Read Online The Boggart and the Monster by Susan Cooper - Free Book Online

driven by its long powerful tail, swimming through the loch. Closer and closer it came, more and more vivid.
    Tommy grasped Emily’s shoulders in excitement. Jessup cheered. Harold shouted with delight, and banged on the back of a chair like a happy little boy.
“Go to video!”
he yelled.
“Quick, quick!”
    â€œIt’s him!”
Chuck whispered hoarsely.
“It’s him!”
    His fingers worked furiously on the controls, and in a close-up as clear as a television newsreel they saw the great grey-green neck rearing up over them, and above it the head, jaws open and dripping, gazing at the sky. Instinctively they flinched backward. Tommy’s fingers tightened on Emily’s shoulders; Emily’s fingers clutched her shell, turning it over and over, like a talisman.
    Then suddenly, in an instant, the Monster disappeared.
    *  *  *
    U NDER THE LOCH , two boggarts whirled about each other, in delight and relief.
    â€œ
Well done, Nessie! I knew you could do it!
”
    â€œ
Oh cuz! I’m so glad to find you, cuz!
”

FIVE
    H AROLD YELPED in frustration.
“It’s dived! Go back to laser scan!”
    Chuck was already punching buttons and turning dials, cursing under his breath. There was a dark patch of sweat on the back of his T-shirt. But all the screens were blank.
    Harold seized a microphone.
“Jenny!”
he called urgently.
“Where is it? Where did it go?”
    Emily was suddenly vividly aware of Tommy’s hands clutching her shoulders. She sat very still. Tommy didn’t let go, but he slackened his grip; his fingers moved a little as if he were giving her a neckrub. Emily thought she had never felt anything more magical in her life.
    â€œIt was Nessie,”
Tommy said softly, marveling.
“Nessie’s real.”
    Jenny’s voice came over the intercom, baffled, high with strain.
“It was here! It was huge, right over us, dripping, I could smell it — and then it wasn’t here any more.”
    Mr. Maconochie said softly,
“A very ancient and a fishlike smell.”
    Jenny had heard him.
“That’s right — how did you know?”
said her voice on the intercom.
    â€œThat was another monster,”
Mr. Maconochie said.
“Called Caliban.”
    Jessup was making a quiet crowing sound. He looked around at Tommy.
“Well?”
he said.
“Well?”
    â€œAll right,”
Tommy said.
“You told me so.”
    Harold and Chuck were on their feet, heading for the next cave of equipment. Buzzers were sounding, lights were flashing; the trailer was suddenly too full of people.
“Folks,”
Harold said,
“I’m sorry, but —”
    â€œWe’re gone,”
Jessup said.
“Till tomorrow.”
They ducked out of the way, hastily. Jessup thumped Harold on the back as he left, and Harold flashed them the grin of a happy, fulfilled, joyous man.
    *  *  *
    T HE B OGGART SAID SEVERELY , in the formless, telepathic Old Speech,
“
This is not proper behavior, for a boggart. We are shape-shifters, not monsters or trolls.
”
    â€œ
Don’t be cross with me, cuz. It’s been so long, and I never was good at shifting anyway.
”
Nessie looked down in delight at the small waves along the shore, as they flittered together over the loch.
“
Oh it’s so good to be with you — and up in the air!
”
He turned a happy aerial somersault.
    The Boggart twirled after him.
“
It is so! And now you can stay as you should be, and we’ll have a grand time all up and down the lochs. Just like the old days.
”
    Nessie said doubtfully,
“
We can try. But I’ve lived in the one shape for so long now — sooner or later I’ll slip back into it, you know. I surely will when I fall asleep.
”
    â€œ
Think yourself out of it. I’ll help you.
”
    â€œ
It’s hard,
”
Nessie said plaintively. He sneezed, as a seagull flew