Gilan awoke the next morning, looking forward to a nice long day of selling duct tape bracelets. Personally, he thought that the idea of selling duct tape bracelets was one only a genius could've thought of. The money they earned would be spent on duct tape. It was a perfect plan.

At exactly two o' clock in the afternoon, Gilan knocked on Halt's door. He had his cloak-bag (full of bracelets) swung over his shoulder. Halt answered with a weary look on his face.

"Would you like to buy a duct tape bracelet?"

"No."

"Can I see Will?"

"He's in the kitchen again."

Gilan entered the house and found Will nowhere in sight. He looked at Halt.

"Don't look at me, he was here two minutes ago."

Gilan sighed. He knew exactly where Will was hiding. Behind the couch. Gilan took his time, whistling loudly, as if he had no idea where Will was hiding.

Behind the couch, Will was crouched over, crossing his fingers that Gilan wouldn't find him.

"Get. Out. From. Behind. The. Couch."

Will sighed. He stood up and brushed a dust particle off of his arm.

Gilan smiled. He was back to his cheerful self. "There you are, Will. Now why in Araluen would you hide from me? Never mind, we must get going. Goodbye, Halt. We'll be back around dinner."

"Make that before dinner," Halt said through gritted teeth.

"Whatever you say, Halt." said Gilan casually. "Come along now, Will. Go get your duct tape bracelets, I expect Alyss will be wanting tons of them!"

Gilan and Will prepared to depart minutes later. "Halt, you're sure you don't want to buy one?" Gilan called.

"Yes," Halt said coldly.

"But look at how nice they look!" Gilan held out his arm to model his bright pink duct tape bracelet. "Show Halt yours, Will." Gilan told Will.

Will reluctantly held out his arm and showed Halt the zebra print bracelet that he was wearing.

"Very stylish," Halt said sarcastically.

"Yes, I know." Gilan said. He grinned.

The two Rangers departed and started toward Castle Redmont where they would find their other friends.

They first visited the Battleschool, where they met up with Horace.

"Well, how nice to see you again." Horace said. "What brings you here?"

Will didn't answer so Gilan took charge. "Would you like to buy a duct tape bracelet?"

Horace's smile decreased slightly. "Sorry, didn't hear that. What did you say?"

"WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUY A DUCT TAPE BRACELET?" hollered Gilan.

Horace's hands immediately went up to his ears. "I'm not deaf, you know. What's this about a duct tape bracelet?"

"Gilan started a duct tape bracelet company and forced me to help him sell them. Would you like to buy one?" Will said dully.

Horace didn't want to be rude, so he said: "Er...yeah, sure. How much per bracelet?"

Gilan beamed at the Battleschool apprentice. "One dollar."

The Battleschool apprentice sighed and pulled out a crisp dollar and handed it to Will, but Gilan snatched it before Will could grab it.

"I'll keep the money, thank you very much," said Gilan.

Will frowned. "Then what's the point of working in your dumb company?"

Gilan considered the thought. "You'll get one fourth of the money we earn each day. Deal?"

"Deal." Though Will didn't think it was very fair, it was no use arguing.

After Horace had chosen a neon pink duct tape bracelet ("I told you, he got it because he saw how wonderful the color looks on me," said Gilan), the two Rangers went up to the kitchens to see if Jenny was there.

They spotted Jenny right away. "Jenny, do you have a minute?" asked Will.

Jenny smiled cheerfully. "Sure," she answered. "Hey, do you want some coffee?" The girl knew how much Rangers liked coffee.

"Yes, please," Will said gratefully.

"Actually," Gilan cut in, "Will doesn't want coffee. We don't have much time, I'm afraid."

Will frowned. Who didn't have time for coffee?

Jenny smiled. "Oh, that's okay. So why are you here?"

Once again, Gilan took charge. "Will and I—"

Will frowned again. "Actually, Gilan started the company and forced me to join."

"I didn't force you to join," corrected Gilan. "You said you wanted to help me. Anyway, would you like to buy one of our bracelets? They're one dollar each."

Jenny smiled. "Sure." She pulled out a fresh dollar. Then she chose the dark blue bracelet. "It reminds me of blueberries!" Jenny said happily.

"Thank you for buying," said Gilan.

Jenny waved good-bye, the dark blue bracelet flashing on her wrist.

The process went on for the next two hours. Gilan and Will sold a total of twenty bracelets. Some were sold to their friends, some were sold to strangers in the streets. Some customers bought more than one. That was the case with Alyss.

At four o' clock that night, Will and Gilan returned to Halt's home. Will was completely worn out from a long day of selling. His back ached from riding Tug all day. And his head was sore.

"And your money for today." Gilan said. He handed Will five dollars.

Will wearily accepted the five dollars. He was too tired to do anything but flop on the ground like a helpless worm.

The door opened and Halt appeared. Right away, Will stuffed the five dollars into Halt's hands and rushed inside, famished and tired.

Gilan smiled cheerfully. "Would you like to buy a bracelet?"

Halt still hadn't changed his mind. "My answer was no and it is still no. Now go away."

The door shut with a SLAM.

A frown replaced Gilan's smile.

It was time for Plan B.


Chapter 4 will be up soon...so keep checking!