Chapter Two
"Okay lovebirds, time to get up!" Duncan shook his sister awake. Isadora blearily lifted her head off of Klaus' lap.
"Where are we?" Klaus asked.
"Last Chance General Store," Duncan said, leading his sister and friend inside.
They snuck past the manager, who was too busy stacking day-old pastries to notice them anyway. Duncan led Klaus and Isadora to the back of the store, where Violet was tapping out a message in Morse code on a telegraph device, and Sunny was listening to make sure the message went through correctly.
Violet handed the Quagmires some clothes to change into. After they did so, Violet had finished her telegraph, and the five children walked back outside to eat breakfast in the V.F.D. fire truck.
"Do you want the good news or the bad news?" Violet asked, munching on untoasted bread.
The Quagmire triplets both had their mouths full of food, so Klaus was the one to answer. "Bad news."
"Gas costs money, and the fire truck is out."
Duncan swallowed. "And the good news?"
"There isn't any," Violet admitted.
"So we're stuck in the middle of the Hinterlands?" Isadora asked.
At that moment, a delivery truck for The Daily Punctilio pulled up to Last Chance General Store. The delivery man stepped out with a bundle of newspapers and entered the store without noticing the gang of children sitting outside.
"Lou, is that you?" The store manager called.
"Milt, put down those scones and take a look at today's headline," said Lou, the delivery man. " Murderous Orphans Spotted in the Hinterlands." The five children looked at one another in horror.
"I know those kids," said Milt, the store manager. "They're right outside."
"Run," Violet whispered. The orphans were about to do so when a long, black automobile pulled into the spot next to the fire truck, and a very familiar man stepped out.
The children pressed themselves into the bed of the fire engine. The only sounds to be heard were the conversation inside the general store, the sound of the bell as Count Olaf walked in, and occasionally the children's own rapid breathing. The two sets of siblings climbed out of the truck, finding themselves against the villainous automobile. From inside, they could hear Esmé telling a very boring story.
Duncan directed the others' attention to a van parked at the edge of the store. The van was blue, and decorated with a pattern of music notes. The children crept toward the van, stopping in front of the doors, labeled V.F.D.
A man with a beard and hair threw the doors open. "Welcome volunteers! Come on in!"
Author's Note:
Please review if you liked the chapter!
JustVildaPotter: I was hoping you would like it! I'm glad you find the story awesome (inspiring awe). Of course, I will keep writing.