You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>The</strong> dragon snorted, more confused now. It was supposed to trample Leo. This conversation thing wasn‘t<br />
part of the plan. It took a step forward, and Leo shouted, ―No!‖<br />
<strong>The</strong> dragon snarled again.<br />
―It‘s a trap, bronze brain,‖ Leo said. ―<strong>The</strong>y‘re trying to catch you.‖<br />
<strong>The</strong> dragon opened its mouth and blew fire. A column of white-hot flames billowed over Leo, more than<br />
he‘d ever tried to endure before. He felt as if he were being hosed down with a powerful, very hot fire hose. It<br />
stung a little, but he stood his ground. When the flames died, he was perfectly fine. Even his clothes were okay,<br />
which Leo didn‘t understand, but for which he was grateful. He liked his army jacket, and having his pants<br />
seared off would‘ve been pretty embarrassing.<br />
<strong>The</strong> dragon stared at Leo. Its face didn‘t actually change, being made of metal and all, but Leo thought he<br />
could read its expression: Why no crispy critter? A spark flew out of its neck like it was about to short-circuit.<br />
―You can‘t burn me,‖ Leo said, trying to sound stern and calm. He‘d never had a dog before, but he talked<br />
to the dragon the way he thought you‘d talk to a dog. ―Stay, boy. Don‘t come any closer. I don‘t want you to get<br />
caught. See, they think you‘re broken and have to be scrapped. But I don‘t believe that. I can fix you if you‘ll let<br />
me—‖<br />
<strong>The</strong> dragon creaked, roared, and charged. <strong>The</strong> trap sprang. <strong>The</strong> floor of the crater erupted with a sound<br />
like a thousand trash can lids banging together. Dirt and leaves flew, metal net flashing. Leo was knocked off<br />
his feet, turned upside down, and doused in Tabasco sauce and oil. He found himself sandwiched between the<br />
vat and the dragon as it thrashed, trying to free itself from the net that had wrapped around them both.<br />
<strong>The</strong> dragon blew flames in every direction, lighting up the sky and setting trees on fire. Oil and sauce<br />
burned all over them. It didn‘t hurt Leo, but it left a nasty taste in his mouth.<br />
―Will you stop that!‖ he yelled.<br />
<strong>The</strong> dragon kept squirming. Leo realized he would get crushed if he didn‘t move. It wasn‘t easy, but he<br />
managed to wriggle out from between the dragon and the vat. He squirmed his way through the net. Fortunately<br />
the holes were plenty big enough for a skinny kid.<br />
He ran to the dragon‘s head. It tried to snap at him, but its teeth were tangled in the mesh. It blew fire<br />
again, but seemed to be running out of energy. This time the flames were only orange. <strong>The</strong>y sputtered before<br />
they even reached Leo‘s face.<br />
―Listen, man,‖ Leo said, ―you‘re just going to show them where you are. <strong>The</strong>n they‘ll come and break out<br />
the acid and the metal cutters. Is that what you want?‖<br />
<strong>The</strong> dragon‘s jaw made a creaking sound, like it was trying to talk.<br />
―Okay, then,‖ Leo said. ―You‘ll have to trust me.‖<br />
And Leo set to work.<br />
It took him almost an hour to find the control panel. It was right behind the dragon‘s head, which made sense.<br />
He‘d elected to keep the dragon in the net, because it was easier to work with the dragon constrained, but the<br />
dragon didn‘t like it.<br />
―Hold still!‖ Leo scolded.<br />
<strong>The</strong> dragon made another creaking sound that might‘ve been a whimper.<br />
Leo examined the wires inside the dragon‘s head. He was distracted by a sound in the woods, but when<br />
he looked up it was just a tree spirit—a dryad, Leo thought they were called—putting out the flames in her<br />
branches. Fortunately, the dragon hadn‘t started an all-out forest fire, but still the dryad wasn‘t too pleased. <strong>The</strong><br />
girl‘s dress was smoking. She smothered the flames with a silky blanket, and when she saw Leo looking at her,<br />
she made a gesture that was probably very rude in Dryad. <strong>The</strong>n she disappeared in a green poof of mist.<br />
Leo returned his attention to the wiring. It was ingenious, definitely, and it made sense to him. This was<br />
the motor control relay. This processed sensory input from the eyes. This disk …<br />
―Ha,‖ he said. ―Well, no wonder.‖<br />
Creak? the dragon asked with its jaw.<br />
―You‘ve got a corroded control disk. Probably regulates your higher reasoning circuits, right? Rusty brain,<br />
man. No wonder you‘re a little … confused.‖ He almost saidcrazy, but he caught himself. ―I wish I had a<br />
replacement disk, but …this is a complicated piece of circuitry. I‘m gonna have to take it out and clean it. Only<br />
be a minute.‖ He pulled out the disk, and the dragon went absolutely still. <strong>The</strong> glow died in its eyes. Leo slid off<br />
its back and began polishing the disk. He mopped up some oil and Tabasco sauce with his sleeve, which<br />
helped cut through the grime, but the more he cleaned, the more concerned he got. Some of the circuits were<br />
beyond repair. He could make it better, but not perfect. For that, he‘d need a completely new disk, and he had<br />
no idea how to build one.<br />
He tried to work quickly. He wasn‘t sure how long the dragon‘s control disk could be off without damaging<br />
it—maybe forever—but he didn‘t want to take chances. Once he‘d done the best he could, he climbed back up<br />
to the dragon‘s head and started cleaning the wiring and gearboxes, getting himself filthy in the process.
Change language