Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow by Nathan Bransford Page A

don’t you think? Have I told you about my rocket boosters? No? They are quite advanced and—”
    â€œSo listen up.” Mick waited for a few long seconds to build anticipation, and gathered Jacob, Sarah, and Dexter around. “We’re going to steal . . .”
    After waiting a few moments for Mick to finish, Dexter said, “We’re going to steal what?”
    Mick paused a few more seconds for good measure. “We’re going to steal . . . the Dragon’s Eye.”
    Mick waited expectantly for a reaction. Jacob, Dexter, and Sarah looked at one another, and since none of them showed any hint of recognition, they unanimously reached the conclusion that they had never heard of a Dragon’s Eye.
    â€œWe’re not impressed,” Sarah said. “Look, Cracken, we really need to see if our planet is okay.”
    Mick rolled his eyes. “Earth? Who cares. I’m sure it’s fine.”
    â€œHow do you know?” Jacob asked.
    â€œPeople. Dragon’s Eye. The biggest diamond in the galaxy. Focus.” Mick waited for them to react with suitable excitement, but when it was clear they didn’t know what he was talking about, he continued: “A long time ago some space explorers came across an asteroid orbiting a planet in a backwater corner of the galaxy. The planet was tiny, dusty, and not very interesting, and it smelled like burp breath. So everyone left it alone. But then some explorers were in trouble because their ship was having mechanical problems, so they decided to land on the planet, even though it smelled like burp breath.”
    â€œQuite right,” Praiseworthy said. “Fine storytelling, Master Cracken, and if I may interject . . .”
    â€œAs the explorers were trying to land, they crashed into a foreign object. It was about twenty feet in diameter, and it seriously damaged their ship. It was the asteroid. But here’s the thing. When the ship issued a distress call, they swore that they had been hit by a huge, pure, perfectly round diamond. A diamond twenty feet in diameter. The single biggest diamond in the galaxy.”
    Sarah looked at Jacob and Dexter and shrugged. “Still not impressed.”
    â€œWhat happened to the explorers?” Dexter asked.
    â€œWho cares, they probably landed on the planet and smelled bad. The point is, the biggest diamond had been discovered, and the people who received the distress call went and found it. They could have sold it and gotten rich beyond their wildest dreams, but instead they completely lost their minds and donated it to science.” Mick leaned in. “What do you say we do the right thing and steal it? I just need a few subordinates for my plan to work.”
    â€œWe really should be trying to get back home,” Sarah said.
    â€œAgreed,” Dexter said.
    Mick sneered and shook his head. “You have to be joking. It’s a huge diamond!” When none of the children signaled that they were changing their minds, Mick waved for them to lean in closer. He looked around carefully, as if someone could possibly be eavesdropping on them on a ship in the middle of nowhere in outer space. “What if I told you this diamond has the power to grant a wish?”
    â€œWhat kind of a wish?” Sarah asked.
    â€œAny wish,” Mick said. “The Dragon’s Eye is more than just a diamond. It’s a machine. The greatest machine ever created. It uses quantum manipulation to create any possibility in the entire universe. It can create anything out of thin air. All you have to do is place your hand on the Dragon’s Eye and wish.”
    â€œHow many wishes?” Dexter asked. “Can you wish for a million wishes?”
    Mick smiled. “There’s only one way to find out. Why do you think I want to steal it so badly?”
    Jacob narrowed his eyes. He didn’t think there was any possible way a diamond could grant a wish, no matter how much