “That’s him!” said Mr. Beeba.
“Prince Froptoppit!”

 Chapter 9 

    One by one we tiptoed through the charred remains of the doorway. The room was small and slightly damp, with just one weakly flickering torch on the wall. I saw a simple bed, a wooden table and chair, and a large chest of drawers. And there, sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, was Prince Froptoppit.
    He looked about eight years old. He was covered from head to toe in a clean white suit of clothes, with silvery bands on his arms, a large round cap on his head, and a short white cape hanging from his shoulders to the middle of his back. He had big brown eyes, pale pink cheeks, and longish black hair that was neatly cropped just above his shoulders. He was kind of cute, actually, in his own way. But he looked slightly dazed.
    “Mr. Beeba?” he asked, an excited smile spreading across his face. “Poog?”
    “Relax, dear boy!” Mr. Beeba said, rushing to his side. “Don’t get up just yet. I can see you’ve been through no end of trauma these last few weeks.”
    “Man oh man,” Spuckler said, dropping down on one knee. “You are a sight for sore eyes, Prince Froptoppit. You got no idea what we been through t’ get here.”
    The Prince turned his attention to me.
    “Wh-who are
you
?”
    “This is Akiko, Your Highness,” Mr. Beeba explained, raising an opened hand in my direction. “She’s from the planet Earth.”
    “A Keego?” said Prince Froptoppit, trying his best to pronounce my name.

    “It’s an honor to finally meet you, Prince Froptoppit,” I said, hardly believing that I’d finally come face to face with him after all this time. He was smaller and less princely-looking than I’d pictured him, but believe me, I’ve never been so happy to meet someone in my entire life.
    “D-do you want some cookies?” he asked, turning to look at the empty tray beside him. “Uh-oh,” he added, looking a little embarrassed. “I already ate them all.”
    “Well, at least they’ve been feeding you,” Mr. Beeba said, picking up the empty glass from the tray and sniffing it suspiciously. “Hopefully more than just cookies!”
    “Yes, Mr. Beeba,” Prince Froptoppit replied. “I get all the food I need. I’m awfully lonely, though. I miss my father.”
    “And he misses
you,
Prince Froptoppit, more than words can say!” Mr. Beeba said, helping the Prince to his feet. “Come on. We’re getting you out of here. Right
now
.”
    With that Spuckler swept the Prince into his arms and carried him out of the room. The rest of us followed, walking gingerly past the sleeping Vungers, which—thank goodness—snored loudly and steadily the whole time.
    My head was crawling with questions. I swallowed hard and determined to save them until we’d gotten out of the castle. There would be plenty of time for sorting things out once we’d escaped.
    “This is almos’ too
easy,
” Spuckler said as he carried the Prince to the top of the Torg. “Now if we can jus’ clear on outta here before anyone catches on . . .”
    After we had everyone settled in (it took a bit of rearranging to make space for the Prince), Spuckler lowered the hatch and ordered Gax to go back to the main hallway. Prince Froptoppit leaned his head against my shoulder. I think it had been a long, long time since he’d been surrounded by friends. Gax made the Torg move forward as we carefully retraced our steps out of the castle.
    Spuckler was right. It
was
almost too easy.
    A moment later we were back in the big hallway, making our way toward the main entrance. My heart was pounding. Another twenty yards or so and we’d be free. I had a very vivid picture in my mind of King Froptoppit shaking my hand after we’d returned to the palace.
    “You see, Akiko?” I