Read 20,000 Nerds Under the Sea for Free Online Page B

think.”
    â€œUghhh,” said Biggs, squinting in the sun.
    â€œYeah, I know,” said Neil. “But it was worth it. Can you believe we just stayed on Reboot’s yacht?”
    â€œI think there was a Swedish Fish migration in my intestines last night,” said Biggs. He’d spent the night on a white cushioned bench, using the cardboard from the frozen pizzas for a blanket.
    Sam sat up from her makeshift nest of fluffy towels.
    â€œWhere’s Reboot?” she asked, doing her best to comb out her bed head. “And do you have any vegetables or fruit on this ship? I think my body is in sugar shock.”
    Biggs examined the leftover pizza.
    â€œWe might have a few pineapple slices,” he replied. “But that’s about it.”
    The sky grew lighter above the calm ocean.
    Seagulls flocked overhead, looking for snacks.
    â€œGood morning,” said Wifi. “Mr. Robiskie has arranged for you to be taken to Mr. Hurbigg’s residence.”
    â€œWho’s that?” asked Biggs, pulling half-eaten gummy candies from his pockets before popping them into his mouth. “Oh, right. That’s me.”
    â€œDo we get to say good-bye?” asked Neil.
    â€œMr. Robiskie hates saying good-bye. And anyway, he can watch you any time you log onto his site. We also will be in contact about being part of our video-game selection committee. For the games we choose to host,” the kid replied.
    â€œAwesome,” said Sam.
    â€œMr. Robiskie said to tell you that he considers you friends, and that he does anything for friends. Now let’s go—your ride is ready.”
    NEIL, BIGGS, AND SAM JUMPED INTO SHALLOW WATER JUST off a small beach. Biggs’s house was at the top of the cove.
    â€œThanks for the lift, Wifi,” said Biggs, waving back to the boat.
    They’d been given fresh, all-white outfits, but they were already soaked up to their knees. There were onlysize-medium outfits, so Biggs’s pant legs stopped with six inches of shin left to go.
    â€œYuck,” said Neil. He pulled his foot out of the mucky sand to find some seaweed tangled around his ankle. The smell of fish was in the air, blowing in with the strong ocean breeze. Biggs looked up toward his house.
    â€œWell,” said Biggs, gazing at his humble abode. “I wonder if they made it back last night. . . .”
    â€œAnd if they did, I wonder if the cats got the best of ’em,” joked Neil.
    Sam gave a halfhearted laugh.
    â€œLike Wifi said, Reboot took care of everyone,” Neil reassured them.
    â€œYou guys don’t feel like we ditched everybody?” she asked. She’d held her shoes in her hand, like a smart person, and was putting them back on as Neil wrung out the wet cuffs of his pants.
    â€œI guess we kind of did, in a technical sense,” Neil said. “But we just had a night on Reboot Robiskie’s secret yacht, guys. You know how many kids would want that chance?”
    â€œThousands,” said Biggs.
    â€œWorldwide, probably millions,” said Neil. “And wegot to live it. I bet everyone else had a blast playing games at Biggs’s house.”
    â€œI know we’re lucky. Would’ve just been nice to have our whole group there is all,” Sam said. She started hiking uphill toward Biggs’s house.
    Neil tried to follow, but strong arms suddenly grabbed him from behind. For the second time in a year, Neil felt the coarse fibers of a large burlap bag being pulled over his head. It was quickly secured around his waist, and a drawstring was cinched, restricting his arms and hands.
    â€œGah!” he yelled.
    Neil was hoisted up from the sand, his legs thrashing as if he were on an invisible bicycle. He was thrown over someone’s shoulder.
    â€œWhat’s happening?” yelled Sam. Neil could hear panic in her voice. “Who are you?!”
    â€œOh, no!” screamed Biggs. “I know who it is. The