Of Hearts And Stars (Classic Editon) (The Cadet Starship Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF Page B

while Swift lectured the goon squad. He'd make him pay for this. It was time for the comedian to exit stage left. Ollie saw this and knew he had to act fast, so he sprang forward and grabbed Butch's ankle. This did not please Butch the slightest.
    “ That's it Dolly. I'm gonna cut that pretty face of yours.” Butch said but a tapping on his shoulder put an immediate stop to his plan.
    He spun around slashing, only to catch air. Swift had anticipated this and stepped back a split second before the blade could slice into him. Then he launched a lightning fast fist at Butch's mouth. The effect was like a meteor striking a greenhouse. The knife fell to the floor with a clatter as Butch's hands flew to his mouth, blood already trickling down his wrists. He looked at the mess of red with white specks in his hands and shrieked.
    “ You know Baloney, I could become a dentist after this. I think I've got the extraction part down pat at least.” Swift said and shook his hand. He didn't get any cuts on his knuckles from Butch's teeth but dang. Punching that guy's mouth sure stung.
    Butch fled with both Marcus and George, ditching Frankie, who was still laying on the floor. Swift went over to check on him. “Dude you gonna be okay?” Swift asked and held out a hand. Frankie took it and slowly got to his feet.
    “ Yeah man...” he said and slowly walked towards the cafeteria door “Sorry.”
    Swift waved his hand as if dismissing the matter and Frankie left. He turned his attention to Ollie now, who had gotten up and gathered the broken pieces of the model ship.
    “ Thanks for saving my buns back there.” Swift said gratefully.
    Ollie gave him a dubious look.
    “ Really?” he asked and they both laughed.

    - 14 -
    Butch went straight to the caregivers office with Marcus and George. They made sure to leave out an important fact that they did start the fight, and did not include any mention of a knife. Given Swift's pattern of defiance, antisocial tendencies, and the fact he did not suffer any injuries; his side of the story was disregarded. He was immediately punished: twenty lashes to his back and bed with no dinner.
    “ After the laughter comes the tears.” Swift said laying on his stomach. After all of the whipping his back felt incredibly painful and sore “It is my destiny as an orphan, I think, to be flogged and punished until I'm an adult.” he said.
    Ollie sat with his hands wrapped around his knees on the cold linoleum of Swift's floor “I tried to tell them what really happened.” he said and put his chin on his forearms “They told me they'd whip me too if I told anymore lies.”
    Swift crawled to the edge of his bed an patted Ollie on the back. His friend meant well and was a good kid, but he thought that perhaps getting whipped was worse than the perception of having let someone else down.
    “ No worries man. They'll whip me until my back becomes a tough and leathery carapace as solid as rock. I'll be invincible then, like Mark Wahlberg or Bruce Willis.”
    Ollie shuddered and exclaimed “That's crazy!” Given Swift's recklessness and utter disregard for corporal punishment he thought that his friend might somehow be serious.
    Swift closed his eyes and nodded “Crazy enough to work.”
    “ No. Just plain crazy.” Ollie said.
    “ Maybe.” Swift slid to a crouching position next to his bed and inhaled sharply through clenched teeth. He cringed from the throbbing pain in his back as he stood upright.
    “ And maybe this plan will sound a bit better.” he said and walked carefully over to his wardrobe. From it he retrieved a travel map and then inched his way back to Ollie, who looked at the map that was being laid down before him. It had been written on to an extent, notes penned in a small and sharp script in between lines, circles and crosses.
    “ So what's the plan?” Ollie asked.
    A self satisfied look bloomed on Swift's face and he declared “This is our escape route. One day, after school, we