The Red Pyramid -1 by Rick Riordan Read Free Book Online

should get to New York in the next hour or so before Inspector Williams begins to wonder why he let you go."

    Carter laughed incredulously. "You can't get to New York from London in a hour. Not even the fastest plane--"

    "No," Amos agreed. "Not a plane." He turned back to Gran as if everything had been settled.

    "Mrs. Faust, Carter and Sadie have only one safe option. You know that. They'll come to the mansion in Brooklyn. I can protect them there."

    "You've got a mansion," Carter said. "In Brooklyn."

    Amos gave him an amused smile. "The family mansion. You'll be safe there."

    "But our dad--"

    "Is beyond your help for now," Amos said sadly. "I'm sorry, Carter. I'll explain later, but Julius would want you to be safe. For that, we must move quickly. I'm afraid I'm all you've got."

    That was a bit harsh, I thought. Carter glanced at Gran and Gramps. Then he nodded glumly. He knew that they didn't want him around. He'd always reminded them of our dad. And yes, it was a stupid reason not to take in your grandson, but there you are.

    "Well, Carter can do what he wants," I said. "But I live here. And I'm not going off with some

    stranger, am I?"

    I looked at Gran for support, but she was staring at the lace doilies on the table as if they were suddenly quite interesting.

    "Gramps, surely..."

    But he wouldn't meet my eyes either. He turned to Amos. "You can get them out of the country?"

    "Hang on!" I protested.

    Amos stood and wiped the crumbs off his jacket. He walked to the patio doors and stared out at the river. "The police will be back soon. Tell them anything you like. They won't find us."

    "You're going to kidnap us?" I asked, stunned. I looked at Carter. "Do you believe this?"

    Carter shouldered the workbag. Then he stood like he was ready to go. Possibly he just wanted to be out of Gran and Gramps's flat. "How do you plan to get to New York in an hour?" he asked Amos. "You said, not a plane."

    "No," Amos agreed. He put his finger to the window and traced something in the condensation-another bloody hieroglyph.

    "A boat," I said--then realized I'd translated aloud, which I wasn't supposed to be able to do.

    Amos peered at me over the top of his round glasses. "How did you--"

    "I mean that last bit looks like a boat," I blurted out. "But that can't be what you mean. That's ridiculous."

    "Look!" Carter cried.

    I pressed in next to him at the patio doors. Down at the quayside, a boat was docked. But not a regular boat, mind you. It was an Egyptian reed boat, with two torches burning in the front, and a big rudder in the back. A figure in a black trench coat and hat--possibly Amos's--stood at the tiller.

    I'll admit, for once, I was at a loss for words.

    "We're going in that," Carter said. "To Brooklyn."

    "We'd better get started," Amos said.

    I whirled back to my grandmother. "Gran, please!"

    She brushed a tear from her cheek. "It's for the best, my dear. You should take Muffin."

    "Ah, yes," Amos said. "We can't forget the cat."

    He turned towards the stairs. As if on cue, Muffin raced down in a leopard-spotted streak and leaped into my arms. She never does that.

    "Who are you?" I asked Amos. It was clear I was running out of options, but I at least wanted answers. "We can't just go off with some stranger."

    "I'm not a stranger." Amos smiled at me. "I'm family."

    And suddenly I remembered his face smiling down at me, saying, "Happy birthday, Sadie." A memory so distant, I'd almost forgotten.

    "Uncle Amos?" I asked hazily.

    "That's right, Sadie," he said. "I'm Julius's brother. Now come along. We have a long way to go."

    C A R T E R

5. We Meet the Monkey
    IT'S CARTER AGAIN. SORRY.We had to turn off the tape for a while because we were being followed by--well, we'll get to that later.

    Sadie was telling you how we left London, right?

    So anyway, we followed Amos down to the weird boat docked at the quayside. I cradled Dad's workbag under my arm. I still couldn't believe he was gone. I felt