Free Bang Goes a Troll by David Sinden, Matthew Morgan, Guy Macdonald, Jonny Duddle Page A

stood up, hunched over. He was too big for the cage. He saw the trolls in the cages alongside him. “What are they doing here?”
    â€œThe same as you, Mr. Orson,” the Baron replied. “Preparing to die.”
    The hunters laughed.

    A man in a cowboy hat pointed his finger like a gun. “Pow! Pow! I’m gonna get that giant!”
    â€œThere’s plenty of him to aim for, Mr. Armstrong,” the Baron replied.
    Orson shook the bars of his cage. “Where’s Dr. Fielding?” he demanded.
    Baron Marackai grinned. “Oh, that reminds me. Blud, fetch the bait!”
    Blud left the room, and a moment later Ulf heard an engine start. Blud rode back through the archway on a black motorbike, dragging Dr. Fielding on a rope. She was being pulled along the stone floor.
    â€œWhat has he done to her?” Tiana whispered in horror.
    Dr. Fielding’s hands and feet were tied, her mouth was gagged with a crusty red rag and she was wrapped in a blanket of meaty steaks.
    The trolls started grunting and drooling when they smelled the steaks. They clattered their tusksagainst the bars.
    Baron Marackai was laughing. “Oh, I do love your outfit, Dr. Fielding,” he said, prodding one of the steaks with his finger.
    â€œI’ll crush you, Marackai,” Orson boomed from his cage.
    The Baron turned. “Empty threats under the circum stances, Mr. Orson.”
    He faced the hunters. “Everyone, please do show your appreciation for Dr. Fielding, the RSPCB vet.”
    â€œBoo! Hiss!” the hunters cried.
    â€œTonight, she will be our bait. We shall use her to lure the trolls to your guns.”
    Dr. Fielding lay wriggling on the floor, wrapped in the meat blanket and unable to stand.
    The Baron raised his right hand. “Death to the RSPCB!” he said.
    The hunters held up their right hands and folded down their little fingers. “Death to the RSPCB!”
    Ulf clenched his fist.

    â€œUlf, don’t do anything stupid,” Tiana warned.
    â€œHunters, it’s time to begin the hunt!”
    Ulf leaped over the crate. “Stop!” he shouted, diving and knocking Baron Marackai to the floor.
    â€œWerewolf!” the Baron cried. “What are y—”
    Ulf bashed him on the nose.
    â€œOuch! Bone, get him off me!”
    Ulf felt a pair of strong hands dragging him off. The big man threw Ulf to the floor, pinning him down with his boot.
    â€œWell, well,” Baron Marackai said, standing up and rubbing his nose. “So you decided to join us after all, werewolf.” He glanced to the hunters. “I loathe werewolves,” he said.
    A woman with a moustache peered down at Ulf. “Can we hunt it?” she asked.
    â€œNot this one, Lady Semolina,” Baron Marackai said. “This beast’s mine.”
    Ulf was struggling beneath Bone’s boot. It was pressed hard to his chest and he could barely breathe.

    â€œLeave him alone or I’ll tear your arms off!” Orson called through the bars of his cage.
    Baron Marackai laughed. “No you won’t, Mr. Orson. You’re going in the Predatron where you’ll be killed like any other beast. Hunters, fetch your weapons! BONE, BRING THE WERE-WOLF TO THE PROCESSING ROOM!”

Chapter 16
    U LF WAS CARRIED, PUNCHING AND STRUGGLING , down the stone corridor to a room that was writhing with rats.
    â€œLay him on the guillotine,” the Baron said.
    Bone dumped Ulf onto a contraption in the middle of the room.
    â€œFace up,” the Baron ordered.
    Bone flipped Ulf onto his back, pressing him flat on a bench. Ulf scratched Bone’s arm.
    â€œOw! Stop squirming, you little twerp.”
    â€œTie him,” Baron Marackai said. He stood at the end of the contraption and pulled on a rope.

    The big man pushed Ulf’s head out over the end of the bench and began wrapping him in chains.
    Ulf looked up.
    As the Baron pulled the rope, a large metal blade was lifting