Billy Hooten, Owlboy by Tom Sniegoski

Author:Tom Sniegoski [Sniegoski, Tom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Fantasy, Juvenile Fiction, Action & Adventure, United States, Humor, Fantasy & Magic, Monsters, People & Places, Heroes, Comics & Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Juvenile Nonfiction, Robots, Comic books; strips; etc, Cartoons and Comics, Comic Strips & Cartoons
ISBN: 9780440421801
Publisher: Random House of Canada
Published: 2007-07-24T01:38:27+00:00

CHAPTER 8

“Watch your step,” Archebold said from in front of Billy on the curving, shadow steps.

“Believe me, I know,” Billy said, on the verge of activating the night-vision goggles covering his glasses. He didn't want a replay of the last time he'd visited Monstros.

Archebold stopped short, turning toward him on the step below. “You know?” the goblin asked him. “How would you know unless…”

Billy started to explain, not wanting to get into trouble with the little guy.

“Well, I was going to give your costume back, and I blew the whistle, and along came this wind, which made me lose my balance and …”

“So it was you that stopped that robbery that the Monstros newspapers are all buzzing about?”

“The newspapers are buzzing?” Billy asked excitedly. “About me?”

Archebold stroked his chin, a smile on his homely face. “They certainly are,” he answered. “That was a great piece of publicity—good thinking.”

“But I didn't do it on purpose,” Billy tried to explain as the goblin continued to descend. “I was just—”

“We're getting to the really dark part here,” Archebold said, coming to a stop. “Give me a second and I'll find us a little light so we don't fall and break our heads.” He started to rummage through the inside pockets of his jacket. “I thought I brought him with me …. Ah! There you are.”

Archebold pulled something large from inside his coat, giving it a good shake.

“Wake up!” the goblin yelled, and suddenly the stairway was illuminated by a bright yellow light.

“What the heck is that?” Billy asked, shielding his eyes from the glow.

“It's just Walter,” Archebold said.

Walter was the biggest firefly Billy had ever seen in his life.

“Just Walter,” the bug mimicked, wings fluttering as he hovered in the air before them. “Perhaps if I should turn off my glowing posterior, I could perhaps receive a little more respect, hmmm?”

“Oh my gosh, it talks!” Billy said, shocked.

The bug glared at him, and Billy saw multiple representations of himself in his full superhero attire reflected in the bug's bulbous compound eyes.

“Are you sure about this one, Archebold?” the bug asked. “He doesn't seem all that bright.”

“Nothing to concern yourself with there, Walter,” Archebold told the bug. “You just worry about lighting the stairs so we don't fall and kill ourselves.”

“You're the boss,” Walter said, flying ahead a bit to light their descent.

“I didn't mean to insult him,” Billy said to Archebold as he followed. “It's just that I've never seen a giant talking firefly before.”

The goblin smiled widely, showing off a double row of crazy picket-fence-type teeth. “Just you wait and see, yes, sir,” he said. “You ain't seen nothing yet.”

They finally arrived at the bottom of the steps and stood within an open area of tunnel that seemed very familiar to Billy.

“This is where I ended up before I went to the grocery and stopped the skeletons,” Billy said, following the glowing bug and the goblin.

“Think so?” Archebold asked.

“Well, it looks the same,” Billy said.

Archebold chuckled, shaking his large head from side to side.

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