The Secret of Golden Island by Natasha Farrant

Author:Natasha Farrant
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Published: 2024-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Six

‘I did it!’ Yakov shouted, as he and Skylar collided halfway between Highcliff and Orchard Cottage. He grabbed her hands, jumping up and down. ‘Skylar, we are in the next stage!’

Skylar laughed as he began to spin her around.

This was a whole new side to Yakov, and it was wonderful.

‘What happens next?’ she asked. ‘Stop, Yakov! I’m feeling dizzy! Let’s sit down.’

She dragged him to the side of the path, to sit on the trunk of a tree blown down in one of last winter’s storms.

‘What happens next?’ she repeated. ‘No, wait, tell me everything from the beginning! What happened yesterday?’

Yakov leaped back up, unable to stay still.

‘Well, first I rang the doorbell …’ (he mimed ringing the doorbell) ‘… and Jasper answered and looked surprised …’ (Yakov mimed this too, then clasped his hands in front of his chest, opening his eyes wide) ‘… and I said, Oh please, Mr Anstruther, may I do my presentation again? And he said …’ (Yakov stamped his feet and crossed his arms) ‘NO! THOSE ARE NOT THE RULES … but then Bruno appeared and said, Jasper, do not be a … a rude word, and Jasper said, I am not being a … and Bruno whispered, Think of the boy …’

‘What boy?’ Skylar interrupted. ‘What did he mean?’

Yakov shrugged. ‘I have no idea. So then they let me in, and we went upstairs where I spoke beauuuuutifully …’

‘You told them about the island singing?’ asked Skylar.

‘Of course!’ Yakov looked smug. ‘And Jasper was a little bit astonished but Bruno smiled and said he knew just what I meant and Jasper said, Even so, this is not in the rules and Bruno said, Jasper, you made the rules, you can jolly well change them and Jasper said, All right, thank you, and he would be in touch, and it has been AGONY waiting but now I HAVE DONE IT!’

He beamed and brandished his phone, then corrected himself. ‘Or rather, we have done it, because even though I was very amazing yesterday, I couldn’t have done any of this without you. We are a good team, I think, no?’

Skylar felt a warm, happy glow, which for a moment had nothing to do with the island.

Team.

It was a good word.

‘Thank you.’ It was the first time she had felt shy with him. ‘But Yakov, this bit really was all you. Show me what Jasper says in his message.’

Yakov sat back down, unlocked his phone and passed it to her. There it was, on the screen, designed to look like an old-fashioned invitation card:

COMPETITION FINAL!

Your presence is warmly requested on Golden Island

On Friday 31st May

From high tide to high tide

Transport provided – launch departs Broademouth harbour at 18.45

Please bring everything you need to survive

Latecomers will not be waited for

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