The Unnameables Read Online Free PDF Page A

about the barns she'd build, the perfect bowls he would carve. No one could see them through the brambles, no one could make some sly comment about plank babies or Med-ford Run-you-in.
    Since then they'd seen Bog Island in all seasons, even creeping out over icy logs to be dazzled by it in snow. Prudy had woven branches into a three-sided shelter against the wind.
    What if they never let him be alone with Prudy ever again? She and her brother, Earnest, were the only people he really talked to. Without them, his tongue would shrivel up. He'd be a moaning, tongueless person sanding platters all day.
    The idea of Prudy and him courting was ludicrous, humiliating. What would he say to her when she suggested going to Bog Island? He would have to say why he couldn't. How would he face her after he'd said it?
    With a rush of heat he realized that Prudy had known exactly what Arvid meant yesterday when he spoke of them "sneaking off"—that was why she'd gotten so angry. Maybe he couldn't talk to her at all. Maybe he'd already lost his only friend.
    "Medford!" He hadn't heard Prudy's footsteps but she must have been running. She'd spent the last four days teaching the New Learners, Deemer hovering over her. Now she was breathless, glowing with the joy of being outside on a day with no Book Learning. "Medford, come down to the wharf. Something's Nameless."
    He ran after her, glad he hadn't had to talk. By the time he reached the wharf, two streets away from Boyce's house, he was winded but braver.
    Prudy was on her way down the ramp to the floats below the wharf. At first, everything seemed normal. Cooper Waterman and Adele Fisher sat against wharf pilings splicing rope. A cluster of Fishers had nets spread out for mending. The large motorboat used for the Mainland Trade was rocking at a float beside two fishing sailboats. All as usual.
    Except ... there, down on the float, Deemer Learned lurked like a molting blackbird in his Council garb, as out of place on the waterfront as on the beach. Why did he wear his Council robe all the time? None of the other Councilors did.
    Master Learned was in dour conversation with Violet Waterman, whose face was wrinkled up as if she hurt. Essence stood nearby, head high but looking at nothing, holding herself so tense with a face so white and tight she might be ready to split in half. She had a bundle at her feet, wrapped up in Common Stuff with a wooden handle tied on.
    Prudy headed for the float like a Honeybug to its hive. "Essence," she said. "What's that bundle for?"
    Essence shook her head. Medford had never seen anyone look so scared, even Fidelity Spinner after the Great Northeast Gale took the roof off right over his head.
    "Into the boat," Deemer told his daughter. Essence swung her big bundle into the Trade boat, where it toppled into a puddle of seawater and sat there, soaking it up. Deemer ignored it, and ignored Essence as she prepared to step down from the float.
    Violet offered her hand. Essence took it and stepped aboard. She lurched onto the aft bench and sat there, ankles crossed, hands folded, eyes down.
    "Essence," Prudy tried again, yelling over the engine noise. "Are you going somewheres?" Essence didn't seem to hear her but Deemer gave Prudy a look that should have made her braids smoke.
    He stepped down into the boat himself, waving off Violet's hand exactly when the vessel bucked under him. He stumbled across the cockpit and barely saved himself from hurtling over the side. Violet met Prudy's eye and hastily looked away, biting her lip.
    Cooper Waterman came down to cast off for his sister, and the boat moved away from the float. Medford and Prudy watched it churn toward the mouth of the harbor, the motors drone fading away under the cries of the seabirds.
    "Too bad he was in such a hurry," Cooper said. "Should've sent some Trade goods for a Useful trip."
    "Where's Essence going?" Medford asked.
    Cooper pretended no one had said anything. Medford felt his face go