Bad News Bob and The Mean Machine

Chapter 19

             Looking at the trouble we were in, Bob and I had two choices: jump into the cold water and risk getting shot while trying to escape, or surrender to these guys before we made them any angrier than we already had.  Being fairly smart boys who didn't care very much for pain, we gave up.  It actually was an easy decision to make because Gus was waving his handgun at us.  He signaled for us to get out of the boat and return to the tiny room where we would become their prisoners.

             As we jumped onto the dock, Bob handed the black bag to Percival and told me that we shouldn't worry because everything would be all right.  I knew he was trying to make me feel better, and I really wanted to believe him, but deep down I knew that "bad news" had gotten the best of us this time. 

             Once the four of us had returned to the room, Percival closed and locked the door.  Gus took Bob's utility belt, laid it on the table, and made us both sit down in two old, wooden chairs.  He pulled them back- to-back, grabbed some rope, and began to tie our hands.  He also wrapped a rope around our bodies and tied us to the chairs.  When he was finished, I couldn't move a muscle.  This guy must have done this before because he seemed to know what he was doing. 

            I remembered when we were younger, Bob and I used to tie each other up to see how long it would take to escape.  It wouldn't take more than a few minutes to wiggle free from the ropes, but this time I knew it would impossible to free ourselves. 

            "What we gonna' do with these two, Boss?" asked Gus.  "Should we rub 'em out now, or let the rats get 'em?" he added.

             Percival shook his head and said, "My good man, these young gentlemen already have a keen knowledge of our situation, so kindly refrain from offering them any more information which will prove hazardous to us both." 

            Gus looked at Percival in his usual stupid way.  Obviously he didn't understand what he had just been told. 

            Percival shook his head again and said, "In other words you dolt, shut your big mouth before I put my fist in it." 

            Gus understood exactly what Percival meant this time and didn't say anything else, except, "OK, Boss."

            The two men walked to the other side of the room and restacked the barrels.  I kept my head down while they were doing this because I didn't want to remind them that Bob and I were responsible for toppling those barrels.  Percival saw my wet clothes and half-baked socks on the floor and picked them up.  He started to go through my pants pockets and pulled out my wallet.  It, like my pants, was soaked.  He opened it and looked through some of the pictures of my family and removed my student ID card. 

            "Well, Martin," he said in his snooty English accent, "it appears you have gotten yourself into quite a predicament." 

            Unlike Gus, I knew he said we were in big trouble.  It didn't take a genius to figure that out. 

            I asked nervously, "Wh-What are you going to do with us?" 

            Percival placed the wallet on the table and stared at us.  "I haven't quite figured out what we are going to do with you two gentlemen.  Perhaps you will be somewhat useful if the local constables begin to irritate us." 

            "Yeah, you two kids will make great body shields if we get into a shoot out with the cops, " laughed Gus.  Percival glared at him, so Gus lowered his head.

             After a few minutes, the two men whispered to each other and walked towards the door.  Percival said, "I strongly suggest you two chaps sit tight and keep out of mischief while we are gone. Perhaps we will bring something back for you to eat." 

            With that, they left the room, and locked the door behind them.  Thank goodness they didn't take the glowing lantern, which was sitting next to us on top of the table.  It was very unpleasant being tied up in a chair, but it would have been much worse being tied up in the dark.

Answer the following questions.

1.  Why did the boys decide to give up after being unable to start the boat?

2.  What did Gus do to the boys when they got back inside the room?

3.  What did Percival find in Marty's wallet?

4.  Who restacked the barrels?

5.  Where was Bob's utility belt when the crooks left the room?  What was next to it?