Journey to Rainbow Island Read Online Free Page B

obsidigon, sparing the village from total destruction. Even with the rains, the fires had caused massive damage; nearly half the village was either completely or partially burned. Smoke and cinder replaced the idyllic peace of just the day before.
    Because the Island had never before experienced war or violence, its small medical clinic was ill equipped to handle all the wounded from the night before. All told, one of the teachers died, and three were severely wounded, including Yu-ning’s master Metatron. Eleven children had been injured, some seriously. To make room for more wounded, they converted the main hall of the Rainbow School into a temporary hospital. This is where Cristobel, Yu-ning’s archery instructor, was headed, to check on Yu-ning and the other children.

    Cristobel had come to Rainbow Island as a child and was taught the art of the bow by her master teacher. She was tall, thin, and athletic, with lovely round eyes of deep brown to match her long hair, which she normally kept in beautiful braids. She was the best archer on the Island, and taught her students to only use a bow and arrow in self-defense, never in anger.
    Cristobel walked quietly into the school hall, which at first she did not recognize. The main hall she knew was a colorful, airy room, with floor-to-ceiling white curtains, three sets of French doors on each wall, and lovely mahogany benches. But all of the hand-carved school furniture that normally adorned the room had been removed, and cots occupied most of the large space. Cristobel walked from bed to bed, visiting her pupils and her adult colleagues. Metatron was sleeping heavily, the Island’s doctor standing near his bed.
    â€œHow is he, Doctor?” inquired Cristobel.
    â€œHe has suffered a severe blow to the head, and there is swelling. I won’t know the extent of the damage until the swelling around his brain subsides. Until then, all we can do is keep him comfortable. He also suffered burns on his legs and torso.”
    â€œThank you for all you are doing,” added Cristobel as she moved on, visiting each of the cots down the row. At the end she saw Yu-ning’s cot, and what she saw brought tears to her eyes. Yu-ning’s face was swollen and bruised, and her left arm and shoulder were wrapped in bandages containing healing herbs and balm. She was asleep, but tossing fitfully in her cot.
    The doctor joined Cristobel at Yu-ning’s bedside and inspected the skin under her bandages. “The bruising is superficial, but the burns she sustained on her arm andshoulder are deep, and we need to make sure they don’t become infected. She will make a full recovery, but this dark day will always remain with her in the form of her scars. All in all, she was fortunate. It could have been much worse.” The doctor placed a reassuring hand on Cristobel’s shoulder as he moved away to attend to some of the other children.
    Cristobel placed her staff next to Yu-ning’s bedside and sat beside her. She brushed the hair gently away from Yu-ning’s face, which caused Yu-ning to shift in her bed and slowly open her eyes. “Cristobel . . . what is going on?”
    â€œDo you not remember last night, Yu-ning? The dragon?”
    Yu-ning didn’t say a word, but sudden tears appeared in her eyes as she remembered the terrible events of the night before—and the abduction of Romeo. “I couldn’t help Romeo, Cristobel. I was knocked down and was trying to get up to warn him to move off the path, but it was too late . . .”
    â€œThere is nothing you could have done, dear one. The dragon was too strong, and we had no way to defend ourselves,” said the teacher.
    â€œMetatron. How is my master?”
    â€œHe is unconscious right now, Yu-ning. The doctor has given him an herbal sedative to help him sleep, and his brain is still swollen. The next twenty-four hours are critical. We must hope and pray that the swelling subsides