Read Online The Pillars of Ponderay by Lindsay Cummings - Free Book Online Page A

Albert said. “I guess we just have tosuck it up, guys. We lost, fair and square.”
    â€œIt’s never fair when you’re up against Hoyt,” Leroy added. He was wringing his hat in his hands. “But what if we’ve just lost our mojo?”
    â€œYou can’t just lose mojo,” Birdie said. “Especially because it’s not a real thing.”
    â€œOh, it’s real,” Leroy argued.
    Albert laughed. “We’re a team, guys. We were named the First Unit for Calderon only a few months ago. We’re just getting back in the swing of things.”
    Farnsworth yipped in agreement. His flashlight eyes turned a cool ocean blue.
    â€œSee? Farnsworth agrees.” Albert said.
    The dog howled, and Albert, Leroy, and Birdie were in high spirits again, having decided that tomorrow things would be different. Tomorrow, they’d do everything they could to show Argon what Hydra was really made of. They rode the orange platform up and out of the Pit, then left the room and walked the jagged path back to the old wooden doorway.
    Outside, Petra stood waiting for them, his back up against the cool stone walls of the tunnel.
    â€œI’m sorry, guys,” he said, shaking his head. “Hoyt’s such a jerk. He already shouted Argon’s victory to the whole Main Chamber the second he got out here. But no worries, right?”
    Albert sighed. “Yeah. Sure.”
    â€œAw, come on, you guys are Balance Keepers. Youcan’t get upset about one loss! And besides”—Petra bobbed up and down on his toes, reminding Albert of one of his half siblings when they begged for a cookie late at night—“I have a surprise for you.”
    â€œUnless it involves food, I’m going to Cedarfell and crashing,” Leroy groaned.
    Birdie elbowed him in the stomach, and they started to argue.
    Albert shook his head. “At least some things never change. Lead the way, Petra. Farnsworth and I want to see what your surprise is. And I’m sure those guys will too, just as soon as they’re done arguing like little kids.”
    Petra smiled wider than ever, then turned on his heel and walked briskly down the hall. While Birdie and Leroy talked about whether or not the blue flames were made of a natural or man-made substance, Petra filled Albert in on the latest Core gossip. Albert thought if Petra ever wanted to leave the Core, he would make an awesome reporter on the surface. Maybe even a detective.
    He led them back into the Main Chamber, past a group of girls who giggled as they put pink bows all over Professor Asante’s sleeping Guardian cat. Albert hoped the thing didn’t wake up anytime soon, or those girls might be lunch. Or maybe just an appetizer.
    Right as they were about to head into one of the tunnels, something caught Albert’s eye. A large copper countdown clock had been hung on the wall beside thedoor to Ponderay. A big, glowing 7 sat on its face.
    â€œI have a feeling that’s, like, totally going to stress me out,” Birdie hissed as she stared up at the clock.
    Albert knew she was probably right.
    â€œCome on, let’s go!” Petra squeaked excitedly. He took a sharp left into a tunnel that Albert had yet to explore. It was lit by the same blue flames, but there were other doors here, locked doors, which Albert was just itching to get behind.
    â€œWhat’s in there?” Albert asked, pointing to a black door with an old, rusted handle.
    â€œNo one knows.” Petra shrugged.
    Albert’s eyes widened, and again, he was filled with that same sense of adventure that struck him on his very first day in the Core. He loved this place, no matter the trouble, no matter the danger.
    At the end of the tunnel, Petra stopped before a locked door. He turned to his three friends and gave them a sly grin. “What lies behind this door is only for us.”
    Farnsworth’s eyes flashed a darker shade of blue.
    â€œAnd