Ben the Dragonborn Read Online Free PDF Page B

have run out of real heroes to send a boy like you.”  
    The last statement irritated Ben for the girl was not any older than he was.  Ben had never met anyone so rude.  Ben decided right then and there that he did not like this girl, real or imaginary.  He doubted he could imagine someone this obnoxious.  Ben tried once more to ask the questions the girl had ignored: Where is land? Do you have a boat?  To Ben they were the only questions that mattered at the moment. The girl continued to ignore Ben’s questions.  She said, “Come with me,” and dove head first into the water.  
    “Wait…don’t go,” Ben began. Then he simply stared, speechless. As the girl’s head disappeared a large tail fin rose gracefully out of the water. Ben was stunned. He stared at the place where the girl had disappeared.  He watched anxiously for the couple of minutes that it took for her to return.
    Ben stammered, “y…y…you are a m…mermaid!” 
    “Of course. What else would I be? the girl began. Then she stopped and stared at him for a minute before speaking again. "Who are you and what are you doing here?”
    Ben stuttered, “I…I…I… don't know where here is. All I know is that I walked through a door and ended up here." He paused and then said slowly, "I think I'm the one you’re looking for."
    “I find that hard to believe, but I was sent here to find a Chosen of the Guardian and you are the only one I have found, so I guess I'll take you to the Watcher and Lea Waterborn will decide whether you are the one.”
    “I w…w…w…want to go with you.  The problem is I can’t swim. I also can’t breathe under water,” Ben said, remembering what Miss Templeton said about the third gift often being the ability to breathe under water.
    The girl stared at him with her mouth hanging open.  Then she gave a high pitched whistle.  In less than a minute two more fins broke the surface; fins that were attached to what Ben would identify as Orca on earth, except they had longer jaws that contained some vicious looking teeth.
    The mermaid flipped her tail a couple of times and joined the two Orcas a few feet away from Ben.  She spoke to the fish and all three of them turned and looked at Ben as he hung helplessly on top of the gym bag.  It appeared to Ben that the fish laughed, if fish can laugh, at whatever the girl said about him.  The mermaid then said something else and the two fish shook their heads.  The mermaid became agitated and Ben caught snatches of what she said, “mistake…wrong…Watcher will decide.”  Then one of the Orcas gave a barely perceptible nod and the three of them swam towards Ben.
    “This is Akca and Osch, and my name is Charla,” the girl said.  She did not ask Ben what his name was, but talked rapidly on. “Akca has agreed to let you ride on his back. He will carry you to the Watcher.  I hope you know this is an honor rarely granted.” 
    Ben looked at the fish. He was not sure he wanted to be so honored.  Akca looked distinctly unhappy.  In fact, it seemed to Ben that the fish would be happier having him as the main course for dinner.
    “Isn’t there any other…,” Ben began.
    “No, there isn’t. You can stay here or you can come with us. It’s up to you,” responded Charla curtly.    
    Akca swam alongside Ben.  It took all the courage Ben possessed to let go of his gym bag and grab hold of Akca’s dorsal fin.  Once he had a firm grip Ben swung his right leg over Akca’s back.  
    Osch grabbed the handle on Ben’s gym bag and with a toss of his head threw it into the air.  It came to rest just behind his head.  Osch led the way.  Akca followed with a speed that took Ben by surprise.  It was like being dragged behind a motor boat.  Ben lost his grip and was soon floundering in the water.  Charla and the Orcas laughed.  Akca swam alongside Ben once more.  Ben grabbed his dorsal fin and pulled himself back onto the Orca’s back.  Ben was determined