For the Love of Temperance (The Adventures of Ichabod Temperance Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

quick.”
    “Well, thank Heaven for that.”
    “You know, I like to think that I am one to keep a calm head in a bad situation, but that beam put me into a blind panic as much as anybody else.”
    “Don’t feel badly, sir; band members, semaphore teams, choralists, and even Professor Dymwitte have all been set into a mad struggle to escape that murderous meadow. It is a wonder, but apparently no one appears seriously hurt as we retreat from Earth’s first extraterrestrial encounter.”
    “Yes, Ma’am. Okay, Mr. Bolt, we’re coming up on a little community. I think you can stop Clementine now.”
    “I say, every church, school, and fire brigade bell in the area is ringing. The residents of the vicinity are showing up equipped to repulse the invader. Are you armed, Mr. Temperance?”
    “Well, as this was a peaceful outing, I did not think to pack my ectoplasm based armaments. I do have my hunting rifle, though. She’s an old Marlin, from before the war. She ain’t the fanciest firearm on the field, but she’ll comb the hair of a squirrel at a hundred yards.”
    “I shall trust to your marksmanship skills, sir.”
    “Looks like everybody is ready, having removed any metal buttons or buckles, and protecting their weapons and ammunition in leather and cloth.”
    “I expect you to exercise the utmost caution, Mr. Temperance.”
    “Yes, Ma’am, Miss Plumtartt, Ma’am.”
    It is getting on towards midnight when we head back to the Grunt farm. I have never witnessed so many men move in such a stealthy manner. These are experienced hunters, every one of them, and they know how to move in patient, quiet, movements. As expected, we meet with like-minded citizens of other communities. Under the cover of darkness, we assume firing positions along the perimeter of our prey.
    A whippoorwill’s call is heard.
    This call is answered by another off to my left.
    This little birdie is replied to by another, off on the other side of the field.
    A deliberate five second count is silently made by all participants.
    Then all guns open fire at once.
    Hundreds of shots ricochet from the metallic tower. The unusual construction jumps in surprise at the attack. The legs of the soaring platform collapse into themselves, much like that of an extend-able telescope. This action drops our target from out of view.
    Many of the men take this for a sign that we have won. A cheer of victory goes up from many of the boys.
    However, an ominous hum starts up again.
    wuh-hooomm, wuh-hooomm,
    The air takes on the sensation of the pulsation.
    {{{ Kuh -Chunk!!! }}}
    That’s the sound of the weapon getting into position! The tower is rising up again!”
    {{{SKRRR- BZZZCK -CK-CK-CK-CK!!!}}}
    With its nerve jangling and over-powering crackling accompaniment, the lavender ray sweeps around the field. In angry swaths, the fiend within mercilessly turns the barrels of our weapons into red-hot burning bars. We have no choice but to abandon our rifles. Our munitions are an unexpected threat as these are set off at the ray’s touch. Even though we have taken the precaution of carefully wrapping them, the stores of ammunition on our persons fire in random directions around us. We gather our fallen comrades and retire from the engagement, as our position has become untenable.

Chapter Three · Hostilities.
    “Mr. Temperance, are you injured?”
    “No, Ma’am, I’m okay, but our rifle assault didn’t amount to a hill of beans. Our bullets bounced off that ironclad colossus like it was wearing steel undies.”
    “Pooh, drat our luck. A special morning edition of the Tuscaloosa Tattler gives a remarkable account of our encounters, but also bears more ominous news. It seems that another meteor has crashed in Pennsylvania last night. Worse still, the Australians are reporting that they have lost control of the situation down under to giant, mechanical behemoths under the control of hideous monsters.”
    “Listen, Miss Plumtartt, I can hear our adversary