The Kid Kingdom Read Free Page B

said. ‘It’ll work itself out.’
    Kip took one look at Finbar and knew what he was thinking. For the leader of a planet, Ker had no idea how to run things.
    â€˜Do you think any of the other kids would take us seriously?’ Finbar whispered.
    Kip thought it was worth a shot. Telling Ker they were going to have a better look around, he and Finbar left.
    Outside, there were kids everywhere.
    â€˜Find the 12-year-olds.They’re probably the smartest!’ Kip said.
    Finbar nodded and they took off into the crowd. Kip ran up to a girl who looked about his age.
    â€˜Excuse me,’ he said. ‘Your planet is in grave danger and we need your help.’
    The girl’s eyes twitched. For a second, Kip felt hopeful.
    Then…
    â€˜You’re it!’ the girl yelled, running off.
    Kip’s shoulders slumped. The kids were in the middle of a chasey game. They’d be impossible to distract now!
    Finbar chased after a boy wearing a peaked silver cap. Running up behind him, Finbar reached out a paw. But then the kid vanished! His silver cap fluttered to the ground.
    â€˜Must be an Exploding Matter Cap!’ Kip panted, running up to Finbar.
    Exploding Matter Caps used the same technology as Scrambler Beams. Electrodes inside the cap blew your particles so wide apart that you turned invisible temporarily. The effect wore off in two minutes or so, when your particles flew back together. Excellent fun for chasey , Kip thought darkly. But downright annoying when you’ve got a planet to save!
    â€˜After him!’ Finbar yelled as another lanky kid ran by in an Exploding Matter Cap.
    Kip sped after the kid and made a grab at him. Too late! The kid disappeared, leaving Kip holding an empty cap.
    â€˜DON’T YOU REALISE THIS ISN’T A GAME?’ Kip yelled.
    With no grown-ups to ask for help, Kip and Finbar were on their own.
    â€˜We could call MoNa and ask her to send two Scramblers,’ Finbar said quietly. ‘At least we could escape that way.’

    Kip shook his head grimly. It wouldn’t be honourable for a Space Scout to escape and leave a planet in danger.
    Somehow he had to convince a planet of fun-loving kids that their fun would soon be over unless they helped him.
    Either that, or stop the rogue comet single-handedly.
    And both options seemed impossible!

CHAPTER 7
    There has to be a way out of this mess, Kip thought, his teeth gritted.
    Hoping an idea would come to him, Kip scanned the fun-filled city.
    Kids in Exploding Matter Caps. The chocolate fountain. The cannon they’d seen when they first landed.
    It’s all very high-tech gear for a society of kids who do nothing but have fun , thought Kip.
    â€˜Who invented this stuff, Finbar?’ asked Kip.
    As he said it, a figure in a black cloak hurried along the alley near Ker’s house, catching Kip’s eye.
    Kip turned to Finbar.‘Did you just see that kid in the cloak?’ he asked.
    â€˜Yes,’ said Finbar. ‘I saw another kid dressed the same earlier on.’
    A theory was forming in Kip’s mind. A high tech city full of cool inventions. Mysterious kids in cloaks. Plus, didn’t WorldCorp say someone had been communicating with them, wanting help with technology?That didn’t sound like Ker!
    â€˜Ker and the fun-loving kids can’t be the only ones living on Yufe!’ Kip said in a low voice.
    Finbar nodded. ‘I hope you’re right.’
    â€˜Those cloaked kids might be able to help us,’ Kip went on. ‘If we can find them.’
    For the millionth time since he became a Space Scout, Kip was grateful for Finbar’s wolf side. His 2iC raced to the alley and sniffed the ground expertly. Within moments, his tail began wagging.
    â€˜I’ve picked up the kid’s scent,’ Finbar said. ‘Now all we have to do is follow it.’
    Stealth was critical. For whatever reason, the cloaked kids were keeping to themselves. Kip had to