The Quest to the Uncharted Lands by Jaleigh Johnson

Author:Jaleigh Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2017-06-13T04:00:00+00:00

There wasn’t much in the room, just a small cot in the corner with a table and a lantern. Cyrus lay on the cot on his side, facing away from her. He looked like he was asleep, but Stella knew better. Having slept just a few feet away from him in the cargo bay for several days, she knew that when Cyrus truly fell asleep, he flopped onto his back, flung his right arm over his eyes, and snored. Not loud, obnoxious snoring, but more like quiet snuffling sounds that went on all night.

Using the flickering lantern light on the table to guide her, Stella made her way quietly over to the side of Cyrus’s cot and crouched down. She laid her left hand on the boy’s shoulder, at the same time putting her right hand over his mouth.

Cyrus jumped and immediately jerked forward, trying to free himself from her hold. He let out an involuntary yelp, but luckily, Stella’s hand muffled the sound. “It’s all right,” she whispered in his ear. “It’s me.”

She’d meant to reassure him, but instead of relaxing, Cyrus just pulled harder to escape her, squirming and twisting on the cot until Stella removed her hand from his mouth. She kept hold of his shoulder so he’d know where she was.

“Are you crazy?” Cyrus hissed angrily when he could speak. He scowled at the empty air. “You scared me half to death. What are you doing here?”

“I got your message,” Stella said impatiently. She came around the side of the cot and sat down on the edge so she could keep one eye on the door. “I think it’s safe to talk. One of the guards is asleep and the other’s occupied.”

She took off her veil and hood, deactivating the suit so Cyrus could see her. The suit had been a lifesaver in an ice storm, but, indoors, it was like baking in an oven. She raked sweaty bangs away from her forehead.

“That’s better,” she said, keeping her voice low. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the beetle, handing it to him.

Cyrus looked at the object, confusion joining the scowl on his face. “Why did you risk coming here?” he asked. “Why didn’t you just send the beetle back with a message?”

Suddenly self-conscious, Stella looked down at the floor. It was harder to talk to Cyrus now that she was visible. When he was able to look at her, she couldn’t hide anything. There was so much she wanted to say, but the words caught in her throat.

The silence stretched, and finally Cyrus sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Aw, this is such a mess,” he said. “Listen, is there any way we…I mean…Stella, can we start over?”

He wanted a fresh start. Stella felt her nervousness slipping away. This was what she’d hoped for, wasn’t it? She couldn’t mess things up now. “Yes!” she said, letting the words tumble out before she lost her courage. “Cyrus, I’m so sorry. About everything. I’m sorry you’re locked up here, and I’m sorry for what happened the day of the storm.

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