Read Online Culpepper's Cannon by Gary Paulsen - Free Book Online Page B

in the breeze. “There’s writing on it.”
    â€œWhat’s it say?”
    â€œI’m not sure. It’s pretty faded.” They both leaned over it. The writing was thin and gray and just barely visible.
    â€œMaybe it tells where some money is,”Amos said, “or maybe it describes a murderer. Maybe—”
    â€œShush. Let me read this.” Dunc bent over the paper farther until his nose was almost touching it. “ ‘Look out for Bremish,” ’ he read aloud. “ ‘He’ll kill us if he gets a chance. The time portal is at the southwest corner of the plaza. When you go through, don’t forget “gazebo.” I think you only get one chance, and if it closes on you, you’re stuck here forever.” ’ He looked up at Amos. “That’s it.”
    â€œTime portal?”
    â€œThat’s what it says.”
    â€œI wonder what it means?”
    â€œA time portal might be like a hole in time.”
    â€œA time hole?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œThat’s crazy. This must be some kind of a joke.”
    â€œI don’t know,” Dunc said. “This paper’s awfully old. When this was written, they probably didn’t know about time portals.”
    â€œThey must have. The guy who wrote this did, anyway.”
    â€œMaybe that’s because the guy who wrote this came from the future.”
    â€œNo way. I don’t believe it.” Amos rubbed his forehead again. “Is it signed?”
    Dunc looked down at the paper. “There’s a
D
, but the rest of the signature was on the corner you broke off.”
    â€œWho’s Bremish?”
    â€œYou got me.”
    â€œWhy do you suppose he was after whoever wrote the note?”
    â€œI don’t know. Maybe they stole something from him. Maybe they stole something valuable.”
    â€œWhat do you suppose it was?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    Amos rubbed his forehead thoughtfully. “If there is a time hole, where do you suppose it is? Where was this plaza?”
    Dunc looked up at Amos. His eyes were gleaming. “There’s only one way to find out.”
    Amos leaned back away from Dunc. “You’ve got that look,” he said.
    â€œWhat look?”
    â€œCome on, Dunc, don’t do this to me. I’ve got to write a paper.”
    â€œIt won’t take long. We’ll just go down to the library and find out where this plaza was, then we’ll go to whatever is there now. It’ll only take a couple of minutes.”
    â€œThen you do it yourself. I’ve got to write a paper.”
    â€œMaybe what they took from Bremish will still be at the plaza. Maybe it will help you with your paper.”
    â€œI don’t care. Every time we do something like this, I get into trouble.”
    â€œMaybe it’s something valuable. Maybe it’s treasure. There’s no better way to impress a girl than with treasure.”
    Amos looked at him, suddenly interested. “Really?”
    â€œReally.” Dunc leaned back and studied Amos carefully, the way a cobra might study a bird just before it struck. “I wonder what kind of treasure a girl like Melissa would be impressed by?”
    But it was overkill. Amos was already on his feet. “What are you waiting for?” he asked. “Let’s go find this plaza.”

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    â€œNo. Absolutely not. I will not go in there.” Amos was standing in front of La Petite, a women’s clothing store. He looked at Dunc.
    â€œCome on, Amos,” Dunc said. “The old maps at the library said this is where the southwest corner of the plaza was. We have to go in there.”
    â€œI thought it said southeast. If it said southeast, maybe it’s in the sporting goods store across the street.”
    â€œNo. It was southwest. You can never remember directions. We have to go in here.”
    â€œNo, we don’t. This is all