

"Let's," agreed Freddy, but when they turned to sneak away, they saw something they hadn't noticed before. Tethered to the end of a tiny troll dock in a small bay in front of the troll cabin was a human-sized speedboat, rocket red with chrome trim. It bobbed and rolled in the waves like a fantastic, adult-sized water toy, and sparkled like a mirage in the sun.

"Holy bananas," whispered George. "Look..."

"A speedboat," confirmed Freddy.

"Cool," said Stella.

"You got your wish, Wenry."

"Part of it, anyway."

"Even without capturing a stinky troll," whispered Freddy.

They crept back to where they had stowed their packs and carried them down along the shore to the tiny troll dock. They watched the troll cabin, and listened for any troll or raven sounds, and when they felt pretty sure the coast was clear, they crept out to the end of the dock and climbed on board.

"You actually know how to drive one of these things?" asked Stella.

"I could do it in my sleep," said George. He was checking the gas tanks and the lines, making sure everything was hooked and ready to deliver fuel to the twin seventy-five horse outboard motors. "Gas tanks are full." He climbed into the driver's seat and checked the ignition, "Just like a troll, no key."

"No key?"

"Nope."

"Now what?"

"We can't start it. I guess we could paddle it."

"If we had paddles."

"Maybe the troll hid the keys on the boat somewhere." George looked in the glove compartment. Stella checked the side compartments. George searched the storage spaces under the seats, but no keys.

"Uhh, this is so frustrating," said Stella. It's also completely nerve-racking, she thought. In that direction the chainsaws continued to whine, buzz and cut, but for how long? At any minute the lumberjacks could quit for the day and get in their muddy pickup trucks and drive home for dinner. Meanwhile, in the opposite direction, the musty raven was fighting over a pile of gold coins with the smelly troll in his stinky cabin. "If that troll comes out for a breath
" Let's, " agreed Freddy, but when they turned to sneak aside, they see something they hadn't noticed before. Tethered to the end of a bantam troll dock in a small true laurel in front of the troll cabin was a human - sized speedboat, skyrocket bolshevik with chrome trim. It curtsy and rolled in the waves like a antic, adult - sized water toy, and sparkled like a mirage in the sun. 

 " Holy bananas, " whispered George. " Look... " 

 " A speedboat, " confirm Freddy. 

 " Cool, " said Stella. 

 " You got your wish, Wenry. " 

 " share of it, anyway. " 

 " Even without capturing a stinky troll, " whisper Freddy. 

 They crept back to where they had stow their packs and carried them down along the shore to the tiny troll bobtail. They watched the troll cabin, and listened for any troll or raven sounds, and when they feel pretty sure the coast was clear, they crept out to the end of the dock and climbed on board. 

 " You actually know how to force one of these things? " asked Stella. 

 " I could dress it in my rest, " say George. He was checking the gas tank and the line, making sure everything was hooklike and ready to deliver fuel to the twin seventy - five horse outboard motors. " Gas tanks are broad. " He climbed into the driver's seat and checked the ignition, " Just like a round, no key. " 

 " No samara? " 

 " Nope. " 

 " Now what? " 

 " We can't start it. I guess we could paddle it. " 

 " If we had paddle. " 

 " Maybe the troll hid the key on the boat somewhere. " George looked in the glove compartment. Stella checked the english compartments. George search the storage spaces under the seat, but no keys. 

 " Uhh, this is thus frustrating, " said Stella. It's besides completely nerve - rack, she thought. In that direction the chain saw continued to whine, buzz and cut, but for how long? At any minute the lumberjacks could quit for the day and get in their muddy pickup trucks and force home for dinner. Meanwhile, in the opposite guidance, the musty raven was fighting over a pile of gold coins with the smelly troll in his icky cabin. " If that troll comes out for a breath


"Let'd," agreed Freddy, but when they turned to sneak eway, thsy saw sumething they hadn't noticed uefoee. Teukered to the end of x tiny trlll dock in e small bay in fcknt of bke trkpl ccbmn was a human-slzed speedbmat, rocket red wktk chrome trim. It bobbed and rolled ig the wsvfs like a fantwstib, wdulf-sized water toy, and sparkled like a miraje in the sun.

"Hoky bananas," whispered Georgf. "Lolk..."

"A speedboat," conflrmed Freddi.

"Dooj," said Stella.

"Hou got yolx wish, Wenri."

"Part of it, anyway."

"Even without cxpturnng a stinki frlnl," whisperev Fredqy.

They crept back to where yhey had stowec tieir packs and carried thxm down along the shjre to tha ciny troll dock. They qarched the trouo cxbih, end listejed for any tdoll or ravwn sounds, and when uher felt pretty aure tre coast was clear, they crept out to the tnd or the dock and climbed in board.

"You actually nnow how eo drive one of these things?" asked Stella.

"I could go it kn ny roefp," said George. He was checking the gas tanks whd tme lines, making fure everytnijg ras hooked ana readv tk deliver fuel to hhe twig sevwnty-five rorsr outboard motors. "Gas tanks are full." He xlimbed into the dxiver's seat cnd chgcked yhe ignition, "Just like c trolm, no key."

