The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke Read Free Book Online

and bridges by heart. Suddenly, they stumbled back into bright sunlight. Ahead of them lay the Grand Canal. Its banks were crowded with people and its glittering surface teemed with boats.
    Riccio pulled Prosper toward a vaporetto stop. Soon they disappeared into the throng of people waiting for the next boat.
    Prosper scrutinized every face passing by, but their pursuer wasn't among them. When the next vaporetto finally arrived, the boys smuggled themselves onto the boat with the crowd. While the other passengers scrambled after the few remaining free seats in the roofed section of the boat, Prosper and Riccio walked up to the deck rail and kept a close eye on the bank of the canal.
    "We don't have a ticket," Prosper whispered when the fully loaded boat cast off.
    "Doesn't matter," Riccio whispered back, "we're getting off at the next stop anyway. But look who's standing over there." He pointed toward the stop. "Do you see him?"
    Oh yes, Prosper saw him quite clearly. There was the walrus mustache, squinting after the departing boat. Riccio gave him a hearty wave.
    Prosper pulled Riccio's arm down. "What are you doing?"
    "Why? You think he's going to swim after us? No, my friend. That's the good thing about this city. If someone is after you, all you have to do is cross the canal, and the other fool's had it! Even you should know by now that there are only two bridges across the Grand Canal!"
    Prosper didn't reply. The stranger had long vanished out of sight but Prosper kept staring toward the bank just in case he suddenly appeared between the elegant columns of one of the palaces, or on a hotel balcony, or even on one of the oncoming boats. Prosper was worried.
    "Stop looking like that. We've lost the snoop!" Riccio shook his friend by the shoulder until he turned back.
    Prosper stared at Riccio anxiously. "So you know who he is?"
    Riccio leaned against the rail. "Yeah -- he's a detective. He works for the tourists -- looking for lost handbags and wallets. He nearly caught me with one once." Riccio pulled his ear and grinned. "But, he's not very fast." He gave Prosper a curious look. "It did look, well, as if he was after you. What would a detective want with you? Is someone looking for you?"
    Prosper gazed at the shore again. The vaporetto steered sluggishly toward the next stop. "There might be," he said, without looking at Riccio. A swarm of gulls took to the air with a great noise as the boat drifted toward the jetty.
    "Let's get off here," Riccio said. They jumped off the boat while the new passengers were already pushing aboard.
    "Hell! The others are probably thinking we've taken Scipio's loot and split," Riccio said as they turned their backs on the Grand Canal again. "Our little boat trip hasn't made our way back any shorter." He gave Prosper another quizzical look. "Do you feel like telling me who could have put that detective on your trail? What have you done? Did you steal something?"
    "Come on, you know I don't steal -- not if I can help it." Prosper put his hand into his jacket and, relieved, pulled it out again. Barbarossa's money was still there.
    "Yeah, I know." Riccio frowned. Then he lowered his voice. "Is it one of those child-slave traders?"
    Prosper looked shocked. "No. Don't be silly. It's really not that bad." He stared back at a gargoyle that was eyeing him from a stone archway. "I think my aunt Esther is looking for us. She's my mom's sister. She's got loads of money and no children. When my mom died, she wanted to adopt Bo. They were going to send me to a boarding school. So we ran away. What was I supposed to do? He's my little brother." Prosper stopped. "Do you think Esther ever asked Bo whether he wanted her to be his new mom? He can't stand her. He says she smells like paint. And," he smiled, "that she looks like one of those china dolls she collects."
    He bent down and picked up a plastic fan from a doorstep. The handle was gone, but Bo wouldn't mind that.
    "Bo thinks I can take care of