Read Online Arthur Quinn and the World Serpent by Alan Early - Free Book Online Page A

the seat in the process. With sirens ringing and blue lights flashing, the car sped off to the nearby St James’s Hospital. En route, the garda sitting in the passenger seat had questioned them, asking how they’d ended up in the river and what adults had been taking care of them. Between them they’d explained as well as they could: being curious about the underground river, the tide coming in, escaping to the Liffey. Naturally, they’d left out the part about the mysterious pendant. Satisfied with their answers, the garda had radioed the station, asking that Joe Quinn at Citi-Trak and Miss Keegan be informed of the children’s whereabouts.
    When they’d reached St James’s Accident and Emergency Department, a nurse hurriedly ushered them into hot showers and left out warm hospital pyjamas for them. They were sitting in a small and empty canteen the nurses used, sipping hot chocolate, wearing the pyjamas with towels wrapped around their shoulders when Joe, Miss Keegan and the two engineers, Ruairí and Deirdre, all rushed in.
    â€˜So, so, so much trouble,’ Joe said again as he kissed Arthur on the forehead.
    â€˜What were you all thinking?’ demanded Miss Keegan standing behind Joe.
    â€˜We … we weren’t,’ Ash said.
    â€˜Whose idea was it?’
    Arthur and Ash’s eyes met in silence. Will was about to speak up when Arthur interrupted him. ‘All of ours,’ he said. Will looked in surprise at the other two. There was now a plaster over his left eyebrow where he’d knocked his head in the tunnel.
    â€˜I’m so sorry, Joe,’ said Deirdre.
    â€˜We both are,’ added Ruairí. ‘We don’t know how they got away from us.’
    â€˜You were just distracted,’ Ash said, then quickly added, ‘by some other kids. It wasn’t their fault, Mr Quinn.’
    â€˜Well, you’re all okay now. Apart from the odd cut or bruise. But either way, it was a really stupid and dangerous thing to do,’ said Joe, getting to his feet and totally missing the secret glances between the three children. He turned to the engineers. ‘You two can go back to the site. Thanks for coming with us but it looks like we’ve got everything under control here.’
    They told Joe to give them a call if he needed anything, nodded quick goodbyes to the kids and left. On their way out, they met a garda coming into the canteen.
    â€˜Excuse me,’ he said, standing in the doorway, ‘Mr Quinn? Miss Keegan? Can I speak to you for a minute?’
    â€˜We’ll be right back,’ said Miss Keegan, pointing her finger at all three of them. ‘Don’t go looking for any underground rivers while we’re away.’ They stepped out of the room, shutting the door behind them.
    â€˜Thank you,’ said Will. ‘You didn’t have to do that.’
    â€˜It’s as much our fault for following you,’ Arthur said.
    They sat in silence for a moment before Ash said, ‘Your dad didn’t seem too angry. Mine will kill me when he finds out I lost my new phone. Plus all the life-endangering stuff.’
    â€˜He’s just relieved now,’ said Arthur, ‘but when we get home he’ll probably ground me for life.’ He turned to Will. ‘What about your dad?’
    â€˜My dad’s dead.’
    â€˜Oh, I …’
    â€˜It’s okay. He died a few years ago. In a car crash.’
    â€˜I’m so sorry, Will. I … I know how it feels.’
    â€˜You do?’ asked Ash.
    â€˜Yeah, I do. My … my mum passed away in … in March.’ Out of habit, he fingered the ribbon tied around his wrist.
    â€˜Oh, Arthur!’ She laid her hand over his. ‘I kind of guessed but didn’t want to ask.’
    â€˜It’s tough,’ said Will. He looked at Arthur directly, tears glistening in his eyes. ‘And it doesn’t get much easier with time.’
    Arthur