Peter and the Shadow Thieves Read Online Free PDF

smiled.
    “Thank you, boy,” he said. “Delicious.”
    This was not what Peter had expected. Now he was becoming quite irritated.
    “Then perhaps you’d like some more, Captain Hook ,” he said.
    “That would be lovely, boy, ” sneered Hook, peeling back the skin and nibbling at the fruit.
    “Al right, then,” said Peter, through gritted teeth. Ignoring Tinker Bel ’s warnings, he darted toward a clump of palms beyond the clearing and picked two large coconuts.
    Let’s see him catch these, he thought, swooping back.
    “Ahoy, Hook!” he shouted. “Here’s your second course!”
    Peter noted with satisfaction that when Hook saw the coconuts, a trace of alarm crept across his face.
    That’s better, he thought. He angled his body upward, then arced into a steep dive directly at the pirate. Closer…closer…he raised his arm…
    A scream from the direction of the mountain.
    A boy’s scream.
    Peter whirled and swooped upward, listening, looking.
    Another scream, then: “PETER! HELP!”
    Peter looked at Tinker Bel ’s horrified face, saw that she, too, recognized the voice.
    James.
    Dropping the coconuts, Peter, with Tink at his side, shot toward the mountain, his eyes frantical y scanning the jungle growth below him, his ears straining to hear. But the dense vegetation prevented him from seeing beneath the tree canopy, and he heard no more shouts or screams.
    Time slowed to a crawl as Peter and Tink zigzagged frantical y back and forth across the mountainside, cal ing for James, getting no response. Final y one of his passes took him near the pirate clearing. Hook stood exactly where he had been. He was smiling and stil eating. Mango juice dribbled from his moustache.
    “What’s the matter, boy ?” Hook cal ed. “Missing something? Or should I say, some body ?” Hook laughed a very unpleasant laugh, a laugh that told Peter exactly why Hook had stood in the clearing, taunting him, daring him to attack.
    He was distracting me.
    Peter’s stomach felt hol ow.
    “Where is he?” he shouted, flying closer.
    “Your little friend?” asked Hook. “The one who can’t fly? Oh, don’t worry. We’l take care of him.” The pirate raised the mango—stil impaled on his hook—and took another delicate bite.
    “Let him go!” said Peter. “He’s done nothing to you!”
    “That’s true,” said Hook. “He has done nothing. It’s a shame that he should be the one to suffer.” Another bite.
    Peter, hovering almost directly over Hook now, stared down at the pirate.
    “What do you want?” the boy asked softly.
    Hook glanced up at him, and Peter saw it now, the hatred the pirate had been holding inside.

    “Why,” said Hook, “I want you, of course.”
    “Me for James,” said Peter, very softly.
    “That’s right, boy,” said Hook. “A trade: you for James.”
    A minute passed, Peter hovering, Hook watching. Peter final y broke the silence.
    “Where is he?” said Peter.
    “Your little friend?” said Hook. “He’s unharmed, I assure you. For now.”
    Peter thought some more.
    “You can’t have me until I see you let him go, see that he’s safe,” he said. “I need to see him in the hands of Mol usks. Then you get me.” Now it was Hook’s turn to ponder.
    “Very wel ,” he said. “Come back to the clearing tonight, one hour past moonrise. You may bring two savages.”
    “Ten,” said Peter. “Otherwise your men can—”
    “ SILENCE , BOY,” thundered Hook. “If you want your young friend to live, you wil bring no more than two savages with you. My men wil be inside the fort, watching. I shal meet you there”—he pointed—“by the spring. I wil be holding your friend. You wil place yourself within my reach. I wil grab you, and at the same time release your friend.” In response to Peter’s doubting look, Hook said: “Think about it, boy! I’l have to let go of him, won’t I? I have just the one hand, thanks to you. ” Peter nodded. Hook went on: “Once your friend is free,