The Magical Flight of Dodie Rue Read Online Free PDF Page A

on the edge of Nadar’s flying carpet. Taj rattled on about his evening as a celebrity, and about the girl Salarah who gave him a kiss.
    â€œYou don’t look too good,” Dodie pointed out.
    Taj rubbed his belly. “I think I ate something that didn’t agree with me.”
    â€œProbably just nerves,” Nadar assured him. “Though you do look pale.”
    When they got home, Taj went right upstairs and collapsed on his bed. He gave a groan as Dodie entered the room.
    â€œYou okay?” he asked.
    Taj whimpered. “I really wanna throw up. Think I’ll feel better if I do.”
    â€œI never feel better when I do,” mumbled Dodie as he slipped off his sandals.
    Taj moaned and rolled over. In a few minutes he was asleep.
    Dodie yawned and soon drifted off. What seemed like minutes later, he was awakened by a gagging noise.
    â€œTaj?” he called in the darkness.
    More gagging and choking.
    Dodie lit the overhanging brass lamp. Taj was shaking, and making gagging noises. Foam bubbled from his open mouth.
    â€œDad!” Dodie screamed. “Grandpapa! Quick! It’s Taj!”
    Gamal rushed into the room, followed silently by Nadar on his carpet. Gamal gripped his son to try to steady him.
    â€œTaj! Can you hear me?” Gamal got right in his son’s face.
    Taj gave one last cough, then fell still, his eyes rolling back in his head.
    â€œDodie! Get the alchemist, fast !”
    Dodie bolted downstairs, unlocked the back door, and dodged down the alley. The full moon cast silver beams that lit his way as he skidded around dark corners and ran through the deserted streets. He arrived at the alchemist’s shop and banged on the door.
    â€œRaz! Sir! Wake up! Binni!” he yelled, beating the door.
    A light turned on upstairs. A few minutes later the door opened. Both Binni and his uncle gaped at him.
    â€œDodie Rue? What is it?” Raz inquired in a groggy voice.
    â€œTaj,” Dodie panted, leaning against the door jam. “Choking .  . . gagging . . . he fainted.”
    â€œLet me grab my kit.” Raz dashed inside.
    â€œHe’s sick?” asked Binni.
    Dodie gulped air. “He ate something bad.”
    â€œLet’s go.” Raz reappeared, carrying a square basket with a handle, and followed the boys back to the Rue house.
    Dodie led the way up to the third floor where Taj lay unconscious. Raz knelt beside the boy and examined him. Dodie lingered back, not wanting to get in the way or see Taj lying there like a corpse. Everyone watched Raz, waiting for a diagnosis. With a grave face, he turned to Gamal.
    â€œHe’s still alive,” he confirmed.
    â€œHe’s sick?” Gamal asked, his calloused hands still gripping his son’s arms.
    â€œHe’s been poisoned.”

Chapter 3
    â€œ Poisoned? ”
    â€œBy who?”
    â€œBy a competitor, perhaps.”
    â€œâ€˜S there an antidote?”
    Raz stood up from kneeling at the bedside. “Give me a few minutes to thoroughly examine him. I have a suspicion which poison was used, but I need to confirm it before I make a diagnosis. If you would all please leave the room.” He held out his hand toward the bedroom door.
    â€œOut,” Gamal ushered everyone out of the room.
    â€œHe’ll get better, right?” Dodie asked no one in particular.
    â€œHas to!” Gamal said, tugging on his beard.
    â€œMy uncle’ll know what to do,” Binni said with confidence. “He’ll give him a strong antidote. He’s the alchemist, after all.”
    Dodie bit his tongue from arguing that point with his best friend—the village referred to Raz as the alchemist, but in reality he was more of a physician and pharmacist than a worker of wonders. Everyone knew it was his ambition to someday be a certified alchemist, but he never had enough money to go to the Capital and enroll in formal training. He too had taken a loan from Hadi to