Read Online [Janitors 04] Strike of the Sweepers by Tyler Whitesides - Free Book Online Page B

my old truck?” Bernard asked. “The one that controlled the mechanical arm to pick up trash cans on the roadside?”
    Spencer nodded as Bernard pushed a button on the dashboard. A panel slid aside and a silver joystick rose out of the console. “Well, this one is about seven hundred times better.”
    The garbologist wrapped his hand around the joystick and pressed a red trigger button. Instantly, a mechanical arm stretched out from the side of the Auran garbage truck. The metal arm telescoped out, reaching much farther across the parking lot than Spencer thought possible.
    The Rubbish Sweeper who was guarding Dez moved to intercept, but Bernard yanked on the joystick and the arm pummeled into the winged woman, tossing her aside. Bernard pressed another button and the claw grippers opened. Then, double-checking the distance in his side mirrors, Bernard dropped the mechanical arm over Dez.
    “Ugh!” Dez grunted, still under the effects of the Rubbish breath. The grippers closed around his middle and scooped him into the air. “This is so boring! Why won’t somebody do something fun?”
    “This ought to be fun enough,” Bernard said, directing the joystick. The mechanical arm retracted, lifting Dez over the open back of the garbage truck. Then Bernard let go of a button, the grippers released, and Dez plummeted into the trash.
    “Right where he belongs,” Spencer muttered.
    Big Bertha roared across the parking lot, New Forest Academy fading in the rearview mirror as they drove down the mountain road.

Chapter 12
    “What’s next?”
     
    No one spoke until Big Bertha ambled out of the canyon and into some residential back roads. Then Daisy raised her hand.
    “Um,” she said. “Shouldn’t someone check on Dez?”
    “Nah,” Bernard said. “I’m sure he’s fine back there. Probably lounging in the trash like a pig in a mud hole.”
    Penny rolled her eyes. “I think you’re the only one who enjoys lounging in trash.”
    “That’s a shame,” he said. “It’s quite cleansing.”
    “Where are we even going?” Spencer asked, watching darkened houses whisk by.
    “Back to Welcher,” Walter answered. “If everything had gone according to plan, we would have stepped right back into my janitorial closet after stealing Holga. This puts us behind schedule.”
    “Why?” Penny said. “What’s next?”
    Alan and Walter glanced at each other. Without the translation of the Manualis Custodem, Spencer wondered if they knew what to do. But Walter delivered the answer without hesitation.
    “We have to steal Belzora.”
    “Bel- who- za?” Bernard asked.
    “The final warlock hammer,” Walter said. “The one that belongs to Mr. Clean.”
    “I thought we just got away from Mr. Clean,” Daisy said. “Now we have to go back and fight him?”
    Alan shook his head. “Not at New Forest Academy. In order for this to work, we have to take Belzora and the bronze nail. That means going straight to the heart of the BEM.”
    Spencer thought back to a handful of visions he’d had in Mr. Clean’s office. “The BEM headquarters are in Washington, D.C.,” he said.
    “Right,” answered Alan. “But that’s not where Mr. Clean is hiding his nail. He has a secret BEM laboratory. We know that’s where he experiments with Glop, so the nail has to be there.”
    “And where is Dr. Frankenstein’s secret lab?” Bernard asked.
    “What?” Daisy cried. “Frankenstein’s working for the BEM?”
    “Massachusetts,” answered Walter. “Outside of Salem. We’ll give you more details when we get back to Welcher.”
    “Why are we going all the way back to Welcher?” Penny asked. “That’s at least an eight-hour drive from here. Won’t it be easier to invade the BEM labs if Mr. Clean isn’t there? If we strike now, we can get in, find the nail, and be waiting for him when he gets back from the Academy.”
    “That’s a decent plan,” said Walter. “But we need a base of operations. Somewhere we can work