Rodomonte's Revenge by Gary Paulsen Page A

the mountains?”
    â€œRodomonte’s castle.” Willie smiled. “I wouldn’t worry about reaching that. This is your first game.”
    Brett picked up a glove. “What are these for?”
    â€œThe gloves and boots have transmitters that relay limb positions to the computer. When you move, the visor landscape changes. Are you guys ready to give it a try?”
    Tom already had his gloves and boots on. “Let’s do it,” he said as he slipped on his helmet.
    â€œAll right.” Willie walked to the door. He stopped with his hand on the knob. “Since this is your first game, I’ll talk you through it. You’ll see printed messages, some from the computer and some from me, run across the top of your visor screen. To stay in the game,pay attention to them. You get only three lives, and you don’t want to waste them by not knowing what is going on. Are you ready?”
    Brett nodded. “We’re ready.” He tugged on the boots, gloves, and helmet as Willie left.

C HAPTER 2
    Brett’s world went midnight dark, as if he’d stuck his head in a tar bucket. Suddenly it exploded in color and sight and sound, but it wasn’t his world anymore. It was a video world with glowing mountains lining the horizon, hot golden sand beneath his feet, and wind whistling in his ears.
    Words flashed across the sky. WELCOME TO THE FIRST LEVEL OF RODOMONTE’S REVENGE: THE PLAINS .
    â€œIs that you, Willie?” Brett asked.
    More words flashed, THAT WAS THE COMPUTER. IT INTRODUCES EACH LEVEL .
    Tom stood beside Brett in full body armor, a sword in one hand and a laser pistol in the other. “Pretty cool, huh?”
    Brett waved his sword. He could feel its weight, could hear it swish through the air. “This is way beyond cool.” He fired his laser. A green bolt two feet long erupted from its muzzle, then whizzed and crackled as it disappeared into the sky.
    â€œHow about some cowboys and Indians?” He whooped a war cry, then fired the laser at Tom. The bolt hit Tom in the face, tearing his head off and tossing it away like a wadded junk food wrapper. His lifeless body slumped to the ground.
    â€œTom? Tom!” Brett ran to the body. Its blood oozed into the sand. “Tom, it was only a joke!”
    Words flowed like a jet stream across the sky. PLAYER ONE HAS TWO LIVES REMAINING. GAME CONTINUES .
    Tom’s head and body disappeared. Then he was standing beside Brett again. His brand-new face glared. “Shoot me, will you?” A sudden green flash exploded in Brett’s face. His nose smoked and flipped over his forehead.Then the world went tar black again. It came back just in time for him to see the words PLAYER TWO HAS TWO LIVES REMAINING. GAME CONTINUES .
    Brett was about to run his sword through Tom’s chest when more words streaked above him. THIS IS WILLIE. YOU TWO HAVE NO HOPE OF MAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL IF YOU KEEP KILLING EACH OTHER. THE KEY TO THIS GAME IS WORKING TOGETHER .
    â€œWork together at what?” Tom asked. “What are we supposed to do?”
    TO WIN THE GAME, YOU MUST DESTROY RODOMONTE. TO COMPLETE THIS LEVEL, YOU MUST REACH THE MOUNTAINS. YOU HAVE TWO OBSTACLES HERE: FIRE RIVERS AND BUZZ-BUGS .
    â€œWhat are buzz-bugs?” Brett asked.
    YOU’LL KNOW THEM WHEN YOU SEE THEM. YOU’D BETTER GET STARTED .
    â€œRight. Let’s go.” Tom jogged off toward the mountains. Brett followed more cautiously; he liked to know what he was up against, and in this game he had no idea. It confused him. He kept thinking that it wasn’t a game at all.
    There were no screens, buttons, or joystick controls, just an entirely different world. The wind shoved him like a bully and kicked sandinto his face. The sword hilt was slick with sweat and heavy in his hand.
    A red, smoking line appeared on the horizon. Tom stopped when he reached it and looked back.
    â€œA fire river,” he called.
    Brett joined