Across The Sea Read Online Free

jumped back down onto the dock. He walked
back up toward the village, stepping past the crates behind which
Francis hid. Francis looked up at where the man was heading. The
beast walked past another stack and was gone from view. Francis
stayed put. I should board his boat... just to grab a few things
to prove to Father that this man is real. Proof for the mayor.
Maybe they can stop him. Or maybe I should just shout out that he’s
here. No, I’m too far from the village right now. I had to follow
him through the woods. Ugh! I should have been smarter before. I
should have yelled out when I first saw him leaving the tavern. But
I wasn’t sure if it was him then.
    Francis hurried onto the dock,
toward the creature man’s sailboat. He would take something back
with him. He needed an object that could help identify who this man
was. This stranger would disappear again; Francis was certain of
it.
    He climbed aboard and glanced
about. The cabin door was open. He stepped in and proceeded down
five steps into the one-room cabin. There was no light inside and
Francis had to feel around with his hands. He pulled open drawers,
cupboards. He searched everything with his palms and fingers. To
his dismay, all he felt was dusty wood. Everything was empty.
    A bed stood on the starboard
side. Francis got down on his hands and knees and swept under it
with his left arm. Nothing. I have to leave , he fretted. I have to get out of here before he comes back.
    Francis rushed up the five
steps and out the entrance door. A commanding, open crate sat at
the back of the cockpit. Francis had not paid it any attention
before.
    There’s got to be something in
there. I can’t leave here empty-handed. Especially if this man
knows what happened to Michael.
    The crate was taller than
Francis so he reached toward the top with both hands and, using his
feet, clambered up. He sat on the top edge and looked down. Inside,
reflecting the light from the moon and the stars, were mechanical
pieces for some sort of machine. Three of the larger pieces were
almost half the size of Francis.
    Maybe I can take one of the
smaller pieces back home with me.
    Francis jumped in. He snatched
one piece off the floor which was shaped like a tiny arrow and had
a small wheel at the end. It fit into his back pocket. He reached
up with both hands to climb out.
    The boat rocked, from side to
side.
    Oh no , Francis thought,
bringing his arms back down.
    Someone was boarding. Francis
peeked through a space in between two of the crate’s slats. The
beastly man had returned.
    Swish …
    The man unsheathed his
broadsword.
    He knows I’m here ,
Francis thought, his heartbeat soaring.
    The man walked off, searching,
his heavy footsteps fading as he moved away. They sounded again as
he returned toward the crate. Francis moved behind one of the
larger pieces of machinery, crouching down to hide. He heard the
footsteps cease as the man stood before the crate. Francis
swallowed in fear. He knew the man must be looking straight down
into the crate then. Francis could feel him standing over him.
    There was a long silence. If
Francis made the smallest movement or the slightest sound, the man
would know he was there.
    The man moved about again.
    Swish … The sword was
sheathed. Francis figured the man was now satisfied that no one had
boarded his craft while he was gone.
    He heard something drag along
the deck, then silence, and then something rubbing itself against
the top of the crate. Francis stayed hidden, not looking up. He
felt unnerved as he realized what was taking place: a lid was being
placed overhead. He soon found himself in almost complete darkness
as the lid covered the opening.
    Silence again.
    How am I supposed to get off
this boat without being noticed now?
    Thock ! Thock ! Thock !
    Francis jumped at that sound.
It was a hammer.
    The man was nailing the lid
onto the crate.
    I could scream for help ,
Francis thought, panicked. But if someone heard me, would they
get here on