Gertie Milk and the Keeper of Lost Things by Simon Van Booy

Author:Simon Van Booy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2017-10-03T04:00:00+00:00

20

Doll Head

“THIS IS THE ONLY WAY!” Kolt yelled, as the Time Cat rolled sideways off the branch and began hurtling toward the ground at an unthinkable speed. “If we went back to Skuldark now, they might follow us!”

Giant tree leaves slapped the window as Kolt fought to regain control. Gertie was pinned back in her seat by the sheer force of their dive.

“Let’s hope the emergency rockets heat up in time.”

“Or what will happen?”

“We’ll hit the ground, Gertie, or get ripped in two by a branch, then hit the ground.”

Doll Head was right behind them. Gertie could see the sinister face in the Time Cat’s only side mirror. The head was dirty and old, like something from a nightmare rather than a toy cupboard. Its mouth was locked in a grin of black and grimy teeth, while glass eyes stared freakishly at its intended victims—in this case, Gertie and Kolt.

“Why are they are in a giant, weird doll head?”

“Because Losers take pleasure in spreading fear,” Kolt explained. “People can’t learn anything when they’re afraid, you see. And there’s nothing creepier than a hairless doll with tooth decay.”

“Except . . .” Gertie said without thinking, “an arm playing tennis with a chopped-off hand!”

“Wonderful!” Kolt laughed. “Only a true Keeper would make jokes as we’re tumbling to our deaths.”

“What about the emergency rockets?”

Kolt looked at the dial. “Warm, but still not hot.”

Doll Head was closing in, dodging leaves, trying to get right up behind them as Kolt did his best to steer around giant pieces of fruit.

“I just don’t get it. If the Losers hate technology, why are they flying around in a giant doll-head spaceship?”

“Because like most maniacs, their own rules don’t apply to themselves!”

As another dinosaur apple loomed dead ahead, Gertie banged her fist against the emergency rockets’ dial.

Kolt scowled. “I’m sure that won’t woooooorrrrkkk!”

The Time Cat was rocked by four enormous bangs, followed by the sound of glass shattering, as fizzing corks exploded through the broken lights into the smug face of Doll Head.

“There go the rare Jaguar taillights,” Kolt cried. “But at least we have rocket power.”

Gertie looked back and saw yellow mist engulfing their pursuer.

“What’s all that smoke?”

“It’s not smoke.” Kolt laughed. “It’s champagne. Each taillight contains three bottles of vintage French wine, which, in the event of an emergency free-fall, can be heated to 604 degrees Fahrenheit and then released through metal straws giving us jet propulsion for about ten minutes.”

“Then what?”

“We have to wait until we’re back in the 1820s to sneak into Louis XVIII’s wine cellar at Versailles to borrow a few more bottles.”

“No, I mean after the jet power runs out.”

“Oh, we crash, unless we find somewhere to land first.”

“Then let’s start looking!”

Kolt pulled back firmly on the steering wheel, and the Time Cat’s hood began to rise. They were no longer falling but blasting through the dinosaur orchard so quickly it was a miracle they didn’t smack into any low-hanging fruit.

“We’ve lost them!” Kolt said triumphantly. “One of the champagne corks must have hit Doll Head in the eye.

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