Julieta and the Diamond Enigma by Luisana Duarte Armendáriz

Author:Luisana Duarte Armendáriz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Published: 2020-03-24T00:00:00+00:00

28

A chill travels up my spine. The fountain is colder than I’d expected. I take a few steps and regret that I didn’t take off my shoes and socks before diving in. My feet get heavier and heavier as I make my way to the center of the fountain.

“Mon Dieu!” I hear a lady cry behind me. Halfway in the fountain I see the ripples are almost gone. A hum grows around the fountain as people begin to notice me. The last ripples disappear as I hear a whistle behind me.

The noise makes me turn, and I see a guard gesturing at me. “Mademoiselle!”

“Just a minute, sir.” I make an effort to sound extra polite.

I turn back to the water, the ripples no longer visible. An invisible hand clutches my stomach. I’m standing where the bracelet is supposed to be, but I can’t see anything. The waves I created from walking are making the floor of the fountain look blurry, but something glints at the bottom of the pool.

“Claude, help her, aide-la,” I hear Monique say.

Preeet! Another whistle behind me.

Ignoring everything, I crouch down and feel around the bottom of the fountain for my bracelet. I touch something and pull it out.

A coin.

I drop it back into the fountain without a second thought. Without a wish. A wasted coin. I plunge my hands in the water again. My splashing is making my clothes wet.

I find another coin.

“JULIETA!” I recognize my dad’s voice. Now I’m in trouble. “Get out of there this INSTANT!”

Coin.

“Dad, my bracelet!”

Coin.

“If you do not get out right now . . . ”

Suddenly, my hand touches a longer object. It’s my bracelet! I yank it out, and a sharp object scratches the side of my hand.

I stand up and lift it high above my head. “Found it!” I cry as I begin making my way back to the edge of the fountain.

A substantial crowd has gathered around the fountain now. Dad is glowering. Next to him, Jacques is talking rapidly to a guard, who keeps pointing at me. Claude is taking off his shoes before he jumps into the fountain to chase me. Smart man. Monique simply stands with limp arms and an open mouth.

I reach the edge as barefoot Claude is just about to climb inside. The guard with the whistle picks me up and out of the fountain. As he sets me down he grazes my hand. I flinch and look down to discover that the scratch is more of a gash and is bleeding.

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