Seeds of Time by K. C. Dyer Read Free Book Online Page A

afternoon classes commenced. Darrell decided to forget about her self-portrait and instead get to the bottom of the crab trappers mystery. She wanted to head straight down to the beach to see if she could spotany signs of suspicious activity, but she was worried about going alone: if she ran into the trappers again, she’d need witnesses to verify her story if they started any trouble. Spotting Brodie and Kate near the lunch-room, she asked if they might be interested in a walk by the water. Exchanging a surprised glance, they agreed, so Darrell grabbed a notebook and the three of them set off down the winding path to the beach.
    They had walked just past the small rocky spit that protruded like a pointing finger into the fjord when they heard a taunting voice call out from behind Kate and Brodie. The voice belonged to one of a group of three boys lounging on the beach behind the rocks.
    â€œHey, Slant!”
    Kate whirled around, her face burning. “
What
did you say?”
    â€œI wasn’t talkin’ to you, Red. I was talkin’ to your
boyfriend.
”
    It was impossible for Kate’s face to become any redder, so she turned purple, instead. “You ... you ... PIG,” she spluttered. “He’s not my boyfriend, he’s my friend! And ...
what
did you call him?” Brodie put a calm hand on her arm and smiled at her kindly. He turned to their sneering tormentor.
    â€œSorry, I didn’t catch your name,” he said quietly.
    â€œIt’s Conrad Kennedy, like that’s any of your business,” he snickered, and his friends drew closer.“But what’s it to you ...
Slant
?” Both of Conrad’s cronies laughed.
    â€œWell ...
Conrad
,” Brodie continued so quietly that the group surrounding them all leaned in closer. “My name is Broderick Stewart Sun. My friends call me Brodie. My grandmother calls me Broderick.” Brodie’s eyes glittered dangerously, and he straightened to his full height. “But nobody calls me Slant.”
    Darrell gazed with sick recognition at the boy called Conrad and cursed herself for not making a quick trip up the arbutus tree at the beginning of their walk.
    Conrad got lazily to his feet and looked at the small group on the beach. He was easily three years older than any of Darrell’s group, but he was short and stocky, not any taller than Brodie.
    Conrad caught sight of Darrell. He sneered. “Look who’s here, boys. It’s Gimpy! Caught any rocks, lately, Gimpster?”
    â€œNot lately,” she snapped back. “Picked up a fishing license, yet?”
    The other boys looked uncomfortable, but Conrad just smiled. He looked around.
    â€œI don’t see anyone fishing here, Gimpy. Just a group of friends enjoying the beach in the summertime.” The two boys with him nodded and blatantly flexed their muscles.

    â€œWell this happens to be a private beach, and you’re trespassing.” She looked at Brodie and Kate. “Let’s just go back to the school, guys. We can register a complaint.”
    The three started to walk away. Conrad leaned in front of Darrell. “After you,” he said with a sneer. As she stepped by him he stuck out his foot to trip her. She stumbled but managed to stay upright.
    Kate, walking behind Darrell, deftly turned and, using Conrad’s weight against him, slipped his protruding foot out from under him and flipped him to the ground. Conrad lay on the rocky surface, a stunned look on his face. His mouth worked as though he was going to say something, but no words came out.
    â€œWatch your step,
Connie
,” Kate said to him sweetly. “It’s slippery on these rocks, and you wouldn’t want to fall and
hurt
yourself.”
    Conrad’s friends quickly scooped him to his feet and hustled him over onto their boat. Conrad, sand all over the back of his jacket, hissed, “I won’t forget this. You three stay away from this beach.