Kingdom of the Golden Dragon by Isabel Allende Read Free Book Online Page A

Alexander’s room, the only adornment. Months earlier, he had destroyed everything in his room in a fit of worry about his mother’s grave illness. The only things he had left were a gutted mattress to sleep on and a flashlight for reading at night.
    “How are your sisters?”
    “Andrea won’t come into my room because she’s freaked out by the snakeskin, but Nicole is my slave if I let her touch it. She’s offered to trade me everything she has in the world for that python, but I will never give it to anyone.”
    “I hope not . And how’s your mother doing?”
    “Much better. You can tell because she’s gone back to her painting. You know what? Walimai, the shaman, told me I have the power to heal, and that I must use it well. I’ve about decided that I’m not going to be a musician, the way I’d planned; I’m going to be a doctor instead. How does that sound to you?” Alex asked.
    “I suppose you think you cured your mother,” his grandmother laughed.
    “I didn’t do it, it was the ‘water of health’ and the medicinal plants I brought back from the Amazon.”
    “And the chemotherapy, and the radiation . . .” she interrupted.
    “We won’t ever know what cured her, Kate. Other patients who received the same treatment in the same hospital have died, but my mother is in full remission. I know cancer is very treacherous, and can come back at any moment, but I think that the plants the shaman Walimai gave me, and also the miraculous water, will keep her well.”
    “You paid a big price to get them,” Kate commented.
    “I did come close to getting killed when . . .”
    “Oh that was nothing, I was talking about leaving your grandfather’s flute behind,” she cut in.
    “Your concern for me is very moving, Kate,” Alexander joked.
    “Oh, well! Too late now. I suppose I should ask about your family.”
    “It’s your family, too, and as far as I know, you don’t have any other. But if you’re interested, I ampleased to inform you that we are gradually getting back to a normal family life. Mother’s hair is growing back—curly and gray. Although she looked prettier when she was bald,” Kate’s grandson said.
    “I’m happy that Lisa is getting well. I like her. She’s a good painter,” Kate Cold admitted.
    “And a good mother . . .”
    There was a pause of several seconds on the line before Alexander could gather the courage to mention the reason for his call. He explained that he had saved some money; for several months he had given music lessons and worked in a pizzeria. His intention had been to replace the things he’d destroyed in his room, but he’d changed his mind.
    “I don’t have time to listen to your financial plans. Get to the point. What do you want from me?” his grandmother said gruffly.
    “My vacation starts tomorrow . . .”
    “And?”
    “I was thinking that if I paid my way, maybe you’d take me with you on your next trip. Didn’t you tell me you were going to the Himalayas?”
    Another glacial silence followed the question. Kate Cold was making an enormous effort to contain the satisfaction that swept over her: everything was going according to plan. If she had invited her grandson, he would have offered a list of objections, as he had when the trip to the Amazon had come up, but this way the idea came from him. She was so sure that Alexander would be going that she had prepared a surprise for him.
    “Are you there, Kate?” Alexander asked timidly.
    “Of course. Where would I be?”
    “Will you think about it, at least?”
    “So. I thought that young people today were devoted to smoking grass and looking for dates over the Internet . . .” she grumbled.
    “That comes a little later, Kate. I’m sixteen, andmy budget won’t stretch far enough even for a virtual date.” Alexander laughed, and added, “I think I proved to you that I’m a good travel companion. I won’t get in your way, and I can be of help. You’re getting a little old to