The Hidden Boy by Jon Berkeley Read Free Book Online Page A

said Ma. She wore a stubborn look. “You’ll just have to bring us back.”
    â€œImpossible, I’m afraid, ma’am,” said the captain. He took a gulp of rum and set his glass down on the low table in front of him. “‘Sky black, moon blue, nine souls go through.’”
    â€œWhat’s that supposed to mean?” asked Ma.
    â€œWhat it says,” said Captain Bontoc. “When the moon turns blue on the Other Side the crossing is open. Nine souls can go through, no more, no less.”
    â€œThe moon is still blue,” said Ma.
    Captain Bontoc looked up at the sky. “Course it is, ma’am,” he said patiently. “It’s always blue on this side, except when it turns blue on the Other Side, of course.Then it turns yellow here, if you follow me.”
    â€œAnd we were only seven,” said Ma.
    â€œRight again, ma’am. Seven passengers, myself, and Captain Fuller making the reverse crossing. Seven arriving and two driving makes nine.”
    â€œWe’ll still be seven on the way back. Six, if my mother decides to stay here.”
    Captain Bontoc pursed his lips. “There’ll be more coming through,” he said. “Crossing’s only open once in a blue moon, and not for long at that. We bring a family through every time, and it’s still not enough. There are no return trips.”
    â€œYou can’t do that to us!” said Ma. “We came here on a holiday!”
    Captain Bontoc smiled cheerfully. “Window dressing, ma’am. Blue Moon Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventure Holidays is a cover story. Helps to keep our operation under wraps, as well as persuading the…er…reluctant traveler. It did say ‘the holiday of a lifetime’ in the brochure.”
    Granny Delphine reached out and put her hand on Ma’s knee. “I’m sorry,” she said.
    In the darkened living room Bea looked at Phoebe in astonishment. She could see Phoebe’s eyebrows raisedtoo. Granny Delphine was Always Right, and an apology from her was even rarer than a blue moon.
    â€œIt was the only way,” said Granny Delphine. “We were all in danger, but you would never have let me persuade you.”
    â€œAnd what about Theo? What about Phoebe?”
    â€œTheo would have been taken by the Gummint anyway, along with the rest of us. He’s safer where he is. If Bea can hear him, she can help us find him. She just needs some training. As for Phoebe…” She blinked behind her big round spectacles. “That wasn’t an easy decision, but I take full responsibility.”
    Ma sat up straight in her chair. “You’ve made us into kidnappers, that’s what you’ve done. And as for your so-called training, we’ve been through this a hundred times. You’re not filling my daughter’s head with Mumbo Jumbo. It’s brought us nothing but trouble so far.”
    â€œIt may be the only way,” said Granny Delphine, “to bring Theo back.”

Freezalizer
    B ea Flint sneaked a biscuit from a plate that sat in the center of the table. She had not had a moment to look for worms to give to Nails, and she knew he must be hungry. Worms were among the meerkat’s favorite dishes, but the mere idea of feeding them to him made Bea’s skin crawl. Biscuits were not nearly so good for him, but at least she did not have to imagine them silently screaming as his sharp little teeth crunched them up.
    She opened the zipper on the backpack just enough to fit the biscuit through. Unfortunately a gap that will just fit a large biscuit will also just fit a small meerkat. Nails was tired of being cooped up in the dark, and when he heard the zipper opening he grabbed his chance. He was out of the bag and running across the moon-striped floor before you could say “escaped meerkat.”
    â€œNdah!” said Bea. It was one of those meaningless words that come out when you are taken so much by