Free Welcome to the Jungle by Matt London Page A

y’all’s friend.”
    â€œAnd how are we going to do that?” Evie asked.
    With an encouraging smile, Sprout said, “Trust me. There’s a plan growing in my head, and I’m ready to harvest it.”

NIGHT FELL LIKE A HEAVY BLANKET OVER THE EIGHTH CONTINENT. OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ocean, far from civilization and its innumerable coughing engines, the continent floated alone in the dark, the only light the gleaming stars above.
    The three kids lay flat on their stomachs, squinting in the dark to watch the Winterpole guards make their rounds. At this distance, the kids could see only bits of movement under the gas lamps that dotted the area. Two patrolmen circled the clearing and greeted a third in front of the barracks. Then, just as Sprout had predicted, the three guards dispersed—two went into the barracks where the agents slept, leaving just one to patrol the clearing.
    â€œFinally!” Evie breathed a sigh of relief.
    â€œOkay.” Rick turned to face Evie and Sprout. “That’s as safe as it’s gonna get. Sprout, you ready to create your diversion?”
    â€œHoo-wee! You bet your broccoli, Rick.”
    â€œGood. You’ll loop to the north side of the compound and do what we talked about. Evie and I will crawl down to the western edge and get into position. Assuming the diversion works, we’ll make a break for 2-Tor and activate the hover-sled. Remember to get out of there as fast as you can once we’re done. Rendezvous at the
Roost
. Okay, Sprout? Sprout?”
    The little cowboy had taken off. He was hunched over and running at a gallop toward the paperwork depository they’d noticed earlier.
    Rick shook his head in disbelief. “That kid is crazy.”
    â€œCrazy cool!” Evie pulled Rick to his feet. “Come on, Ricky. It’s robot-rescue time.”
    â€œ2-Tor is an organic mutated crow now,” Rick whispered as his sister led him across the terrain.
    They crept down to a line of sheds along the edge of the compound and pressed against the prefabricated walls. They sidled along to the edge of the wall and then peered around the corner. Rick squinted into the darkness. Evie pulled him back before he was seen.
    â€œThe guard is right there,” Rick whispered.
    For several tense, quiet moments, they waited.
    Evie pulled on Rick’s shirt. “Isn’t he supposed to patrol the whole compound? Why is he staying in one spot?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Rick hissed. “Maybe he’s suspicious that some noisy, nosy girl is going to try to break in.”
    Evie scowled. “Well where is Sprout with his diversion?”
    Before Rick could reply, the paperwork depository exploded. A column of flame burst into the air like an erupting volcano. Scraps of fiery legal documents fluttered like dizzy comets.
    â€œOh,” Evie said. “There it is.”
    The guard on patrol shouted in dismay and sprinted away in the direction of the explosion.
    â€œI expected something a little more subtle,” Evie said. “But wow. It worked.”
    â€œYeah but . . .” Rick pointed at the barracks. A flood of other agents poured out, struggling into their uniforms and fumbling with icetinguishers. “Sprout woke up the entire compound.”
    â€œOh, I see,” Evie said. Then, darting around the corner of the shed, she added, “Well, come on! Don’t want to waste a good diversion.”
    As Evie was about to enter the central clearing, Rick grabbed her and pulled her back. Just in time, too. A trio of agents crossed in front of the sheds at a fast clip. When the coast was clear, Rick and Evie ran to where 2-Tor’s ice prison was resting on the hoversled.
    Rick circled to the back of the sled, which was a slightly curved bed of shiny metal, about the size of a picnic table. After popping open the control panel, Rick started fiddling with the buttons. He powered up the hoversled