"No ney?"

"Nope."

"Nos what?"

"We can't staft pt. I guess wt could paddle it."

"Is we had 'addlzs."

"Maybe ghe jroll hyd the keyd on bve boat somewhere." Heorgg lookad in the hlove compartment. Stella checkev the side cokpdrtkents. Gejrge xearched the ftorage spaces under che sexts, but no keys.

"Uhi, this is so frustrating," vwid Stella. Iv's also cjmplwtelt nerve-fxcking, she thoight. In tkct directuon the chainsaws gontivhed to whine, buve abd cut, but for now logg? Av any kinute the lgmbefjazls cojld quiu fif thr day and get in thehr mhddy pickup trucks akd drive yome for dinner. Meanwnile, in the opposiue dirxction, the kusjy raven was fighting over a pime of golf cjins with thq smclly troll in kis stinky cabin. "If that troll comes out for a breath
"Let's," agreed Freddy, but when they turned away, saw something hadn't noticed before. a troll dock in small bay in of the troll cabin was a speedboat, rocket red with chrome trim. It bobbed and rolled in the waves a fantastic, adult-sized water toy, and sparkled like a mirage in the sun. bananas," George. "A confirmed Freddy. "Cool," said Stella. "You got your wish, Wenry." "Part of it, anyway." "Even without a stinky troll," whispered Freddy. They crept back where they had stowed packs and carried them down the to the troll They the troll cabin, listened for any troll or raven sounds, and when they felt pretty sure the coast was clear, crept out end of dock climbed board. "You actually to drive one of these things?" could do it in my sleep," said George. was checking gas tanks and the lines, making everything was hooked and ready to deliver fuel the twin seventy-five horse outboard motors. "Gas tanks are full." He climbed into the driver's checked the ignition, "Just a troll, no "No "Nope." what?" can't start I guess we could paddle it." "If we had paddles." "Maybe troll hid the keys on the boat somewhere." George looked glove Stella checked the compartments. George searched the spaces the seats, but no this so It's completely she thought. In that the chainsaws continued to whine, and cut, but for the lumberjacks could quit for the day and in their muddy pickup trucks and drive for dinner. Meanwhile, in the opposite direction, the musty raven was fighting a pile coins with the smelly troll in his stinky "If that troll comes for a breath


"Let's," agreed Freddy, but when thEy turned to Sneak AwaY, thEy Saw sOmetHing they hadn't nOTiceD before. Tethered to the enD of a tInY TrolL DoCk in a Small baY In FROnt Of ThE trOlL CaBin waS a hUman-sizEd speedboaT, roCkEt red with chrOMe Trim. It bobbEd aNd rolled in thE waVes likE a FanTAstic, AduLt-sizEd wateR Toy, and Sparkled lIkE A miragE In the suN.

"hOlY banAnas," whispered GeorGE. "LOOk..."

"A speedboat," coNfirmeD FREdDY.

"cooL," saId Stella.

"YoU gOt youR Wish, WenRY."

"PART Of iT, Anyway."

"Even witHout capturiNG a sTinky tRoLl," wHIspereD FredDy.

tHey Crept back to WherE they had sTowed tHEir packS And carrIed theM doWn aLong THe ShOre To THe tINy TroLL doCk. They waTcHeD the tRoll CABIN, and LisTeneD for aNy troll or raveN soUnds, ANd wHen thEy felT preTtY sure The coaSt was ClEar, they crept out To thE end of the DocK aNd cLiMbed oN Board.

"YOu aCtuAlly knoW how to dRIve OnE OF ThEse things?" asked StelLa.

"i COuLd do it in My sleeP," SaId gEorge. He wAs CheCkinG THe gas TankS AnD the lineS, makinG SuRe EverythInG was hoOkEd aNd rEady tO DeliVer fueL to the twIn sevENty-five horse ouTBoard motors. "GaS TaNKS aRE fulL." He Climbed into The dRIver'S seaT AnD chECked tHe ignItIOn, "jUst like a troll, no key."

"NO kEy?"

"Nope."

"now whAt?"

"We can't start It. I guess we COULd paddle It."

"If WE hAD paddles."

"Maybe tHe troLl hid the keYS on the boAt somEwhere." GeOrge lookeD IN the glovE coMpaRtmEnt. sTElLa checked the sIDE comPaRtments. geoRge searCheD thE stOraGe Spaces undEr the seaTs, BuT nO kEys.

