Dragon of Seas by Pierdomenico Baccalario

Author:Pierdomenico Baccalario
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Mystery, Fantasy, Young Adult
ISBN: 9780375892295
Publisher: Random House LLC
Published: 2008-03-01T05:00:00+00:00

THE HOTEL IS SMALL BUT COMFORTABLE. IRENE AND THE GYPSY woman look around, thinking different things. To Irene, it’s a temporary accommodation, fine for one night. For the gypsy woman, on the other hand, it’s the first time in years that she’ll be sleeping in a real bed. She steps into the bathroom, turns on the shower and stands there staring at the running water.

Lingering in the doorway to the hall, Fernando shoots a look at the old woman. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“Positive,” Irene replies.

“And her?” Fernando asks, pointing in the gypsy woman’s direction.

“We can trust her. She’s on our side.”

“Frankly, Irene, I don’t see how you can be so sure.…”

“The power of intuition,” the elderly woman replies, wheeling her chair up to the window. “Would you help me with these curtains?”

Fernando walks over beside her and opens them.

Outside, in the distance, is Tiberina Island, in the middle of the Tiber River. When she sees it, Irene grows even calmer. “Perfect,” she says.

“The power of intuition?” Fernando starts up again. “What does intuition have to do with it?”

In the bathroom, the gypsy woman turns off the shower and begins to open all the little packages of soap and shower caps.

“It’s fundamental,” Irene replies. “Unless you’re willing to listen to your instinct and do what it tells you to, you aren’t willing to live life to the fullest.”

Fernando puffs. “But that has nothing to do with …” He points toward the bathroom.

“Ah, but it does.” Irene smiles. She clearly doesn’t want to explain further. She takes Fernando’s hand and says, “Go on, now.”

Elettra’s father looks around, embarrassed. “I’m not sure I should leave you here alone.”

“I’m not alone. Besides”—Irene checks her watch—“you need to get going if you want to catch the plane for Shanghai.”

“I’m only on the waiting list,” Fernando says.

“Then all you have to do is wait,” Irene concludes. “Go on! I’ll be safe here.”

“How did it go?” Quilleran asks Mrs. Miller when he sees her walk out of the local police station.

The woman is clutching a bundle of papers, official documents. “Fine, I suppose.”

She’s just reported being threatened by Egon Nose and his thugs. “They said they’d assign a police car to patrol our house.”

“Perfect,” the Indian replies. “But still …”

Mrs. Miller nods, guessing what he’s about to say. “You’re right. I’ll stay somewhere else tonight anyway.”

Quilleran touches the brim of his hat. “I’ll stop by to check, too, just to be sure.”

Mrs. Miller distractedly shuffles through the police report.

“Did you call your husband?” Quilleran asks.

“Yes.”

“Has your son arrived?”

“Not yet,” she says. “I think his flight was delayed.”

The Indian nods, a grim look on his face. “Everything will be just fine, you’ll see.”

“Why are you helping us?” Mrs. Miller blurts out. “I mean, are you working for someone?”

The giant Indian shakes his head. “Oh, no. I work for myself. And for my city.”

“I don’t understand.…”

“Let’s put it this way, ma’am: some people need to be forced to do things. Others just do it because they feel like it.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.