Demons of the Ocean Read Online Free

Inside the cages, the purple creatures still moved about, as if looking for a way to escape."Okay," Connor said. "We've said our good-byes. There's not much time."Grace took one last look around, then nodded.Beyond the fishermen's wharf, the harbor gave way to the moorings of private boats. In the distance, the palatial cruiser belonging to Lachlan Busby gleamed in the sun. It dwarfed its neighbors. Dexter Tempest's boat was moored among the smaller crafts. It was a simple yacht, fashioned in the old style, aboard which the twins had spent many happy hours with their dad. Grace and Connor hurried along the wooden jetty that led toward it."Here she is," Connor said. He reached out a hand and touched the side of the boat, his fingers running across its name--Louisiana Lady."Do we dare?" he asked."Yes, we dare," Grace answered.At that moment, the sun was blocked by a passing cloud. A surprisingly chilly breeze snaked around Grace's body and she shivered at the sudden drop in temperature.
    The twins' presence on the jetty had begun to provoke comment. People were stopping to stare and whisper. What were Grace and Connor doing here? Shouldn't they be packing up their possessions and preparing to vacate the lighthouse? The boat no longer belonged to them, as was clear from a hastily erected wooden sign on board--PROPERTY OF THE CRESCENT MOON COOPERATIVE BANK."We've come to say good-bye to our dad's boat," Grace called.The crowd made sympathetic noises."Can we have a moment to ourselves?" Connor asked, bowing his head.The people moved away, their whispers now indecipherable hisses. They were soon distracted by the arrival at the harborside of two out-of-breath, clearly distressed middle-aged women.In one swift, smooth movement,
     Grace jumped onto the boat while Connor uncoiled the ropes that tied the craft to the dock."Stop them!" rasped Polly Pagett."Grab them!" cried Loretta Busby.As Connor leapt on board, Grace looked up at the low clouds scudding overhead and felt the breeze run through her hair. "It's a following wind, force two, maybe three," she said as Connor brushed past her."Mainsail up," he said. The sail billowed out, filling with the wind that would propel them away.
    "Cast off forward," called Grace, neatly winding the loose rope."Cast off aft," called Connor, "and we're away!"Released from all its moorings, the boat slipped smoothly away from the jetty. As Connor gradually let out the boom, the mainsail swelled gratefully with the extra air and the boat quickly picked up speed."Good-bye, Crescent Moon Bay," Connor cried.Looking back toward the lighthouse, he could have sworn he saw his father up in the lamp room, waving them good-bye. He closed his eyes, opened them again, and the image was gone. He sighed."Good-bye, Crescent Moon Bay," Grace echoed. "Oh Connor, what have we done? We need food! We need money. Where are we going?"
    "I told you, Gracie, we've got time to work all that out. All that matters is that we get away from here just as quickly as we can. And that we're together."They set the boat's course to the darker waters beyond the bay. Both twins looked hopefully toward their future.As the yacht picked up still more speed, Connor noticed the wooden sign that still rested on the prow."Property of the Crescent Moon Bay Cooperative Bank? Not anymore!"He grabbed the sign and threw it, like a Frisbee, far out into the ocean. It sank without a trace.
    Back at the harbor, Polly Pagett and Loretta Busby found that shared distress can be a wonderfully powerful bond."There, there, Loretta. You wouldn't have wanted those unruly children in your lovely home."
    "No, Polly, and they'd have just wrecked your beautiful orphanage. Good riddance to them both! Let the sharks get them."
    "No, Loretta, not sharks. Let the pirates at them!"
    "Oooh yes," Loretta said. "The pirates! Let the pirates have those ungrateful monsters." She looped her arm through Polly's."Why don't you come back to my house for a spot of lunch? We're