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

rueful smile. ‘Don’t worry,’ he said. ‘I absolutely understand your position, Milo. I’d be suspicious as well, if I was you, in these circumstances.’
    Big Rock frowned as he looked at Milo and Jack.
    â€˜You think Hunk telling lie?’ he asked, annoyed.
    â€˜Well …’ began Milo, embarrassed.
    â€˜I think they think I might have made it up about being a wrestler,’ said Hunk. ‘Or exaggerated how good I am.’ He gave a laugh. ‘And you can see their point of view. When I’m forced to prove it, I injure my arm!’ He smiled at Milo and Jack. ‘As I say, I’m not upset. I only wish I had the chance to prove you wrong. But …’

    â€˜You say Hunk lie!’ said Big Rock, and now they could see the big troll was really upset.
    â€˜We never said that, Big Rock,’ appealed Jack. ‘But, as Hunk says himself, we’ve never actually seen him wrestle …’
    â€˜He say he’s good,’ growled big Rock. ‘That good enough for me!’
    â€˜Yes, but, just because someone says they’re good, it doesn’t mean they are,’ said Milo. ‘I mean, I could
say
I’m a brilliant wrestler, but it doesn’t mean I am.’
    â€˜You not brilliant wrestler,’ said Big Rock, looking puzzled at this turn of the conversation.
    â€˜Exactly, that’s the point I’m trying to make,’ said Milo.
    Big Rock scowled.
    â€˜Trolls don’t lie,’ he said. ‘And Hunk is troll!’
    â€˜Half-troll,’ put in Robin. ‘Like Jack.’
    Hunk looked at Jack, intrigued.
    â€˜You’re a half-troll like me?’ he said, impressed. ‘Which part?’
    â€˜All of him,’ said Milo.
    â€˜But I’m not the same as you,’ said Jack. ‘When I turn into a troll, all of me turns troll. From the top of my head to the bottom of my feet.’
    â€˜He turns into Thud,’ added Big Rock. ‘Big strong troll. Stronger than me.’
    â€˜Wow!’ said Hunk, awed. ‘I’d like to see that!’
    â€˜We all would,’ said Milo, ‘but it doesn’t happen a lot.’
    â€˜And I can’t make it happen,’ said Jack. ‘It just sort of … happens. Now and then.’
    â€˜When things are bad,’ said Big Rock. ‘When we’re in trouble. And there’s big danger.’
    â€˜Awesome!’ said Hunk. He gave a big smile. ‘We could be a triple troll tag team: Big Rock, Hunk and Thud!’
    â€˜No!’ snapped Big Rock, still upset. ‘They call you liar!’ He shook his head. ‘Me and Hunk make troll tag team on our own.’
    Milo and Jack gaped at their big troll friend.
    â€˜But Big Rock … !’ Milo began to protest.
    Big Rock shook his head.
    â€˜Me and Hunk be troll tag team on our own,’ Big Rock repeated. ‘Come on, Hunk.’
    With that, Big Rock turned and stomped away.
    Hunk looked awkward and embarrassed.
    â€˜Actually, I don’t think you should be too hasty, Big Rock!’ he called after the big troll, but Big Rock kept walking, a cloud of upsetness hanging over him. Hunk turned back to Milo, Jack and Robin and gave an apologetic smile. ‘I’m sorry about that,’ he said. ‘I think he got upset because we’re both trolls. It’s a brotherhood thing. I’ll have a word with him and sort it out.’
    And with that, Hunk hurried after Big Rock.
    â€˜Huh! Well, you messed that up!’ snorted Robin.
    â€˜What else could I say?’ asked Milo defensively.
    â€˜You know how sensitive Big Rock is,’ said Princess Ava accusingly, coming forward for the first time.
    â€˜Yes, but Milo was on a loser,’ put in Sam, defending Milo. ‘Whatever Milo said, he would have been in the wrong, unless he said yes to Hunk joining the group.’
    â€˜Don’t worry, Big Rock will come back,’ said Milo confidently.