Dragonsapien by Jon Jacks Read Free Book Online Page A

him. As soon as he has settled his affairs,
your father and mother are intending on flying out here, possibly
as early as tonight. But I fear that our presence amongst humanity
can’t remain a secret much longer. Modern forensics are far too
sophisticated for us to be able to control events like this, as we
have in the past.’
    ‘But the island; he can still let them know where we’ve come!’ Leon spat,
glaring hatefully at Jake.
    ‘Jake wouldn’t
tell them!’ Celly insisted.
    ‘We know that,
darling,’ her mother said. ‘But the police would pester him for
descriptions of the island, and even Jake would find it hard to
keep on refusing.’
    ‘We’d move
anyway,’ Erdwin said, smiling reassuringly at Jake. ‘So yes, as I
was saying earlier, you can be returned soon Jake.’
    ‘If we’re about
to be discovered,’ asked Hincheley, who had remained resolutely
quiet until now, ‘what’s going to happen to those who haven’t had
the chance to escape, like we have? Shouldn’t we get word to
them?’
    ‘Kubrick and
Stanhope are warning everyone they know, and asking them to pass on
the message as quickly as possible. That’s why Harry has stayed so
long, despite being under increasing pressure from the police; he
doesn’t want to alarm the authorities with his disappearance until
it’s absolutely necessary, giving everyone as much chance as
possible to spread the warning.’
    ‘Then why
haven’t we seen or heard of more people flying to safety?’ Mary
asked.
    ‘For the same
reason that Harry’s staying put for as long as he can; the longer
everyone remains calm, the longer we have to prepare everyone for
what’s about to happen. Besides, Harry says that everyone he’s
warned has been pretty sanguine about it; they’re both grateful and
amazed we’ve remained undiscovered for so long. We’ve always been
aware that we couldn’t remain hidden for ever. They’re hoping that
humanity’s progressed enough to accept our presence, much as
there’s now far more understanding amongst the different
races.’
    ‘The difference
between the human races is pretty minimal,’ Hincheley growled
ominously. ‘They might not be so understanding when they feel
threatened by a species stronger and – yes, let’s be honest about
this – superior to them.’
    Erdwin shrugged,
an anxiety in his grin that he couldn’t hide. It was as if, Jake
thought, he’d already considered this point and didn’t want to
accept the assumptions he’d made regarding any possible
consequences.
    Noting the sense
of unease that had spread across the gathering, Perisa smiled
brightly as she turned first to Celly then Leon.
    ‘Celly,’ she
said remarkably gaily, ‘why don’t you show Leon around the island?
It will help you get to know each other again, and remember old
times!’
    Jake couldn’t
help but notice that the uneasiness hanging over everyone
immediately vanished. All the adults were now smiling
expectantly.
    ‘Sure,’ Celly
replied. ‘Me and Jake can show him round, can’t we
Jake?’
    The smiles
vanished even swifter than the sense of unease had.
    Obviously, Jake
realised, this isn’t what the Volances and even their servants had
had in mind when Celly’s mum had suggested taking Leon on a tour of
the island.
    ‘Oh, but that
could take ages , Celly,’ Perisa said, gently reprimanding
her. ‘You could do it so much quicker if you flew, couldn’t
you?’
    Celly glanced
back at Jake apologetically, her eyes pleading for understanding as
she said, ‘I suppose so.’
    Jake shrugged;
what else could he do?
    Celly’s mother
could have just about leapt for joy, he reckoned, when Leon stepped
forward, holding out his hand for Celly to take.
    Even Mary looked
like she was pretty close to erupting into a burst of cheers and
rapturous clapping
    Leon was already
transforming, his skin glistening with gloriously captivating hints
of emerald and amethyst, his wings unfurling as much as they could
within the confinement