Cave of Wonders by Matthew J. Kirby

Author:Matthew J. Kirby [Kirby, Matthew J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Childrens - Middle Grade
ISBN: 9780545387002
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 13356174
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2013-09-03T04:00:00+00:00

They waited until the sun had gone down completely, and the sky was a deep black all the way across. The sounds of battle had faded in the darkness, but fires all along the front lines showed the Mongols were still there, waiting to resume their full assault with the dawn. By moonlight, Riq, Sera, and Dak scurried toward the river.

They aimed for a dark, empty spot between two campfires, around which warriors sat and slept. Riq hoped that with the light in their eyes, the Mongols wouldn’t be able to see too far into the shadows. The time travelers slipped down to the river’s edge in single file, where the moon glistened over the inky water, and the sound of it lapping the shore hid some of the sounds they made.

A cluster of small boats rocked gently with the current, bumping into one another and against the small dock to which they were tied. The three of them waded into the river toward them, the water chilly against Riq’s skin. Dak went to the ropes securing the boats, while Sera climbed into one and kept herself low.

“I’m going to let them all loose,” Dak whispered. “That way, they won’t have a boat nearby to follow us, and they won’t know which one we’re in.”

“Good idea,” Riq whispered back. Apparently, the kid did have them on occasion.

Once the ships were floating free, Dak gave them each a push out into the river, where the current grabbed them and pulled them away. Riq held on to Sera’s boat, and once Dak had climbed into it, Riq heaved it out into the river and scrambled on board after them.

“Well,” Sera said, “that went we —”

A cry of alarm sounded on the bank.

Riq turned back to see shadows racing from the campfires down to the shoreline.

“Do you think they can see us?” Dak asked.

Something hissed and splashed in the water near the ship. An arrow.

“I’d say so,” Riq said. “Quick, grab the oars!”

They swung the paddles out over the water and plowed ahead as fast as they could. More arrows flew at them, striking the water, a couple of them even hitting the hull of the ship.

“We got lucky,” Dak said. “I don’t think they can see us very well.”

“They can see well enough,” Riq said.

They paddled ferociously until their boat was out of range of the archers, but Riq didn’t feel like they could let up. They had to reach the Wharf of the Needle-Makers quickly in case the Mongols decided to round up some other boats and come after them.

They moved down the river, and before long, the buildings of Baghdad stood to either side. The city lights reflected toward them in wavering strips along the river. The caliph’s palace soon came into view, and Riq steered the craft toward the shoreline near it.

They came up to the Wharf of the Needle-Makers, and above it Riq saw the House of Wisdom. He relaxed a bit and breathed a sigh of relief, a little amazed they had made it back into the city from the Mongol war camp.

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