Kingdom Keepers V (9781423153429) Read Online Free

of threat. But Finn had learned to trust nothing.
    Next, a cat appeared, bounding from one seat to the next, its fur tousled by the wind as it moved toward them.
    The fox’s eyes flashed golden.
    â€œI must warn you,” Wayne said, “as adorable as these creatures may be—”
    â€œI know,” Finn said.
    â€œThe fox could do some real harm.”
    â€œTo you,” Finn said. “Not to me. With me, he only gets a bite of light.”
    â€œUnless he challenges your fear level.”
    â€œVersion 2.0 changes all that,” Finn said confidently.
    The fox bared its teeth and hopped up over the bench seat, now a bench closer to the two.
    The cat continued toward them along the far edge of the train car.
    â€œHow do you want to handle this?” Finn asked.
    â€œYou’re the leader.”
    â€œNot with you around.”
    â€œYes you are, Finn. Now and always.”
    â€œWhat about Philby?” he blurted out. He caught sight of the older man’s troubled eyes, as if Finn knew something he shouldn’t. That ’ s what I thought. The moment passed.
    â€œDo you know these animals?” Finn asked.
    â€œWell, no. Not by name. But seeing as how we were discussing Pinocchio…”
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œIt is a fox and a cat that lead the wooden boy astray.”
    â€œSeriously? Oh, perfect. So they’re after me?”
    â€œI would doubt they’ll discriminate.”
    â€œOkay, you take the cat,” Finn said, finally having a plan. He liked cats; he couldn’t see trying to hurt one.
    â€œAnd the fox?”
    â€œIs all mine,” Finn said.
    â€œHe’ll go for me,” Wayne said. “The elderly have many more complications with rabies treatment. The fox can bite as strongly as a dog and is probably twice as quick.”
    â€œThis is not cheering me up,” Finn said.
    â€œNor is it intended to. His instincts will dictate he go for either the throat or the Achilles.”
    â€œYeah, well, I won’t let him get that close to you.”
    â€œI’m not talking about my throat, Finn.”
    Finn swallowed hard; 2.0, he reminded himself, knowing it hadn’t been put to this kind of test. So, he thought, we have a fox, a cat, and a guinea pig.
    The cat stretched and looked in the direction of the fox. It seemed just for a moment as if they’d communicated. Wayne was a good five feet from the path of the cat. Finn wanted to remind him about their assignments, but he kept quiet.
    The fox launched himself at Finn. Wayne lunged for the cat.
    Finn extended both arms and almost knocked the flying fox off the train. The animal squealed—a sound that cut Finn to his core—then rolled and slammed onto the floor.
    Wayne miscalculated. By moving to intercept the cat, the feral creature put the move on him, feinting to the inside and slipping easily between Finn and Wayne. Finn caught this out of the corner of his eye, but his concentration remained on the fox. It came to all fours, reared back, and bared its teeth. Its eyes filled with golden light and it growled viciously, raising the hair on Finn’s arms.
    It pounced.
    Finn caught it just beneath its front legs as the force pushed him back onto the bench. The fox snapped for Finn’s throat, spraying drool. The guttural sounds it emitted turned Finn’s stomach—it meant to kill him. Another snap for his throat. And yet another. This time, it bit through the hologram. Without 2.0 it would have torn through Finn’s flesh.
    Wayne backed away, afraid of both animals. Finn had never seen him like this.
    Finn hollered, “The cat!”
    He threw the fox hard and high. It flew through the air and landed in the next car back. The moment it landed it charged again, coming at Finn like an airborne missile.
    In that briefest of instants, Finn had gotten a look forward: the cat was streaking toward the locomotive. “The cat!” he said again, sensing