The Seventh Tide by Joan Lennon Read Free Book Online Page B

‘Don’t be foolish, boy. There is nothing demonic about me. It’s a little-known but not impossible fact that Joseph the Holy Carpenter himself kept ferrets, and if so, Jesus almost certainly might have played with them when he was a boy. There is a story I could tell you of how James, one of the lesser disciples, blessed all ferrets with the possibility of speech, but I think this is neither the time nor the place.’
    There was a stunned silence. Adom lay there, with hismouth hanging open, barely breathing. The animal turned his attention to his left shoulder and began to give it a much-needed grooming. And the strange boy looked from one to the other, obviously wondering what the next step of this was going to be.
    ‘Who are you?’ whispered Adom at last.
    ‘Oh. Well, like I said, I’m Eo, and this is Professor Hurple. I’m a G – you know, one of the shape-shifting people – and he’s a, um, ferret. As you can see.’ The boy gave an uncertain grin. And we’re looking for some help against the Kelpies – demons who are trying to take us over. You mentioned somebody called Columba. Who’s he?’
    ‘Who’s Columba !?! The ferret and Adom both turned on him in amazement.
    ‘He’s only the greatest holy man in the whole world – he’s only practically a saint !’ spluttered Adom.
    ‘Yes,’ cried the Professor, ‘but more to the point, he’s also the most famous Kelpie-killer of all time! Probably. One of them, anyway. Imagine Gladrag managing to land us on his doorstep! If only we could convince him to come with us, to be our champion in the Dry Heart, why, we might even have a fighting chance! ’
    Eo gave Hurple a troubled look. It was so abnormal to have to be really serious about something, so hard to stay guilty and afraid now the Kelpie Queen wasn’t hanging over him. It was a G’s nature to enjoy adventure!
    Adom was back on his feet by now, though he was keeping a careful distance. There was a lot he didn’t understand about all this, but one thing was more important than the rest.
    ‘Are you sure you’re not demons?’ he said.
    Eo stared. ‘I told you – I’m a G! The only reason we’re here is because of demons!’
    Adom shook his head. ‘You’ll have to tell me the whole story’ he said. ‘I don’t understand at all so far. Tell me everything. ’
    Eo hesitated.
    Then, ‘ Well? !’ the ferret snapped suddenly, making both boys jump. ‘Get on with it! You –’ he turned on Adom – ‘sit down properly, and pay attention. And you – ’ he turned on Eo – ‘get telling! We haven’t got all day. The tide won’t wait, no matter what you think!’
    Eo was insulted. ‘When did I ever say I thought that tides waited …?’
    ‘GET ON!’
    And, for a wonder, Eo did as he was told.
    Adom was a riveted audience, though there was a good deal of what he was being told that still made absolutely no sense to him. When the boy finished, the ferret named Hurple gave him a small nod of approval.
    ‘Succinctly done,’ he said, causing Eo to blush with embarrassed pleasure.
    But Adom was still troubled.
    ‘It’s a wonderful story’ he said. ‘Truly – but… it isn’t really proof that you’re not demons.’
    Eo stared. ‘Do I look like a demon to you?’ he asked, disgruntled.
    ‘Well, it wouldn’t be very smart of you to look like one if you were, would it? I mean, I wouldn’t be likely to take your word for it if you had horns and lots of jagged teeth and stank of brimstone.’
    ‘You’ll have to wait till he’s older if it’s teeth and stink you’re after,’ grunted Hurple sourly.
    Eo sighed. ‘You’re not helping!’ He turned back to Adom. ‘Look, trust me –’
    ‘Never trust anyone who starts a sentence with “trust me”,’ muttered Hurple under his breath. ‘Sorry sorry… Listen to what the boy’s saying to you, Adom. He’s not nearly as dim as he looks.’
    A glance passed between the two boys, the comradeship of the under-appreciated and