Free The Queen and the Nobody Boy by Barbara Else Page A

Um’Binnia. Little Queen is most interesting, because she is just at age of twelve when abilities appear – if there are any. Her, we will examine very hard.”
    ~
    Sibilla stared after the Madame-Professor, blood draining from her face, then dashed off to Murgott.
    Hodie watched as the two scientists loaded their boxes and bags into a carriage on metal runners (so that’s how carriages managed over the stones), hopped in and set off with a crunching of gravel.
    At the far end of the Depot, a troop of soldiers was being handed out polishing cloths. Big double doors were hauled open behind them. Inside, Hodie saw rows of army carriages bearing the crest of Emperor Prowdd’on. There were brass and iron cannon on sleds too.
    Thank goodness, any moment Hodie would be heading south to a job on a farm with quiet sheep, where the most scary thing would be a friendly cow.
    Something chittered. The ugly grey squirrel crouched at his feet. It blinked at Hodie.
    â€œAll aboooaard!” cried the station guard.
    The ropes that held the wings began to tighten. Station workers at the pulleys fitted enormous hooks to the engine and carriages. When the wind caught the sails, the whole thing would take off. The height of those pulley towers sent a chill through Hodie’s lungs.
    Sibilla and Murgott were near the last group of passengers, obviously arguing. Hodie put his bet on Sibilla winning. She looked scared and angry, and who could blame her? Hodie would refuse to go home now if he were royal.
    â€œOi!” called the guard to the driver. “Have you good supply of Toad Oil to safely land all extra carriages?” The driver nodded. “Enough food for extra passengers?”
    â€œNo,” the driver shouted. “But no matter, because there is no cook.”
    Passengers popped their heads out of the windows. “No cook? No cook?” They sounded like a row of fussy poultry. “I will complain to Emperor!” a plump man cried.
    More passengers popped their heads out. “Must have cook! Must have cook! Big appetite! Cook! Cook!”
    Sibilla bashed Murgott on the back and waved at the driver. “Oi! Over here! This man’s a cook!” She whirled around and beckoned Hodie. He saw fear and relief in her eyes. “Us boys is the cook’s two helpers!”
    Hodie felt as horrified as Murgott looked. Climb on a wind-train? The very thought made Hodie’s knees weak. But now everyone had noticed him. They’d think it very strange if he didn’t give a goofy grin, trudge over and look keen.
    â€œTrain already is at overload!” shouted the driver.
    â€œCook!” the passengers roared. “Must have cook!”
    It looked to Hodie as if the engine driver said a bucketful of strong curses. “Close windows and shut up! I will take cook and one boy only!”
    â€œHodie has to come!” Sibilla grabbed Hodie’s arm and hissed at him. “You can get your stolen stuff!” He felt her shaking – she was terrified. Again, how could he blame her?
    Murgott strode over and spoke to her through clenched teeth (very spitty, and it landed on Hodie). “The boy’s belongings are not your problem. Your safety is at stake. I am carting you home to your mum.”
    â€œBut I’ll be examined by a scientist!” she hissed back.
    â€œI have orders from the King,” insisted Murgott.
    She began behaving like a naughty little boy. “Raise right foot, so!” She grinned at the passengers, acting like mad. “Swivel on left foot, so! Kick right foot! So!”
    She pretended to kick Murgott, tangled her legs deliberately and fell over. The passengers laughed through their windows. Murgott closed his eyes and clenched his fists, and Sibilla scrambled up and leaped in the wind-train.
    Murgott opened his eyes. He let out a piratical curse (to do with bilges) and jumped after her. Hodie cursed like mad in silence, and stayed where he