Secrets of the Dragon Tomb Read Free

a disguise. You see, I was—”
    â€œIt’s not a very good disguise,” Putty said. “I recognized you straightaway.”
    Freddie looked aggrieved. “It’s still growing. I think it looks quite Prussian.”
    â€œHang on a moment,” I broke in. “What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be away at Oxford. On Earth,” I added, just in case it hadn’t really sunk in. “At university.” As far as I knew, he should have been studying right now. He wasn’t due home for months.
    Freddie grimaced. “Ah. Yes. Well. You see, there’s a bit of a story there, too.” He let out an awkward laugh. “There was this little matter of a disagreement about a boxing match, and, well, what happened was—” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I’m sure you don’t want to hear the details.” He swept out a wet hand, spraying dirty water everywhere. “Why are we standing out here dripping like a pair of bath sponges? I’m starving. I haven’t had a bite to eat since yesterday.” He leaned closer to Putty. “If you’re ever in Chinese Mars, keep away from those little skewers of meat they sell. Didn’t agree with me at all. Rather unfortunate effects over the Valles Marineris. I wouldn’t have wanted to be those fishes, I can tell you!” He took Putty’s arm. “Come, Cousin Parthenia. Dinner awaits!”
    I narrowed my eyes as I watched them go. Freddie had avoided my question. He was hiding something. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Freddie was in trouble again, and trouble followed him around like a beaver-hound chasing a landfish.
    Not that my family, some of whom actually were geniuses, would notice. Mama was completely absorbed in planning her grand garden party to impress the other ladies of the neighborhood, and Papa was so obsessed with his inventions that it would have taken being shot out of a steam cannon to get his attention. In the meantime, my oldest sister, Jane, would be far too busy falling in love with whichever eligible young man happened to be floating by, and Olivia was far too proper to even acknowledge the existence of trouble. As for Putty, well, there would be nothing she would love more than to dive right in. So that just left me.
    I might be only twelve years old, but it was up to me to find out what trouble Freddie had gotten himself into, and whether he’d brought it with him.
    Captain W. A. Masters would have to hang on a little bit longer.
    *   *   *
    Freddie emerged from his bedroom half an hour later, just as the dinner bell sounded. He had changed out of his battered, moss-stained pantaloons, torn cravat, and leather flying-coat, washed the mud from his face and hands, and shaved off his mustache, and now he cut a rather striking figure.
    In many ways, Mars was similar to Earth. The day was only half an hour longer, and you could breathe the air on Mars just as easily as on Earth. Even the seasons were the same, although the year on Mars lasted almost twice as long, which meant that winter sometimes seemed to go on forever. But the gravity on Mars was less than half that on Earth. Those of us who grew up on Mars tended to be slimmer and lighter.
    Freddie’s two years on Earth had changed him. His muscles had bulked out, making him look solid and tough. He seemed to have learned a new, fashionable, and very complicated way of tying his cravat, too, so that it stretched high up his neck, lifting his chin to what looked like an uncomfortable angle. He was even wearing two waistcoats, one on top of the other. All in all, Freddie had adapted far too well to the role of Oxford student.
    â€œPerfect timing!” Freddie exclaimed as the bell rang.
    â€œWasn’t it?” I said.
    If he’d been trying to avoid talking to me, he couldn’t have timed it better.
    Putty had been loitering around with me outside