Astrid Maxxim and Her Amazing Hoverbike Read Online Free Page B

just like we do.  Ho w’ s she going to learn if she does n’ t go to school ? ”
    “ I can just scan the knowledge into her ,” said Astrid.
    “ Yes, that worked really well the last time ,” he replied.
    At 12:00, they all met as usual in the Quad.  Lunch was grilled salmon, rice pilaf, roasted potato and green bean medley, and broiled mango.  Astrid, Christopher, Toby, and Denise were halfway through their salmon when Valerie arrived at the table.
    “ So, wha t’ s going on with you and the robot you ?” wondered Toby, but before he could get his answer, the principa l’ s voice resounded over the public address calling him to the office.
    “ Wonder what tha t’ s about ?” he grumbled, but got up stomped away up the steps.
    “ Well, what is going on ?” Denise asked Valerie.
    “ I t’ s actually kind of cool ,” said Valerie.  “ Things got quieter once Mama calmed down.  I t’ s kind of like having a twin.  And Poppy bought us bunk beds . ”
    “ I always knew you were a nerd ,” said a voice behind Astri d’ s ear.  She turned around to find Mark McGovern grinning smugly at her.  “ But what kind of freaky mad scientist wannabe turns a kid into a robot ? ”
    “ Why do n’ t you take a hike ?” Christopher told him.
    “ Why do n’ t you make me ?” replied Mark.  “ Not so big when your tough-guy friend is n’ t here, are you ? ”
    “ If you do n’ t leave, I’ ll make you ,” said a voice.
    Mark and everybody else looked to see the silver metallic version of Valerie, now dressed in a school uniform, standing beside him.
    “ I have laser beams in my eyes, you know ,” she said.
    Mark turned white as a sheet and took three steps backwards before turning and running away.
    “ Hello, um robot ,” said Denise.
    “ My name is Valerie, Denise, as you well know . ”
    “ Here Valerie, sit by me ,” said the flesh and blood Valerie.
    “ You do n’ t really have laser beams in your eyes, do you ?” asked Christopher.
    “ I would n’ t build a robot with laser beams ,” said Astrid.  “ Now particle accelerators or maybe some kind of flame throwe r …”
    At that moment, Toby came hopping back down the steps from the office, now with Austin following in his wake.
    “ Anything interesting happen this weekend ?” asked Austin.

Chapter Five: The Battery Presentation
     
    “ I never got a chance to ask you what the principal wanted yesterday ,” Astrid told Toby on the way to school Tuesday morning.
    “ I’ m supposed to keep an eye on Austin ,” Toby replied.  “ Apparently he keeps losing things and getting lost . ”
    “ Well, it is a big school ,” said Astrid, who could n’ t remember anyone ever becoming lost before.  “ But yo u’ re not even in the same program.  H e’ s program six . ”
    “ I know, but w e’ ve got fourth and fifth period together.  I think they have a couple of other guys watching him the rest of the day . ”
    They rendezvoused with Christopher and Denise and then waited outside the Diaz home.  They were there for only a couple of minutes, when the door opened and the two Valeries, one robot and one regular, shot out and skipped down the steps to where they waited.
    “ Good morning ,” they said in unison.
    “ So how did you like school, Valerie ?” asked Astrid.
    “ It was okay ,” said Valerie.
    “ No, I meant Robot Valerie ,” Astrid corrected.
    “ The same as always ,” said Robot Valerie.
    “ But yesterday was your first day ,” Denise pointed out.
    “ Oh, yeah ,” said Robot Valerie.  “ I keep forgetting.  I remember going every single day, just like I remember three years with you guys at Thomas Paine Middle School . ”
    As they walked downtown toward the monorail station, dozens of people on the street craned their necks to stare.  A few people stepped outside of shops along the way to watch them.
    “I’ m feeling a little self-conscious ,” said Valerie.
    “ I do n’ t think the y’ re