The Battle for Duncragglin Read Online Free PDF Page B

monsters. Every swing of the warrior's sword sprayed a swath of monster blood. After each battle, the warrior stood, chest heaving, awaiting Willie's next mouse-click commands. Willie directed him to pick up coins and weapons that lay scattered about and to use a special potion to regain his strength.
    Alex wished they could have a warrior like that to take with them into the caves.
    Annie's show ended and she clicked off the TV. “Time for breakfast,” she announced. “What'll it be, French toast or eggs for dipping?”
    “Eggs for dipping!” Craig and Willie cried out in unison. They looked at each other, startled.
    Willie blurted: “Personal jinx, Craig, Craig, Craig.”
    Craig yelled: “Personal jinx, Willie, Willie, Willie.”
    But Willie shouted triumphantly: “I'm first – you can't talk now!”
    Lips sealed, Craig made gagged
mmm, mmm
noises and signaled with his hands for Willie to release him from the jinx.
    “Are you going to help make breakfast this time?” Willie asked.
    “
Mmm
,
mmm.”
    “Let's get going, Willie,” Annie said impatiently.
    “But, it's Craig's turn to help … oh, darn.”
    “Thanks.” Craig laughed, released from his jinx by Willie saying his name.
    “Do ye like your eggs soft-boiled?” Annie asked Alex cheerily. “We can cook yours a bit more if you like.”
    “No, that's fine,” Alex said dubiously.
    Alex followed the others' lead as they dipped toast fingers into their eggs, pulling them back up dripping orange and taking a bite. He had never tasted an egg like this before.
    “Free-range,” Annie said proudly. “Our hens get to move around. It makes their eggs taste better.”
    Alex wasn't so sure.
    “After breakfast, there'll be no more computer and TV,” Mr. McRae announced. “If we're to go to the ruins today, we've got to get
all
the jobs done early.”
    “But we stacked extra straw –” Willie began.
    “Aye, there's enough strewn about the barn to last a fortnight,” Mr. McRae noted wryly. “But that doesnae count. There are eggs to collect and hens to feed. Craig, that'll be your job. Annie, take Alex and show him how we feed the calves. I've left some milk for them in the buckets. Willie, grind up some more cow feed. Oh, and boys – have ye brushed y'r teeth yet?”
    Oh, no….
Alex put his hand to his forehead.

    The calves pressed eagerly against the bars of their small pens at the back of the barn. They were not nearly as nervous as their mothers. One stuck its nose through the bars and licked Alex's shirt.
    Annie held up a plastic bottle. A calf sucked on it with all its might, slurping the milk down in seconds. Alex held a bottle up for another, laughing as the calf tugged at it, trying to pull it into its pen. The calves were all fed in minutes and were looking at Alex and Annie for more.
    Alex stroked one on the forehead. “Why are they kept separate?” he asked. “Wouldn't it be nicer for them to be with their mothers?”
    “It's for their safety.” Annie collected the empty bottles, tucking as many as she could under her arm. “Otherwise, they'd get trampled by the cows.”
    “But why not put the calf and its mother together in a separate pen? Then there would be no need for us to feed them.”
    “Can't you see there are not enough pens for that? And if Dad kept them together, he couldn't milk the mother cow.”
    Alex didn't understand – the calves end up drinking the milk anyway – but he decided not to press her on it.
    Jobs done, they left the barn, the door slamming behind them. They heard the grinder shut down. Moments later, Willie came out a side door, his face, hair, and shoulders powdery white. He slapped his clothes, raising clouds of dust.
    “Have you told Willie about our plans?” Alex asked Annie.
    “Aye!” Willie said. “And I think you two are right nutters to come up with such a daft idea! Imagine, runningoff to explore a haunted castle. Who in their right minds would do such a thing? So …,” Willie rubbed