Wheel of Misfortune Read Online Free Page A

down.
    Around and around the wheel went. At last it stopped. An arrow at the top of the wheel pointed to NAME THAT HERO.
    “The first question in each category is worth ten points,” Harkbert explained. “The second question, twenty points. The third question, thirty points. And so on up to the fifth question. The first scholar to ring the bell gets a chance to answer the first question. If he answers correctly, his team continues answering questions until they miss one. Then the question is thrown open to the other teams.”
    Harkbert cleared his throat.
    “This hero slew twelve mean, nasty-smelling dragons in the year 289,” he said. “He was known as Sir Dirty Dozen. For ten points, name that hero!”
    Wiglaf had no idea who this ancient hero might be. Clearly the questions at this tournament were going to be very hard.
    But Delauncy sprang up right away. He rang the bell.
    “Sir Dirk of Dirkingsmop,” he called.
    “Correct,” Harkbert said.
    “Atta boy, Delauncy!” called Sir Verm.
    Wiglaf was impressed.
    A page ran over to the scoreboard. He hung a 10 under KNC. The KNC fans called:
    Rah, rah, rah for good old red and white!
    Rah, rah, rah for we are always right!
    “A hero is buried in Sir Mandrake’s tomb,” said Harkbert. “For twenty points, name that hero!”
    What an easy question! thought Wiglaf.
    Launcy rang the bell and yelled, “Sir Mandrake!”
    “Correct!” cried Harkbert.
    The KNC score rose to 30.
    “This hero’s name begins with the letter L. Part of his name is also the name of a weapon,” said Harkbert. “For thirty points, name that hero!”
    Wiglaf looked at Erica and rolled his eyes. Anybody could answer this one.
    Delauncy was first to reach the bell.
    “Sir Lancelot!” he cried.
    “Correct!” said Harkbert.
    Suddenly Otto banged his gong.
    BONG!!
    “That’s the bonus gong!” Harkbert exclaimed. “KNC answered the last question correctly so the question goes to them. For 500 bonus points, where did this hero go to school?”
    Flauncy hopped up and rang the bell. He shouted, “KNC!”
    “Right again!” exclaimed Harkbert.
    The page changed the KNC score to 560.
    “Now back to the wheel,” said Harkbert.
    The KNC boys answered every NAME THAT HERO question correctly. By the end of the first round, their score was 650. No other team had any score at all.
    “No wonder they win every year,” Erica grumbled. “No one else gets a turn.”
    It was time for a new category. Chauncy spun the wheel again. It landed on TABLE MANNERS.
    “For ten points,” said Harkbert, “name two eating utensils.”
    Delauncy raced to the bell. “Spoon and knife!” he said.
    “That’s right!” said Harkbert.
    Wiglaf shook his head. Nobody else even had a chance to answer. Suddenly Wiglaf began to understand. Nobody else was supposed to get a turn. That first question had been hard on purpose. Wiglaf bet that KNC had been given the answer. No wonder they were winning!
    Chauncy, Launcy, Flauncy, and Delauncy whipped through TABLE MANNERS. They did the same with FANCY DANCE STEPS. And FINE POINTS OF CROQUET. After the lunch break—eel fritters on a bun—KNC gave the right answers to every question in the AMUSING LATIN VERSES category. Otto banged the bonus gong again, and KNC earned 500 bonus points. Their score kept going up and up and up.
    The other teams’ scores stayed at nothing.
    Late in the afternoon, Wiglaf glanced at Brother Dave. The monk waved. “Go thou DSA!” he called.
    But Wiglaf thought he looked worried.
    Now the category was FASHION. KNC had answered two questions correctly.
    Harkbert said, “For thirty points, name a silver decoration used to fasten a shoe.”
    Flauncy rang the bell. “A strap!” he yelled. Sir Verm stood up. “Want to try again, Flaunce?” he asked.
    Daisy groaned. “O-nay air-fay!”
    “I am sorry,” said Harkbert. “No second chances.”
    Otto blew a small horn: TOOT.
    Flauncy folded his arms over his chest. “Fooey!” he