The Poison Factory Read Online Free PDF Page A

we’ll make you talk! Harold, bring me the Truth Scorpions.’
    Harold took a jar down from a shelf and unscrewed the top. Reaching into it, he drew two large scorpions out by their tails. He handed them to Albert.
    ‘One jab from this,’ Albert clicked at the two boys, brandishing one of the twitching animals, ‘and you’ll tell me anything I want to know.’
    ‘We’ll tell you anything anyway !’ Damo wailed. ‘You don’t need to use any flippin’ scorpions!’
    But the cockroach chef pulled the collar of his hoodie out and dropped the scorpion down the back of his neck. Damo howled, and then thrashed around. He stopped suddenly, and his head tilted slowly to one side.

    ‘Ow,’ he moaned, dreamily.
    ‘Hold this one, he’s wriggling like a ruddy maggot!’ Albert cried as Gaz fought to get away.
    Two other cockroaches grabbed him, and the second scorpion was dropped down the back of his t-shirt. He pulled frantically at the claws of his captors, but it was no good. He felt the scorpion crawling around on his back, and then something sharp dug into his shoulder, and the whole world went a fluffy pink. Gaz felt himself overcome with an urge to tell everybody what he was thinking.
    ‘Damo, I gotta tell ya, man,’ he burped. ‘I’m goin’ to wet myself if I don’t get to a bog soon.’
    ‘I know what you mean, dude,’ Damo replied in a slurred voice. ‘I’m havin’ a problem holdin’ it in meself. We need to get out of here, and find a john.’
    ‘Enough!’ Albert glared down at Gaz. ‘Talk! Spill your secrets!’
    Gaz tried to hold his breath, but it didn’t work.
    ‘I take Joey’s teddy bear to bed with me sometimes!’ he blurted out.

    ‘I play with my sister’s dolls!’ Damo shouted, helplessly.
    ‘I pretend my Action Man’s married to Hayley’s Barbie doll,’ Gaz sob bed. ‘I make them kiss!’
    Damo laughed and cried at the same time.
    ‘I love you, Gaz. You’re my best pal.’
    ‘You’re my best mate too,’ Gaz insisted. ‘You’ve always been my best mate.’
    ‘Stop this!’ Albert snapped. ‘Have you lost your minds? Stop this nonsense and confess your disgusting deeds!’
    ‘I used to pick used chewing gum off the ground and eat it,’ Damo whimpered.
    ‘That’s it!’ Albert roared, his jaws clicking furiously. ‘I’ve had enough of this! Harold, fetch down the big pot. We’re going to cook up somehuman casserole!’
    The boys were hauled over onto a counter, and held down while half a dozen cockroach chefs lifted a huge pot onto a nearby cooker. They took out some razor sharp knives and started to cut up some carrots and potatoes. The Truth Scorpions’ venom was starting to wear off, and the fear began to set in again. Gaz and Damo screamed and struggled against their captors, but the giant insects were too strong.

    ‘Noooo!’ Damo shrieked, with tears in his eyes,as he was carried towards the big pot.
    Suddenly, the door to the corridor burst open, and a flood of robotic, cuddly toys surged into the room in a wave of fake fur. Hundreds of them spread out along the floor and clambered up onto the tables and counters.
    ‘SSSomebody’s ssssset the cybercritters loose!’ Harold squealed. ‘Catch them, quick!’
    This was easier said than done. Wherever the cockroaches stepped, their sharp, clawed feet got stuck in the backs of the cuddly robots. Free from the grip of their captors, Gaz and Damo watched, bemused, as the insect chefs scurried around, clumsily trying to round up the horde of soft toys. Some of the cybercritters were squirting out their dinners, and the floor quickly became slippery with the slick mess. Hayley appeared as if by magic beside the two boys, clutching Squirt in her arms.
    ‘Come on!’ she urged them. ‘Run for it!’
    They jumped down off the counter and waded through the furry tide to the door. Behind them, there came a screech of fury.
    ‘Yooouuu’re nnnot going anywhere!’ Harold snarled at them.
    The raging cockroach