The Puffin Portal by Vashti Hardy

Author:Vashti Hardy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barrington Stoke Ltd
Published: 2021-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

“There are better rooms in the main wing,” said Tom.

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t snooping,” Grace said.

“Really?” Tom said crossly. “Because it kind of looks like you are.”

“Perhaps a little.” Grace stood up and punched Tom playfully on the arm. “We followed the puffin’s footprints. It must have come here last night. Have you noticed anything missing?” She looked down at Tom’s frayed cuffs and noticed his jumper had a hole in the belly.

“There’s no need for fancy clothes on the island,” Tom said, spotting her glance. “And no, there’s nothing missing.”

“I didn’t mean to stare,” Grace said. “I was just thinking I like the red of your jumper. It’s like raspberries.” She looked up at the castle. “Do you mind if I speak to your parents? Perhaps they’ve noticed missing items or discovered the portal.”

“I’m afraid they … went fishing early this morning.”

Frowning, Grace looked out to sea. She didn’t want to leave the island until she had at least one new clue or piece of evidence. “Perhaps I could wait for them,” Grace said.

Tom looked down and frowned again. “They really don’t like visitors just turning up on the island.”

“Then they will be very interested to learn that a puffin thief has targeted them,” Grace said with a nod of satisfaction. “I’ll stay out of your way until they’re back and just have a look around. Unless …” Grace trailed off, thinking. She had been so busy being a warden lately that she missed hanging out with friends, and this boy seemed a little lonely. “You could show me around a bit?”

Watson flew back and landed on her shoulder. “No sign of the puffin,” he said. “Maybe it slipped past us back into the portal last night. Perhaps when I rested my batteries for a minute.”

“Or it might still be here somewhere?” Grace said, raising her eyebrows.

“I think I’d know if there was a thieving puffin on the island,” said Tom defensively.

Grace brushed down her uniform. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned so far as a warden, it’s that criminals can be crafty. Even puffins.” She smiled at Tom. “So how about that tour?”

He shuffled his feet for a moment. Grace wondered if he went to school on the mainland and if he ever had friends come and visit him here.

“Maybe just a quick tour,” Tom said, his face brightening. Grace thought he must be warming to having them on the island.

Tom led Grace around the edge of the castle. She noticed he was glancing at her nervously and realised she hadn’t really explained who she was and what a warden did. So she told Tom about their map and why the puffin and the portal they’d discovered was so strange.

“So your great grandma invented the map technology?” Tom said.

“Yes, she did it when she was young and developed it during her life,” Grace replied.

“It must be really cool to be part of such a great family.”

Grace swelled with pride, as she really did think she was the luckiest person in the land.

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