Read Online Attack of the Spider Bots by Robert West - Free Book Online Page A

grumbled. “I can hardly read this wrinkled wad of trash. At least try using a Frisbee next time.” Beamer smoothed the paper out enough to read the typed message beneath an elegant letterhead. “Hey guys,” he yelled to the others inside. “You won’t believe this!”
    Seconds later, Ghoulie and Scilla crowded up next to him over the message. Beamer read it out loud: “Mr. Parker requests the presence of the Star-Fighters at his home at #2455 Colonial Street this coming Saturday at 2:00. Please be mindful of Mr. Parker’s condition and prepare to act with respect and the utmost courtesy.” Beamer folded up the message neatly.
    They looked at each other in amazement. Finally Scilla said, “Judgin’ from the last sentence, I’d say it was Mrs. Drummond who wrote it, and she’s not overjoyed with the idea.”
    â€œWell, at least she gave us a code number to input at the gate,” said Ghoulie.

    On Saturday, the Star-Fighters appeared at 2:00 sharp and were dressed just as sharply. Scilla even wore a dress. Beamer and Ghoulie almost didn’t recognize her. She couldn’t stop wiggling and pulling the hem down to cover her spindly legs.
    Ghoulie’s mom drove them to the gate and flooded them with a thousand dos and don’ts. You’d have thought they were going to the White House. Ghoulie plugged in the code, and the gate opened obediently, though with a lot of grating and squealing. They waved good-bye to Ghoulie’s mom as the gate closed behind them, and they turned to walk up the lonely, broken driveway.
    Mrs. Drummond met them at the door, her face as dark as a storm cloud. “Follow me,” she said like a drill sergeant, “and keep your hands to yourself.” Scilla saw Beamer open his mouth to speak. “And no talking,” she added. His mouth snapped shut.
    The house was the closest thing to a palace Scilla had ever seen. The entry room was as big as a hotel lobby. Grand doorways bordered by columns led to rooms on either side of the large room. Mrs. Drummond led them straight ahead, beneath a double staircase that circled from either side of the entry room to a second-story entry above. Everything was polished and gleaming, but the house still seemed dark and old — as in Dark Ages old. Scilla looked around for a suit of armor — one with moving eyes and a sword ready to lop off somebody’s head.
    As they walked down the wide hallway, Scilla sensed something familiar about the house. It took her awhile, since she’d never been in a house this grand, but then it hit her. The furniture, curtains, decorations, the figurines, and pictures were like what you’d find in any older woman’s house — and Scilla had been with her grandmother to many such homes. As they moved toward the back of the house, Scilla looked into one room after another. There were no big chairs, no heavy cabinets or tables, but lots of glass cabinets filled with delicate figurines. But this was supposed to be a man’s house — Mr. Parker’s house!
    Mrs. Drummond took them up a narrow flight of stairs at the back of the house. Upstairs was a whole different world. Here were long carved tables, huge stuffed chairs and sofas, large grandfather clocks, and heavy carved bookcases. Here was a man’s world — but a much-abandoned man’s world. Nothing was out of place, but the dust on the floor, rugs, and furniture was as thick as turkey gravy. Windows were so covered with grime, you couldn’t even see out. Even worse were the spiderwebs. They were in the corners of every door and entryway, winding through and around the furniture like superhighways. Strangely, the webs were the brightest objects in the rooms. Their delicate designs provided the only thing close to beauty among the ruins.
    Mrs. Drummond finally stopped before a large set of heavily carved double-doors. She turned back to the Star-Fighters with