Read The Last Stand of Daronwy for Free Online Page B

sunken telephone poles at the far end of the obstacle course. Travis and Lee hid behind the fort.
    â€œMira!” Jeremy shouted, but she didn’t hear his warning. She flew across the playground, her fingers flailing just inches from Tim’s collar by the time they reached the fort. Travis and Lee burst from their hiding place, throwing handfuls of pinecones at her. One hit her in the head. She staggered into the fort wall. Lee raised his hand over her.
    Jeremy roared. Pinecones whizzed past. He sailed over the fort wall, colliding with Lee. They rolled across the soggy grass. Lee was on his feet first and lunged at Jeremy as he stood. Caught off guard, Jeremy instinctively brought his right arm up in a block that caught Lee beneath the chin. Lee careened sideways, skidding into the fort with a thud.
    Jeremy’s eyes went wide. “I’m sorry.”
    A plastic jump rope flashed over his head and tightened around his arms. He struggled, but he couldn’t move. Travis laughed in his ear. Lee got up, face red, fists clenched. The rope tightened. “Get him!” yelled Travis.
    Lee grinned an evil smile.
    Jeremy tried to twist away. “Let me go!”
    â€œKick him!” Tim screamed.
    Lee took three steps and punted Jeremy in the groin. Jeremy’s stomach lurched over, his vision blurring. His joints went soft with pain and bile spilled upward onto his tongue. He swooned into the side of the fort, but Travis pulled him straight. He wanted to cry, he wanted to scream, but he was afraid that he’d just vomit if he opened his mouth.
    â€œKick him again!” laughed Travis.
    Lee reared back again. Jeremy twisted at the last moment, taking the kick on the front of his thigh. His leg buckled and he fell forward onto his knees. The rope cinched about his arms. Lee stepped forward, fist raised. Jeremy pulled his chin to his chest, bracing for the impact.
    Instead of a punch, a hail of pebbles peppered the back of Jeremy’s head.
    â€œLet him go!” said Mira.
    â€œLeave him alone!” Daniel echoed her cry. Rocks smashed into the fort and a pinecone whistled past his head. The rope went slack and Jeremy fell forward, landing hard on the ground, unable to catch himself. Fleeing feet trampled the grass.
    â€œYou’re gonna get it!” someone shouted.
    In a second, Mira was beside him. “Are you okay?”
    Daniel appeared at his other side and helped him stand.
    Jeremy was still woozy. His friends helped him to the fort and the three of them sat down atop the sunken telephone poles.
    â€œAre you okay?” she asked again. “Did they kick you?”
    â€œI’m glad y’all came back. Thanks.” Jeremy looked from Daniel to Mira and sat forward. “Mira, you’re bleeding.” He pointed at his left temple.
    She reached to her right.
    â€œOther side.”
    She reached to her left, then blinked at the blood on her hands.
    â€œUh-oh. Here comes Coach Penicillin,” Daniel whispered.
    â€œOh no,” said Mira.
    The coach crossed the broken asphalt of the overgrown basketball court. He stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at them through his mirrored aviator glasses. “Why are y’all throwing rocks at Lee, Travis, and Tim?”
    â€œThey threw pinecones at us and tied Jeremy up,” said Mira.
    For a moment, the coach stared at Jeremy’s mud stained, wet clothes. He saw the muddy footprint on Jeremy’s thigh. “They do that?” He pointed at the footprint.
    â€œYes, sir. And Mira’s bleeding.”
    Mira turned her head, pointing. “Yeah, see?”
    Penicillin whispered something under his breath, but his expression remained inscrutable behind the mirrored, bug-eyed glasses. “Y’all head to the nurse. Next time, you come get me. Don’t take things into your own hands. You understand?”
    â€œYes, sir,” the three said.
    Penicillin turned, walking back across the playground