On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson Read Free Book Online Page A

her eyes and pray.
    At that moment there was a dull
thunk.
Slarb’s black eyes rolled back, and he fell unconscious on top of Janner. The second Fang had time to see that Slarb had been hit in the head with a fist-sized rock before he felt a stone smash into his own temple. He tottered for a moment then crumpled to the dirt.
    Tink lay there stunned. “Where did those rocks come from?” he asked between gasps for air. Leeli’s hands were folded tight and her eyes were still shut. She opened one of her eyes, amazed that the three of them were still alive.
    They heard Janner’s muffled voice from beneath the Fang, and Tink snapped out of his daze. After a few heaves, he pushed Slarb off and Janner scrambled away with a moan, wiping his neck where the Fang’s burning venom had dripped on it.
    Janner rushed over to Leeli and helped her up, inspecting her carefully. “Are you hurt?”
    Leeli trembled but shook her head, pushing her hair from her face. She hugged her brothers and smiled through stubborn tears. “Nugget!” she cried, and hobbled over to the little black heap.
    One of the Fangs groaned and stirred.
    â€œWe should get out of here,” Janner said. “We don’t want to be here when these things wake up.”
    Leeli was crying, stroking Nugget’s face.
    â€œLeeli, we have to go,” Janner urged, pulling her away from the dog.
    Suddenly, Nugget yelped and leapt to his feet. Hackles raised, he bared his teeth and circled menacingly. But his fierceness melted when he saw Leeli, and he set to licking her face and wagging his tail as if nothing had happened.
    Leeli struggled to her feet and pointed at her ruined crutch. “I won’t be going anywhere with that.”
    â€œHere,” Janner said, sidling up beside her and pulling one of her arms around his neck. “It looks like you’re going to have to let us help you for once. Let’s go,” he said, and they hurried out of the alleyway, leaving it completely empty.
    Except, of course, for the two Fangs lying in the dirt, the two stones that knocked them unconscious, and the mysterious figure on the roof of J. Bird’s Barbershop watching the three Igiby children flee.

9
    The Glipper Trail
    W hen they were back in the open street, two of the three children and Nugget felt a little better. Leeli was mostly happy that Nugget was fine, Tink was mostly glad that Leeli was fine, and Janner was mostly terrified because he was the oldest and had begun to think of the future. He knew Glipwood was a small town, and it would be only a matter of time—maybe hours, maybe just minutes—before the Fang called Slarb and his companion reported back to Commander Gnorm. Then terrible things would follow.
    â€œWe have to go home.”
    â€œAw, Janner!” Tink wailed, already on to the next adventure. “Can’t we see the dragons? Everyone’s there, and as soon as the moon rises—”
    â€œBy the time the moon rises, you know what’s going to happen?” Janner said hotly. Leeli and Tink were silent as they made their way through Glipwood’s empty Main Street. Janner tried to calm himself down. “What’s going to happen,
other
than the sea dragons dancing, is that those two Fangs will wake up. And once they do, every Fang in Glipwood will be looking for three kids and a little black dog. Oh, and the girl has a lame leg. Now tell me, do you think they’ll have a hard time finding us?” Janner finished, more irritated than when he began.
    â€œWhat do we do?” Leeli asked after a long pause.
    â€œMama will be at the cliffs watching the dragons, but that will probably be the first place the Fangs would look for us. Podo always stays home on Dragon Day. So that’s where we’re going. Podo will know what to do.” Janner set his face for the lane that led to the cottage. “I hope he does.”
    â€œHere.” Tink wrapped