Read Online Jase & the Deadliest Hunt by John Luke Robertson - Free Book Online Page B

because you’re so cold and so wet.
    “I think it’d be awesome if at the end of this we saw an allibeaver,” John Luke says.
    “You and your allibeavers.” Willie shakes his head.
    “They’re real.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Ask Papaw what happened at Camp Ch-Yo-Ca.”
    “Yeah, right. I’m not making a fool of myself.”
    “Hey, you guys, hush for a minute.” You hold up a hand. “Hear that?”
    The sound comes from overhead somewhere and resembles a vicious scream.
    “What was that ?”
    It sounded like a noise from a horror movie.
    Then it rings out again, morphing into a higher-pitched mew this time.
    “I think that’s some kind of cat,” John Luke says.
    Willie snorts. “A cat can’t make a sound like that.”
    You glance at your brother and have to laugh. “You’re a sopping mess, you know that?”
    “Be quiet,” he says. “I forgot my hat at the lodge.”
    “I think that was a mountain lion,” you say. “Or this island’s version of a mountain lion.”
    “Well, we are on the mountain .”
    You keep walking, hopefully getting closer and closer to your objective. The path soon ends, and there’s only a sharp, rocky incline left to climb. Trees and brush cover all of it but the very top, which consists of jagged stones.
    Willie points up the slope. “Who wants to be king of the mountain?”
    “I’m gathering that you don’t,” you say.
    “You’re gathering correct. That’s a little too steep for me.”
    John Luke steps forward. “I’ll head up there.”
    “I’ll go too,” Cole says, joining him.
    “Keep your swords in their sheaths,” you say. “We don’t want any more accidents .” You look at Willie when you say that.
    It’s still pouring as John Luke and Cole begin to head up the final stretch of mountain. They disappear into the trees, then reappear for a while as they hike up the rocky terrain.
    The wild, high-pitched wailing sound rings out again. You shoot Willie a look. “Think we should go up there too?”
    “They’ll be fine.”
    The wildcat sound rips through the woods, closer now.
    “Maybe we should go,” you say.
    Willie nods. “Yeah, maybe.”
    So you follow the boys’ path.
    As you ascend the slope, you hear some screams, then a commotion ahead of you. You rush forward, and as you do, here come John Luke and Cole, straight toward you. Falling, stumbling, running.
    Their swords are nowhere to be seen.
    “What’s going on?” you shout, but soon John Luke and Cole are flying past you.
    “Get out of here! It’s coming!” John Luke yells.
    You steady your sword and hold your ground. Willie doesthe same next to you. You don’t hear anything, but that doesn’t matter.
    Then you spot it. About twenty feet above you, crouching on the edge of a boulder, is a massive cougar. It’s just . . . immense. Its fur is silver gray, its face round, its ears erect. The animal stares down at you before unleashing a wicked, ripping roar. Fierce and high and cackling.
    “That’s a big cat,” Willie says, holding his katana with both hands.
    “It’s a cougar,” you correct him.
    “I think it’s a mountain lion.”
    “Yeah, same thing.”
    “Or maybe it’s a puma.”
    “Well, yeah,” you say.
    “Or maybe a catamount.”
    You give Willie a look. “Yeah, it’s a big cat. I know.”
    “Maybe a panther.”
    “Would you be quiet?”
    All of a sudden, the cougar leaps from the rock to the ground close by you, and that’s when . . .
    Wait a minute. It looks like Spider-Man.
    The mountain lion doesn’t jump with all four paws. It leaps the way a man would leap.
    And now it’s standing on two feet, right in front of you.
    Now you notice what John Luke and Cole probably saw.
    This is no ordinary mountain lion.
    “That’s a dude,” Willie stammers.
    It sounds crazy, but he’s right. This is some kind of big mountain lion–meets–man hybrid.
    I’m losing my mind. I gotta be losing my mind.
    “Hello, gentlemen.”
    You look at Willie and know you’ve