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

‘We’ve been together too long for him to walk out just like that.’
    â€˜And Hunk said he was going to talk to him,’ Jack reminded them.
    â€˜Yes, but it depends on what Hunk actually says to Big Rock,’ said Robin thoughtfully. ‘All that being friendly and apologising and flattering, maybe it was all part of an act to get Big Rock away from Milo.’
    â€˜Well, it looks like he succeeded,’ snorted Princess Ava. She turned to Sam. ‘It looks like there’s not going to be anything else interesting happening, so we might as well head back to Weevil.’
    â€˜Yes, Your Highness,’ nodded Sam.
    â€˜Sam, please,’ sighed Ava. ‘You only need to call me Your Highness when we’re at an official function.’
    â€˜What does he call you when you’re not?’ asked Jack.
    â€˜The Masked Avenger, of course!’ said Ava. ‘Come on, Sam. The royal coach is waiting for us!’

CHAPTER 7
    As Jack, Milo and Robin walked away from their caravan, Milo let out a long and unhappy sigh.
    â€˜So, I guess that’s it!’ he said miserably. ‘If Big Rock leaves to join Hunk, that’ll be the end of Waldo’s Wrestling Trolls. Big Rock was the very last of the Wrestling Trolls.’
    â€˜He’ll be back,’ said Jack. ‘You said so yourself.’
    â€˜I was just saying that to cheer myself up,’ admitted Milo. ‘You saw the expression on his face, and what he said. He wants to leave and join Hunk. That’s it. Waldo’s Wrestling Trolls is over. Finished.’
    â€˜There’s always Thud,’ suggested Robin.
    â€˜No,’ said Milo, shaking his head. ‘We never know when Jack’s going to turn into him. How can we advertise Thud the Wrestling Troll when ninety-nine per cent of the time he’s just Jack.’
    â€˜Maybe I can learn how to control it?’ said Jack hopefully.
    â€˜How?’ asked Milo.
    Jack gave an unhappy shrug.
    â€˜I don’t know,’ he admitted miserably.
    Suddenly they heard the fast pounding of hooves behind them, and a voice shouting, ‘Help! Help! The dam!’
    They turned, and saw a panic-stricken looking man on a galloping horse arrive on the green. The man leapt off the horse and ran to Milo, Jack and Robin.
    â€˜We need help!’ he exclaimed. ‘The dam’s breaking! If it gives way, the valley and all the towns in it will be flooded!’ shouted the man urgently. ‘Everyone will be killed!’
    The man’s frantic yells had brought Princess Ava and Sam Dent hurrying back, and Jack could see that Big Rock and Hunk were also running towards them, anxious expressions on their faces.
    â€˜We need to put logs in the breach and tie them in place!’ said the frightened man.
    â€˜We do that!’ said Big Rock. ‘Come! Quick!’
    â€˜I’m with you, Big Rock!’ nodded Sam Dent, and then he, along with Princess Ava and Hunk with his arm still in a sling, ran after the big troll towards the dam. Jack noticed that, as Princess Ava ran, she was taking her mask from a pocket and pulling it over her head.
    â€˜Let’s see what we can do to help!’ urged Milo.
    As Milo, Jack and Robin followed the others, Milo said to Jack: ‘Maybe you’ll turn into Thud. It sounds like we’re going to need Thud’s strength.’
    â€˜It doesn’t feel like it’s going to happen,’ said Jack unhappily.
    When he was about to turn into Thud, Jack usually felt a tingly sensation run through his body, and his vision became filmy as a thin layer of transparent rock covered his eyes. Right now there was no tingly sensation – he was still just small, nine-year-old Jack.
    As they got near to the dam, Jack realised for the first time how big it was. It was indeed very much like the crude sort of dam that beavers built, but massive. It was made from whole trees piled into the river, and then