Margaret Peterson Haddix by Torn

Author:Torn [Torn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thorndike Press
Published: 2011-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

John White, governor of the ill-fated Roanoke Colony, reported that rumors of the lost John Cabot map were rampant among sea captains sailing the North American coast. But the natives he encountered in Virginia knew nothing of it, and nothing of the Northwest Passage.

A shiver flowed through Jonah’s body that had nothing to do with the cold air blowing across the deck.

“A map!” he whispered. “The Northwest Passage! Then it’s all connected? But how? And—who’s John Cabot?”

“‘John Cabot.’ “Staffe repeated the name thoughtfully. “Seems I have heard your father speak that name—have you not?” He pitched his voice a bit lower, and elongated his vowels a bit more, imitating Henry Hudson. “‘John Cabot accomplished nothing. ’Tis hard to believe he sailed to any of the places he claimed to have seen. But I—I shall bring back proof! People will know and remember me!’”

Jonah laughed.

“Sounds just like him!” Jonah said. “You’re really good at that!”

A look of fear dropped across Staffe’s face like a mask.

“I—I’m sorry,” he stuttered. “I do not mean to mock the captain. I pray you, tell no one!”

“Hey, I’m in the stocks,” Jonah said. “Who’s going to believe anything I say?”

This didn’t seem to comfort Staffe. He snatched the candle back from Jonah and held it out in a circle around them, to see if anyone was nearby.

“Did you just hear something?” Staffe asked.

Wind, Jonah wanted to say. The ropes thumping against the masts. The current hitting against the ship. The same sounds I’ve been hearing all day.

But he knew what Staffe was really asking.

“Relax,” Jonah said. “Everyone’s either belowdecks or holed up in the captain’s cabin. Nobody could have heard y—”

He swallowed the last word, because Staffe’s candle illuminated a face right behind him—a face that the light passed through, a face that was almost completely transparent, a face that Staffe didn’t see at all.

It was Katherine.

You can’t sneak up on people like that! Jonah wanted to yell at her. I almost jumped out of my skin, and now how am I supposed to explain my reaction to Staffe?

“What?” Staffe said, in a panicked tone. He swung the candle more widely, even though that made the flame flicker and almost sputter out.

“Nothing,” Jonah said. “I just saw a shadow that tricked my eyes for a moment.” He tried to shrug, but that was pretty much impossible with his neck trapped in the stocks.

He glared at the spot where he’d seen Katherine’s face, even though that whole area was suffused in darkness now, since Staffe had moved the candle.

Katherine tapped Jonah on the shoulder. She stepped into the new area dimly illuminated by the candle’s glow, pointed to Staffe, and made a shoving motion. Then she pointed to her own mouth, pantomimed talking, and then pointed to Jonah.

Back in 1600, Katherine had gotten very annoyed with Jonah once because he didn’t instantly understand her improvised sign language. But Jonah was sure that he understood her perfectly this time. She was saying, Get rid of Staffe! I have

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