The Curse of Arkady Read Free Page B

mind and deep wealth of reading knowledge had kept him from being discovered, and his love of magick made him eager to be a Magicker in any way he could.
    â€œMost of us have access to computers. I was thinking, an e-mail ring. Just a daily check on how we all are, if we’ve seen anything odd or felt anything.”
    Stefan grunted. His thick, square face reflected the bear being he could abruptly shapeshift into. “I could do that,” he said.
    â€œMe, too.” Bailey and Ting answered almost at once.
    â€œThat would work for me,” Danno agreed. “Getting away to meet in person is a lot trickier. Especially since my dad’s company may be transferring him overseas for at least a year, and if that happens, we’re all going.” Rich shrugged. “Whatever,” he said, as if supremely bored.
    â€œI think it’ll work. Better than phoning and trying to explain the charges.” Trent crossed his arms over his lean figure.
    â€œE-mail,” Bailey added, looking about at all of them, her golden-brown ponytail bouncing as she did, “could be faked. I suggest a password. Just to identify it’s really us.”
    â€œFinally something cool.” Rich smiled slowly.
    â€œHow about Excalibur?” said Trent.
    â€œHow about freakazoid,” countered Stefan. He clambered to his feet, shifting his weight back and forth restlessly. The backpack on his shoulder held his football gear, lumpy pads and helmet and all.
    â€œHow about something serious,” said Jason. “Like what Tomaz warned us about, the curse. How about Arkady?”
    Each of the seven thought about it briefly, then nodded in turn. “Done, then. Every day, when you can, send a note. We’ll take down each other’s addresses and we’re finished.”
    Ting nibbled on one fingertip as she wrote out the e-mail lists for everyone, looking as if there were something she wanted to say.
    â€œWhat is it, Ting?”
    â€œShould we include Jennifer?”
    Jason thought about the older girl, blonde and willowy, who had been Ting’s and Bailey’s cabinmate and counselor. “Well . . . I don’t know . . .”
    Ting fidgeted.
    â€œWhat do you think?”
    The pencil wobbled in Ting’s hand. “I heard . . .” she said softly. “She’s avoiding all of us. She has a boyfriend. She’s different from last summer.”
    â€œA boyfriend? Oh, mannnnn.” Trent frowned. He’d always had a kind of interest in Jennifer, Jason remembered. Not that he’d ever own up to it.
    â€œMaybe it’s best we don’t, then. Till she makes up her mind and everything?”
    â€œAll right.” Ting nodded, and her expression calmed as she returned to writing out copies of the lists.
    It only took a few moments, and then Ting and Bailey had their crystals out. They focused and disappeared in a soft shimmer. Stefan fished his out with his great, clumsy paw of a hand, yet held his gem with a kind of tenderness as he looked into it. Rich followed him like a shadow at Stefan’s heels. Danno winked at them, before focusing on his crystal and vanishing. Soon only Trent and Jason remained. Trent slapped his hand against Jason’s shoulder.
    â€œThere’s another reason we can’t meet like this too often, besides needing more practice. We could be leaving a trail the Dark Hand might pick up on.”
    Jason thought. “Not if we went into the Haven.”
    â€œYou’re the only one who’s really been there, Jason. And I couldn’t get there without you.”
    â€œIt’s something to think about, though. The Haven is out of time and place. It could be the perfect spot for us to go to if there’s trouble. I need to look into it.”
    â€œMeanwhile, how about I find out, if I can, who this Arkady is and what this curse might be? I wonder why Tomaz or Gavan couldn’t just tell us what the curse is.”
    Jason