Delivery to the Lost City by P. G. Bell

Author:P. G. Bell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

15

THE DELIVERY COMES FIRST

Suzy, Wilmot, the Chief, and Ina whirled round in a panic as the bedroom door swung open and crashed against the wall.

Suzy’s first thought was that the Watch Frogs had found them, but standing in the doorway was a lanky Hydroborean youth with orange fronds, wearing a pair of ill-fitting dungarees and dripping water onto the floor. They stared at one another in surprise, before the youth raised a trembling hand to point at them.

“Ina!” he said. “It’s them! Those are the outworlders the Watch Frogs are looking for!”

“Amlod, what are you doing here?” Ina snapped. “You’re supposed to be at work.”

Amlod blinked and seemed to forget his shock for a moment. “They sent us home because of the red alert,” he said. “There are dangerous criminals on the loose. Except they’re not on the loose. They’re here!” He lunged forward and grabbed Ina by the hand. “Get away from my sister!” he shouted as he tried to drag her out of the door.

Suzy grabbed Ina’s other hand and dug her heels in, pulling back against Amlod. “But we’re not criminals!” she protested.

“And we’re certainly not dangerous,” said Wilmot, taking hold of Suzy and joining in the tug-of-war.

“I can’t do much to help, I’m afraid,” said the Chief, hovering above them. “But I want you both to know I’m with you in spirit.” He chuckled. “Another little ghostly joke for you.”

Ina grimaced. “Let go of me, all of you!” she shouted. Amlod was the first to release his hold, meaning that Ina was catapulted back into Suzy and Wilmot. The three of them crashed to the ground together.

“Thank you,” said Ina pointedly as she got to her feet. “Now, if you’ve finished trying to tear me in half, perhaps we can sit down and talk about all this.”

“Sorry,” mumbled Suzy. “I thought he was going to fetch the Watch Frogs.”

“I was,” said Amlod. “I still am! You’re wanted fugitives, here to take our magic.”

Suzy threw her hands up. “Why does everyone think we’re here to steal magic?” she said. “It makes no sense.”

“Yes, it does,” said Amlod. “Everyone knows that magic is extinct everywhere except in Hydroborea.”

Suzy frowned at him, thinking he must be joking, but his expression was deadly earnest. “You can’t really believe that, can you?” she said.

Ina’s eyebrows shot up. “Are you saying it’s not true?”

“It’s not true at all,” said Suzy. “There’s loads of magic out there.”

“That’s right,” said Wilmot. “I’m from a magical world myself, and there are hundreds of others.”

Amlod shook his head vigorously. “There can’t be. It’s just one of the basic facts of life. The Gilded Tower is the source of all magic. The other worlds got jealous and kept trying to take it for themselves, so the city fathers hid Hydroborea where it could never be found. All the other worlds fell into chaos without our power to sustain them, so now Hydroborea soldiers on alone.”

“Says who?” asked Suzy.

“Says everyone,” Ina replied with a shrug. “Every teacher, every historian.

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