Free Pan's Realm by Christopher Pike

don’t know how we can do that. The guy is completely ­unreasonable.”
    â€œLike calling him a cheat was reasoning with him.”
    â€œI didn’t say that,” Adam said. “You said that. And probably if you had kept your mouth shut, we would be with Pan right now, walking back toward the portal.”
    â€œPan’s a loser,” Sally grumbled. “Klandor says he can go, so he just leaves. He hardly says goodbye to us. I swear, the wizard should have changed him into something.”
    â€œHe does have half a goat’s body already,” Adam remarked.
    â€œSo put a penguin head on him. What I mean is, it was his kingdom that we were trying to win back and he’s the one who gets set free. It’s not fair.”
    â€œWhen has Spooksville ever been fair?” Adam asked.
    Sally fumed, which made her feathers stand up straighter. “We’re a long way from Spooksville right now.”
    That point was driven home a moment later when a fat white hen came up to Adam and started nudging his side. Adam tried to push the hen away, but the creature kept pressing against him, much to his annoyance.
    â€œI think she likes you,” Sally observed.
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous,” Adam said.
    â€œWhy are you embarrassed?” Sally asked. “You have nice red feathers, cool skinny legs. I find you kind of cute myself.”
    â€œI am not a rooster,” Adam replied. “Don’t treat me like one.”
    â€œYou’re the one who just said we have to face reality,” Sally said. “Right now, you look like a rooster.” She added, “Do you think I’m a good-looking hen?”
    â€œI wouldn’t know a good-looking hen if one was staring me in the face,” Adam said. The fat white chicken finally got on his nerves. Using all his strength, he pushed it away. But the creature just jumped back to his side. “What’s your problem?” Adam asked.
    The hen replied. “I love you.”
    Adam blinked. “What?”
    Sally burst out laughing. “Oh my! Adam has a girlfriend!”
    Adam yelled at her. “Shut up! Don’t let the other chickens hear that. This one is bad enough. Anyway, this hen doesn’t love me. It’s just a chicken. It’s not even supposed to be able to talk.”
    The fat hen brushed up against Adam again.
    â€œYou are such a strong rooster,” she said.
    Sally was dying with laughter. She appeared to be on the verge of shedding all her feathers simultaneously.“She’ll want to have your eggs next, Adam!” she howled. “You better tell her that you only work for the Easter Bunny!”
    Adam fumed. “This is not funny!”
    â€œThis is outrageous!” Sally told him.
    The fat hen continued to pester him.
    â€œHow come I haven’t seen you around before?” she asked.
    â€œI’m—I’m not from these parts,” Adam mumbled.
    The fat hen leaned close. “Are you happy here?”
    Adam averted his head. “No. I am not happy.”
    â€œWhy not?” the hen asked, standing so close to Adam that he could feel her chicken breath on his feathers. But then Adam got an idea.
    â€œI’m not happy because I’m sick,” he said. “I have a fatal illness.”
    The fat hen drew back a step. “What’s wrong with you?”
    Sally had yet to stop laughing.
    â€œI have an allergy,” Adam said.
    â€œBut allergies are not fatal,” the hen said.
    â€œThis one is,” Adam said. “I’m allergic to feathers. Especially white ones. Just being around you is killing me.”
    The fat hen looked sad. “Do you want me to go away?”
    â€œYes, please,” Adam said. “Go as far away as possible.”
    â€œBut will we meet again?”
    â€œOnly time will tell,” Adam said.
    Dejected, the fat hen wandered off. Sally poked Adam in the ribs, or rather, in the white meat part of