The Third Adventure by Gordon Korman Page B

so bad for him.” Savannah sniffled. “He’s been such a trouper through all this! And what do we do? We ask him for more sacrifice!”
    Luthor lay down on the floor, glaring at them resentfully, his hot breath moving the cobwebs that decorated every corner.
    â€œActually, he seems pretty cool with it,” Ben pointed out. “I mean, he’s bummed, but he isn’t barking or anything.”
    â€œThis is a hundred times worse than barking,” said Savannah reproachfully. “He’s given me his trust, and I’ve betrayed him. He may never forgive me.”
    â€œFor crying out loud,” Pitch exclaimed, exasperated, “he’s a
dog
. He’ll forgive you with the first Puppy Treat.”
    â€œYou know,” Griffin put in, “we should really get moving if we’re going to make the next laundry truck west.”
    â€œI know it’s not easy, sweetie,” Savannah pleaded with the Doberman. “But this is the only way.”
    Luthor looked daggers at her as she clipped his leash around the platform railing. A low growl began deep in his throat.
    Savannah was devastated. “He hasn’t growled at me since his old guard dog days! What if, in trying to keep him from Swindle, we’re turning him back into the mean, antisocial animal he used to be?”
    â€œWe’re not just protecting Luthor,” Ben reasoned. “We’re derailing Swindle’s revenge before it ever starts, and that saves all our necks.”
    Griffin put a sympathetic arm around his friend’s shoulders, and started her down the stairs out of the station. “One thing at a time. First we hide him, then we worry about you two guys making friends again.”
    Following them around the spiral, Ben had a practical question for Pitch. “How are we ever going to look after that dog? If Savannah gets growled at, the two of us will be lunch!”
    It was going to be a really long ten days.

    B en, wake up.”
    Ben opened one eye. It was still dark, which meant he was obviously dreaming. No, he could make out the first faint colors of dawn creeping in the windows of Cabin 17. Eli, the counselor, reached out and poked him in the ribs. “Come on, Ben. Everybody’s ready except you!”
    â€œReady for what? It’s the middle of the night!”
    â€œNo, it isn’t. It’s five-fifteen!” Eli insisted. “The fish are biting!”
    That was another thing that was big at Camp Endless, along with cliff climbing and kayaking over waterfalls: getting up at oh-dark-thirty to go fishing.
    Ferret Face peeked out from under the blanket and glared at the counselor, yellow eyes glowing. Waking Ben up was
his
job, and he was protective of it.
    Eli backed off. “Oh, I get it. You’re too tired, right?”
    As the only camper with a sleep disorder, Ben was cut a lot of slack in that department.
    â€œYou get some more rest, Ben. I’ll ask one of the guys to look in on you in a couple of hours.” The rest of the bunk clattered out with their fishing gear, hip waders squeaking.
    â€œNo, Ferret Face,” Ben said irritably as the small animal climbed inside his pajama top. “It’s not time to get up yet.” He tried to settle back in his bunk, but Ferret Face delivered one of his trademark wake-up nips. “Ow! Okay, okay, I’m getting up! Sheesh!”
    Ben peered out the small window in the cabin. Aside from his own bunkmates, not a creature was stirring. The mess hall was still dark, so breakfast wasn’t an option. Last night after lights-out, Pitch had climbed the ranger tower with food and water for Luthor, so he was taken care of for the time being. With his bunkmates out of the picture, Ben should probably sneak over and check in on the Doberman. But the thought of going up those stairs in the half-light with no Pitch wasn’t very appealing.
    So he took out his phone and decided to tap out an e-mail to