Katie and the Snow Babies Read Free

father bear hung his head over his little son and nuzzled him softly. “But this isn’t helping you, Sisters of the Sea,” he added, suddenly snapping out of his sorrowfulmood. “Go and visit Ulrick right away, to ask if he can help you with this clue. You must find the diamond and save our snowy home.”
    The mermaids quickly roused themselves. They gave Max one last kiss, then slipped from the ice into the clear waves with a splash of their sparkling tails.
    â€œIt might cause trouble if I come with you,” said Finn. “Swim along by the ice edge until you reach the bluff at Walrus Point. Ulrick and his folk bathe in the water there every day. Good luck!”
    In a flash of rainbow colors—turquoise, lemon, blue, peach, pink, and lilac—the mermaids darted under the cold sea. They felt sorry that Finn and Ulrick were nolonger friends, and they were nervous about meeting the Chief Walrus himself. But the only thing that mattered now was trying to solve the clue …

Chapter Three
    As Katie and her friends swam closer to Walrus Point, they saw several powerful sea creatures twisting and turning in the water ahead. They had found the walruses!
    â€œExcuse me,” Poppy asked boldly. “We’re looking for Ulrick.”
    A walrus mother glided near to the mermaids. “You mean
Lord
Ulrick, my dear. He’s overwater right now, sunninghimself on the big blocks of ice that stick out into the sea at the edge. Swim right up if you want to speak to him—but mind your manners!”
    The mermaids followed the direction of the mother walrus’s pointing flipper and surged above the waves. They hovered for a moment near the tip of the ice.
    â€œThere he is!” whispered Becky.
    Above them on the ice, surrounded by his loyal folk, was the magnificent Chief Walrus. His splendid brown chest gleamed in the sun, and his long whiskers and immense tusks added to his stately dignity.
    â€œUm … greetings, Ulrick—I mean,
Lord
Ulrick,” Katie called up politely. “We have come here on a very important mission, seeking your wise advice.”
    The Chief Walrus peered down his long tusks to where the mermaids bobbed up and down below him in the green sea. A group of heavy walruses gathered clumsily next to him on the ice so that they could listen and watch. Ulrick cleared his throat slowly, then spoke in a rich, rolling voice.
    â€œIt is true that I am the wisest creature in these parts,” he said grandly. “You may tell me your tale, but swiftly! The Chief Walrus cannot waste his time.”
    Katie hurriedly explained all about the theft of the snow diamonds and Mantora’s taunting clues.

    â€œSo we thought the diamondfalling from the sky might be a shooting star,” Poppy burst in impatiently. “Do you think we’re right?”
    The Chief Walrus stared down at Poppy’s mop of copper curls.
    â€œIt is not our way to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in the blink of an eye, like a giddy shrimp,” he said disapprovingly. Sammy the fairy shrimp popped his head out of Megan’s pocket. Was this old fellow talking about him? Then he dived out of sight again, alarmed by the sight of Ulrick’s bristling mustache.
    â€œBesides,” the noble walrus continued, “how could one single mermaid cause so much trouble? Now, if it was a rascally polar bear who wanted to take over Ice Kingdom, I could believe it. But amere
mermaid
? Whoever heard of such a thing!”
    He and his walruses began to laugh in a deep, rippling rumble that echoed like thunder over the wide plains of ice. Katie glanced at the other mermaids in dismay. She hadn’t expected this! On all sides, the massive brown creatures were rolling helplessly with mirth, clutching their smooth sides with their waving flippers.

    â€œBut Mantora really is powerful … ,” Katie tried to explain hurriedly.
    The Chief Walrus suddenly stopped laughing.