The Book Without Words by Avi Read Free Book Online Page A

“Please, Mistress,” he whispered. “There are no words here.”
    Sybil sighed. “Turn some pages. Perhaps you’ll find something.”
    Alfric reached the end of the book. “I don’t see anything,” he said. “Is it something I’ve done?”
    Even as he spoke there came a loud pounding on the door below.
    3

    Sybil looked to Odo. The raven’s head was up, bright black eyes full of alarm.
    “It must be Master Bashcroft,” whispered Alfric. His thin chest heaved. Tears began to flow. “He said he’d be watching me closely. Said he’d beat me if I don’t find out how your master makes gold.”
    Odo jumped up to the window and peered down. Sybil joined him.
    “Now what do you propose to do?” the bird whispered.
    “Look there,” said Sybil, tapping the glass with her finger. “In that far doorway. It’s Bashcroft. So it can’t be him who’s knocking.”
    “No doubt,” said Odo, “he’s sending an army of green-eyed children.”
    Sybil turned to boy. “Alfric,” she called, “did you come with anyone beside the reeve?”
    Alfric, his face full of fright, was standing stiff as a stick with the Book Without Words clutched to his chest like a shield. He shook his head.
    Another knock came.
    Sybil gave Odo a warning look, as if to say “Don’t speak!” then hastened down the steps, candle in hand. By the time she reached the seventh step, Odo had leaped to her shoulder, and he rode the rest of the way down with her. He pecked her neck twice, but she ignored it.
    “Who’s there?” she called when she reached the door.
    “A child with green eyes,” was the bellowed reply from the other side. “Here to see Master Thorston.”
    “God’s grace,” said Sybil, “whoever it is, he doesn’t lack for boldness.” She pulled the door open.
    On the threshold stood Damian.
    Sybil, recognizing him as the apothecary’s apprentice, was immediately alarmed. She took a mental measure of him. He was bigger than she, well fed, but not much older. She noted his pimpled red face and the fact that he wore decent boots and a wool jacket. He seemed soft, with much padding.
    “I am Damian Perbeck. Apprentice to Mistress Weebly, the apothecary. My eyes are green.”
    Despite feeling an instant dislike for the boy, Sybil stepped aside. “Enter,” she said.
    Damian eyed her. “Who are you?”
    “Master Thorston’s servant.”
    “Then my business is not with you” said the boy. He stepped inside and turned his back on her. “Take me to your master.”
    “I’ll take you nowhere, till you tell me why you’ve come,” said Sybil as she slammed the door, set the bar, and faced the boy.
    “Mistress Weebly, knowing Master Thorston is in need of a green-eyed child, sent me. To learn his alchemy.”
    Odo glared at Damian from Sybil’s shoulder. Damian, eyeing the bird with disgust, folded his arms over his chest. “I’ll answer you no more,” he said. “Lead the way.”
    4

    Spying into the courtyard from Clutterbuck Lane, Bashcroft could not believe what he had just seen: Damian Perbeck, Mistress Weebly’s apprentice, entering the alchemist’s house. Could that boy have green eyes too? Did that mean the apothecary was after the gold for herself?
    Selfish wench. How dare she!
    “Dura lex, sed lex,” the reeve murmured. Then he swore an oath that he would wait and watch until doomsday if required. Indeed, to get that gold, he would hang them all.
    5

    Damian, following Sybil, reached the top step and gazed about the jumbled room. “Ah!” he exclaimed when he spied the old man. “Is this Master Thorston, the alchemist?” He went to the bedside. “What ails him?”
    “He’s sleeping.”
    “Wake him and tell him I’m here.”
    “I’ll do no such thing,” said Sybil.
    “Then why are my green eyes wanted?” said Damian. “Who is this disgusting boy? Why is that dirty bird here?”
    Instead of answering, Sybil went to Alfric and took the Book Without Words from him.
    “Pray, sit,” she said to