Goblins on the Prowl Read Online Free PDF Page A

everyone turn toward him, I understood that it was his way of getting our attention.
    He raised his glass and said, “I would like to propose a toast.”
    I scowled. After such a good meal, why would I want toast?
    I realized he meant something else when he said, “Here’s to William, who set right an old wrong. I hadno idea, my boy, that night I found you on the drawbridge as a baby, how much good you would do in this castle. Bringing you inside was one of the smartest things I’ve ever done.”
    He lifted his glass higher. The others raised their glasses too.
    So did I, once I realized that this was what people do when they’re making “a toast.”
    â€œWilliam good!” Igor roared.
    Everyone took a drink.
    William’s face was red. I was starting to think maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing that I had never been to a party. I wouldn’t want that much attention!
    But the toasting wasn’t over. Raising his glass again, the Baron said, “And here’s to Igor and Fauna, also part of the great adventure!”
    â€œTo Igor and Fauna!” the others cried.
    I wanted to run and hide.
    To my relief Hulda bellowed, “Now for the cake!”
    She lifted a big knife and sliced into it.
    The cake shrieked in pain.

One should always be careful what one puts around one’s neck. You would think that people would know this.
    â€”Stanklo the Scribbler
    CHAPTER FOUR
    TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES
    Hulda screamed, dropped the knife, and staggered back.
    At the same moment a little goblin leaped out of the cake, flung himself into William’s arms, and cried, “Happy Goblin Freedom Day, butterhead boy!”
    It was Herky, of course.
    He stands only a bit above my knee but makes enough trouble for someone four times that size. He has big yellow eyes, a nose almost the size of my fist, and pointy ears that flap when he runs. He wore nothing but ragged little britches with a hole in the rear for his tail to stick through. Hulda made better clothing for him, but he refused to wear it.
    â€œWhat were you doing in that cake?” bellowed Hulda.
    Her eyes were blazing. It was a good thing she had dropped the knife when Herky popped out of the cake. If she hadn’t, I think she might have decided to use it on him now.
    Herky glared at her and cried, “Hulda gave Herky an owieee right on his tail!”
    â€œHerky!” said William sternly. “Answer Hulda. What were you doing in the cake?”
    â€œBeing a surprise!” The little goblin’s face fell. “Herky bad?”
    â€œLook at the mess you made!” William scolded.
    â€œBut look what a good surprise!” Herky replied joyfully.
    Life with Herky was like this. In some ways it was excellent to have him around. Goblins like to keep things neat, and William had told me that with Herky living there, Toad-in-a-Cage Castle had been kept spotlessly clean for the first time he could remember.
    The thing is, goblins love mischief even more than they love cleaning. Herky never actually tried to be naughty. It just came naturally to him. Now he buried his face against William’s shoulder and wailed, “Herky been bad! Bad, bad little Herky waited until cake gotcool. Bad, bad little Herky made hiding place inside. Herky was soooo careful to be secret. But Herky did bad.”
    He began to sob. This affected William more than it did me.
    Igor watched all this with dismay. I could see he wanted to bop something but couldn’t figure out what. The Baron went to the far end of the table and poured another glass of whatever he was drinking. Karl was trying to comfort Hulda, who was moaning about her cake.
    I walked to the table. The cake had been way too big for six people and a little goblin. I took out my knife and in a few minutes had seven good-size pieces that hadn’t been anywhere near goblin butt.
    â€œLet’s have cake!” I said when I was done.
    Everyone looked at me in