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

this wetch weturning! And be sure to give the manure to Sir Victor. You know what he’s like when it comes to woses.’ Skellington pointed west. ‘Time for this wotter to be shipped out of London! Good widdance to bad wubbish!’
    He gave a nod to Goldstein. With a jolt, the cart began the journey to Richmond.
    Willy hung his head. He’d lost everything. His head bobbed as the cart bounced across the cobbles.

13
Goodnight, Sir Victor, Goodnight

    The drover’s cart was one of the new, faster kind, with aerodynamic planks nailed to the sides to help increase the speed. This, along with Goldstein’s heavy use of the whip, meant that Willy had said goodbye to London in no time at all. By mid-afternoon, they crested a hill and saw the fluttering pennants of Richmond Palace.
    â€˜Richmond ho!’ called out Rosenbloom.
    Willy hauled himself upright and peered around the manure.
    Queen Elizabeth’s favourite stately home lay just half a mile away down a gentlysloping hill. It sat on a bend in the river. A great forest stretched out behind it.
    Willy shivered. He’d had a very strange adventure in Richmond Forest, and it didn’t look like this visit was going to be much better.
    â€˜Go around the side,’ said Rosenbloom, pointing to the southern end of the great palace. ‘They’ve got the delivery drawbridge there. And it’s closer to the rose garden.’
    Willy wondered how Rosenbloom knew where the Queen’s rose garden was. It didn’t seem very likely that a goon would have an interest in flowers.
    As Goldstein steered the cart down towards the palace, Willy noticed three riders trot out from the main building and head in the direction of the cart. Two of the riders were carrying long pikes and wearing light armour. Willy knew right away they were Codpieces, members of the feared Royal Protection Squad. This meant that the other rider was none otherthan Skellington’s cousin and the boss of the Codpieces, Sir Victor Vile himself.
    Willy’s heart sank. There was no way out this time. Despite thinking hard all the way from London, Willy had failed to come up with a single escape plan.
    Goldstein pulled the cart up at the tradesman’s entrance. It was guarded by a couple of soldiers and a huge iron portcullis. The portcullis was operated by massive cogs and levers inside the gatehouse. A group of workers were checking the mechanism. A series of loud bangs came from inside the tower.
    A man holding a hammer appeared on top of the gatehouse. ‘Try it again, ’Arry!’ he yelled.
    A few seconds later, the heavy portcullis came down and clanged shut with a boom.
    â€˜Needs more grease, Arfur!’ Harry shouted.
    Arthur nodded. The workers went back inside the gatehouse and began tinkering.
    â€˜Oi!’ yelled Goldstein. ‘Will that fing be goin’ back up any time soon? We’ve got a delivery for the Queen.’
    Arthur poked his head over the edge of the gatehouse. ‘Couple of minutes and we’ll be openin’ up again. If you want, you can unhook the cart and we’ll bring the manure in later. That way yer ’orses can ’ave a bit of a rest, right?’
    It was at this point that Willy felt a tiny tickle of an idea creep into his mind. He looked up at the portcullis.
    Rosenbloom and Goldstein jumped down from the cart. Sir Victor and the Codpieces reined their horses to a halt alongside.
    â€˜Well, well, well,’ sneered Sir Victor. ‘Master Waggledagger, we meet once more! And this time none of your stupid friends are here to protect you.’ His moustache quivered as he dismounted and strutted to the back of the manure-filled cart. ‘And a very fitting way toarrive, I might add,’ he said. ‘A dung beetle on a dung heap!’
    Willy jumped down from the cart, taking care not to get strangled by the rope. ‘Your Lordship,’ he said and bowed. Then he pointed to the noose