Read Online The Case of the Stolen Film by Gareth P. Jones - Free Book Online Page A

trespassin’ on my turf,’ said Putz.
    â€˜This ain’t your territory and you know it,’ replied Kitelsky.
    â€˜I’m claimin’ it,’ said Putz.
    â€˜You gotta earn it first.’
    â€˜Let’s rumble, then.’
    The two dragons went at each other with claws, teeth and spikes. As vicious as it looked, it seemed to Dirk that they knew each other’s moves so well that they barely made contact. It looked more like an elaborate routine than a real fight.
    After a while the two dragons began to tire.
    â€˜Your Mountain Dragon ain’t gettin’ involved, then,’ said Putz, standing back.
    â€˜I told you, he ain’t wi’ me,’ replied Kitelsky.
    â€˜Well, he ain’t wi’ me either,’ said Putz.
    They both turned to look at Dirk.
    â€˜You only get one dose of poison a day,’ said Dirk, who had been ready for this. ‘I get fire 24-7.’
    He sent flames billowing forward, setting the fallen branch on fire. The Desert Dragons stepped back fromthe burning tree.
    â€˜You fire dragons are all the same,’ said Putz. ‘You think you’re so much better than us. It still don’t change the fact that you’re trespassin’ on my turf.’
    â€˜Putz, this is Mo’s turf,’ said Kitelsky. ‘And you’re only jealous. Putz is always trying to breathe fire.’
    â€˜No I ain’t,’ said Putz.
    â€˜You’re pathetic,’ said Kitelsky.
    â€˜Are there any other dragons in the area?’ asked Dirk.
    â€˜Not since Mo left, no,’ said Kitelsky. ‘Just us two. Why?’
    â€˜Where were you at dawn this morning?’ asked Dirk.
    â€˜We were scufflin’,’ said Kitelsky.
    â€˜What’s that mean?’
    â€˜It’s when you fight for your territory,’ said Putz. ‘You beat a dragon in a scuffle and you got their turf. We do it at sunrise and sunset on the borders of our territory.’
    â€˜Yeah, and you never beaten Mo, so this ain’t your turf,’ said Kitelsky.
    â€˜Only cos he ain’t here to scuffle wi’ me,’ said Putz, squaring up for another fight.
    â€˜I’m not interested in your territorial disputes,’ saidDirk, sending another blast of fire into the air as a warning.
    â€˜What do you want, then?’ said Kitelsky.
    â€˜Two dragons were caught on film this morning,’ said Dirk. ‘You know what film is, I take it?’
    â€˜Of course we do,’ said Kitelsky. ‘You can’t live in California without knowing what film is.’
    â€˜That’s right,’ said Putz. ‘We ain’t stupid.’
    â€˜Then you’ll know that the punishment for being seen by a human is banishment to the Inner Core,’ said Dirk.
    â€˜The Inner Core?’ said Putz, the colour draining from his face.
    â€˜What’s it to you, anyway, Dilly?’ said Kitelsky. ‘You come here saying we done this and that. We don’t even know you.’
    â€˜You know what?’ snapped Dirk angrily. ‘You’re right, I should leave you to it. I was going to find and destroy the tape but now I might just go home and crack open a fresh bottle of squash in front of a good movie instead.’
    â€˜Hey, don’t be so hasty,’ said Putz. ‘Kitelsky don’t mean to disrespect you or nuttin’. Do you, Kitelsky?’
    â€˜I don’t trust him,’ said Kitelsky. ‘How do we know he ain’t gonna do the dirty on us?’
    â€˜I haven’t got time for this. I’m going to retrieve that tape and save your spiky necks,’ said Dirk, turning to leave. He could tell that the Desert Dragons didn’t know any more than they were letting on. He was wasting his time.
    â€˜Where you going?’ said Kitelsky.
    â€˜Los Angeles,’ replied Dirk.
    â€˜We’re comin’ wi’ you,’ said Kitelsky.
    â€˜Are you outa your mind, Kitelsky?’