Read Online Fennymore and the Brumella by Kirsten Reinhardt - Free Book Online Page B

finally opens the vinegar-chocolate tin and Herr Muckenthaler has an idea
    Herr Muckenthaler lived in a little flat-roofed house whose front garden was scented with mint and basil. He had looked a little surprised to find Fennymore and Beardy outside his house. His hair was a bit messy and he looked as if he’d just been having a little snooze.
    â€˜Fennymore,’ he said. ‘How are you? Come in.’
    â€˜Em, hello,’ said Fennymore. ‘This is probably my father.’ He pointed at Beardy.
    Herr Muckenthaler looked at Beardy.
    â€˜But he has been brain-modified,’ Fennymore added. ‘That means he’s a bit odd.’
    Beardy looked back seriously at Herr Muckenthaler.
    â€˜Hm,’ he said. ‘Take off your shoes and come on in.’
    Beardy’s shoes were caked with mud. Fennymore opened his laces and helped him out of the shoes. Woollen socks striped in red and white came into view. Or rather what was left of what had once been red-and-white-striped socks. They consisted mostly of holes and they gave off an absolutely indescribable stench. Fennymore’s stomach heaved. He held his breath and gave an apologetic look in Herr Muckenthaler’s direction, but he’d already disappeared.
    When Fennymore, holding his father’s hand, entered his teacher’s sitting-room, Herr Muckenthaler came into the room from a little kitchen nook carrying two large cups of coffee and a dish. He put everything on a low table.
    â€˜That’s all I could find quickly,’ he said, looking apologetically at Fennymore’s father. ‘A few old bits of peanut brittle.’
    But Fennymore’s father was totally engrossed in the shelves that were piled up to the ceiling with books and records.
    â€˜Ah,’ he said. ‘Gah.’
    Fennymore didn’t feel the least bit hungry. He was far too agitated for that. But he sat down all the same beside his teacher on one of the cushions that were scattered around the table. He wanted to show him the note from Dr Hourgood right there and then, but he suddenly got another terrible twinge of conscience about missing school. And anyway, he really didn’t know where to begin.
    So he tried some of the weird little things in the dish, which looked like dried-out larvae. They crunched softly and had a kind of musty flavour. The coffee didn’t taste all that great either. Frau Plüsch’s honey cookies had been decidedly better.
    After they’d chewed a bit on the peanut brittle and had half emptied the coffee mugs, Fennymore was starting to feel a bit fidgety.
    Using all kinds of roundabout phrases, which came out of his mouth all twisted up, he thought, he tried to explain to Herr Muckenthaler what had happened. Beardy was standing there the whole time gaping in astonishment at the bookcase.
    â€˜And here is Dr Hourgood’s message,’ Fennymore finished, handing Herr Muckenthaler the piece of paper that he had partially deciphered.
    â€˜This is Dr Hourgood’s message?’ Herr Muckenthaler repeated dully, staring incredulously at the paper. ‘Fennymore, you know, what you’ve just told me is completely unbelievable.’
    Fennymore shrugged his shoulders.
    â€˜It’s not – logical,’ added Herr Muckenthaler. He sighed, took a long slug of coffee and stared off into the distance.
    â€˜Please read it. Fizzy has been kidnapped and …’
    â€˜All right,’ said Herr Muckenthaler and held the paper up to his face.
    â€˜This is certainly Dr Hourgood’s handwriting,’ he said, staring at the paper.
    Then he gazed seriously at Fennymore. ‘Fennymore, if this is a joke, please tell me now. It’s really not funny.’
    Fennymore looked at the floor. He could feel tears building up behind his eyes. Funny? No, it was not particularly funny that his father had lost his reason and Fizzy had been kidnapped, Monbijou had disappeared again and Hubert had