Read A World of InTemperance (The Adventures of Ichabod Temperance Book 2) for Free Online Page B

Plumtartt?”
    “Abigail?”
    “I think our party has just grown by one. Welcome aboard, Mr. Bolt.”
    *~~~*
    “At least our group is balanced, two boys and two girls,”
    “Yes, Ma’am, Miss GoldenBear. Bolt’s happy to belong to a group. Dogs are pack animals and normally do not fare well on their own. With Bolt in the mix, we are starting to feel like a pack.”
    “I say, you like being at sea, with the wind in your fur, do you not, Mr. Bolt?”
    “Roof!”
    “Sorry, Ichabod and Persephone, but I can’t resist: ‘Land ho.’ I see the first signs of a distant shoreline.”
    “It’s been a pleasant voyage, but I can’t wait to be on solid ground again.”
    “Quite so, Mr. Temperance. I look forward to viewing a portion of the vast North American Pacific coast.”
    “Yes, Ma’am, me too! It’s supposed to be awfully pretty.”
    “Roof!”
    “I say, we are all well aware of your seaman enthusiasm, Mr. Bolt, sir.”
    “Roof!”
    “Yes, Ma’am, he likes being at sea, but I think he is distracted by something else. Oh, I see, it’s a herd of whales!”
    “You are correct, Ichabod: there is a grouping of whales, sporadically cresting the surface of the North Pacific to clear their blow-holes, and refill their lungs.”
    “Roof.”
    “What’s the matter, Bolt? You look real serious, buddy. Don’t worry, them whales ain’t gonna hurt you.”
    “Roof.”
    “Please be quiet, Mr. Temperance, I believe Bolt is trying to concentrate.”
    “I think you’re right, Persephone.”
    “Do y’all think he is in psychic communication with one of them whales?”
    “Precisely so, Mr. Temperance. There are some in this world who contend that whales and porpoises possess an elevated intelligence, far beyond what is the common belief.”
    “Gee whiz, I hadn’t thought of that.”
    “Maybe there is a whale that has been affected by the ‘Revelatory’ Comet among them.”
    “Golly, if that’s so, I wonder what sort of communication is passing between them?”
    *~~~*
     
    “Do you think the Hotel will have any objections to having Bolt as a guest, Miss GoldenBear?”
    “Probably not, Ichabod, dogs are held in high regard in this area.”
    “I say, do you know the meaning behind this tall, wooden, statue of sorts, eh hem?”
    “Yes, Persephone, it’s called a ‘Totem’ pole. This is a lovely example of the local reverence for nature.”
    “Is it just me, or is there a distinct lack of sunlight, y’all?”
    “I say, it’s our proximity to the Northern Pole, Mr. Temperance. At this time of year, and the further north we travel, the days are quickly shrinking to nothing. What little sunlight there is, is very weak. The sun has retreated so far south as to be in full retirement. If there is an opening in the cloud cover, that is, though there’s not much chance of that.”
    “Yes, ma’am. I tell you what, I wanna see a kayak, and some huskies and an igloo and...”
    The window of a local saloon bursts outward in an explosive cloud of crystal raindrops by the passage of an airbourne body. Half a moment later, another man’s body is flung through the aperture. The two men do not dally, but hurry on their way.
    “Strudel noggin!” shouts a familiar German accent. “Cheat me at the cards, would you! I fix you, but good! Ja!”
    An enraged, but immaculately groomed face, handsomely framed in a short beard, projects itself out the freshly opened portal. “Come back here, you Schweinhund, that I may throw you out again!”
    “Howdy, Mr. Metzger, what’s the matter? Wouldn’t them boys stand still for one of your silhouettes?”
    He turns his angry features towards me.
    Recognition and delight spread across his flushed face.
    “Ichabod Temperance! But you’re supposed to be...”
    The robust man becomes weak in the knees, so Miss GoldenBear and I step forward to support his weight as Miss Plumtartt pats the man’s wrist.
    “I didn’t mean to shock you, Wolfgang. I’m okay.”
    “Ichabod, I