Free The Wishing Stone by Christopher Pike Page B

rescue us,” Sally said. “While Cindy here was ready to bury you, as usual, I might add.”
    Fur gestured to the approaching armored car, which carried several robots and the grand master of slobberers himself—Kaster boss, Teeh. His snout looked swollen and sore. He held a black laser rifle in his two stubby arms.
    â€œI think we might all be buried in a few minutes,” Fur said.
    Teeh parked a few feet away and his group of robots immediately jumped from the armored vehicle and surrounded the other five. Mean-looking lasers were pointed at their heads. Teeh also approached. Although he carried a weapon, his free hand kept moving to his bruised snout. He went straight to Sally and glared at her.
    â€œI am going to peel you alive!” he swore. “I will swallow your flesh before your very eyes! You will die with your own screams in your ears!”
    Sally spoke sweetly. “Did the Treeboards hurt your nose, Mr. Teeh?”
    Teeh growled. “There are no Treeboards!”
    â€œOf course there are,” Watch said. “All boards come from trees.”
    â€œI know that!” Teeh said. “Do I look stupid or something? I—”
    â€œYou do look stupid,” Cindy interrupted, surprising them all. She just shrugged when they stared at her. “He looks like a stupid crocodile from a dirty swamp. What can I say?”
    Teeh was not amused. “You will pay for that!”
    Sally snorted. “I told you, we’re through paying. If you’re going to kill us, kill us now and get it over with. We’re not afraid to die.”
    â€œI would like to mention that Sally does not speak for all of us,” Watch said.
    â€œI would like to second that,” Fur said.
    Just then one of the Kaster warships settled to the ground behind the Fruitfly. The vessel was massive, powerful; it cast a steaming shadow over the entire area. An official-looking Kaster captain with a host of lizard guards approached, making a mess of the sand dune with their swishing tails. The captain clearly outranked Teeh, who quickly bowed to the commander of the warship.
    â€œCaptain Thorath,” Teeh said. “A pleasure. What brings you to Amacron Thirty-seven?”
    Captain Thorath pointed a scaly finger at Fur. “This trader invaded Tallas Four and tried to wipe out several debt records from our computer files. I am here to arrest him and bring him back to Tallas Four for immediate trial and execution.”
    â€œAt least you get a trial,” Watch said to Fur.
    â€œI may have trouble finding an impartial jury, though,” Fur said.
    â€œWhat about these other two humans?” Teeh asked Captain Thorath, pointing to Adam and Watch. Captain Thorath did not answer immediately. He seemed to be caught off guard by the question. He studied Adam and Watch, seeminglytrying to figure out a problem that was bothering him.
    â€œWhich one of you is Adam?” he asked finally.
    â€œI am,” Adam said.
    â€œTell him what a slob he is,” Sally said in his ear. “Don’t let him intimidate you.”
    â€œShh,” Adam cautioned.
    Captain Thorath stepped closer to Adam. The commander appeared to be still puzzled over what to do next, what to say. “You made an unusual wish with one of our stones,” he said finally.
    â€œI wished for galactic peace,” Adam said.
    â€œYou did?” Fur said with interest.
    â€œYes,” Adam said sadly. He gestured to the warships and the armed robots that continued to point at them with their weapons. “But it doesn’t look like my wish will be granted anytime soon.”
    â€œBut it must be granted,” Fur said with excitement in his tone.
    Captain Thorath quickly held up a scaly hand. “We need not go into that right now,” he said.
    Fur stepped forward. “But you know the rules, Commander. The whole galaxy knows them.” Fur turned back to Adam. “Tell me, was your wish on