Crown of the Cowibbean Read Online Free Page A

Marco’s map!” Chuck’s hooves quivered with excitement. “Now do you think it’s all just a coincidence?”
    â€œIt still doesn’t make sense,” Dakota insisted. “We’re on Cattleena, there’s a cow statue…where are all the cows?”
    â€œThe Kingfish hates cows,” said a raspy voice behind them. They turned to see a big black parrot perched at the end of the counter. “Forgive me,” the old bird croaked, “I couldn’t help but overhear. The name’s Nwar. And the answer to your question is that the Kingfish has hated cows, hated cows ever since one of them cut off half his whiskers.”

    Nwar looked like a tough old bird, but very tired. His heavy black feathers were tattered and his eyes had saggy red rims. He seemed awfully happy to have someone to talk to, so Chuck and Dakota listened as his scratchy voice croaked on about the Kingfish. Every so often, he would repeat a few words right in the middle of his sentence.
    â€œThis place was once full, full of cows. They sailed here years ago, years ago, from a place called Bermooda. Well, one day the Kingfish and his crew, his crew of shellfish, arrive in his ship, the Tyrant . They didn’t get along, get along too well with the cows. They figured cows ain’t got no place on the water. One day, the Kingfish got into it with a big one-eyed bull.”
    Chuck and Dakota looked at each other. They both had a feeling they knew who the one-eyed bull was. They were starting to understand why Marco and Ribeye didn’t want to come into town.
    â€œThere was an argument, which turned into a sword fight, and…well, ol’ Kingfish lost some whiskers,” Nwar said. “After that, the Kingfish and his pirates ran pretty much every cow off the island. He’s hated cows, hated cows ever since. So…what are you little cows doing here?”
    Marco had said not to tell anyone about their plan. But Chuck was brimming with so much excitement that he looked like he might explode. Before Dakota could stop him, Chuck blurted out, “We’re looking for the Coral Crown!” Chuck went on to blabber about the crown, the map, the poem, the hornpipe… everything . Dakota just shook his head.
    â€œThe Coral Crown, you say? Always thought that was only a legend, a legend, just like them monstrous hu’mans . Boy, I bet the ol’ Kingfish would love to get his fins on that!” Nwar cawed with a croaky laugh. “Well, best of luck to you, lads. Thanks for letting an old bird talk your ears off.” He made a slight bow before flapping out the door.
    â€œNow you’ve done it!” Dakota said. “Marco said not to tell anyone!”
    â€œHe seemed nice,” Chuck said. “It’s not like I went and told the Kingfish.”
    But no sooner had Chuck uttered those words than the Kingfish himself burst right through the front door.
    â€œWell,” Dakota gulped. “Here’s your big chance.”
    The Kingfish was not a king at all, but an enormous catfish. Standing on his tail, he was quite tall—about twice as tall as Chuck and Dakota. He was also rather sloppy, with a round belly that bounced under his chin. He wore a gruesome smile, with two big, oversized front teeth that stuck out past his big, oversized lips. Long whiskers curled out from around his ugly face. On his left side, they could see several short nubs where whiskers used to be. His beady, cat-like eyes were set far apart, covered by thin glasses that stretched across his wide nose. From his head came a pointy fin that looked like a crown.
    He spotted Chuck and Dakota almost immediately. He waddled a bit as he strolled across the room toward them on his tail fin. Chuck hid the hornpipe behind his back.
    â€œWell now…what have we here?!” he said in a deep voice. “Cows? On MY island? And runty little cows at that!” He picked Dakota up by the foot with