The Ark of Dun Ruah, Book 1 Read Free Page B

Simon.
    â€˜Now, now my dear, don’t you worry about Simon. The Land of Fire is the safest place you could take a boy with such interests. At least with us he can learn to make explosions in a safe and controlled environment without creating any accidents. Why, he might even make a career out of it.’
    â€˜Kerry, don’t you see’, said Simon, ‘this is the perfect opportunity for both of us. Open your eyes. If you want us to stay together and keep our home we’ve got to grab this chance. You said yourself we haven’t got enough to live on.’
    â€˜I think we’d better settle this matter now,’ said the Mayor. ‘It’s time for me to open the World Fire Fair and I’m late already. The crowds are waiting.’
    â€˜What do you say, Kerry?’ asked President Lumina.
    â€˜Well, if you don’t mind Simon coming along …?’
    â€˜I’ll be delighted to have Simon! Don’t give it another thought. Oh and Frederick, will you please make sure that my two new friends and their dear little birds are on board the ship bound for the Land of Fire on Monday night? It leaves from Corkscrew Harbour at midnight.’
    â€˜Certainly, my dear,’ said the Mayor. ‘I’ll do everything in my power to get them there. They’ll have a wonderful voyage on board the legendary ship, the Ark of Dun Ruah.’

CHAPTER 3
    Fireworks and Explosives
    On the outskirts of Kilbeggin, in the foothills of the Purple Mountains, Macken Cottage nestled. The Swishtree Forest skirted the cottage garden and wrapped itself like a giant green scarf all the way around the town of Kilbeggin.
    Every now and again a loud bang rattled the garden shed where Simon was working on his latest invention. He was in a hurry to get it finished before they set out for the Land of Fire. Timmy and Dot flew back and forth, helping Kerry to sort and pack their things for the journey. Another loud explosion from the shed sent Kerry running to the back door.’
    â€˜Simon,’ she called. ‘What are you doing out there? Please don’t make me call the fire brigade again.’
    â€˜Everything’s under control,’ Simon’s voice replied from the depths of the shed. ‘And I’m nearly finished. This is my best invention yet. Wait ’til you see my ‘Handy Matches,’ Kerry. I think I’ve got the formula right at last.’
    Kerry shook her head. ‘I hope they cure him of his obsession with lighting matches in the Land of Fire. He can’t get much worse.’
    â€˜Speaking of obsessions, has anybody seen Pod?’ asked Timmy.
    â€˜Hiding in the forest, no doubt,’ said Dot.
    â€˜But we still haven’t told him about our trip to the Land of Fire,’ said Timmy, ‘and we can’t leave him behind.’
    â€˜He was right about those eagles though,’ said Kerry. ‘Everyone in Kilbeggin is talking about them. They’ve been raiding people’s gardens and sheds and causing so much trouble.’
    â€˜Trouble,’ hooted a deep voice from the window.
    There, perched high on a ledge, stood Pod with his thick crop of blue feathers gleaming in the moonlight and his amber eyes flashing.
    â€˜I told you they were trouble. But you didn’t believe me. This Fire Fair is the worst thing that’s ever happened to Kilbeggin. All sorts of peculiar folk coming in here, poking their noses in our business! If it wasn’t for the Fire Fair those eagles would never have come here in the first place.’
    â€˜Oh, Pod, we’re glad you’re home,’ said Timmy. ‘Have you heard the news? We’re all going to the Land of Fire.’
    â€˜The Land of Fire!’ screeched Pod. ‘Is this some kind of a joke?’
    â€˜Kerry has been invited there by President Lumina,’ said Dot, ‘to be her personal fashion designer.’
    â€˜You’re out of your minds,’ said Pod.