Akiko on the Planet Smoo Read Online Free PDF Page A

books. There were tables here and there, all of them covered with books and papers. And (as if the keeper of the room had finally given up on finding space for everything) there were big stacks of books all over the floor, some of them reaching almost up to the ceiling. We found King Froptoppit’s friend sitting at a table in a little alcove, nearly buried in books and papers. Startled by our entrance, he jumped to his feet and tried to make himself presentable.
    Mr. Beeba was such an odd sight that he made King Froptoppit look quite ordinary by comparison. He had spindly little arms and legs, with oversized gloves and oversized feet. His head had big tufts of fur on either side where his ears ought to be, but no hair on the top or back. His eyes were as big as eggs, and they peered out from above a pair of spectacles that looked as if they’d been plucked from the nearest librarian.
    He looked me over with a mixture of surprise and disappointment.
    â€œAkiko, this is Mr. Beeba,” King Froptoppit said as he brought me before the little man. The top of his head was only about as high as my shoulder.
    â€œIt is an honor to make your acquaintance, Akiko,” he said, bowing slightly. “Your reputation precedes you.”
    â€œMr. Beeba is one of four loyal companions I have chosen to help you on your mission,” King Froptoppit explained. “He is a brilliant scholar and highly respected throughout the galaxy.”
    â€œHis Majesty flatters me,” Mr. Beeba protested with just a hint of a smile. “To call me a brilliant scholar is to gravely dilute the meaning of the word
brilliant
, I must say.”
    â€œMr. Beeba is very knowledgeable in all manner of subjects,” King Froptoppit continued, causing the little man to smile even more. “Everything from transgalactic irrigation theory to medieval weather forecasting. He will doubtless prove to be an invaluable part of the mission.”
    â€œHave you ever been on a rescue mission before?” I asked.
    â€œWell, er . . . ,” he replied nervously, making little fidgety gestures with his enormous hands, “I’ve certainly read my share of
books
on the subject. Some of them more than once. I’ve definitely got the
theory
end of it down, and it’s, er, just a matter of putting that theory into
practice
, you see. . . .”
    â€œAh, Poog!” King Froptoppit said, turning his attention to someone who had just entered the room. “Good of you to join us. There’s a person I want you to meet.” Whoever it was had come in so silently that I hadn’t even realized he was there. I turned around quickly to get a look.
    Nothing anyone could have said would have prepared me for meeting Poog. Even now it’s very difficult to describe him. Poog was really little more than a floating head. He had two eyes, one mouth, and no nose. He was almost perfectly round and covered by pale purple-white skin that shimmered like smooth leather. His eyes were as big as pancakes and as glossy and black as a pair of dark glasses. His mouth was no more than an inch from one side to the other. It was almost impossible to detect any expression on his face; a hint of a smile was all there was to see.
    Poog made a quick warbly sound and smiled at me, blinking once or twice. His high-pitched voice was garbled and seemed to pack lots of information into very short bursts, like a tape recorder playing at very high speed.

    â€œPoog says he’s pleased to meet you Akiko,” Mr. Beeba translated.
    â€œP-Pleased to meet
you
, Poog,” I said, unable to take my eyes off this strange alien creature. It seemed impossible to me that anyone could understand such a language. Mr. Beeba, however, was evidently very familiar with it and seemed to enjoy playing the part of Poog’s translator.
    There was nothing scary about Poog, but it was pretty weird meeting him for the first time. I wanted to ask a