Read Online Chew Bee or Not Chew Bee by Martin Chatterton - Free Book Online Page A

with your tongue,’ he said. ‘It looks swollen.’
    â€˜I alwayth get that,’ said Willy, forcing himself to smile. ‘I love honey, but it doethn’t love me. Thtill, mutht have honey!’
    Willy’s tongue felt like it had been taken out and replaced by a pillow. ‘Well,’ he said, backing towards the rear of the stage, ‘I’d love to thtay and chat, but I’ve got thingth to do.’
    Goldstein glared at Willy.
    Rosenbloom frowned as though he was trying to solve a very difficult puzzle.
    Skellington scowled. ‘Stay exactly where you are! Don’t think you can get away that easily, impudent pup! I still think you might have had something to do with the dwowning of the dog, Waggledagger. You’re up to no good, just like your welative. I want you in that dungeon, immediately, do you hear? Immediately!’
    Willy gulped. If he went into a dungeon with Sir Victor Vile, he might never come out. And then he would never be able to tell The Ghost what he had discovered in Skellington’s warehouse. He drew a ragged breath, feeling as if a great weight was pressing down on his chest.
    â€˜Wait, Sir Anstruvver!’ said Yorick. ‘Can we at least keep the boy till tomorrow? We need ’im to get the show up an’ runnin’. I can’t do everyfink meself.’
    Skellington looked at Willy and paused, as though reconsidering his decision. Then he turned back to Yorick and smiled nastily. ‘Not a chance!’
    Skellington turned to his two goons. ‘Wosenbloom, take this boy to Wichmond stwaightaway,’ he said. ‘You are to deal vewwy harshly with anyone who twies to interfere.’
    Rosenbloom nodded and grabbed Willy by the scruff of his neck.
    â€˜And, Goldstein,’ continued Skellington, ‘send a wider onwards to Wichmond to advise Sir Victor of your imminent awwival.’
    â€˜Yes, sire,’ boomed Goldstein. He lumbered off, sniggering.
    Yorick turned to Charlie. ‘You must be able to do summink!’ he said.
    Charlie shrugged helplessly. ‘Sorry, Yorick,’ he said. ‘But when the King of Denmark Lane gives the order, we’ve got to do as we’re told if we want to stay in business. The show must go on and all that.’
    â€˜Wise words, Mr Ginnell. Vewwy wise,’ Skellington said. He prodded Charlie in the chest and glared at the rest of the Skulls. ‘You’ve had a lucky escape. Don’t forget that.’ He turned and wobbled towards the exit. ‘Come, Wosenbloom! Let us go. Bwing that wascal with you!’
    Rosenbloom began dragging Willy towards the theatre doors.
    â€˜Sorry, Waggledagger,’ said Yorick. ‘I’ll… I’ll…I’ll…fink of summink!’
    Willy didn’t reply. He kept his eyes on the floor as he was dragged out of the Billericay Bowl like a sack of potatoes. His days as a Black Skull were over. And if someone had murdered his uncle, then that murderer would walk free. He’d failed.
    Rosenbloom dragged Willy outside and threw him into the back of a drover’s cart that was parked in front of the Billericay Bowl. Willy landed face-first in a pile of horse manure.
    From his perch on the driver’s seat, Goldstein laughed. ‘Don’t spoil the manure, you ’orrible spud! That’s a special delivery for the rose gardens at Richmond Palace. Top-grade horse poop from the Royal Cavalry stables that is, an’ the Queen don’t want it polluted wiv your nasty little diseases!’
    Willy pulled his head free of the horse poop and did his best to clean it off his face.
    Rosenbloom hopped aboard. He looped a length of rope around Willy’s neck and fastened it to the back of the driver’s seat. Then he joined Goldstein at the front of the cart.
    Sir Anstruther Skellington beamed nastily from the theatre steps. ‘Wemember,’ he said, ‘hand him diwectly to Sir Victor. I don’t want