Read Online Through the Whirlpool by K. Eastkott - Free Book Online

Jade and Kyle were thankful for that, since—the truth had to be said: Patrick was a much better cook than their mom, who generally just beat some eggs together, threw them into a pan, burnt them to a crisp blackish brown, and scraped them onto plates. Jade and Kyle had learned the value of loads of tomato ketchup years ago. Today, Patrick and Jade had morning tea alone, while Joan continued to keep Kyle company. Jade was the first to see the muddy Range Rover turn into the driveway.
    “ Dr. Bilges is here!”
    Patrick got up and showed him in, then disappeared down to his workshop. Jade wanted to follow the doctor in to Kyle’s room, but he shook his head and closed the door on her. She sat around, and when he and Joan finally came out, he was still giving his verdict:
    “ We probably didn’t get all of that stuff when we pumped his stomach last night. That could be what is causing the irritation. Plus, he’s caught a bit of an infection in his lungs—he was far too long in the water—hypothermia, from the cold out there. Deep water’s surprisingly chilly, even in summertime. But he’s a strong boy, and he’s fighting it. I think you’ll find he’ll be as right as rain by tomorrow. But just to be sure, I’ll come again this evening.”
    He paused.
    “It’s important at this point that you do keep a close eye on him. Give me a call on my cell if there’s any change in his condition.”
    The doctor left. Joan went down to report to Patrick. Jade couldn ’t seem to occupy herself with any one thing. She started to read, but the words kept sliding away from her, and she had to reread each paragraph. Finally, she tossed her book aside and began playing a game on her cell phone; she got her lowest score yet. Downstairs, she could hear that Patrick was not doing any better. Every so often a black cloud of uncustomary swear words would drift up through the floorboards as her stepfather ruined yet another piece of good wood. He left off work early and came up to make lunch. The sandwiches the three of them sat down to were soggy and bland: overripe tomato slices sliding out of the crust, not enough salt, and mayonnaise that squirted onto the table when you bit into them.
    “ I really outdid myself this time, eh?”
    But the other two wer e in no mood for jokes.
    “ What I should have done already is to report it to Wild Watch. I’ll give Mr. Jackson a call after lunch,” Joan decided.
    Wild Watch was the local environmental group. M r. Jackson, one of their neighbors, its president.
    “ But where could it have come from?” she continued, “We’re not close to any shipping lanes.”
    “ Don’t forget the tides, or the prevailing wind. Every bit of flotsam on the ocean gets blown in here when the tide’s right.”
    Joan looked doubtful: “There’s something we’re missing.”
    After lunch, Patrick went in and sat with Kyle while Joan went into her study and got on the phone. Jade left the house.
     

Lesser Dragon
 
    A lesser dragon, or eh-gawg-bhaanj. Its sharp beak was nonetheless the length of Kreh-ursh’s forearm, its feet armed with claws as long as his hand. It held itself still, wings draped limply across the rocks to either side. An odd scrap of flame puffed, defiant, from its gullet, but now Kreh-ursh dodged its blasts easily, keeping a safe distance. He could see it was at the end of its strength. Unless he made some foolish movement, it would not attack. It was crippled: The normally cream and pink leathery quills of its wings, each longer than he was high, were plastered with dark sludge that weighed them down, making them useless for flight. Its body glistened in the same heavy mud. Only its head—vivid magenta crowned with a sapphire-blue crest—remained clean. But its long beak was caked with more of the filth.
    He sheathed his knife. Although unsure how the majestic creature had got like that, the life code demanded he act. He edged carefully back toward the sleeping ledge, the