Jumper Cable Read Online Free PDF Page B

Grill?”
    “It should,” Haughty agreed. “But the proprietor has a problem with his Rs. They don’t stay in place well. They tend to switch places with adjacent letters.”
    “Even on the sign?”
    “Even there. Now it’s established. It does serve good food, though. But I hope we can pass right by it. Because it would be better to be somewhere else when Hottie appears.”
    They let her lead them on the detour. All went well, at first. Then there was a rumble in the sky. “Bl**p!” Haughty swore. “Fracto has noticed us.”
    “Bleep,” Maeve translated helpfully.
    “Who?” Jumper asked.
    “Cumulo Fracto Nimbus, the worst of clouds. He exists to rain on parades, wet on dry laundry, blow important papers away, and make a complete nuisance of himself.”
    “A simple cloud?” Jumper asked incredulously. “I am not impressed.”
    “That’s his nature.” Haughty looked around. “D**n! I don’t see anywhere else to take shelter.”
    “Darn,” Maeve said, once again filling in the blanks. The cloud swelled ominously, evidently having overheard their dialogue. Jags of lightning radiated from it, and more thunder sounded. Gusts of wind rattled the leaves of nearby trees, getting the range. The first fat drops of rain spattered on the nearby leaves. They clustered under a spreading acorn tree, but the storm intensified. Colored hailstones bounced off the leaves and piled up on the ground.
    “I haven’t seen those in a long time,” Wenda said. “Fracto is really working at it.”
    “To the Bra,” Haughty said regretfully. She led the way, flapping
    ahead of them, pursued by hailstones. “Maybe Fracto will lose interest before nightfall.”
    The others held small branches over their heads to shield them against the hailstones and hurried after Haughty. The storm hurried after all of them. A few stones caught them, but Fracto couldn’t orient fast enough to catch them with the worst while they were moving. Maeve turned back for a moment to stick out her tongue at the storm. “Nyaa, fogface!”
    “You shouldn’t have done that,” Haughty said. “Now he’ll never let us be.”
    Indeed, the fury of the storm redoubled. The hailstones welled to the size of pears, bashing trees and ground alike. However, they soon came to the Bra & Girll, the sign exactly as described. The house seemed nice enough, and inside there was a bar for food and beverages.
    “Hello, Haughty,” the proprietor called. “Who aer yoru firends?” He was a huge man, shaped somewhat like a spent volcano.
    “Hello, Crater. We are going to the Good Magician’s Castle,”
    Haughty replied. “These are Wenda, Maeve, and Jumper.” She was being careful not to identify their species.
    “That would be Carter,” Maeve murmured. “It must be only one R
    per word that strays.”
    Crater stared at Jumper, whose species could not readily be masked.
    “You look mighty big fro a spidre. Are you safe to be aorund?”
    “Safe enough,” Jumper replied. “I eat bugs, not people.”
    Crater returned his attention to Haughty. “They’er welcome, porvided they can pay.”
    “Oh, s**t,” Haughty said. “I forgot: Crater charges for room & board.”
    “Spit,” Maeve murmured.
    “Orom & broad,” Crater agreed jovially.
    “But we dew knot have anything to trade,” Wenda said. “Maybe we can move on.”
    Maeve looked out the window. “Rain is blasting down outside. We’re stuck.”
    It was true. The window was awash with water, and thunder shook the inn. They would have to stay the night.
    “Maybee we can bargain,” Wenda said. “Crater, is there anything we can offer yew in exchange for yewr hospitality?”
    The innkeeper looked at her, then at Maeve, who bridled. “Besides that!” Maeve snapped.
    “Besides what?” Jumper asked, mystified.
    “Never mind,” Haughty said. “You wouldn’t understand.”
    She had him there. He had no idea what they were talking about.
    “Maybe if you explained?”
    “He was looking at their