Hunk and Thud Read Free Page A

recognise that coach!’ he whispered urgently to Robin and Big Rock. ‘It’s Lord Veto’s!’

CHAPTER 5
    â€˜Are you sure?’ asked Robin, puzzled.
    â€˜I worked for Lord Veto all my life. That’s his coach, all right! He used to make me clean it and polish it! And that orc who’s driving it, that’s Warg, Lord Veto’s top orc!’
    â€˜But what’s Lord Veto doing here, so far away from his own place?’ asked Robin, still bewildered.
    â€˜Maybe he looking for more goblin gymnasts for his sports show,’ suggested Big Rock. ‘Goblins good gymnasts.’
    As they watched, Warg got down from the driving seat and went to open the door of the coach. Out stepped Lord Veto himself.
    As Jack watched Lord Veto looking around him, both smug and snobbish, the terrible memories came back from when he was a very tiny boy: of being kept in the awful kitchen and forced to do the dirtiest work. Even though he was now free of Lord Veto, Jack couldn’t help but remember how miserable his life at Veto Castle had been, before he joined Milo and Big Rock in Waldo’s Wrestling Trolls.
    The door of one of the huts opened, and a tall goblin hurried out.
    â€˜That’s the one who was in charge when they snatched Milo,’ whispered Robin.
    The three strained to hear what was being said at the mine head. They heard the tall goblin say: ‘Lord Veto! You got my eagle message?’
    â€˜Of course,’ nodded Veto. ‘That’s why I’m here, Govo. I hope the message you sent is accurate. I would hate to have come all this way in a rush on a fool’s errand.’
    Govo pulled a rolled sheet of paper from his pocket and opened it up.
    â€˜No fool’s errand, I promise you, your Lordship!’ He pointed at a picture on the paper, which was too far away from Jack and the others for them to make it out. ‘When I saw him, I recognised him from this poster you sent out, promising a reward for his capture.’ He smiled as he read out the name: ‘Milo!’
    â€˜What about the others?’ asked Veto.
    â€˜He was on his own, my Lord,’ said Govo. He turned towards the hut he’d come from and called: ‘Bring the prisoner out!’
    From their hiding place, Jack and the others saw Milo appear in the doorway of the hut. He was weighed down with chains binding his arms to his side, and with metal shackles on his ankles to stop him moving anywhere fast. The goblins pushed him nearer to Lord Veto, who stood studying Milo, a sneer on his face.
    â€˜I said I would have my revenge on you, Milo!’ he cackled evilly. ‘And this is it! My goblin friends will keep you working in their mine. You will disappear for ever!’
    Beside Jack, Big Rock let out a growl and started to get up, but Jack pulled him back down into hiding.
    â€˜Not yet, Big Rock,’ whispered Jack. ‘There are too many of them.’
    â€˜But we have to rescue Milo,’ said Big Rock.
    â€˜And we will,’ Jack assured him. ‘But if we try it now, it’s more likely that we’ll be captured as well, and that won’t be any help to Milo.’
    Once again, they strained to hear as Lord Veto carried on talking to Govo.

    â€˜If Milo is here, then the others will be around somewhere too,’ said Lord Veto. ‘A large stupid Wrestling Troll called Big Rock, a snivelling kitchen boy, and an ancient old haybag of a horse. They shouldn’t cause you too much trouble. The one to watch out for is Big Rock. He’s tough. Oh, and they seem to have another big Wrestling Troll with them, called Thud. He’s dangerous. You’ll need extra strong chains when you catch him.’
    â€˜Don’t worry, your Lordship,’ said Govo. ‘We’ll catch them.’
    â€˜And put them down the mine along with this peasant!’ snapped Lord Veto. ‘The two trolls should be good workers for you, they’re strong.