RARE BEASTS Read Online Free PDF Page A

theater.
    They found the animals exactly where they had left them in the cold basement, and they carried thewriggling creatures out to the cart. Leashed inside the puppet theater, smaller animals in front and larger ones in back, they formed an impressive display.
    Edgar and Ellen made a sign for each animal listing its species, habitat, price, and a description of its particular origin:
    C RACKERMACKER
From the mountains of Dronkle

Only $1,000!

Rescued from the Dronkle City Animal Pound
     

    F REEPLEWINK
From the desert region of Brifftevo

A steal at $2,500!

Traded from an exotic animal dealer for a Splunx
     

    M ONDOPILLAR
Terra-aquatic, Uwentic Ocean region
$5,000! Cheap at twice the price!
Captured on a Mondopillar hunt last year
     
    Ellen even gave the animals a little pep talk: “All of you look so much better than you did yesterday. You are incredible creatures now, worth thousands of dollars. And while you may feel a little uncomfortable at the moment, at what price beauty and fame? Anyway, none of this is as bad as that humiliating sweater they made you wear last winter, or all those times they forced you to attend their tea parties.”
    “Sister, I don’t know why you bother.”
    “Well, you’ve always been a little slow. When the perky, happy-looking ones sell for more than the asking price, you’ll see.”
    When the animals were hidden behind the closed theater curtains, their shop-on-wheels had the look of an old-time traveling medicine show.
    “Ready to strike it rich, Brother?” Ellen took hold of the front wagon handle.
    “Nod’s Limbs will be amazed, Sister,” replied Edgar as he took up position behind the cart.
    With Edgar pushing and Ellen pulling and steering, the cart lurched forward and lumbered unsteadily down the nameless lane and out onto Ricketts Road.

15. Missing!
     
    As Edgar and Ellen rolled their wagon west, they passed colored pieces of paper taped and tacked to every telephone pole and light post. If the twins had paid any attention to the tear-stained, handwritten fliers, they would have seen:
    M ISSING !
Bain Bean

My German shepherd puppy
Contact Ritchie ASAP!
555-8328
     

    H ELP !
I can’t find Hodgekiss!

Have you seen my brown bunny rabbit?
–Kyle, 555-9896
     

    L OST !
MY CAT

Answers to the name Blumpers
Mostly black with white feet and a pink nose
Please call Annie at Annie’s house, 555-1722
     
    There were dozens of posters in a rainbow of colors, each one crying out for a different missing pet and featuring a crayon drawing or blotchy photograph. Edgar and Ellen rumbled past flier after flier, oblivious to all of them, including the one which warned:

     

16. Open for Business
     
    Edgar and Ellen stopped the cart about a hundred yards down Ricketts Road, where the street intersected with Cairo Avenue, one of several streets in the small town named after much more impressive cities.
    Cairo Avenue led north into Nod’s Limbs’ business district and people on their way to work drove right past the intersection.
    “How does this spot look to you, Sister?” Edgar asked.
    “Fantastic, Brother,” she answered. “Business-people make
oodles
of money! I can’t wait to get a great big pile of it!”
    They pulled back the theater curtain, revealing the animals. The display looked a bit like a summertime lemonade stand, except instead of pitchers of refreshing lemonade, the twins had expensive and gruesome beasts. The two stood in front of their stand, bellowing like carnival barkers and waving their arms madly.
    “Roll up!” yelled Edgar, “Roll right up and witness the marvels of the animal kingdom!”
    “Come see for yourselves!” called Ellen, “See what has never been seen before!”

     
    Cars cruised through the intersection, but not one came close to stopping. When too many vehicles passed by for Ellen’s liking, she told Edgar to stand on his head, flap his legs, and squawk like a parrot.
    “Why not you, Sister?”
    “Because, Brother,