Read Online Archie Greene and the Magician's Secret by D D Everest - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: D D Everest
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heard yesterday when I came into the bookshop. Why wouldn’t I hear you?’
The first voice answered. It was coming from a chunky green book on the shelf below the little redbook. ‘Most humans can’t hear us,’ it explained. ‘In fact you are the first one in years!’
Archie could hear lots of other papery voices murmuring now. The bookcase seemed to be alive with them. They sounded like little birds twittering in a hedgerow.
‘What about the other apprentices?’ Archie demanded.
‘No,’ said a new voice that was deeper than the first two and sounded stiff, like parchment. ‘They can’t hear us. Only you can hear us. You have the gift!’
‘What gift?’ Archie asked, suspiciously.
‘You are a book whisperer!’ exclaimed tissue-paper voice. ‘Some people can hear magic books talk to each other and can talk to them. It’s very rare, though. There hasn’t been a book whisperer for a long, long time. And because you are the only one who can hear us, you might be the only one who can help us!’
‘Hold on a minute,’ said Archie, who couldn’t quite believe his ears. ‘How do I know this isn’t some sort of trick?’
‘A trick?’ The little red book crinkled, dismayed. ‘Dark scribes did not make me. I am a book of blessings. My magic is wrought from kind words. I am full of wise sayings, and I have one for you, Archie Greene. Listen carefully.
‘“Release the magic that lies within
Believe in its power above all things.”’
‘Thank you,’ said Archie. ‘But what does it mean?’
‘That is for you to discover,’ said the little red book. ‘It is my blessing to you. My magic is almost gone. Something has taken it all.’
‘What is this thing that is stealing your magic?’
There was much murmuring and whispering between the books. It seemed to Archie that there was some sort of disagreement going on. Eventually, newspaper voice spoke up.
‘It is dark magic that is feeding on our magic!’
Archie felt a sense of dread. He remembered that Bramble had warned him about the Greaders coming to Oxford, and how it was a sign that dark magic was present.
The rustling voices grew louder. Archie could tell they were arguing.
‘Shhhhh – we have said too much!’ warned parchment voice, which was coming from a big blue book. ‘Do not speak of it! It will hear us and punish us!’
The rustling stopped. The voices fell silent. Archie stared at the blue book. Its title was written on its spine.
Magical Leadership: The Pragmatic Approach.
Just then Marjorie’s head appeared through the curtain.
‘Come along, dear! Do get a move on. We mustn’t keep Old Zeb waiting.’
She ushered him along the dingy corridor. All the while he was thinking about what the magic books had told him. He wondered if his book could talk, and whether it was safe from whatever was frightening the others.
Marjorie stopped at the top of the stairs and handed him a lantern. ‘Third door on the right,’ she said. ‘No other.’
15
Bookbinding for Beginners
D own in the mending workshop, Old Zeb was perched on a wooden stool at the workbench, his cheeks flushed red. His lips puckered and creased as he whistled a jaunty tune. When he saw Archie, he smiled.
‘You’re late. Never mind, you’re here now. Try to be on time tomorrow. We’ve got a lot to do.’
Archie looked around him. The workshop was larger than he remembered, and the smell of old parchment was even stronger. He noticed a vice on the side of the bench and a large book press beside it.
‘First things first,’ Old Zeb said, holding up a finger to get his attention. ‘You’ll be needing your own tool kit. I’ll get you started and then you’ll have to acquire the other bits as you go along. Have a word with one of the apprentices in Natural Magic – they might be able to help.’
He winked and reached under the bench. ‘One pair of gloves – for the handling of dangerous books,’ he said, producing what looked like a pair of
The first voice answered. It was coming from a chunky green book on the shelf below the little redbook. ‘Most humans can’t hear us,’ it explained. ‘In fact you are the first one in years!’
Archie could hear lots of other papery voices murmuring now. The bookcase seemed to be alive with them. They sounded like little birds twittering in a hedgerow.
‘What about the other apprentices?’ Archie demanded.
‘No,’ said a new voice that was deeper than the first two and sounded stiff, like parchment. ‘They can’t hear us. Only you can hear us. You have the gift!’
‘What gift?’ Archie asked, suspiciously.
‘You are a book whisperer!’ exclaimed tissue-paper voice. ‘Some people can hear magic books talk to each other and can talk to them. It’s very rare, though. There hasn’t been a book whisperer for a long, long time. And because you are the only one who can hear us, you might be the only one who can help us!’
‘Hold on a minute,’ said Archie, who couldn’t quite believe his ears. ‘How do I know this isn’t some sort of trick?’
‘A trick?’ The little red book crinkled, dismayed. ‘Dark scribes did not make me. I am a book of blessings. My magic is wrought from kind words. I am full of wise sayings, and I have one for you, Archie Greene. Listen carefully.
‘“Release the magic that lies within
Believe in its power above all things.”’
‘Thank you,’ said Archie. ‘But what does it mean?’
‘That is for you to discover,’ said the little red book. ‘It is my blessing to you. My magic is almost gone. Something has taken it all.’
‘What is this thing that is stealing your magic?’
There was much murmuring and whispering between the books. It seemed to Archie that there was some sort of disagreement going on. Eventually, newspaper voice spoke up.
‘It is dark magic that is feeding on our magic!’
Archie felt a sense of dread. He remembered that Bramble had warned him about the Greaders coming to Oxford, and how it was a sign that dark magic was present.
The rustling voices grew louder. Archie could tell they were arguing.
‘Shhhhh – we have said too much!’ warned parchment voice, which was coming from a big blue book. ‘Do not speak of it! It will hear us and punish us!’
The rustling stopped. The voices fell silent. Archie stared at the blue book. Its title was written on its spine.
Magical Leadership: The Pragmatic Approach.
Just then Marjorie’s head appeared through the curtain.
‘Come along, dear! Do get a move on. We mustn’t keep Old Zeb waiting.’
She ushered him along the dingy corridor. All the while he was thinking about what the magic books had told him. He wondered if his book could talk, and whether it was safe from whatever was frightening the others.
Marjorie stopped at the top of the stairs and handed him a lantern. ‘Third door on the right,’ she said. ‘No other.’
15
Bookbinding for Beginners
D own in the mending workshop, Old Zeb was perched on a wooden stool at the workbench, his cheeks flushed red. His lips puckered and creased as he whistled a jaunty tune. When he saw Archie, he smiled.
‘You’re late. Never mind, you’re here now. Try to be on time tomorrow. We’ve got a lot to do.’
Archie looked around him. The workshop was larger than he remembered, and the smell of old parchment was even stronger. He noticed a vice on the side of the bench and a large book press beside it.
‘First things first,’ Old Zeb said, holding up a finger to get his attention. ‘You’ll be needing your own tool kit. I’ll get you started and then you’ll have to acquire the other bits as you go along. Have a word with one of the apprentices in Natural Magic – they might be able to help.’
He winked and reached under the bench. ‘One pair of gloves – for the handling of dangerous books,’ he said, producing what looked like a pair of
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