The Red Pearl Read Online Free PDF

said Robin. “But I could really use a hot meal and a nap more than anything right now.”
    Antonia, however, was curious. Robin had said his father was an inventor, after all. “I’ll have a look, Dr. Watkins,” she offered.
    The old man beamed, and Robin huffed. Resigned, he followed them out the front door and down a wide wooden porch. Birdcalls floated amidst the humid air, and Antonia glanced around. But for the disorganized mess inside the cabin, their home was rather charming.
    An old shed was nestled at the edge of the property, and in her new attire, she had no trouble wading through the heat to reach it. Mrs. Watkins’s dress was much more breathable in this climate than the Azean robes had been.
    Dr. Watkins unlatched the shed’s double doors and swung them open. Antonia squinted, coughing, as a cloud of dust rose in her face. The shed’s interior was illuminated by the brilliant evening sunset, revealing all manner of contraptions and trinkets, wheels and gears, and what appeared to be dozens of half-finished projects. It looked like the lair of a madman.
    The fine hair on Antonia’s arms prickled. Were either of these people entirely sane?
    “Pardon the mess,” chuckled the amiable doctor, winding through the maze of junk. “But truly, you two are the first to witness my latest opus.” He brought them to what resembled an open carriage.
    Antonia peered up. A wheel was attached inside the carriage, beneath which rested a pair of pedals on its floor. Robin came beside her, his brow wrinkled.
    “It’s a horseless carriage!” cried Dr. Watkins, opening the half-door and climbing in. “Of course, I haven’t worked out all the kinks just yet…”
    Robin’s shift in attitude was drastic. “My gods.” His voice was a whisper, but Antonia perceived it, as well as his slow, triumphant smile.
    “She runs on a motor,” the doctor explained, and launched into a detailed description of engine-building. All the while, Robin surveyed the vehicle, eyes gleaming. Antonia stared between them. She still did not quite understand. What, exactly, did a horseless carriage entail?
    Dr. Watkins was in the middle of an intricate explanation about wiring when Robin excitedly interrupted him. “Can we see how it works?”
    His father halted, caught off-guard. “Well, sure.” He dug into his pocket and extracted a key ring. He then stuck a copper key into the wheel’s base. Antonia jumped as noisy rumbling filled the shed.
    Cheerfully, Dr. Watkins waved them aside. “Move over,” he commanded, slamming his foot onto one of the pedals. Robin and Antonia leapt from the way as the carriage shot out of the shed, great wheels rotating beneath it. The old man drove it up the lawn and down a narrow dirt path, curly hair flying in the breeze. “It’s a joy! You must give her a try, Rob.”
    Antonia watched in awe as Dr. Watkins drove the carriage back to them and slid to the opposite end of the bench. Robin eagerly jumped inside and took his place at the wheel.
    “The right pedal is go, left is stop,” his father briefed him. “Now, grip the steering wheel with both hands, there’s a good lad.”
    Robin’s grin faltered as the motor only continued to chug. “Why won’t it go?”
    “Oh.” Dr. Watkins pushed back a lever. “Sorry. Had it in park.”
    His son extended a leg again when, to Antonia’s astonishment, the carriage zoomed backwards. “What the—?”
    “Whoops!” The old man laughed. “That’s reverse.” He adjusted the lever again.
    Robin gaped at him. “It reverses ?”
    His father smiled with pride, and Robin hit the pedal once more. This time, the carriage sped forward. Antonia applauded, laughing. What innovation! Why, Dr. Watkins was no madman at all—but clearly, a genius!
    “It’s perfect,” declared Robin, bringing the vehicle to a stop and slipping the lever up to park it. He turned to his father, brimming with enthusiasm. “May we borrow it?”

THAD BLINKED. “BORROW