Kingdom Keepers V (9781423153429) Read Online Free Page B

screaming at a rock concert.
    Finn struggled to reach the front of the coal-car, where it connected to the locomotive. The cat was nowhere to be seen. The engineer’s seat was vacant, a number of levers and hand grips to either side.
    The throttle, Finn thought, seeing one lever pushed well forward. The train’s unpredictable movements made it impossible to judge his vault into the locomotive. He threw a knee up onto the wall of the coal-car. The train’s movement dumped him. After two more failed tries, he took a running start and vaulted atop the coal-car’s pile of stacked wood and then into the locomotive. He lunged for the throttle to slow the train, but unintentionally shoved the throttle forward.
    â€œToo fast!” Wayne hollered, reduced to playing spectator.
    The locomotive was a stone skipping on lake water, a few tons of iron rising and falling, floating off of and then crashing back down onto the rails.
    Finn grabbed for the throttle and pulled it back. In doing so, he discovered what he thought must be another feature of 2.0—enhanced strength when under pressure. He pulled so hard the lever broke off in his hand.
    The locomotive screamed and gained more speed.
    Finn stood there with a useless piece of metal in his hand.
    â€œThe brake!” Wayne hollered.
    Finn climbed into the empty seat and tugged hard on the only other lever. The wheels cried as sparks flew. The train slowed slightly—enough that it settled onto the track. He spotted a massive red button marked EMERGENCY ONLY. He stretched to reach it. If this didn’t qualify as an emergency, nothing did. Holding the brake required both hands and the strength of both arms. If he eased up even slightly, the train charged ahead, threatening to derail. He tried to reach the red button with his shoulder, but it was no use—too far away. The smell of melting metal and sparks filled the air. He repositioned himself—hands between his legs, his feet aimed above his head.
    He kicked the red button with his heel. Instantly the groaning ceased—the motor had been disconnected or shut off. The sparks continued to fly, but now the locomotive actually slowed. A hundred yards later it ground to a complete stop. Finn spun around to see Wayne, his face in a total sweat, sitting on the floor of the coal-car.
    â€œLet’s get out of here,” Wayne said.
    * * *
    â€œNo more rides,” Finn said as Wayne led him into Tomorrowland.
    â€œAgreed,” Wayne said.
    He brought them backstage at the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, under the faint glare of an exit sign. They leaned against the cool wall and rested a moment.
    â€œSo they know I’m here,” Finn said.
    â€œApparently. Yes.”
    â€œYou know what bothers me about that?”
    â€œWhat?” Wayne asked, though his tone of voice said he didn’t want to hear.
    â€œWith the battle going at Base, how can the Overtakers possibly focus over here at the same time?”
    Wayne said, “Because they’ve increased their numbers dramatically. The Green Eyes, for instance.”
    Finn and the Keepers had discovered that some of their schoolmates had joined forces with the Overtakers. They wore green contact lenses in order to tell each other apart from the other students. It was one of many recent developments that suggested the ranks of the Overtakers had grown. Meanwhile, the Keepers remained at seven—the five original DHI models and two sisters, Jess and Amanda, both with intriguing powers. There was talk of six volunteer DHIs having been added, the result of an educational quest inside the Magic Kingdom. Finn had yet to meet them.
    â€œStill outnumbered, and overtired,” Finn said. “Great!”
    Wayne glared at him.
    â€œBefore we get into the whole Fantasia thing,” he said, “what about the maiden voyage?”
    â€œThat can wait,” Wayne said. “We have more pressing matters.”
    â€œIt’s a