Read Online The Three Furies (Erec Rex) by Kaza Kingsley - Free Book Online
Authors: Kaza Kingsley
Tags: Fiction, General, Children's Books, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Juvenile Fiction, Action & Adventure - General, Fantasy & Magic, Ages 9-12 Fiction, Science Fiction; Fantasy; & Magic, Social Issues, Animals, Children: Grades 4-6, Dragons, Mythical, New Experience, Social Issues - New Experience
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to the tops, ending in long,
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narrow funnels. They looked like gigantic stalagmites in a cave.
All the giant rock formations along the busy, clustered streets would have given the city a Stone Age look, Erec thought, if not for the crowds of immense neon signs and glittering computerized advertisements hanging from all of the buildings. They made the billboards in New York's Times Square look dull. Sophisticated computer graphics flashed movie ads onto stone walls, strobe light images of products sparkled in the air, and holographic visions of celebrities danced down the streets, selling products to pedestrians.
His siblings and mother were gazing around in wonder. The spectacle was almost too much to take in. Erec wondered why Alypium was so quaint compared to this. This must be King Pluto's taste, he thought, in contrast to King Piter's. In fact, this city did seem to fit King Pluto's brash, fast-talking personality.
"Are all the parts of Aorth like this?" Erec asked Jam, remembering that there were cities under each of the continents of Earth.
Jam nodded. "Quite. Well, Antarticorth is quieter. It is busy here. Not to my taste, exactly, but it's all what you're used to." He pushed one of the hundreds of buttons on a tall brass plaque attached to the entrance to a skyscraper, and a woman's voice called out.
"It is Jam Crinklecut," he said. Erec wondered how many other people were named Jam, so that he had to use his last name too. "I've come for a stay with some friends, if it is okay with you, Aunt Salsa."
A squeal issued from the speaker, then a loud buzzer made everyone jump. Jam opened the door and ushered Erec's family upstairs to his aunt's apartment. Cold air from the building rushed over them like a soothing lotion. The UnderWear suits stopped blowing air and flattened against their clothing again.
Aunt Salsa looked nothing like Jam, making Erec wonder if they truly were related. She was round and comfy in a bright red sweater dress, with black spiky hair. But what caught his eye the most was
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her love of jewelry. From her sparkling tiara all the way down to her jeweled shoes, Aunt Salsa was covered with pins, brooches, and necklaces of all sizes. The gems must have been fake, or they would have been too expensive for any one person to own.
Jam's aunt scooped him up in her arms, squeezed him, and spun in a circle. Jam's face reddened, but Erec could tell he was pleased.
"Oh, Jam dear. I'm so delighted that you could visit! If I only knew in advance, I would have cooked up a storm. But don't worry, I'll whip something together now. You don't know how much this means to me, visiting when it's not even a holiday! Your poor aunt gets so bored nowadays. And you brought your friends!" She surveyed the haggard crowd, then gasped when she noticed the king. "King . . . is this really the king . . ." She rushed to help him into a chair, then bowed to the floor. "Oh, forgive me, your majesty. I have only a very plain apartment, nothing compared to what you are used to." She bowed a few more times and then rushed into her kitchen, talking about preparing snacks. Jam followed her, and Erec could hear them happily arguing that the other should sit and rest, and let them do the cooking.
Aunt Salsa won the argument at last, and Jam emerged from the kitchen with a sheepish grin. "I explained the situation to her, of course offering that we all stay in a hotel if she preferred. As I expected, she was delighted to have us stay here with her." He nodded to Erec. "Young sir, I suppose we should go right away and speak to the Fates? I know you are in a hurry."
Nodding, Erec said good-bye to his mother and siblings. They headed out into the heat of Americorth North again, and then Jam pressed code numbers into their Port-O-Door, which had stuck itself on a stone wall nearby. The lighting seemed odd, somehow, glowing with a warm but almost fluorescent feel. Erec looked up and shuddered, seeing that the sun was amazingly
60
narrow funnels. They looked like gigantic stalagmites in a cave.
All the giant rock formations along the busy, clustered streets would have given the city a Stone Age look, Erec thought, if not for the crowds of immense neon signs and glittering computerized advertisements hanging from all of the buildings. They made the billboards in New York's Times Square look dull. Sophisticated computer graphics flashed movie ads onto stone walls, strobe light images of products sparkled in the air, and holographic visions of celebrities danced down the streets, selling products to pedestrians.
His siblings and mother were gazing around in wonder. The spectacle was almost too much to take in. Erec wondered why Alypium was so quaint compared to this. This must be King Pluto's taste, he thought, in contrast to King Piter's. In fact, this city did seem to fit King Pluto's brash, fast-talking personality.
"Are all the parts of Aorth like this?" Erec asked Jam, remembering that there were cities under each of the continents of Earth.
Jam nodded. "Quite. Well, Antarticorth is quieter. It is busy here. Not to my taste, exactly, but it's all what you're used to." He pushed one of the hundreds of buttons on a tall brass plaque attached to the entrance to a skyscraper, and a woman's voice called out.
"It is Jam Crinklecut," he said. Erec wondered how many other people were named Jam, so that he had to use his last name too. "I've come for a stay with some friends, if it is okay with you, Aunt Salsa."
A squeal issued from the speaker, then a loud buzzer made everyone jump. Jam opened the door and ushered Erec's family upstairs to his aunt's apartment. Cold air from the building rushed over them like a soothing lotion. The UnderWear suits stopped blowing air and flattened against their clothing again.
Aunt Salsa looked nothing like Jam, making Erec wonder if they truly were related. She was round and comfy in a bright red sweater dress, with black spiky hair. But what caught his eye the most was
61
her love of jewelry. From her sparkling tiara all the way down to her jeweled shoes, Aunt Salsa was covered with pins, brooches, and necklaces of all sizes. The gems must have been fake, or they would have been too expensive for any one person to own.
Jam's aunt scooped him up in her arms, squeezed him, and spun in a circle. Jam's face reddened, but Erec could tell he was pleased.
"Oh, Jam dear. I'm so delighted that you could visit! If I only knew in advance, I would have cooked up a storm. But don't worry, I'll whip something together now. You don't know how much this means to me, visiting when it's not even a holiday! Your poor aunt gets so bored nowadays. And you brought your friends!" She surveyed the haggard crowd, then gasped when she noticed the king. "King . . . is this really the king . . ." She rushed to help him into a chair, then bowed to the floor. "Oh, forgive me, your majesty. I have only a very plain apartment, nothing compared to what you are used to." She bowed a few more times and then rushed into her kitchen, talking about preparing snacks. Jam followed her, and Erec could hear them happily arguing that the other should sit and rest, and let them do the cooking.
Aunt Salsa won the argument at last, and Jam emerged from the kitchen with a sheepish grin. "I explained the situation to her, of course offering that we all stay in a hotel if she preferred. As I expected, she was delighted to have us stay here with her." He nodded to Erec. "Young sir, I suppose we should go right away and speak to the Fates? I know you are in a hurry."
Nodding, Erec said good-bye to his mother and siblings. They headed out into the heat of Americorth North again, and then Jam pressed code numbers into their Port-O-Door, which had stuck itself on a stone wall nearby. The lighting seemed odd, somehow, glowing with a warm but almost fluorescent feel. Erec looked up and shuddered, seeing that the sun was amazingly
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