Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta Read Online Free PDF

found you!”
    A little black monkey jumped into the clearing. He had a long tail, playful, bright brown eyes, and wore a bright blue scarf tied around his left arm. “Me Finley, who you?”
    They gaped at the crazy, impossible monkey, who stared back at them impatiently. Gabriel recovered first. He looked at his friends, realized neither of them would speak, and then looked back at the monkey. He would have to speak to a monkey. A talking monkey wearing a blue scarf. Here goes nothing.
    “Uhhhh, I’m Gabriel. These are my friends, Piper and Brent.” He pointed them out, keeping a firm hand on Zigzag’s collar. “And this is Zigzag.”
    “Ohhhhhhhh, it funny looking!” Finley said. “You lost? You no look like you belong here.”
    “But wait—how—you’re a monkey . And you’re talking ?” Piper exclaimed.
    “Me talk.” Finley nodded. “You do, too. Me be watching you. Master tell me you come from human world.”
    “Hold on a sec. Did you say master ?” Gabriel asked.
    “Yes, master. Master tell many thing.”
    Piper hung her head in her hands, her raven-black hair dangling around her face. “This can’t be happening.”
    Finley hopped toward Piper. “Don’t worry. Peeeease. Finley try help.” Brent lifted his arm to block him, sighed, and dropped it, letting him pass. The monkey petted Piper on the head, pulled two handfuls of berries from a nearby pail, and handed them out. The berries looked similar to the ones the creature had been picking earlier.
    Piper mumbled, “Thank you.”
    Brent pointed to the scarf on Finley’s arm. “What’s with the scarf? And where would you even get one of those around here? Wait. Don’t tell me. You’re a talking, sewing monkey, right?” Brent burst out laughing, slapping his leg.
    Piper gave him a light shove. “Shh.”
    Gabriel chuckled under his breath.
    “Finley tracker. Me guide tribe. It what Finley do.” He pointed to his blue scarf. “Tracker tag. Master give Finley. What you do?”
    “Us? We go to school. That’s what kids do in our world.” Brent pulled at the grass between his legs and looked up at Gabriel, shrugging, as if to say, just go with it . Not knowing another option, and because Finley seemed innocent, they relaxed a little and ate some berries. Zigzag licked Finley’s hand like she’d found a long lost friend.
    A few minutes later, Piper gagged, jumped up, ran to a nearby bush, and threw up.
    “What’s wrong?” Gabriel asked. He rushed over to her, and Brent followed, groaning as he tried to keep up. Brent looked green and grasped at his stomach. Gabriel didn’t know if Brent was grossed out by Piper throwing up or if he felt sick, too.
    “My stomach hurts,” Piper moaned. She leaned over and threw up again. Then Brent followed with his own contribution.
    “What’s wrong with them?” Gabriel demanded, pointing at Finley.
    “Just Valta berry!” Finley held his hands up defensively. “Maybe they no try ‘fore.”
    “Of course we didn’t try before.” Brent’s fisted hands were on his hips, but soon he doubled over again.
    “Finley feel bad. No more Valta berry for Piper and Brent. But why Gabrul no ick? Finley wonder.”
    Gabriel kneeled beside Piper. “I don’t know why I’m not sick, Finley. I actually feel okay, so it can’t be poison. Maybe you guys just have sensitive stomachs or something.” Gabriel patted her back and looked at Brent. Brent shook his head, gagging. Piper rolled into a ball, grasping her arms around her knees, rocking back and forth.
    Gabriel sighed, twisting his hands. He thought about what Finley had said. Why hadn’t he gotten sick, too? An anxious feeling swirled in his stomach. He was starting to think they weren’t safe there—and poison berries would be the least of their problems.

Chapter Five
    Gabriel stood in the tall grass and watched the sun setting in the east, rather than the west. He checked his compass again, and gave it a tap. A broken compass, a talking monkey,