Read Online Bang Goes a Troll by David Sinden, Matthew Morgan, Guy Macdonald, Jonny Duddle - Free Book Online Page A

chop.” He let go of the rope and the metal blade dropped between the uprights. It thudded down, chopping the meat in two. A bloody chunk of steak fell into the basket on the floor. Rats scurried over, climbing into the basket to gobble the meat up.
    â€œBlud! Bone!” they heard. “Where are you?”
    Footsteps were coming along the corridor outside. The door opened and Baron Marackai looked in. He saw the meat in the basket. “You’re not to play with the guillotine!” he shouted. “We’ll need that nice and sharp for after the hunt. We’ll be making trophies from the trolls’ heads.”
    Blud jumped down from the bench. “Sorry, Baron,” he said.
    A rat scampered up Blud’s trouser leg.
    â€œAre the giant and the vet secure?” the Baron asked.

    â€œYes, Baron,” Blud said, hopping and wriggling. He shook his leg.
    â€œThen it’s time to prepare the Predatron. I want all the machines checked.”
    Blud squealed as the rat nibbled.
    â€œAnd stop messing around!”

Chapter 14
    W ITH THE SOUND OF THE RIVER FADING BEHIND them, Ulf and Tiana crept down a narrow passageway. They came to a dead end.
    â€œWe’re lost,” Tiana said.
    Ulf took out his compass, checking his bearings.
    Gumball crept beside him. “Gumball help,” the goblin said.
    Gumball reached out and tapped his bony knuckles against the wall. It sounded as if the wall was made of metal.
    Ulf pushed against it and a sheet of rusty corrugated iron bent outward. “Thanks, Gumball,”he said, ducking through.
    He came out in a wide tunnel that was lit by a line of electric lightbulbs.
    Tiana flew after him. “What is this place?” she asked.
    The line of bulbs stretched in either direction, and rail tracks ran along the ground. The tunnel was made of rusting iron. Ladders were bolted to the walls, leading up and down through hatches.
    Gumball scurried to Ulf’s side. “Nasty here,” he muttered.
    â€œWhat do you mean, Gumball?” Ulf asked.
    â€œProfessor shut it long time ago.”
    â€œProfessor Farraway?”
    Gumball stepped into the light. “Professor friend. Professor made me spotter,” he said proudly.
    â€œI can’t think why,” Tiana muttered. She flew off down the tunnel.
    The little goblin looked at Ulf, grinning with his broken teeth. “Gumball good spotter. I seeeverything.”
    Ulf saw Gumball’s eyes creeping toward his compass. He slipped it back in his pocket.
    â€œUlf, look at this,” Tiana called.
    Ulf ran to look. The fairy was hovering by a contraption on a wrought-iron stand. It looked like a huge metal box with a large tube poking from it. It had a mechanism of springs, rubber belts, and freshly greased cogs. Inside the box, Ulf could see big black balls, and on its side was a lever. A sign read STICKY STUCKY .
    â€œWhat is this, Gumball?” Ulf asked. He turned back. The goblin was creeping up behind him, reaching for his pocket.
    Gumball quickly pulled his hand back and started biting his dirty fingernails. “Hunters built the machines,” he mumbled. He pointed to a hatch in the wall that was bolted shut. “They hunted beasts out there.”
    Ulf slid the bolt sideways and swung the hatchopen. Daylight flooded in as he looked across a wide snowy valley. In its middle, a tall metal pole was sticking out of the ground. Hanging from the top of the pole, on a chain, was a large metal ball.
    Further down the valley, he could make out the long metal arm of a crane. It was white with fresh snow, and on its end was a big mechanical claw.
    On the ground by the crane, he saw the snow move. A hatch lifted open and a big man with a thick beard climbed out, carrying a pot and a shovel. Behind him came a small man dabbing his nose with a red rag.
    â€œLook,” Ulf said.
    It was the Baron’s men.
    â€œWhat are they doing?” Tiana asked, flying to Ulf’s