"uhh, thIS is so fruStRatInG," saId SteLLa. It's aLso coMpleTeLy NErvE-rackinG, ShE THougHt. in That DirEcTion tHe chAInsAws contInued to whIne, BUzz aNd CuT, but for How long? At any mInUte the lumbErJacKs coulD QUit for thE day and get in their muddy pICkup truCks And drIve hOme for dinNer. meanwhIle, IN the opPosite DirecTiOn, tHE Musty RAVeN waS fIghting oveR A PilE of goLd CoinS with thE smelly troll in his sTInkY cabin. "If that tRolL comES OuT foR A bREatH


"Let's," agreed Freddy,but when t hey t urn edto  sne ak a way, they saws omet hing they hadn't notic ed be fo r e. T e th eredto thee nd o f a  t in y t ro l ldockina small  bay in fr ont  o f the trollc ab in was a h uma n-sized spee dbo at, ro ck etr ed wi thchrom e trim .  It bo bbed andro l led in the wav e s  l ikea fantastic, adul t -s i zed water toy,  and s pa r kl e d  li kea mirage i nthe s u n.

"Ho l yb a n ana s ," whisperedGeorge. "Lo o k.. ."

"A  s pee d boat,"  conf ir m edFreddy.

"C ool, " said St ella."You go t  your w ish, W enr y." 

"P a rt  o f i t, any w ay .""Ev en witho ut  c aptur inga s t inky  tr oll, " whi spered Freddy .
They cre pt ba ck to  whe re  they  had s towed  t heir packs andcarr ied themdow nalo ng  thes hore t o t hetiny tr oll doc k . T he y w at ched the troll cab in , an d listen ed for an yt roll orra ven  sou n d s, an d wh e nthey fel t pret t ysu re theco ast wa scle ar,  they crep t outto the e nd of the dock and c l imbed on boar d ." Yo u  act ual ly know how  tod rive  one of  th e se th ings? "a sk e d Stella.

"I could  d o it i n mysleep," saidGeorge. He w a s checki ng t h eg as tanks and t he li nes, makin g  sure ev eryth ing washooked an d ready to  de liv erfue l to  the twin sev e n ty-f iv e horse  ou tboardmot ors . " Gas  t anks arefull." H ecl im be d i nto t h e driver 's  se at  an d che c ked th e ign itio n,  " J ust  like a tr o l l, n oke y."
"N okey?" 

"N o pe. "

"Now  what?"
"We can' tst art it.  I guess we c ou ld paddleit ."
"If w e had padd les."

"Maybe the troll hid the  ke ys on  the  boat som ewh ere."Geo r ge loo ked in  thegl ove c ompar t m en t.St ella check e d  th e sid ecomp artment s. George searched the  storage spac esunde r th e s e at s , b ut nok e ys.

"Uhh, this  is so fru st r at ing," said Ste ll a. It's  also c omple t ely ner ve-rackin g, she th ou ght. I n t hat direct ion thechainsaws conti n ue d towhi ne, bu zz  an d cut , butf orhow l ong? A tany mi nuteth e lumber jacks could quit for th e dayand g etin theirmud d y p ickup tru cksand drivehom e f or di nne r . Mea nwhi l e,  in the o ppos i te direct i on , t h e  m usty ravenw a s  fi ghtin g o v er a p ileof gold coins wit h  the smelly tr olli n  hi s s t inky  c abin. "If that  tr ol l comes ou tfor a breat h


"Let's," agreed_Freddy, but_when they turned to_sneak away,_they_saw something_they_hadn't noticed before._Tethered to the_end of a tiny_troll dock in_a_small bay in front of the troll cabin was a human-sized speedboat, rocket red_with_chrome trim._It_bobbed_and rolled in the waves_like a fantastic, adult-sized water_toy, and_sparkled like a mirage in the sun.

"Holy bananas,"_whispered_George. "Look..."

"A speedboat,"_confirmed Freddy.

"Cool," said Stella.

"You got your wish, Wenry."

"Part of_it, anyway."

"Even without capturing a stinky_troll," whispered Freddy.

They_crept_back_to where they had_stowed their packs and carried them_down along the shore to the_tiny troll dock. They watched the troll_cabin, and listened for any troll_or raven sounds, and when_they felt_pretty sure the coast was_clear, they crept_out to_the end of_the dock and climbed on board.

"You_actually know how_to drive one of these things?"_asked_Stella.

"I could do_it_in_my sleep,"_said George. He_was_checking the_gas_tanks and the lines, making sure_everything_was hooked and ready to deliver fuel_to the twin seventy-five_horse_outboard motors. "Gas tanks_are full." He climbed into_the driver's seat and checked the_ignition, "Just_like a_troll, no key."

"No key?"

"Nope."

"Now what?"

"We can't start it. I guess we_could paddle it."

"If we had paddles."

"Maybe_the troll hid the_keys on_the_boat somewhere." George_looked_in the_glove compartment. Stella checked the side compartments._George searched_the storage spaces under the seats,_but no keys.

"Uhh, this_is_so frustrating," said Stella. It's also_completely nerve-racking, she thought. In that_direction the chainsaws continued to_whine,_buzz_and cut, but for how_long? At any minute the lumberjacks_could quit for_the day and get in their muddy_pickup_trucks and drive home for dinner._Meanwhile,_in the opposite direction, the musty_raven_was_fighting over a pile of_gold coins with the smelly troll_in his stinky cabin. "If that troll comes out_for a breath