Brad Gallagher Escape from Zobadak (retail) (pdf)

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S�at s it! Billy exclaimed. You guys, look for a drawer with
the number 1885 on it.
Okay, if you say so, said Maggie, perplexed. She began scan-
ning the wall that Sophie hadn t looked at yet. Are these numbers
even in order?
Yeah, they are, Sophie replied. But I don t think 1885 is in
this room. S�ese are all under a thousand.
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Brad Gallagher
I have no idea what s going on, said Chris, still trying to ad-
just his plastic breastplate to a more comfortable position. Finally
giving up he dropped everything he was holding, unbuckled the
armor, and threw it down on the floor in frustration.
It was written on the bottom of Sophie s music box. We ll
explain later, said Billy. Just help us find drawer number 1885.
If it s not in this room, it must be close.
He went back into the vaulted hallway. S�e walls here did not
have any drawers, but when he came to the first intersection, he saw
two other rooms on the right and left, similar to the first one. He
went into the right-hand room and his eyes moved across the walls.
Here s 1,150 . . . 1,270 . . . 1,335 . . . he read aloud. Instead
of metal plates, the numbers were inlaid into the drawers with a
lighter colored wood.
Sophie and Maggie hurried together into the room across the
hall and began searching. Chris, unencumbered by his armor,
picked up the shield and sword and walked further up the hallway
to the next set of rooms. After searching for several minutes, they
heard Chris shout.
What was that number again?
It s 1885! Maggie shouted back.
Okay. Yeah. I think I found it.
S�e other three hurried back out to the arched hallway. S�ey
found Chris in the next room to the right. S�e drawers in this
room were particularly large. He pointed to one of the bottom
drawers.
Right here, he said.
Open it, said Sophie.
S�ey rushed across the room as Chris bent over and grabbed
the handle. It was shaped like the head of a lion, with a large metal
ring in its mouth. With both hands Chris pulled, leaning back and
straining. S�e drawer was large and heavy. Billy grabbed the front
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Escape from Zobadak
edge as it began to open, adding his strength to Chris s, and the
drawer slid out ponderously, making a deep, hollow scraping sound.
It s empty, Maggie said in dismay.
No, wait, said Sophie. S�ere s something here.
She reached in and pulled out a small envelope. On the front
was written the word Kids.
S�ey looked up at each other in disbelief. Billy was almost
overwhelmed with the wave of relief and growing hope that
washed over him. It had to be from Uncle Gary. It just had to be.
Is that us? Chris asked. Are we the kids?
Of course, dingleberry, Maggie said. Come on, Sophie!
Don t just stand there. Open it.
I m afraid. Sophie stared at the envelope. What if it s not
for us? What if it s just another old thing in one of the drawers?
What s wrong with you guys? said Maggie, snatching the
envelope from Sophie. You re being ridiculous.
Go ahead, Maggie. Read what s inside, said Billy.
Maggie opened the envelope and took out a folded sheet of
paper. She unfolded it, peeking with one eye at the words on the
top of the page, then looked up at Sophie and smiled.
What does it say? Sophie implored.
Dear Billy and Sophie.
Sophie squeaked with excitement, hands clamped over her
mouth.
Read it, read it, urged Billy.
Maggie read:
Dear Billy and Sophie:
I don t know if you will ever get this letter, but I m putting it here
just in case. If you found it, that means you got the clues I sent you
and figured it all out. I am very impressed. You kids are so smart, and
I m proud of you.
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Brad Gallagher
I m also worried because if you re reading this, there s a chance you
might be in trouble. N�ere are some dangerous things happening and
I truly hope you did not get involved. If you did, I am very, very sorry.
You probably have a thousand questions.
Climb into the drawer. Watch your heads. Pull the drawer closed
from the inside. Crawl to the back.
Love,
Uncle Gary
PS Please keep this letter with you. Do not leave it lying around.
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38
It s him! Sophie cried out. It really is! Billy, we found him!
She ran across to Billy and hugged him. Under normal cir-
cumstances he would have recoiled with an Ewww, gross! but
now he hugged her back as tightly as he could, so tight his arms
grew sore, but she didn t complain.
Come on, Sophie, he said. Let s go! Let s do what the letter
says.
I don t think I want to go in there, said Chris. It s like a
coffin or something.
Okay, said Maggie. You stay here and wait for us. S�e rest
of us are going in.
Uh, no way, Chris backtracked fast. You re not leaving me
here by myself.
Releasing Sophie Billy took the letter from Maggie and read
it again. S�en he carefully folded it up and put it in the back pocket
of his jeans. Without another moment of hesitation, he climbed
into the drawer, got down on his hands and knees, and crawled
forward. His backpack scraped against the upper edge of the open-
ing, but he could still fit inside without taking it off.
Brad Gallagher
Come on, you guys, he said, feeling his way forward into
the darkness. It s really long. S�ere s enough room for all of us
in here.
Sophie climbed in behind him, then Maggie and Chris. Once
they were all in, they groped for something to grab onto. Billy
found little wedges of wood in the upper corners that supported
the rails for the drawer above them.
Okay, everybody. Pull, he said. Pull it closed.
S�ey all pulled together. It took all of their strength, but
slowly the drawer began to slide shut. S�ey could feel it grinding [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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