Sebastian Darke: Prince of Explorers by Philip Caveney Read Free Book Online Page A

ground. Every pair of eyes was staring directly at him and he began to feel extremely nervous, particularly when he noticed Cal a short distance away, a superior sneer on his face.
     
There was a long silence, broken only by the snapping of twigs in the fire. Then Maccan spoke.
     
'My daughter has told me of your quest to find the lost city.'
     
Sebastian nodded. 'It was our main reason for coming here,' he admitted.
     
'My daughter also spoke of the mighty pool of water upon which you have travelled?'
     
'Oh yes, Great Chief, the ocean! We have travelled upon the waters in a vast ship and had many adventures. We have fought pirates and kelfers – terrifying sea beasts with great snapping jaws – and escaped to tell the tale.'
     
'I should like to see this mighty water for myself,' said Maccan.
     
'Well, unfortunately it's a great distance from here – many moons of travel away.'
     
Maccan nodded gravely. 'Still,' he said, 'perhaps one day something could be arranged?'
     
There was a long silence.
     
'Er . . . why not?' said Sebastian. 'I'm . . . I'm sure something could be sorted out. A kind of . . .'
     
'Sightseeing tour,' suggested Max. 'Yes, we could have a jolly trudge all the way back to Ramalat and the chief could take in all the hot spots. The harbour . . . the taverns . . . maybe even a little trip out in a boat.'
     
'Er . . . yes, why not?' said Cornelius feebly. 'We'll, um . . . have to see how we're fixed.'
     
Maccan frowned. He glanced at Danthus, who shrugged his narrow shoulders. 'It sounds good,' said the chief.
     
'You'll love it,' Max assured him. 'It's a fun town.'
     
Another silence; then Maccan clapped his hands together. 'And now,' he went on, 'a gift for the Chosen One!'
     
A woman came forward carrying a headdress made from bones and multicoloured feathers. She stopped in front of Sebastian and lowered the thing carefully and respectfully onto his head. She stepped back, bowed and moved away.
     
Sebastian sat there, feeling vaguely foolish. He glanced at Cornelius. 'How does it look?' he asked.
     
'Very regal,' said Cornelius; but it was obvious that he was stifling a laugh.
     
Sebastian glanced at Max. 'Oh yes, young master,' said the buffalope, a little too quickly. 'You look a right . . . Jilith!'
     
'Thanks very much,' muttered Sebastian.
     
'And now it's your turn,' whispered Cornelius.
     
'Huh?'
     
'The knife, you nitwit!'
     
'Oh yes.' Sebastian got to his feet, walked across to Maccan and put the dagger carefully into his hands. 'A small token of our respect,' he said.
     
Maccan grinned and lifted the dagger so that his people could see it. A great cheer went up. Sebastian bowed his head and returned to his place.
     

     
'He seems to like it,' muttered Max, sounding genuinely surprised. 'He's easily pleased.'
     
Now Maccan slipped the dagger into his own belt and clapped his hands a second time. 'Bring my guests some icara!' he commanded.
     
Immediately tribeswomen appeared carrying jugs and clay cups, one of which was pushed into Sebastian's hand and filled with a dark red liquid that looked suspiciously like blood; but when he sniffed at it surreptitiously, he got the unmistakable aroma of wine. He saw with a sense of misgiving that a big bowl had been placed in front of Max and that it was being filled to the brim.
     
'This is . . . alcoholic?' asked Sebastian nervously.
     
Maccan was lifting his own cup to his mouth. 'I do not understand this word, Elf Lord,' he said.
     
'It makes you . . . happy?'
     
'And then some,' said Maccan, grinning for the first time. 'So . . . drink!'
     
'What do I do?' hissed Max, under his breath.
     
'Drink it,' whispered Cornelius.
     
'But you said—'
     
'We can't insult the chief. Drink!'
     
'All right, but I'm taking no responsibility . . .' Max plunged his snout into the bowl and started lapping enthusiastically.
     
'Sip it!' said Cornelius through gritted teeth.
     
Sebastian lifted the cup to his lips and took a