Read Online Flight of the Jabiru by Elizabeth Haran - Free Book Online Page A

storm.”
    The women looked horrified.
    Henry looked disappointed.
    Henry’s mom, Jessica, was looking at a carved wooden pyramid that had come up in a basket from a vendor. “Do you like this, Henry?” she asked her son.
    Henry’s eyes lit up. “Yes, momma,” he said delighted. “Can I have it?”
    Jessica looked at her husband, Ron, who nodded.
    Little Katie, who’d really wanted the rag doll her mother threw back to the vendor, looked petulant.
    â€œWould you like a Pharaoh?” Jessica asked her daughter, showing her a six-inch wooden carving, which had been painted in blue and gold. It was quite beautiful.
    Katie examined it. “Is it an Egyptian doll?” the little girl asked, and the adults laughed.
    The children began chattering about the Pharaoh and the pyramids, and Jessica and Ron watched with pride.
    â€œYou are a wonderful teacher, Lara,” Jessica said. “We’re so lucky to have you aboard.”
    â€œI’m lucky there are children aboard,” Lara replied. “They’ve been a great distraction from feeling homesick. Unfortunately, it still gets me sometimes.”
    â€œIt’s getting to all of us, but that should be expected,” Lorraine Baxter said, patting Lara’s shoulder in empathy.
    â€œThe school you left in England must’ve been very sad to see you go,” Jessica said to Lara. “Particularly mid-term.”
    Lara felt uncomfortable, but she couldn’t admit the truth. “Thank you,” she mumbled. “But there is a severe shortage of teachers in the Northern Territory, so hopefully I’ll be able to do some good out there.”
    â€œThey’ll be so fortunate to have you. Henry was never very interested in schoolwork back home in Dorset, but he never stops talking about the things he’s learned from you.”
    â€œEgypt and the pyramids are captivating to young minds and many adults,” Lara said.
    â€œI find the Suez fascinating,” Ron admitted. “It’s partly man-made, isn’t it? I don’t suppose you know who came up with the idea?”
    â€œI know, Daddy,” Henry said, his freckled face split in a broad grin as he looked up at Lara and his parents with obvious pride.
    â€œYou do?” Ron was clearly startled.
    â€œYes, it was Fer-din-and somebody,” he said, struggling to get the name right.
    â€œFerdinand de Lesseps,” Lara corrected. “The name is a bit of a mouthful for a young boy. He was the French developer of the canal. Do you remember what year the canal was completed, Henry?”
    â€œYes,” Henry said proudly. “You told us yesterday.”
    â€œ1869,” Jackson Riley intervened. He was nine years old and Lara had noticed he was very competitive with Henry.
    Henry frowned in annoyance.
    â€œWhich seas are connected by the Suez Canal?” Lara asked the boys.
    â€œThe Red Sea and the Mediterranean,” Henry said quickly.
    â€œThat’s right,” Lara said, and Henry beamed, giving Jackson a sideways, smug glance.
    â€œHow long is the canal?” Lara asked.
    â€œI know,” Jackson piped up.
    â€œOne hundred miles,” Henry jumped in.
    â€œI knew that,” Jackson said crossly. He looked like he wanted to punch Henry.
    â€œHow long is the northern access channel, which we will be passing through shortly?” Lara asked quickly to avoid trouble by distracting the boys.
    Neither boy remembered.
    â€œIt’s fourteen miles,” Lara said. “How about the southern access channel?”
    â€œIs it ten miles?” Katie asked shyly.
    â€œNot quite,” Lara said, stroking her blond curls. “Roughly five and a half miles. Who knows how wide the channel is?”
    All three children were silent. Lara had told them but it was a difficult number to remember.
    â€œSix hundred and seventy-three feet, give or take an inch,” Lara laughed. “I