Sepron the Sea Serpent Read Free Page B

but how?

C HAPTER F OUR

    F IRE AND W ATER
    T OM GLANCED AROUND DESPERATELY. T HEY needed a water bucket—something to put out the fire. Then, he spotted his shield leaning against a stone cottage. He ran and grabbed it as the flames continued to rage and threaten the last of the tar.
    Using his shield as protection, Tom creeped toward the fire. The heat was incredible. Hot resin spat angrily as flames licked the shield. It was all Tom could do to keep the shield in place. The fire was out of control. As Tom got closer, he had to turn his face away from the unbearable heat.
    “Quick!” yelled Matt. “Get him some water!”
    Calum rushed to the water’s edge, filled a bucketwith seawater, and raced back toward Tom. The fire was still raging, but the shield protected them from the worst of the heat and flames.
    Tom held the shield in place as Calum poured water on the base of the fire. A cloud of steam rose over them, but the fire barely died down.
    “We need more water!” Tom yelled.
    Calum nodded. He ran back to the sea and filled his bucket. But as he hurried to pour it on the fire, a flame jumped around the edge of Tom’s shield and scorched Calum’s hand.
    “Owww!”
He dropped the bucket and screamed in pain. It was a bad burn, but they still needed more water, and Calum was losing precious seconds. Wrapping his shirt around his hand, Calum dumped the rest of the water over the flames, and rushed to get more.
    By the time Calum returned, the fire was finally showing signs of weakening. He poured the final bucket of water on the smouldering coals. It hadtaken three trips, but they had controlled the blaze.
    Tom lowered his shield and surveyed the damage. The tar was still bubbling and boiling from the heat, and most of it was still there.
    “We were lucky,” Tom said. “It could’ve been much worse. How’s your hand?”
    Calum winced, but tried to hide it. “I think it will be okay,” he said. “It hurts, but it’s not too bad.”
    Tom looked around. The earth was scorched and steaming all around him. He realized how lucky they were — if the fire had raged for even a few moments longer, the tar would’ve been destroyed and then … it wasn’t worth thinking about.
    Tom examined his shield. It had been pressed right up against the heat and flames, and there wasn’t even a scorch mark on its rough surface. Aduro was right. The dragon scale really was protection against fire!
    Looking over his shoulder, Tom saw Calum staring thoughtfully at the shield. Tom’s stomach tightened. What would he say if the fisherman’s son questioned him? Calum looked back at him. Tom met his gaze steadily, but didn’t try to explain.
    “Let’s get this pot down,” Calum said, giving Tom a knowing look. “Then Elenna can finish the repairs.”
    Tom helped Calum carry the pot of tar over to the boat. As Elenna finished sealing the leak, Tom wondered if Matt would be willing to lend it to them. After all, it was the village’s only boat. But Elenna was right; there was no other way to reach Sepron.
    He walked over to where Matt was examining Elenna’s repairs. “Matt …” he began.
    The fisherman looked up. “Yes, what is it?”
    “May we borrow your boat for a while? We’ll take good care of it.”
    Matt straightened up. “This is the only seaworthy vessel we have left. We need it if we’re going to catch anything to eat.”
    “We’d have to leave Silver and Storm here with you,” Elenna said, coming to stand beside Tom. “And you can be sure we’d never do that if we weren’t coming back.”
    Matt shook his head. “I’m not calling you thieves. But anything could happen. There could be an accident or a storm. And the sea serpent is still out there. You could be drowned, and we’d never see you or our boat again.”
    “But —” Tom protested.
    “I’m sorry. The answer is no.”
    He turned away to help Calum bandage his burned hand. Tom stared after him in frustration.
    Elenna tugged at his arm