The Swiss Family RobinZOM (Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

said.
    “No, it doesn’t,” Bill said.
    “We’d best get in there as soon as we can,” Fritz said, taking off his jacket and setting it down on the beach.
    “What do you mean ‘we’?” Bill said, removing his boots.
    Fritz looked his father over, trying to ascertain if he was being serious.
    “It’ll take both of us to get everything out of the boat in time,” Fritz said.
    “We don’t even know anything’s on board yet,” Bill said.
    “I’m the strongest swimmer,” Fritz said. “If anyone should go in there it should be me.”
    “You stay on the beach and watch my back,” Bill said. “I don’t want anything sneaking up on me.”
    “But-”
    “Enough!” Bill said. “This is the way it has to be. The safest way. Stay here.”
    Bill took off his jumper and waded into the water. He swam toward the wreckage. He didn’t look back. He put his hand to the stern of the ship and peered around at it. He edged hand over hand to the front, out of sight.
    Fritz buried his anger deep down, so deep he choked on it.

Chapter Nine
     
     
    Fritz paced up and down the beach, running his hands through his hair. He kept half an eye on the jungle’s tree line behind him, but most of his attention was focused on The Red Flag.
    “If you keep running your hands through your hair like that you’re going to have none left,” Ernest said.
    Fritz stepped toward the water’s edge. He stopped and backed away, shaking his head, reminding himself of his father’s words of warning. More bubbles gurgled up onto the surface. The ship sighed and sank another inch.
    “He’s been gone a long time,” Ernest said.
    “You think?” Fritz said. “We should never have let him go in by himself. That was stupid, stupid, stupid.”
    “In our defence Father told us not to follow him in,” Ernest said.
    “And we always do what Mum and Dad say, don’t we?” Fritz said. “Why did we decide to follow what they said now of all times?”
    “Dad’ll be back,” Ernest said. “He’s a strong swimmer.”
    “I don’t know,” Fritz said. “He’s not a spring chicken anymore.”
    “Fortunate for us, as chickens aren’t renowned for their Olympic swimming abilities,” Ernest said.
    Fritz looked Ernest over.
    “You’re seriously not worried about Father at all?” he said.
    “Not until you started kicking up a fuss, no,” Ernest said.
    Another half a dozen bubbles popped to the surface.
    “That’s it,” Fritz said, pulling his boots off. “I’m going in.”
    “You can’t,” Ernest said. “Dad said-”
    “Dad said to keep us all safe – that includes him,” Fritz said. He pointed to the boat. “That is not safe.”
    He waded into the shallow water, preparing to jump in when another bubble burst above the waterline. Only it wasn’t a bubble. It was a thick mass of dark hair, greying at the temples. Bill was clutching something heavy to his chest that kept dragging him below the surface. He wouldn’t let it go.
    “Father!” Fritz shouted.
    He coiled his legs to spring forward. Bill’s hand appeared above the waterline and made a pushing back motion. Fritz hesitated. Bill’s head rose up above the surface again. He swam forward with one arm, carrying the object in the other. Fritz took it from him as he drew close. It was an old carved box that clattered with every movement.
    “Are you all right?” Fritz said.
    Bill coughed up a mouthful of water.
    “I’m all right,” he said, gasping for air. “I can do it.”
    “Let me help you,” Fritz said.
    “No,” Bill said, pulling his arm away from Fritz and getting to his feet.
    He wiped the water from his face and trudged back down the beach into the water. Fritz opened the box Bill had brought up. It was full of hand tools. Fritz shook his head.
    “An awful lot to risk to get so little,” he said.

Chapter Ten
     
     
    Ernest sat in the clearing with a long oblong box before him.
    “This is just a prototype,” Ernest said. “I’m not very good with