Astro-Knights Island by Tracey West

Author:Tracey West
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2012-10-18T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Inside Mordred’s Dungeon

The owl flew in circles, blocking their way into the underground passage.

Alice was fascinated. “It’s like, part owl, part . . . something else. In those books about Mordred I read, he called his mechanical creatures ‘robots.’”

Inside the pouch hanging from her waist, the robot mouse began to wiggle and squeak.

“It can probably sense the owl,” Simon guessed. “I saw a barn owl swoop down and grab a mouse once in the stables. I couldn’t believe how fast it moved!”

Alice thoughtfully looked down at the pouch. “It might work,” she mumbled. “But it’s too cruel.”

Simon suddenly realized what she meant. “Of course! Maybe if we feed the mouse to the owl it will let us pass.”

Alice hugged the pouch. “But it’s just an innocent little mouse!”

“It’s not a real mouse,” Simon reminded her. “It’s a robot. Mordred created it. And right now it’s our best chance of finding out what’s at the end of that rope.”

Alice sighed and nodded. “You’re right,” she said, opening the pouch. She took out the mouse and placed it on the ground. “Good-bye, Mordred Mouse.”

Before the robot mouse could skitter away, the robot owl eagerly swooped down and ate it in one gulp. Then it flew to Alice and hovered next to her shoulder.

“I think it likes you,” Simon remarked.

“It’s amazing,” Alice said, studying the tiny metal gears and parts that made up its body. “Mordred must have been a real genius.”

“More like an evil genius,” Simon said. “At least, that’s what it sounds like. But we’ll never know unless we find that secret bunker of his. Let’s go!”

Simon shimmied down the rope, and Alice followed with the owl flapping his wings behind her. They jumped down into what looked like an underground lab. The wall was covered with plans for a spaceship, the robot owl, and the robot mouse. A portrait of Mordred hung crookedly over a desk strewn with papers. Gears and tools littered a rickety wood table.

“We found it!” Simon cried excitedly. “Mordred’s secret bunker! There’s got to be something in here that tells us how to get that flying craft going.”

Alice picked up a leather-bound journal from the desk.

“Maybe it’s in here,” she said. She and Simon began to read the pages.

I’ve begun doing experiments of a very different kind. I’ve found that by mixing animal DNA and robotics, I can create a whole new breed of intelligent creatures. I’ve created a companion whom I shall call Merlin. Part barn owl and part machine. I believe I’ve made a breakthrough for the ages.

Alice looked up from the page and smiled at the owl. “Oh, hello, Merlin.” Then they read the next entry.

I’ve been ordered by the King and Queen to stop my experimentation. Curse them for their unenlightened thinking! It has been many months since I last wrote. I was jailed by the King and Queen, and it took me a great long while to tunnel out. But now I have returned to the lab, where I will continue my work.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.