"Unleash your creativity and unlock your potential with MsgBrains.Com - the innovative platform for nurturing your intellect." » English Books » "Somewhere Beyond the Sea" by TJ Klune

Add to favorite "Somewhere Beyond the Sea" by TJ Klune

Select the language in which you want the text you are reading to be translated, then select the words you don't know with the cursor to get the translation above the selected word!




Go to page:
Text Size:

Arthur arched an eyebrow.

“Oh, please,” Phee said. “Like we were actually about to die.”

“Hmm. I’ll allow it. Talia, you’re up.”

She stroked her beard thoughtfully. “I learned that even though fish have thoughts, I’ll still eat them because I like how they taste in my mouth.”

“Fascinating. I appreciate your candor. Theodore?”

Theodore lay on his back on the bottom of the rowboat, feet kicking in the air. Sal grabbed him by the ankles, lifting him up, letting the wyvern chirp in Arthur’s face.

“Wonderful,” Arthur said. “Your ingenuity in using your fire undoubtedly saved us all from plummeting toward certain death. I am so very impressed by your thought process. Sal, your turn.”

“We figured it out on our own,” Sal said with a twinkle in his eye, Theodore on his shoulder, as per usual. “We were in trouble, and we found a way to solve the problem.”

“With a tidal wave,” Linus groused, his legs and hips now completely covered in sand. Then, “Not bad, per se, just one I wouldn’t have opted for as I don’t like seeing my life flash before my eyes.”

“You thought for yourselves,” Arthur said. “And not only that, you put a plan into action and as Sal said, saw it through to the end. You are to be commended, even if I question the usefulness of a tidal wave over, say, David’s idea for blocks of ice. David, what did you learn?”

“That you’re all so weird,” David said, panting, eyes wide. “And I like it.”

“Thank you,” Arthur said. “You’re also weird, and we like you, so it appears we’re on the same page. Lucy? I’m curious to find out what you learned.”

Lucy scowled at him. “I bet you are. Going to tell me something else I can’t do?”

Fair, though it stung. “It seems that you and I need to have a chat.”

“Damn right we do,” he grumbled. “And I learned another way to make Linus throw up. By my count, that’s twelve different ways now that I can—”

“Thirteen,” Talia said. “Remember when Sal got a spot, and you wanted to be like him so you covered your entire face in leaking pimples?”

Linus groaned on the beach.

He knew. The moment he saw Zoe and Helen waiting for them on the porch, he knew. It wasn’t the expression on Zoe’s face—the worried look that she covered up as soon as she saw them. It wasn’t anything Helen did, sitting next to her, her own face carefully blank. No, it wasn’t either of those things, though they did add to the feeling of unease that crashed over him, not unlike an errant tidal wave.

It was the white manila folder sitting between them on the step. He’d seen such folders before, when Linus had received his classified instructions from DICOMY. Rowder hadn’t wasted any time.

“How’d it go?” Zoe asked with a small smile. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about a giant wave that almost crashed into the island, would you?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Lucy muttered, stomping up the stairs and slamming the door shut behind him.

“Uh-oh,” Helen said.

“He all right?” Zoe asked.

David wilted, kicking the ground with his hairy feet. “He’s mad at me because—I didn’t mean to—I was just trying to—”

“Hey, man,” Sal said. “You don’t need to do that. It’s nothing you did. Trust me when I say he’ll get over it.”

David scowled. “You don’t know that.”

“But I do,” Arthur said. “David, if we felt you had done something wrong, we would’ve talked to you about it. I know it’s easier said than done, but let us worry about Lucy.” He glanced at the others. “Why don’t you all go inside and change? We’ll have an early supper tonight.”

“It better not be Frank,” Talia muttered, drawing a finger across her throat. She followed the others up the stairs and into the house.

Once Arthur was sure they weren’t listening in, he turned back to Zoe and said, “To answer your question, Lucy is in a bit of a snit at the moment, but to be fair, I don’t think he can be blamed for it. That rests upon me. I’ll see to it shortly.” He glanced pointedly down at the folder, only then noticing there were two rather than one. “I assume that’s what we’ve been waiting for?”

“It is,” Helen said. “I was also sent a notice.”

Linus groaned. “What on earth is DICOMY planning now?”

Helen picked up one of the folders, showing the front to Arthur and Linus. It was addressed to the MAYOR OF MARSYAS. In the top left corner, the official DICOMY stamp: a circle with two hands joined in the middle, one young, one older. Helen pulled out a single sheet of paper and began to read. “Dear Mayor Webb, this letter serves you with notice that an official Department in Charge of Magical Youth investigation will take place beginning the third week of June at Marsyas Island Orphanage. As a duly elected civil servant of the nearest city and/or town, we ask that you disallow any interruption to said investigation. Any and all attempts to keep the DICOMY inspector from completing their assignment will be met with the full force of the law, up to and including fines and incarceration. Have a pleasant day! With sincerity, Jeanine Rowder, Interim Head of the Department in Charge of Magical Youth and the Department in Charge of Magical Adults.” She put the letter back in the folder.

“It sounds as if they’re expecting trouble,” Linus said.

“We figured they would,” Helen said. “More and more magical people are finding sanctuary in the village, even if it’s only temporary. It was only a matter of time before that got back to the government.”

“And the other folder?” Arthur asked.

Zoe shrugged. “Even shorter, if you can believe that. I figured you wouldn’t mind if I opened it. Says what you expect. Inspector arriving next week. Wednesday.” She made a face. “And that any attempts to deceive the inspector will result in the immediate removal of the children.”

“What recourse do we have?” Linus asked, sounding rather helpless. “Are we just supposed to let whoever they send tromp through our home? And can we really trust everyone in the village not to make a mess of things?”

Helen laughed. “I think you’ll find help in the unlikeliest places.” She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, eyes sparkling. “A gaggle of reporters are in the village, all clamoring to get to the island. Merle didn’t make it easier.”

Arthur huffed out a laugh. “Upped the prices again, did he? How much is he attempting to charge?”

Helen shook her head. “Not that, Arthur. He told them that he wouldn’t take them across. Said—and I quote—‘Why the hell would little ones need to talk to reporters? You damned vultures. You’ll never step foot on my ferry!’”

Are sens

Copyright 2023-2059 MsgBrains.Com