Prince of Air Read Free Page A

wanted there, he walked over to the heavy rolltop desk. With a grunt, he tried to roll the top back, but only managed to lift it a crack.
    â€œDon’t just stand there,” Great-Uncle Thorne roared. “Help me open the thing.”
    Felix stood beside him, grabbed the edge, and on Great-Uncle Thorne’s count of three, tried to lift it.
    It moved another fraction of an inch, then stuck.
    â€œThis colossal abomination hasn’t been opened since the Roaring Twenties, my lad. We need to put more muscle into our efforts.”
    Again, Great-Uncle Thorne counted to three.
    Again, he and Felix tried to lift the rolltop upward.
    Again, it moved a tiny bit. Then stuck.
    â€œDamnation!” Great-Uncle Thorne shouted.
    Felix cleared his throat. “What is it we’re looking for again?” he asked.
    â€œHow am I supposed to know, you pudding head!”
    â€œUm . . . pudding head?” Felix asked.
    Great-Uncle Thorne raised both hands, swinging his walking stick around wildly.
    â€œHow did I end up with such idiots for relatives?” he shouted.
    â€œIf you don’t mind, sir,” Felix said, inching toward the door that led from Samuel Dormitorio to the bathroom, “I need to wash up before dinner.”
    â€œFine! Go, you dolt!” Great-Uncle Thorne said.
    Felix saw him put his walking stick into the gap where they’d managed to open the rolltop just before he slipped into the bathroom, relieved to be away from the wrath and exuberance of Great-Uncle Thorne.

    If Felix had to pick one good thing about moving into Elm Medona, it was the bathtub as big as the entire bathroom in the servants’ quarters upstairs. He needed a small step stool to climb into it. The tub was so deep that it felt more like being in a swimming pool than a bathtub. It was made of mosaics that depicted ocean life against a blue-and-green background. Starfish, crabs, an octopus, sea anemones, and all kinds of fish swam and leaped across it. Real gold glittered for scales. Real jewels twinkled as their eyes, and an oyster shell held a real pearl.
    The gold faucets sent hot water, cold water, or saltwater from the ocean just beyond Elm Medona. Another set of gold spigots offered lavender, lemon, or licorice oil to scent the bathwater, and a third produced bubbles.
    Felix filled the bath with hot, licorice-scented bubbles, then lowered himself into the giant bath. A compartment carved into the wall held real sponges and loofahs from the Dead Sea, and Felix chose an especially large, porous one to rub off all his baseball field dirt. Although he thought he could sit in these bubbles all night, Felix reluctantly got out so he could dress for the dinner he dreaded.
What will tonight’s be?
he wondered. Fish eyes? Some kind of meat he didn’t want to eat, like rabbit or venison?
    Just when he slipped into the ridiculous silk robe that he’d found in the closet, in walked a triumphant Great-Uncle Thorne.
    â€œShuffle!” Great-Uncle Thorne ordered Felix.
    He held out a deck of cards with an intricate burgundy pattern trimmed in gold leaf.
    â€œDon’t you believe in knocking?” Felix said grumpily.
    â€œWhy would I knock to enter a room in my own home?” Great-Uncle Thorne boomed. “Now shuffle!”
    Felix reached his hands out. They were all pruney from the long bath.
    Great-Uncle Thorne wiped them with his own silk handkerchief, then thrust the deck of cards into them.
    Dutifully, Felix shuffled.
    â€œI will now put the cards into my pocket where they cannot be touched by man or beast,” Great-Uncle Thorne announced, taking the deck from Felix.
    â€œPlease observe,” Great-Uncle Thorne said, “that the pocket is empty.”
    He leaned forward, and Felix agreed that the pocket was indeed empty.
    â€œNow, lad, how many suits do you believe are in a deck of cards?”
    Felix rolled his eyes. “I believe there are four,” he said,