Free Hercules and the Geek of Greece by Hunter Kennedy Page A

near the castle wall. Hercules was able to jump right before the machine cracked up, and with a few rolls, actually landed on his feet.
    Surprisingly, they made very little noise during their crash landing. And everything seemed quiet on the outside of the castle wall as well as within.
    â€œWe made it?” Geekus asked woozily as Hercules picked him up and pulled him against the wall. “Outstanding!”
    â€œShhh, there might be guards,” Hercules whispered sternly. They both contemplated the wreckage of the smoldering flying machine. It wasn’t in any shape to fly again.
    â€œI just thought of something. . . .” Geekus stuttered. “How are we ever—?”
    â€œâ€”going to get back?” Hercules interrupted him. “Don’t even ask!”
    The truth was, Hercules didn’t know.
    â€œOkay, then;” Geekus said to him. “What do we do now?”
    Hercules pulled him even closer against the wall. He really didn’t know the answer to that question, either.
    Luckily, a stiff breeze came along.
    It’s time for the enchantment,
he heard Brooma say.
    At that moment, they heard voices from the top of the wall, shouting about something outside. Now the voices got louder. And now the huge gates were opening. Suddenly, Amazons were pouring out of the gate and heading right for them!
    â€œYes Brooma,” Hercules whispered urgently. “Hurry.”
    Okay. I will. Let’s see now. How did it go, again?
    â€œBrooma!” Hercules yelled.
    The Amazons had spotted them. Now some were running right at them with swords held high. Others were loading their bows with what looked to be very sharp arrows.
    I think it went like this,
Brooma exclaimed.
Oh, no! .
. .
that’s not it. . . .
    â€œWow!” Geekus yelled. The Amazons were not fifty paces away from them now. “Look at all the beautiful women!”
    Hercules almost laughed.
That Geekus,
he thought,
he’s all man, no doubt about that.
    Trouble was, those beautiful women were almost on top of them—and there was nowhere to go—but straight down.
    â€œ
Brooma!
”
Hercules yelled.
    Suddenly Hercules felt a tingling feeling all over. He looked over at Geekus and the boy seemed covered in a kind of golden haze. Then he looked down at his own hands, and they too were glowing.
    An Amazon was not three feet away from them now.
    And she was lifting her club. . . .
    But then suddenly, Hercules and Geekus weren’t there anymore.

Chapter 15
In the Vault
    It was strange how it happened.
    One moment Hercules and Geekus were out beyond the castle wall, the next, they were inside an incredibly beautiful room.
    This room was filled with gold, silver, and jewels. There were necklaces, earrings, bracelets—all sparkling with diamonds or rubies. Emeralds were strewn everywhere.
    It looked to be a combination between a queen’s dressing room and a vault.
    â€œWow!” Geekus nearly screamed, doubly shocked by his sudden appearance here and by all the riches surrounding them.
    â€œWow,” Hercules repeated, though much more to himself. He couldn’t help but be dazzled. He had seen many things in his life and he didn’t think there was this much gold, silver, or diamonds in the whole world!
    The Amazons have been stealing these riches for centuries,
he heard Brooma’s voice say.
This will be the first time anyone’s tried to steal something back.
    â€œBut where is it?” Hercules asked. “Where is the Crown of Xas?”
    â€œThere it is!” Geekus answered. “Look!”
    Geekus was pointing to a case right behind them. Sure enough, inside was a brilliantly shining, jewel-encrusted crown.
    â€œAre you sure that is it?” Hercules asked Geekus.
    â€œI’ve seen it on my aunt’s head every day since I was a baby,” Geekus replied. “Believe me, that’s it!”
    They opened the case with a snap of the lock. Hercules reached