Embassy War Read Free Page A

de facto leader of the Globetrotters. He relished the spotlight, and all eyes were on him as he put on another fine performance for his fans, literally running circles around the spider all-stars.
    Skyhook waved to the adoring crowd as he dribbled. With the lead secured, the Globetrotters now performed their antics. Skyhook grabbed the jersey of the spiders’ team captain, stretching the fabric several feet until the referee finally called a foul. As the spider player stood at the foul line, preparing for a free-throw shot, Skyhook snuck behind and pulled down one of the spider’s socks.
    Annoyed, the spider player kicked at Skyhook but continued concentrating on his free-throw attempt. Skyhook darted in to pull down another sock. This time the spider player turned to confront Skyhook, chasing him past the three-point circle. Skyhook was too quick to be caught, taunting the spider player from afar. The crowd loved it, cheering loudly.
    The spider player returned to the free-throw line. This time he kept one of his eight eyes pointed at Skyhook. The shot was up ... and missed! Skyhook clapped his hands, edging closer to the spider player. Skyhook rushed forward to grab the spider player’s sock again, but this time grabbed his shorts, pulling them down. The spider player was furious, taking a vicious swipe at Skyhook with his claw. Skyhook avoided injury by deftly dancing back. He turned his back on the spider and waved again to the crowd.
    The spider player threw the basketball at Skyhook, striking him in the back. Both benches cleared, followed by a lot of shouting and shoving. When order was restored, the spider basketball player returned the free-throw line.
    Skyhook made a great show of apologizing to the spider player, extending his hand to shake hand to claw. They both publicly made amends, and play resumed. Skyhook tossed the basketball to the spider player. However, the ball fell short, bursting into a million ceramic pieces in front of the spider player.
    Having switched the basketball for a ceramic ball, Skyhook now waved to the cheering crowd, celebrating his latest gag. The referee was not amused, and called a technical foul on Skyhook for delay of game.
    Seeming out of character, Skyhook became enraged at being cited with a technical foul. He picked up a bucket from the bench and threatened to douse the spider referee with its contents. Mortified, the ref ran in the opposite direction, with Skyhook chasing close behind. They ran the entire perimeter of the basketball court, fans on each side cheering as they passed.
    Suddenly the referee angled toward the spider all-stars’ bench. Arthropodan marines jumped up, forming a barrier protecting the Emperor. Annoyed, the Emperor yelled in displeasure, “Sit down you fools, I cannot see the show!”
    “Your Majesty, that human pestilence intends to throw a bucket of water,” responded a spider officer. “We will not allow royalty to be assaulted by the human pestilence.”
    “Nonsense!” replied the Emperor. “I have seen this show on human pestilence Satellite TV! It is just a gag for our amusement. The bucket only contains harmless paper confetti. Sit down, or else!”
    As the spider marines lowered their guard, the referee ran straight toward the all-star bench. Skyhook, close on his heels, threw the bucket contents. Green Gatorade missed the referee and doused His Majesty.
    A dozen spider marines rushed forward, grabbing Skyhook, knocking him the floor, and stomping the Globetrotter into unconsciousness. Skyhook was kicked so hard, his diamond stud earring popped out and skittered across the floor. Globetrotters, along with human fans and armed legionnaires from the honor guard, raced to save Skyhook. Several shots were fired, dispersing the crowd surrounding Skyhook. Sensing another riot about to take place, the spider Intelligentsia officer grabbed a microphone, trying to calm the crowd and establish authority. “By order of the Emperor, order will be