The Monsters of Morley Manor by Bruce Coville

Author:Bruce Coville
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

12

A Family Divided

THE WENTAR had to perform a reverse spell on us when we left the lake, so that we could breathe normally again. Unfortunately, the spell didn’t dry us out, so we were dripping and uncomfortable as we slogged our way back across the sproingy broccoli-grass. It was moving on toward night, and a cool evening breeze had come up, which made things even worse.

The only one who didn’t seem to be bothered by this was Bob, who had loved being in the water and was excited by all the strange new smells around him, not to mention the sound of little animals moving nearby. Melisande had to work to keep him from romping off into any of the patches of sharp red flowers, which would have sliced his bare feet to ribbons.

The darkening purple sky arched above us, and the air smelled clean and spicy. I think that smell may have been the most alien thing of all. More than the purple sky or the weird flowers or the broccoli-like grass, it forced me to remember that I was a long way from home.

I wondered what time it was on Earth. The Wentar had said that time operates differently on different worlds. Was it possible only a few minutes had passed back home? Or—and this would be much worse—would we get home to find that days, or even years, had gone by?

We had been so busy trying to survive that I hadn’t really thought about these things. Now I couldn’t get them out of my mind. Was Gramma Walker still sleeping soundly in our house? Or had she woken to find us gone? I had this horrible vision of her in a state of panic, calling our parents to come home from their florists conference, filled with guilt and fear. . . .

“We’d better hurry,” I said.

Gaspar nodded. “A great deal depends on us. Heavy, heavy is the burden we carry.”

“Look, boss,” said Albert. “I hate to bring this up, but if we’re going to separate, we need to figure out who’s going where.”

Melisande’s snakes began to hiss and writhe. I knew how they felt. Suddenly, splitting up seemed like a terrible idea.

“Clearly, I must make the trip to Flinduvia,” said the Wentar. “However, I think it would be a good idea if one of you Morleys came along. Assuming I actually locate Martin, it may be reassuring for him if a member of his family is with me.”

“Perhaps I should go,” said Gaspar. “He is my twin, after all.”

The Wentar shook his head. “Aside from me, you’re the only one who has the knowledge and training to lead a trip to the Land of the Dead, Gaspar. Therefore, you must go back to Earth with Sarah and Anthony.”

“I vill go to Flinduvia,” said Ludmilla.

“I’ll go, too,” said Albert instantly.

Sarah nudged me. “I think he likes her,” she whispered.

I looked at Ludmilla. Aside from the fangs, she was definitely a babe. Even so, the idea that Albert had a crush on her was pretty weird.

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