Dragonsapien Read Online Free PDF

latrines, all of which could be easily flushed clean using
the waters of a diverted stream connected to a covered cess pit.
There was also a small patch were some of the island’s wild
vegetables were now being cultivated.
    Of course, even
when ‘working hard’, Jack’s efforts hadn’t produced as much as
everyone else.
    He had watched
in awe as, even in mid transformation, those around him used their
incredible strength to break or wrench free the small trees they
were constructing the huts from. Talons sliced and planed, or dug
at and scooped up the earth. Metallically glistening skin appeared
immune to the cuts and damage a human might suffer as he went about
similar arduous tasks.
    As if they were
taking care not to alarm Jake, no one underwent a full
transformation in front of him unless it was absolutely necessary,
such as when a heavy load had to be moved over a distance. Even in
these cases, however, Celly would refuse to transform, just as she
never used any of her extra abilities while he was
present.
    Until today,
Jake had never seen Celly change since her family had fled to the
island. Yet he had not only guessed but also now knew for certain
that Celly helped out fully whenever he wasn’t around, having
caught glimpses of her flying overhead while out walking in the
jungle.
    And he had
thought she was the most beautiful thing he had ever
seen.
     
     
    *
     
     
    In the coolness
of the water, their earlier arguments had been
forgotten.
    As he had
watched Celly washing herself clean of the blood in the rolling,
sun-dappled waves, Jake – exhausted and sticky with sweat – had
found their whispering promise of soothing relief impossible to
resist.
    His dive was
both shallow and awkward, splashing Celly as he rushed past
her.
    She laughed,
chased him, splashed him back.
    She swung away,
her own moves fast, graceful, flowing through the water with the
suppleness of a mermaid. She hardly disturbed the shoals of fish
passing around her, even as she dipped beneath the clear waters and
swam amongst them.
    Giving chase,
Jake’s relatively awkward actions sent the fish scattering in
panic.
    They both broke
the surface spluttering, giggling uncontrollably.
    ‘Got you!’ Jake
cried triumphantly, clasping Celly tightly by her arms.
    ‘Only because I
was laughing so much at how clumsy you are!’ Celly
chuckled.
    ‘Oh, so now I’m
clumsy am I?’ Jake teased light-heartedly, letting go of Celly’s
arms. ‘Just because I can’t swim like I was born in water, like
you, eh?’
    ‘I wasn’t born in water; just in case you’re being serious!’
    She laughed
again, if only because it was good to see Jake laughing and joking
once more. Since they’d forcibly brought him to the island, he had
naturally switched regularly between outright anger and moody
acceptance of his situation.
    ‘Look,’ Celly
said, ‘if you must know, I’m sorry we brought you here.’
    Jake took her
attempt at an apology the wrong way.
    ‘Just because we
had an argument?’ he said.
    ‘No, silly!’ She
playfully struck his bared chest. ‘Not sorry as in sorry that
you’re here! Sorry that we had to bring you! I wish we could have
left you behind. Left you with your poor mum and dad.’
    ‘I knew that silly!’ he replied with a nevertheless pleased
grin.
    ‘I’m sure we can
let you go back soon! And dad will drop off your letter to your mum
and dad, as he promised.’
    Erdwin had flown
back home with the intention of contacting Dr Frobisher and making
sure that the doctor and his family had managed to avoid being
implicated in the deaths of the police officers, as well as picking
up news of any further developments. He’d also pointed out that it
was a perfect opportunity for Jake to let his parents know that he
was alive and well by writing a letter (carefully checked, to
ensure there was no coding revealing his whereabouts) that Erdwin
would leave with the doctor to be posted later.
    Jake shrugged,
unconcerned either way by