Coffin Island Read Online Free Page B

that is protecting them?”
Madison asked.
    “ Flash isn’t going to bend
to your will no matter how stupendous it is,” I said.
    The flaming ape was peering down at us.
He appeared to be hanging on our every word. He seemed to be taking
some sort of fiery notes in a flaming notebook. There was a lot to
admire in that cantankerous beast. Thoroughness was a quality that
I always admired in my prospective assassins. Why should I dignify
your death threat if you can’t follow through with extreme
thoroughness?
    “ We would never try to
convince that beast of anything,” Madison said. “We will use him
against his will to burn this library to the ground. Kill him
too.”
    The flaming ape let out a stupendous
roar. Apparently English was in his flaming vernacular. That beast
could stretch himself out a bit on the page, I imagined. Why not
flaming ape? Reach for the stars, my man. Go big or go home as they
say. Clearly you are home.
     
    Chapter
     
    Monstrous books began hurtling towards
us. They had faces that were carved in wood and leather. They were
shuttered with golden clasps. They were burned and tattered. They
were heaps of parchment tied together with leather straps. They
were massive scrolls on wooden rollers. They took one mean look at
us and boomeranged back. Back, back to the solar system. It was
clear that they did not have a favorable view of the library
patrons.
    “ They’re reading my
murderous intent,” Madison laughed. “It’s about time.”
    “ What do they know other
than the wisdom of the ancients?” I asked ironically.
    “ Ancient wisdom is
overrated,” Madison snorted. “That’s why they want to read my mind.
They need new ideas.”
    “ The books can read our
minds?” I asked.
    “ Don’t worry,” Madison said.
“I’m not divulging my plan of attack.”
    “How can you not divulge your plan of
attack?” I asked. “They can read your thoughts.”
    “ Well,” Madison said. “I
would have to have a plan of attack.”
    “ You don’t have a plan of
attack?” I practically shouted.
    “ If I had one,” Madison
said. “They would be the first to know it. What good would my plan
of attack be then?”
    “ What are you going to do?”
I asked.
    “ I’m going to improvise a
plan of attack,” Madison said. “They’ve left me no choice. I’m
going to freewheel. Get a bit jazzy in my plan of
attack.”
    “ You’re letting them know
that?” I asked.
    “ How else am I going to get
them to go after me?” Madison asked. “I have to give them
something. I’m deadly enough to pull it off. They know
that.”
    “ What did you tell them?” I
asked.
    “ I’m still thinking about
how to break the news,” Madison said.
    “ You’re thinking of making a
death threat on the wisdom of the ancients?” I demanded. “Can you
even do that?”
    “ We’ll find out,” Madison
shrugged.
    “ I think we should casually
back out of here,” I said.
    “ We’re here to destroy you!”
Madison shouted. “We’re going to destroy the faculty too! You’re
all dead! That should do it.”
    “ Now I think the tour of the
library is concluded,” I said.
    “ The flaming ape is still
taking notes,” Madison laughed. “I’ve made my murderous intentions
perfectly clear. Let’s get this show on the road, gentleman. Shall
we? I’m here to destroy you.”
    The flaming ape stopped taking flaming
notes. He peered down at Madison and me. He seemed too furious to
roar.
    “ I don’t want a trial,”
Madison said. “I’m pleading guilty, you stupid monkey.”
    “Do you really want to taunt him?” I
asked.
    “ I’m coming for you!”
Madison shouted.
    The flaming ape resumed taking
notes.
    “ Why are we still standing
here?” I asked.
    “ Watch how the books call a
meeting to order,” Madison said.
    “ You wanted to show me
this?” I demanded
    “ It’s quite fascinating,”
Madison said.
    The librarian was now reporting what
Madison had said to a security force of books. He read