Magnus Fin and the Moonlight Mission by Janis Mackay Read Free Book Online Page B

his moon-stone. In his heart he had the story of his grandfather. And in his belly he had his instinct. He had checked the tide tables and laid out his wetsuit. He was ready.
    That awful green eye had something to do with the sickness of the seals, Fin was sure of it. The crab had guided him towards it for a reason. Well, the very next evening, he would go back. And he wouldn’t allow himself to be nuzzled back up to the surface this time.

Chapter 11
    While Magnus Fin was preparing to go under the sea, Tarkin, if he managed to work on his mother’s boyfriend and if everything went according to plan, would be on the sea.
    Frank, the boyfriend, had, back at the end of summer, acquired a small wooden boat. There was just one problem. Tarkin didn’t like Frank. In fact, Tarkin couldn’t stand Frank. Frank wasn’t Tarkin’s dad. Tarkin’s real dad had a real fishing boat. Tarkin’s real dad had taken him fishing when they lived in the Yukon. Tarkin had gone on about it so much that one day Frank turned up with a broad smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes. “Come to the window and see what I bought us, buddy,” he said, waving Tarkin over.
    “I’m not your buddy.” That’s what Tarkin had said, until his mother started to cry, saying did he have any idea how hurtful he was being? Tarkin hated it when she cried. He wasn’t being hurtful. He was just telling the truth. But he was kind of interested in what was outside the window. So Tarkin stood up, pretending he was looking for the remote control. While Frank was comforting his mother Tarkin shot a glance out the window. Wow! A boat! But he said nothing, switched on the television and ignored Frank.
    “That cost Frank a lot of money, Tarkin. It don’t grow on trees, you know. Frank got the boat for you and him. He thought you’d like it,” said his mother.
    “I like it,” Tarkin said, then muttered, “big shame about him.”
    “What did you say, son?”
    But Frank took her hand and squeezed it. “Hey, it’s OK, Martha. He says he likes it. That’s good. That’s just fine.”
    That had been three months ago. Since then the boat had bobbed about down in the harbour with nothing but rain and an occasional seagull in it. Frank had made a few hints about taking the boat out together, but Tarkin always said he had better things to do. After a while Frank stopped mentioning it.
    But now Tarkin could think about nothing else. The next day was Friday. Low tide was eight o’clock at night. Tarkin had a strong hunch that’s when Magnus Fin was going back under the sea. Fin hadn’t been at school that day. All morning Tarkin had worried himself sick thinking Fin had gone off under the sea without even telling him, until someone said he’d been spotted up at the farm.
    Friday night. That’s when Fin would go. Apart from anything, it would be full moon, which was a magical time in the selkie world. Tarkin also had a hunch a boat would come in handy. He wanted to be a part of this adventure if it was the last thing he did.
    People did go fishing at night. Tarkin had seen them, with lights on their boats. So he bit his lip. He twisted his ponytail round and round his fingers. He fiddled with the two silver earrings hooped in his left ear.Slowly he pushed the door of Frank’s shed open and looked down at the floor.
    “Um … Frank?”
    “Hey, buddy. Good to see you. What can I do for you?”
    “Um … know that boat?”
    “Sure, Tark. Our boat you mean. What about it?”
    “Fancy going, um – fishing – tonight? Buddy?” Tarkin reckoned one evening’s practice with Frank would prepare him for taking the boat out alone the next night.
    “In the dark? Hey, well … yeah, why not, buddy. Yeah, I’ve got bait. Got us life jackets an’ all. Sure, Tark, and hey, what a great idea. Moonlight fishing, I can’t wait!” 

Chapter 12
    Early the next morning, Fin and Tarkin ran down to the shore. Tarkin was full of his fishing trip: how he had been sick