Amanda on the Danube: The Sounds of Music Read Free

earlier.
    â€œPlease, Miss. I need your help.”
    Amanda noticed blood seeping out of the dirty bandage on his thumb. “What happened to your thumb?”
    â€œOh, that. It is nothing.” The young boy reachedfor his violin case. “You are on the boat, yes?
The Sound of Music
boat?”
    â€œYes, I am. Why?” She looked at the bloody finger. “You should have that cleaned up. You could get an infection.”
    â€œPlease, could you take this with you on the boat?” His large blue eyes pleaded with her as he held out the case.
    â€œWhy can’t you take it to the boat?” asked Amanda.
    â€œI do not have a ticket. But my violin must get on the boat. It is of much importance.”
    â€œWell,” Amanda took a deep breath. “I guess I could take it, but then what will I do with it once I’m on the boat?”
    â€œPerhaps you could keep it in your room until you get to Vienna. I will meet you there.”
    â€œHow—”
    â€œAmanda! Where have you gone?” She could hear Leah shouting.
    â€œOK. I have to go.” Amanda snatched the violin case.
    â€œ
Danke, fräulein
. Don’t tell anyone you saw me,
bitte
. I mean, please.”
    Amanda emerged from the small space between the two stalls just before Leah spotted her.
    â€œI found a rad choker necklace.” Leah held up aclear bag and shook it. “What do you have in your hand?”
    â€œI found a vintage violin case,” answered Amanda. “I think I’ll surprise my dad with it later.”
    Leah looked at her watch. “We had better get to the boat before it leaves.”
    The girls walked down the street toward the bus. A boy dashed past them, knocking Amanda down.
    â€œHey, you! Watch where you’re going.” Amanda stood up. She held on to the violin case as she steadied herself.
    â€œAre you all right?” Leah asked. “That boy looked very much like the one the crew members chased through the market. What is his problem?”
    â€œI’m fine. I think he tried to grab the violin case.”
    â€œWhere did you say you got it?”
    â€œI bought it from an old guy at the market while you were looking at jewellery.”
    Amanda spotted a huge nutcracker soldier in a doorway. “Look at that!” She stood beside the wooden figure towering over her. “Take my picture, Leah. I feel like Clara and her gallant Nutcracker Prince from the ballet Aunt Mary took me to last Christmas.”
    Leah snapped a couple of pictures of a beaming Amanda. She shouted, “There’s that boy! He’s hiding behind the nutcracker.”
    Amanda turned around. The blond, curly-topped boy stood, grinning. He grabbed on to the violin case and pulled hard. Amanda held on tight. Leah came over and held on as well. The boy lost his grip and fell over backwards, landing in a pile of spinning tops.
    A burly shopkeeper ran over to them. “Get out of my store you trouble makers!
Aus, kinder schlecht!”
    Amanda and Leah dashed down the street just as the bus pulled away.
    â€œOh no! Now we’re going to be late and miss the boat.” Leah’s face fell. “My dad will kill me.”
    Amanda noticed two-wheeled motorized vehicles lined up on the sidewalk with a sign:
    SEGWAYS 4 RENT
    â€œThese look like fun. Maybe they will get us to the boat on time.”
    Leah looked doubtful.

4
    I feel like I’m floating on air.” Amanda moved her body slightly to make the Segway veer to the right. “I just love this!”
    Leah looked over at her friend and gave her a huge grin. “Me too! This was a great idea.” She moved her body to the right as they rounded a corner.
    â€œThere’s the church the guy at the rental place told us to turn at to get to the dock. He sure was nice to give us such good instructions.”
    â€œYeah, and he was totes cute too.” Leah giggled.
    Amanda checked to make sure the violin case was