Island of Graves Read Online Free PDF

they even understand what was happening?
    He considered doing a flyover with Simber, but he didn’t want to frighten anyone or make Gondoleery suspicious of anything, for such an act could be considered threatening. And while Alex fully intended to threaten the high priest of Quill with his new plan, he did not wish to give Gondoleery any warning at all.
    He pondered his options for hours, forgetting all about dinner. Eventually he heard the Museum of Large’s door creak open, accompanied by excited chattering in the hall. The first meeting attendees were arriving. Alex could hear Lani speaking expertly about where to find things to someone who must surely be Sky.
    Alex’s stomach twisted at the sound of Sky’s voice, whichhad never fully healed from when she wore the thorny necklace of Warbler. He was in love, it was true. But he wasn’t quite sure how she felt about him. She’d taken a step back in their relationship due to his stupidity, but she was slowly coming back to being his friend. And they’d come awfully close to a kiss on the ship as they returned home from the Island of Shipwrecks, though the sight of the help sign on the gorilla island had ruined that moment. If he could just keep cool and stop himself from messing things up, there might be a kiss in his future. But then Alex sighed, because that would cause old problems to resurface, he was sure.
    The two girls entered the room with Sean Ranger right behind them. Sean, whose leg was nearly healed, walked on his own with only a magical support fashioned by Ms. Octavia, the octogator art instructor, to aid him. She was accustomed to fixing limbs of all kinds. And while she couldn’t just give a human a whole new leg like she could do for Captain Ahab or Florence or any other statue, she built this contraption, which allowed Sean to walk normally without putting full pressure on his leg. Now it could finish healing properly while also giving him the freedom to walk without assistance.
    This was the first time all three of them were present at one of Alex’s office leadership meetings, and they seemed eager and nervous to be there.
    Alex welcomed them in. “Sit anywhere, except not that giant floral sofa—that’s Florence’s spot. And Ms. Octavia prefers one of the small chairs up front, because otherwise she can’t see.”
    The three looked around. “Your office looks just like the miniature version,” Sky said. She had been the one to find the mini mansion in the gray shack back when Artimé had disappeared.
    â€œWhy, yes,” Alex exclaimed as if it were the most brilliant thing said in his lifetime. “It does. Exactly like it.” He perched comfortably on the corner of his desk and glanced up at the artwork on the wall. “See there? All those crazy dots.” He shook his head, remembering how hard it had been to figure out what they meant.
    â€œDo you still remember the words?” Sky asked.
    â€œAll but the fourth one,” Alex said. The two shared a laugh that Lani and Sean didn’t get, but neither Alex nor Sky offered to explain.
    Others soon arrived. Florence, Simber, Ms. Octavia, Claire, Samheed, and Carina could see the entrance to the not-very-secret hallway, so they walked in easily. Most found chairs to sit in, and Simber lounged on the floor.
    Alex welcomed them all.
    Once everyone was settled, Alex turned first to Sean, Meghan’s older brother. “How are you?” he asked.
    Sean gave a small smile. “I’m holding on. I went into Quill and told our parents yesterday. Just to let them know.”
    Carina glanced over at him and slipped her hand in his, then pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed her eyes with it. She’d lost her young husband in the first battle with Quill, and her mother, Eva Fathom, not long ago. Of anyone, she could definitely relate to Sean’s great loss.
    â€œHow did your parents react?” Alex