Read Online The Case of the Vanished Sea Dragon by Gareth P. Jones - Free Book Online Page A

‘Where are we going?’ he asked.
    â€˜We’re following my dad,’ replied Holly.
    Once the three dragons reached a safe distance from the cell, Dirk stopped and said to Fairfax Nordstrum, ‘I kept my side of the bargain. Now it’s your turn.’
    They were standing in the dim orange glow of the lithosphere tunnel.
    â€˜First things first,’ said Fairfax, turning to face him. ‘I’ve been shut up in that cell a long time. I’d like to know what’s changed since I’ve been away.’
    â€˜Listen, Cave Dweller, I’m sorry you’ve been out of the loop for a while, but all I care about is finding thisSea Dragon’s sister, so I can get back to work.’
    â€˜Your detective work, yes,’ said the black and yellow dragon. ‘That does sound fascinating. What sorts of things do you …’ He paused to emphasise the word, ‘… detect?’
    â€˜It’s none of your business,’ Dirk growled, smoke billowing threateningly from both nostrils. ‘We had a deal.’
    â€˜Calm yourself,’ replied Fairfax casually. ‘I have no intention of going back on it. I just want to know what’s been going on during the last six hundred years.’
    â€˜Nothing’s changed. Humans still roam the earth, dragons still hide, fish still swim, birds still fly, rock’s still rock and I’m still I,’ said Dirk. ‘End of story.’
    â€˜That’s rather poetic. And are the Kinghorns really on the rise again as those Drakes said?’
    â€˜I am hearing they are planning to start a war,’ said Alba.
    â€˜A war?’ replied Fairfax. ‘How terrible. And who is leading them in this war?’
    Alba lowered her voice. ‘A Mountain Dragon called Vainclaw Grandin. They call him the first up-airer.’
    â€˜Enough,’ said Dirk, whose only encounter with the Kinghorn leader had almost cut short his own life. ‘Ifyou don’t tell us where to find the Sky Dragon, I’ll open my mouth and blacken your yellow belly.’
    â€˜No need for threats. I said I would tell you and I will,’ said Fairfax. ‘As you know, all dragons get energy from the earthlight that emanates from the Inner Core.’
    Dirk nodded. It was the earthlight which lit these tunnels far beneath the surface of the earth. It was as important to dragons as sunlight was to humans.
    â€˜Sky Dragons need it as much as we do,’ continued Fairfax. ‘But when they have spent a long time as gas, floating high, far from the source of their power, they are considerably weakened. After materialising they are exhausted. A small dose of sugar will revive them temporarily but what they really need is to recharge with earthlight energy.’
    â€˜So they come underground?’ asked Dirk.
    â€˜Not just underground. When they materialise they need to build up their strength, so they go to the banks of the Outer Core, where they bathe in the liquid fire. It’s painful but effective. A Sky Dragon at full strength is a powerful dragon indeed.’
    â€˜How do you know all this?’ asked Dirk.
    Fairfax’s mouth curled into a smile. ‘I have been around a long time. I’ve seen a lot of things. Iremember a time when Sky Dragons roamed free, rather than hiding amongst the clouds. I’ve never heard of one kidnapping a Sea Dragon though.’
    Dirk considered whether he had been rash in freeing Fairfax Nordstrum. There was something he didn’t trust about the Cave Dweller.
    â€˜Where will you go now, Nordstrum?’ he asked.
    â€˜I’ll probably just go and find some quiet corner of the world to curl up in. I’ve been living on dirt for the last six hundred years. My needs aren’t great. I just want somewhere quiet with fresh vegetation. The Andes, perhaps, or one of those little deserted islands off Scotland.’
    â€˜Good luck with that,’ said Dirk.
    Then, speaking