Read Online Hunk and Thud by Jim Eldridge - Free Book Online

run on my own.’

    Big Rock frowned.
    â€˜Meditate?’ he repeated, puzzled.
    â€˜I get in touch with my inner troll,’ said Hunk. ‘Is that okay with you?’
    â€˜Sure,’ nodded Big Rock.
    â€˜Cool,’ said Hunk. ‘I’ll see you at the ring in an hour.’
    With that, Hunk set off, his big troll feet pounding away on the grass. Big Rock watched him go.
    â€˜He meditate,’ he told Milo and Jack.
    â€˜So we heard,’ said Milo.
    Big Rock frowned.
    â€˜What means meditate?’ he asked.
    â€˜It means … er … thinking,’ said Milo. ‘Deep thinking.’
    â€˜Ah,’ nodded Big Rock.
    He stood there, silent, for a few seconds, then announced: ‘I done thinking. Now I go and practise and get ready.’
    And with that, the huge troll started going through some moves to limber up, while Milo and Jack watched.
    â€˜What do you think?’ whispered Milo to Jack.
    â€˜I think we wait and see how Hunk does in the ring,’ said Jack.
    â€˜Meditation run!’ scoffed a voice beside them.
    They turned and saw that Robin had joined them.
    â€˜You heard all that?’ asked Milo.
    â€˜Of course,’ said Robin. ‘The man’s a poser!’
    â€˜Hey!’ called a voice.
    They turned and saw Sam Dent and Princess Ava heading towards them.
    â€˜What’s this I hear about a match between Big Rock and Hunk?’ asked Ava. ‘Hunk just told us about it. Is he making it up?’
    â€˜It’s true,’ said Jack. ‘They’re going into the ring together as soon as Hunk gets back from his practice run.’
    â€˜This I have to see!’ said Ava eagerly. ‘We were about to head back to Weevil, but when we heard about this …’
    â€˜Not to be missed!’ nodded Sam in agreement.
    â€˜At least we’ll find out whether Hunk is a real wrestler or a fake,’ Milo muttered to Jack.
    Inside the Town Hall, Jack and the gang watched as Big Rock did press-ups and generally limbered up. A few of the townspeople had wandered in, curious to see this unofficial extra bout. As word spread, Jack noticed even more people arriving and grabbing a seat.
    The only person not there was Hunk.
    Milo looked at his watch.
    â€˜Hunk should be here by now,’ he said.
    Robin snorted. ‘He’s chickened out,’ he said. ‘Like I said, he’s just a poser. I bet he’s never wrestled.’
    The sound of the door opening made them all look round, and they saw Hunk appear. He had an apologetic smile on his face. His left arm was in a sling.
    â€˜Hi, guys!’ he said as he walked down the aisle and joined them. He gestured at the sling on his arm. ‘It looks like the match is off, I’m afraid. I injured my arm.’
    â€˜While meditating?’ asked Robin, a sarcastic note in his voice.
    â€˜Stopping a runaway horse,’ said Hunk. ‘It had a small child on its back and it was out of control, so I jumped in its path and pulled it to a halt.’ He gave a sigh. ‘Unfortunately, I wrenched my arm doing it.’
    â€˜That was a very brave thing to do,’ said Jack.
    Hunk shrugged.
    â€˜It was nothing,’ he said. ‘It’s just unfortunate that I can’t go into the ring with Big Rock until my injured arm gets better.’
    â€˜Not to worry,’ said Big Rock. ‘Accidents happen. You join us anyway. We still be tag team.’
    â€˜Er …’ said Milo cautiously. ‘It’s not that easy, Big Rock.’
    â€˜Why?’ demanded Big Rock.
    â€˜We need to see Hunk actually
wrestle
,’ said Milo.
    â€˜But he can’t,’ said Big Rock. ‘He hurt arm saving small child from runaway horse!’
    â€˜Yes, well …’ began Milo awkwardly.
    â€˜You don’t believe me,’ sighed Hunk.
    â€˜I never said that!’ defended Milo.
    â€˜You didn’t need to,’ said Hunk. He gave a