Whales on Stilts! Read Online Free PDF Page A

made it to an old laundry chute.
    â€œThey’re right behind us!” screamed Jasper. “Jump down the chute!”

    â€œJump?!?” said Katie. “Are you crazy?”
    â€œDon’t worry! My Titanium Bullet-Mobile is parked at the bottom. Five seconds from now, and we’ll be blasting away, beyond the reach of Larry and his goons!”
    They jumped. They screamed “Whooaaaa!” all the way down.
    They landed in their seats—upside down but still, they landed.
    â€œGood job, Jasper!” said Katie. “This is great! Let’s get out of here!”
    â€œNo problems now, fellows!” said Jasper. He pulled off his helmet and pulled on his motoring goggles. “With the old Bullet-Mobile, we’ll be off in a jiffy.” He flicked a switch. “It’s the first rocket-powered car! Rocket number one, engage! Rocket number two, engage!” He flicked another switch. The car started to move.
    They were beside the old warehouse. They could see guards running out of the doors.
    â€œHurry!” pleaded Lily.
    â€œDon’t worry,” said Jasper. “They’ll never be able to follow us! Rocket number three, engage—and we’re off!” The Bullet-Mobile rolled more quickly toward the street.
    The roar of the engines was unbelievable. Like being inside a firework. Huge flames leaped out of the back of the car. Sparks splattered all over the stone walls and the pavement.
    â€œHold on to your hats, ladies!” cried Jasper Dash. “You’re in for a wild ride! This futuristic buggy can attain speeds of up to thirty-five miles per hour!”
    â€œThirty-five?” said Katie.
    â€œThat’s right,” said Jasper proudly.
    â€œJust thirty-five?”
    â€œYes indeed.”
    â€œOh, great,” groaned Katie, burying her head in the plush calfskin upholstery.
    And behind them, guards poured out of the building.

Several of the guards had piled into a green Subaru station wagon and were swinging around corners after the Bullet-Mobile, firing their guns and changing rounds with their teeth.
    Jasper expertly steered the rocket-powered car around fruit carts and pedestrians. Flames and smoke billowed out behind him. “We are gone in a flash!” He called backward into the wind, “Now—how do you like the tables turned, you gun-toting rapscallions?”
    Katie said, “I wouldn’t make fun of them too much until you reach the speed limit.” She looked nervously backward. “You know, you can still go over twenty in a school zone.”
    â€œKatie, while your comments are wellmeant, you should know that I would never put myself above the laws of the land and even
approach
the posted speed limit. I am a plucky yet principled youth, not a maniac daredevil.”
    â€œJasper,” called Lily. “Jasper?”
    â€œYes, Lily?”
    â€œIt might be better if we ... uh ... parked somewhere.”
    â€œWhy, Lily?”
    â€œBecause the flames are kind of... visible. We got a big head start, but I think that they can see us because of the fire. Coming out of the back of the car.”
    â€œBy jove!” said Jasper. “You may be right!”
    He screeched around a corner. They were on a slope in a quiet neighborhood, on a tree-lined street.
    Jasper turned off the engines and rolled down the hill. He pulled to the side of the road and kept rolling.
    Lily, looking backward, saw the green Subaru station wagon fly past the end of the road.Without the flames to alert them, the guards hadn’t seen the car.
    â€œQuick thinking,” said Jasper.
    â€œNow we can just sit and take a deep breath,” said Katie. “Phew. That was a close one.”
    â€œI apologize for the slow speeds of my Titanium Bullet-Mobile,” said Jasper. “I guess I haven’t been keeping up with current trends. Also, I was forced to register it as an agricultural vehicle so I could drive it while