Read Online A Matter of Temperance (The Adventures of Ichabod Temperance Book 1) by Ichabod Temperance - Free Book Online

creature. The loathsome bit of nastiness has an aquatic insect stylization. The nightmare moves to cut off our path. We must get past this monster to achieve the docks. Mr. Temperance stabs the horror with his emerald knife! We hurry for the wharf.
    “I see boats, mr. Temperance, we can make it!”
    “Yes, Ma’am, Miss Plumtartt, Ma’am!”
    “Ah!” The gushing cry bursts from my lungs unbidden.
    I am caught! A detestable tentacle has grasped my ankle!
    “Oh no you don’t!”
    Mr. Temperance slashes free. Oh no, another tentacle ensnares Mr. Temperance by the ankle. Now he is caught by the creature...  
    Great Heavens, what a monster!
    A most squidlike creature fills the street opposite. Such a nightmarish creature I could have never imagined.
    Mr. Temperance is putting up a jolly good fight, until he looks at the monster. That seems to dampen his fighting spirit.
    My word, the monster is affecting Mr. Temperance in a psychic assault. Unthinkably, this misplaced massive aquatic appears to be bearing down on the young man with the crushing weight of an alien intelligence. Barrel sized obsidian eyes bore into the little American lad.
    “Break away, Mr. Temperance!”
    He does not hear me. He is caught in the horror’s thrall.
    “Mr. Temperance!” I plead. My heart jumps to see the earnest chap endangered.
    Mr. Temperance has quite given up his fight. The monster means to devour the dear boy!
    “Mr. Temperance!”
    He does not hear me!
    “Mr. Temperance! Break away!”
    He cannot hear me! I scream as loudly as I can manage.
    “Mr. Temperance!”
    Please hear me, my sweet Ichabod!
    “Ichabod!”
    He stirs!
    “Ichabod!” I hear a touch more hope in my strained voice.
    He rouses himself. He is back! That’s it.
    Fight, Ichabod!
    My Ichabod appears to awaken from a deep slumber, but quickly rallies his stuporous senses. He now fights as a man possessed. Mr. Temperance cuts first himself free from the horrible squamous appendages, catches me up into his arms and bears me to the docks; I am too weak with relief at our narrow escape to protest.
    My companion’s faculties have apparently made a sudden recovery for he is able to quickly ascertain which vessel has her steam up and is ready to embark. We unceremoniously board this Channel Launch.
    “Here ya’ go, boys.” Mr. Temperance calls, tossing me into the arms of a group of seamen on the deck of the boat.
    The captain of the vessel is not amused at our uninvited boarding of his ship.
    Before he can have his crew throw us back off, he is distracted by a commotion on the docks. The docks themselves are being wrecked. Invisible forces smash crates, boats and the piers themselves into splinters.
    Mr. Temperance passes the captain his goggles and then draws his large American pistol. With three quick but deafening retorts, he unerringly shoots the mooring cleats off our boat. I credit this decisive action for our escape.
    The captain’s face goes slack with the vision he is presented with through the goggles and then he roars at his crew to push us from the cursed dock.
    I thank providence that Mr. Temperance had the presence of mind to disengage our boat by means of firearm. Otherwise, we would have been too late, overrun by the pursuing mobbe of monsters.
    Ipswich is aswarm with our aberrant adversaries.
    The rising wind in my face makes me feel as if I am a leaf in a hurricane, no longer in control of my own life and destiny. I am blown about by terrifying forces beyond comprehension. A howling gale continues to rise about my ears. This foul wind whisks me from my English island home.
    These storms that have steadily picked up all night now blow us off the isle, just a breath ahead of our adversaries, as if the great gaping maw of an enormous beast has just missed snatching us into its abominable gullet.

Chapter 21 - Paris .
    Ichabod
    “Our train station is just ahead, Mr. Temperance. Are you are still in possession of the scroll?”
    “Yes, Ma’am, Miss