Read Online Ghoulish Song (9781442427310) by William Alexander - Free Book Online Page A

actually looked at her with his pale and deep-set eyes. The look he gave her was curious and unsettling. She took a step backward, away from him.
    â€œIt was a good thing to meet you,” he said. “If you can ever see your way to telling me who pushed you off the bridge, then I’ll be sure to track them down—if they still live—and I’ll give them a shameful shouting in some public place.”
    Kaile shook her head, frustrated. “We’re not understanding each other here.” She tried to think of a way to make him actually listen to her. “I’m not—”
    Fidlam nodded in a formal farewell. Then he bolted back through the trees and across the beach, pebbles flying behind him. One struck Kaile in the eye.
    â€œOw!” She forced both eyes open and ran after the bone carver. Her sight was blurry, but she saw him climb the ramp and pull it up behind him.
    The barge shuddered into movement, pushing itself away from shore.
    Kaile shouted. She pleaded. She dropped her satchel, picked up a pebble, and threw it hard. She missed. The stone splashed and was gone.
    Fidlam’s barge sailed away downstream, leaving the girl and her separate shadow to haunt the River’s Knee.

Ninth Verse
    KAILE ROLLED UP ALL of her fears and frustrations into one wordless lump of noise, and she shouted that lump across the River. Then she picked up her satchel and waved the flute over her head. “This was never my leg! I’m not dead, I didn’t jump off the Fiddleway to drown a broken heart, and the flute isn’t my leg bone!”
    Shade’s dark shape stood beside her. You also haven’t turned into a swan. It might be useful if you did, though.
    â€œI’m not a ghoul, either,” said Kaile. “I’m not haunting Fidlam’s barge, wailing ghoulish things and jumping up and down on his cabin roof to make sure he never gets any sleep ever again.” She rubbed her eye, and then forced herself to stop because that only made it tear up again.
    You’re not a molekey, said Shade. You’re not anything that could scamper up the side of the cliff to get away from here.
    â€œI’m not a greatfish,” said Kaile. “I’m not swimming inthe River. I’m not ramming the bottom of that barge with my tusks.” She sat down on the beach. Pebbles crunched underneath. “I’m not anything useful.”
    Are you something that knows how to make a fire? Shade asked. The lantern’s still empty, and I don’t think there’s any lamp oil on the Kneecap. I don’t know what’ll happen to me when it gets dark. I really don’t want to find out.
    Kaile noticed how cold she was, surrounded by River winds. She wrapped her shawl tight around her shoulders. “I’m a baker’s daughter,” she said. “Of course I can start a fire.” She stood up, glad to have something to do, and began to gather driftwood into a pile. There was plenty of driftwood to gather.
    Bones also lay scattered on the beach, but Kaile left those undisturbed.
    She stacked large, small, and tiny sticks into a proper pile for fire starting, and then used the lantern flint to light it. The driftwood caught quickly. Soon she had a strong blaze burning.
    â€œThere,” said Kaile, satisfied. “I’ve got warmth, and you’ve got light.” She sat down beside the bonfire and felt the heat of it soak into her fingers, toes, and face.
    Shade sat on the opposite side. She grew darker and stronger beside the bright flames. Kaile could make out the lines of her features.
    The wood’s burning quickly, the shadow said, sounding worried. I hope we have enough to last through the night.
    â€œI’m sure we do,” said Kaile. She wasn’t actually sure. She had no idea how quickly they might exhaust their store of driftwood. But she was tired of her shadow’s complaining. “Besides, we might not have to spend the