Read Online Crown of the Cowibbean by Mike Litwin - Free Book Online Page A

crown. It was even more beautiful than they had imagined. It was an elegant ring of golden coral that looked thousands of years old. Clusters of seashells decorated the bottom, and a sparkling gem was at the top of each of its eleven peaks. It didn’t shine or sparkle in the light. Rather, golden rays flashed from it, as though the crown itself were made of light.
    â€œI want that crown!” the Kingfish blubbered. “It’s mine!” He rushed for Chuck and Dakota, chasing them around the top of the temple. Dakota put the hornpipe up to his lips, but he tripped and dropped the hornpipe before he could play a single note. It clattered down the side of the temple and BLOOP ! It disappeared in the water.
    Chuck and Dakota tossed the crown back and forth, keeping it away from the Kingfish. They were so busy avoiding him that they did not notice Nwar flying up behind them. The black parrot snatched the crown in midair.
    Chuck and Dakota froze in terror as Nwar brought the crown to the Kingfish. As he slowly lowered it onto his slimy head, his body tripled in size. He loomed over them, roaring with laughter that shook them to their very core. The crown billowed black smoke that curled around his evil face.
    â€œYou little fools!” the Kingfish bellowed in a deep voice that shook the heavens. “I already told you! It’s my ocean! I’m the Boss! I’m the KING!”
    Dakota had never seen a fiercer beast in his life. But he suddenly remembered that there was one creature more feared, more terrifying, and more legendary than this giant catfish: HU’MANS.
    â€œNo, you’re just a bully!” Dakota stood up tall. “And even the meanest bully has something he’s afraid of!” With that, Dakota pulled off his cow mask, showing his true face to the monstrous catfish.
    The Kingfish’s thunderous voice withered to a frightened squeal. “A hu’man? A hu’man?! It’s not possible!”
    Dakota crept toward the Kingfish, smacking his lips. “That’s right, I’m a hu’man! And I’m hungry for a big…baked…catfish!”

    Backing up in fear, the hefty Kingfish began to slip and slide on the temple’s smooth, flat top. His huge new size was difficult to balance on top of the temple. He stumbled and tumbled, falling down, down, down…right into the mouth of the spider crab. The giant crab happily swallowed the king-sized Kingfish, crown and all.
    The stunned pirates looked up at Dakota, standing at the top of the temple.
    â€œIs that a hu’man?” they shrieked. “Run! He’ll boil us! He’ll fry us! He’ll eat us with butter!” Shellfish scattered into the water, swimming away in every direction without looking back. The spider crab let out a monstrous BUUUURRRRRRRPPP! Then he disappeared below the waves, and all was quiet.
    Marco flapped up to the top of the temple. Dakota hadn’t put his mask back on yet. He hoped Marco and Ribeye would not see him as a monster.
    â€œI guess the Kingfish got too big for his own good,” Marco said. He quoted the last line of the poem, “‘ Those who bring ruin will earn it as well. ’ That pirate brought this on himself.”
    Marco looked at Dakota’s worried hu’man face. He picked up Dakota’s cow mask and handed it back to him. “As I said before, little one…I have seen many horrific monsters. But you are not one of them.”
    â€œPlease don’t tell,” Dakota whispered. “I don’t want to be kicked off the island yet.”
    Marco smiled, “Don’t worry, little one. This is a story no one would believe!”
    They all gazed down at the spot where the spider crab had disappeared. “The crown is gone,” Marco moaned. “After all this time, all this way…I would very much liked to have just held it.”
    â€œNo one was supposed to have it,” Chuck said.
    â€œI