Jack Shian and the Destiny Stone Read Online Free PDF Page B

the deck, and two squeals of pain.
    Armina, instantly alert, held her sceptre out. “ Ostentus! ”
    The girls, still in a heap on the deck, materialised.
    “What in the name of Tua are you two doing here?” Grandpa’s outraged yell was echoed by mocking squawks from two seagulls.
    Rana and Lizzie sat up, their green bonnets now scalded red by Armina’s hex.
    “We’ve come to help,” said Rana defiantly.
    “Turn around,” Grandpa shouted across to Enda. “We’ll have to take them back.”
    “We can’t. The tide’s running too strongly. There’s no time if we’re to make Nebula in three days.”
    With an exasperated roar, Grandpa Sandy upbraided the two girls. Lizzie’s eyes filled with tears, and she looked down at her feet; but Rana’s face showed no sign of regret. There was a twinkle in her eye, and she glanced slyly across at Jack and smiled.
    “What have you two done with my wife?” demanded Gilmore.
    “She’s back at the house,” answered Rana calmly. “She’ll wake up soon.”
    “What do you mean?” roared the tailor.
    “It’s not a bad hex. We used one of Armina’s potions.”
    “You did what?” squeaked Armina, reaching for her bag and examining the contents. “And what else have you stolen?”
    “Listen,” commanded Enda. “This is not the start we’d planned. But we have to get along. So that’s the last of the shouting. We’ll find plenty to keep these two occupied.”
    Jack moved up to the back of the boat, where Petros had remained a silent spectator to these events.
    “What’re they like?” smiled Jack as Petros turned to look at the receding island. “Your mum’s going to go spare. Oh well, say goodbye to Ilanbeg.”
    Petros said nothing, but wiped his mouth slowly.
    He’s not looking that well , thought Jack.
    “Aren’t you going to say goodbye to the island?”
    “Goodbye breakfast.” With that, Petros leant over the side and heaved.

    Petros was not the only crew member to get seasick. As the boats passed each other tales were swapped, and it became evident that the sea’s swell had identified those who lacked ‘sea legs’.
    Fenrig’s initial delight at Petros’ misfortune didn’t last long, and before they made landfall that night at Soabost, he too had succumbed. Kelly, relocated from the boat that had sunk, tried to console him.
    “Don’t feel so bad. Plenty of sailors get seasick.”
    “Leave me alone.”
    “Ah, don’t take it like that. We’ve days on this boat together. It’s autumn, see; we can’t go nearly as fast as we can in the summer.”
    Fenrig scowled and turned away.
    “The best thing you can do is concentrate on something else. Like that selkie, for example.”
    Fenrig squealed in alarm as a face appeared beside the boat. The selkie began swimming alongside the boat, almost touching it.
    “She’s sheltering,” stated Kelly. Looking around, he fixed his gaze on a boat some distance away. “Human fishermen,” he went on. “They shoot seals. Looks like they’ve mistaken the selkie for one.”
    “I’ve never seen a selkie.” Jack made his way to the side of the boat, and looked down at the graceful creature. He noticed a dark mark on the creature’s back. “I think she’s hurt.”
    Kelly peered down. “She’s been shot all right. We can’t do much while we’re sailing. But she’s safe now, as long as she stays with us. We’ll check her over when we reach land.”
    “I know about selkies,” announced Fenrig to Jack’s astonishment. “They’re cool; they steal the humans’ fish.”
    When they made landfall, Kelly and Fenrig stayed behind in the boat as the others went ashore. The selkie, bleating harshly, remained close by in the bay.
    Suppertime was a chance for those on the other boats to get the full story of Rana and Lizzie’s escapade. The inevitable rows from some of the adults were balanced by respectful (but silent) praise from most of the youngsters. And with the winds set as they were, the only