Shade's Children by Garth Nix Read Free Book Online Page A

accessed.”
    “But I don’t want to be in the Lottery,” Ninde complained. “I might get anyone. I might even get Drum. Oh, sorr—”
    The sharp sound and impact of a slap cut her short, and Ella was standing over her, palm as red as Ninde’s left cheek. Before the younger girl could even speak, Ella had her in a “come along” hold and was forcing her out of the room.
    “Right, Ninde!” Ella tightened her hold. “You’ve been drifting a bit, and now it’s time I pointed you back on course, with a little explanation about what we’re here to do and your part…which I think may not be quite what you think it is!”
    Gold-Eye watched them go in wonderment. Surely there was enough trouble outside without having trouble between people here?
    Drum watched too, apparently unaffected by Ninde’s outburst. When the hatch closed behind the two women, he got up and made a curious half bow that included both Gold-Eye and Shade.
    “I’ll go too,” he said very softly. As he passed Gold-Eye, he paused and lowered his great round head, looming over the boy like a spreading tree. Then he spoke, voice half whistling like wind in the branches.
    “Don’t worry, young one. Ninde is good at heart, but strangely unaware of the time she lives in. And Ella is perhaps too much aware. I am just a product of the time. You’ll understand it all, one day.”
    Then he was gone, lumbering out through the hatch—and Gold-Eye was left alone with Shade, the rat robots, and the spider things still lurking and rustling in the shadowed corners.

VIDEO ARCHIVE—SECRET 2711 RICK *3—FINAL
    
     

    Get away! Get…ah…You’re not a rat…one of Shade’s Eyes…
     

    
     

    The others are gone. Nelo and Tanner. We got to the observation point, but there were Trackers everywhere and Myrmidons…. Prebattle, I guess…hu…hu…
     

    
     

    Hundreds of them. Pouring out everywhere. We got back to the hedges, but Trackers sniffed us out…. Myrmidons took Nel and Tan…. I’m in Southwest Drain Twelve, about…I don’t know…near the Big Six connection…. Please send someone to get me…. Look…the bone is sticking out…. It hurts….
     

    
     

    I jumped…. They almost had me…but I can’t crawl farther…. I can’t…
     

    
     

    A team could get me out. Ella or Stelo, they’ll come. They’ll come, won’t they, Shade?
     

    
     

    It’s pretty dry down here…. Maybe…maybe dry enough for Ferrets…but it’s not far…not far. They’ll get here before dark. Yeah, it’s okay, they’ll get here…. They’ll get here…. Shade…help me.
     

    

CHAPTER SIX

    Shade didn’t say anything for a moment after Drum left. He just sat there behind his desk, watching Gold-Eye—who had the uncomfortable feeling that he was somehow being measured or analyzed.
    “Your eyes have less gold in them than they did outside,” Shade said finally. “Which is very interesting. We’re underwater here, and water does seem to have a damping effect on Change Talents, Change side-effects—and on creatures.”
    “I not…creature,” Gold-Eye said hastily. He’d been accused of that before, on the rare occasions he’d met other people.
    “No, you’re not,” said Shade decisively. “Just visibly affected by the Change, which is quite rare. But not unheard of. I have seen other cases. Now, Gold-Eye, I’m going to ask you some questions and I’m also going to tell you some things. Okay?”
    “Yes.”
    “You’ve heard me talk about the Change and Change Talents. Do you know what I mean?”
    Gold-Eye frowned in thought. History