The Lost Coast: The Second Book To Land Of Storms

VII

Amell wasn't at the shore when Gabriel got there. It was too early, their rendezvous were normally at night. He was trying to figure out how the staff worked. Gabriel looked through the book of gibberish. He was hiding under the pier, trying to understand the book.

He had hoped the secrets of the staff would be in the book. Gabriel couldn't understand a word the book said. He was beginning to think his efforts were for nought. Gabriel went through pages and pages. Then he found a picture of the staff.

What could this mean? Gabriel thought.

As he often did he heard footsteps one the pier. He clutched the book to his chest and waited for the footsteps fade away.

Gabriel went back to looking over the book. The picture of the staff above the words must have ment something. The only problem is that he couldn't figure it out.

"Gabriel." Amell said as he hung his head over the pier to see Gabriel looking at a book.

Gabriel looked up at Amell. He smiled at the silliness of the old man. It had occurred to Gabriel that Amell was never sad around him. Not since he delivered the news of his father's death.

"Why are you here so early? Isn't it dangerous?" Gabriel asked.

"I could ask you the same, and of course it's dangerous. But what's life without danger." Amell smiled slyly.

Amell sat up straight on the pier. Gabriel put the book on the pier so Amell could see it.

"Have you come to make my study?" Amell said looking at the book.

"No of course not. I was hopping you could make sense of the words. It's like nothing I've ever seen before. I even retrieved the staff." Gabriel pushed the staff into Amell's view.

Amell touched the colorful coral, then handed it back to Gabriel. He looked at the book once more. Gabriel couldn't read the look on his face. That made Gabriel nervous.

"Simple, have you read it aloud?" Amell asked.

"No. I haven't read of out loud."

"Then give it a try. It couldn't hurt."

"Fine, I'll try it. Here we go."

Gabriel took the book from Amell and looked at the words on the page one last time. Amell covered himself with a black shawl. Gabriel held the staff in one hand and the book in other.

"Mul val em sha shim dit ghod phen ref tac shu ja min sto relm wesh bili des el le keq kome sas ma."

A huge wave of water rose from the ocean. It didn't come from far out like waves normally do. It formed right over Gabriel. Amell, astounded, slowly moved away from the pier. Gabriel had no idea what was happening to him until he was expelled from the water.

Amell looked at the boy. He was shivering and naked, but he had legs. The staff he was holding turned from beautiful coral to wood. Amell covered Gabriel with the shawl.

"I really, really, deeply hope your not dead." Amell said as he helped Gabriel up.

Gabriel couldn't stand on his own. His legs shaky, but he was smiling. Gabriel had done it. Amell picked up the staff and gave it to Gabriel.

"Come on Gabe, let's get you home."