Read Online Oddest of All by Bruce Coville - Free Book Online Page B

following his guide, Dennis hopped along strips of squishy land and crossed mucky areas on chains of grassy hummocks. Thick ooze bubbled and popped on all sides. Finally they came to a pair of towering willows that formed a natural archway.
    â€œThis is as far as I go,” said his guide. “Beyond these trees lies the Court of King Urpthur, Lord of All Frogs. Be courteous and respectful when you greet him.”
    â€œBut—”
    The frog held up its front feet. “The king will tell you all you need to know. Go in.”
    Stepping between the willows, Dennis caught his breath in wonder. Before him stretched a courtroom of elegant beauty. Though it had no walls, its boundaries were clearly marked by stems of mushroom and fern. Growing far straighter here than anywhere else he had seen them, they formed a series of alternating green and beige pillars. The caps of the mushrooms spread like giant umbrellas, while the fern fronds curled high to create a lacy green roof.
    In the center of the court shimmered a long pond filled with water lilies, their soup-bowl-sized blossoms displaying a thousand shades of pink, yellow, and white. Along the sides of the pond, standing on their hind legs and chatting casually, were dozens of frogs, most taller than Dennis. Many wore hats and capes and had swords buckled about their waists.
    At the far side of the pond, on an ornate throne carved directly into the giant trunk of a living willow, sat King Urpthur. His golden crown was studded with emeralds. A scarlet cape hung from his shoulders. The green fingers of his right hand curled around a golden scepter. Next to the throne was a gong, suspended from a willow frame.
    The court fell silent when Dennis entered. All eyes—and big, goggling eyes they were—turned to him.
    â€œCome forward,” croaked the king.
    Dennis did as he was asked. But when he reached the edge of the pond he stopped, uncertain. Was he supposed to wade through it or pick his way around it? Looking more carefully, he was relieved to spot a faint path on the grassy bank. Following it around the pond to a spot directly in front of the king, he paused, uncertain of what to do next. Finally remembering his guide’s warning to be “courteous and respectful,” he made an awkward bow.
    King Urpthur smiled, which pretty much split his face in half. “Greetings, Dennis, and welcome to my court! Please accept my apologies for the frightening way we brought you here. It is difficult to transport a human to Froglandia, and getting more difficult as the years go by. We only brought you now because of the extreme danger in which we find ourselves.”
    â€œThe mutations!” guessed Dennis out loud.
    Immediately he wondered if he should have spoken without being asked. But the king merely nodded, his face grave and frightened. “The mutations,” he repeated softly.
    â€œI understand they would upset you. But what do they have to do with me?”
    â€œYou are one of our links to the human world.”
    â€œI beg your pardon?”
    â€œGranted.”
    Dennis blushed. “I mean, I don’t understand.”
    â€œOh. Oh, I see!” The king began to laugh, a deep, rich
chug-a-rumming
. The court joined in, until the result was almost deafening, a percussion concert of croaking.
    â€œAs I was saying,” said the king, after he recovered from his mirth, “you are part of the frog family.” Seeing the doubt on Dennis’s face, he continued, “Your nineteenth great-grandfather on your mother’s side was what is sometimes called a frog prince. There is often a misunderstanding about this in the old tales. In this case, the princess who kissed the frog was
not
turning an enchanted human back into his own form. She was turning one of my own ancestors (Great-Uncle Hopgo, to be precise—we royal frogs have quite long lives) into a human! Personally, I think it was silly of Unc to give up