The Ark of Dun Ruah, Book 1 Read Online Free Page B

Kerry.
    â€˜They’re the Frumpets,’ said Pod. ‘They’re tribal folk from the Swishtree Forest. They mainly live on wild mushrooms and berries and I sometimes see them in Kilbeggin scrounging around looking for food.’
    â€˜I wish they’d stop fighting,’ said Kerry.
    â€˜Oh they never stop fighting,’ said Pod. ‘They fight every day. Except, of course, at the weekends when they spend all day in bed.’
    A tall, hooded man in a dark cloak arrived and slipped into the line of people behind them. Kerry looked at him closely. She wondered if it was the same man who had been attacked by the eagle at the cathedral door. It was difficult to see his face under the deep, grey hood. His movements made him seem almost like a shadow. She wondered what kind of power he held over the eagle that attacked him that night on St John’s Square.
    But it was difficult to see in the deepening darkness. The passengers ahead of them had started to board and the queue was moving. Kerry was so tired that it was a struggle trying to keep her eyes open.
    Simon tugged her arm. ‘Come on. Let’s board.’
    They moved towards the huge hulking shadow of the tall passenger ship that loomed above them. A man dressed in a monk’s habit took Kerry’s ticket and helped her on board.
    â€˜Enjoy your voyage,’ he said. ‘Tomorrow we’ll be sailing across the Sea of Sorrows.’
    â€˜Sea of Sorrows,’ said Kerry. ‘I hope it’s not anything like its name.’
    â€˜They say it’s bewitched,’ said the ticket man, assisting her onto the deck. ‘So keep your wits about you.’
    â€˜Keep my wits about me. What do you mean?’ Kerry asked.
    But the ticket man had already turned his back on her. He was attending to the next passenger. A sudden sea breeze blew up and Kerry pulled up the collar of her jacket. She looked around and saw Simon and the birds ahead of her. They had crossed the gangway onto the ship. Again she caught a glimpse of the man with the grey, hooded robe. Somehow he had overtaken them and was moving quickly to the top of the crowd.
    â€˜Hey! Isn’t that the man who was attacked by the eagle with the red eyes?’ exclaimed Simon. ‘And look up. What’s that on the mast?’
    Two red beams of light were scanning the length of the deck. Up on the mast, the dark silhouette of a huge bird was peering down at the passengers with intense red eyes. Kerry shivered.
    â€˜I’m going to check it out,’ said Simon.
    â€˜No. Let’s get inside Simon,’ pleaded Kerry. ‘That eagle is up to no good. And I don’t want you getting mixed up in trouble at this hour of the night.’
    â€˜Well, I suppose it could wait till the morning,’ said Simon, reluctantly eyeing the bird on the mast.
    â€˜Of course it can wait,’ said Kerry. ‘And you promised you wouldn’t run off on another wild goose chase.’
    Simon acquiesced and they followed the passengers into a small atrium. From here they climbed a staircase to the top deck where they entered a large cabin. There they said good-night to Pod and the swiftails who took off in search of their own nesting places on board the ship. Inside the cabin there was a long, carpeted lounge. All around the floor, comfortable mattresses were scattered with cosy quilts and cushions thrown over them.
    â€˜Just grab one,’ said Simon.
    And Kerry did. She was so warm and snug under her quilt that the sound of the sea breeze and the lapping of the waves soothed away the memory of the giant bird with the red eyes.

    Kerry awoke to the sound of voices coming from the sea. It was still dark and she couldn’t see Simon. His mattress was empty. The voices outside called, ‘Kerry … Kerry.’ She crept out of her bed and followed them onto the deck.
    A large swell rose in the sea and the ship began to toss. She thought she heard