Magnus Fin and the Selkie Secret Read Online Free Page B

flushed, his blue eyes wide, he stammered, “I – I – I saw her.”
    “Who did you see?” Aquella asked.
    “My mermaid.”

Chapter 6
    Deep under the sea Magnus Fin, with Miranda close by his side, swam over the ribbed sand, over rocks and lobster creels, over rotting anchors, over a sunken ship, and on to the deep northern kelp forest.
    Kelp will heal your hand, Miranda said as they swam. We seal people have used kelp for centuries. You know, when I was a pup my mother wrapped me in kelp. She said it would give me special powers and keep me safe. That was a long, long time ago and I’m still here, so I think it worked.
    As they swam Magnus Fin listened. He didn’t know his grandmother was keeping him distracted with her stories. She could see his swollen hand. She could see his seal skin breaking through. She knew they had to hurry. She also knew it wasn’t ordinary rust that had caused such a strange reaction. She was worried, but tried not to show it. So she chattered, and Fin, happy to listen, forgot his pain and thought instead about a young seal wrapped in bandages of seaweed.
    She said if I was to grow up strong and be a leader for the selkie people I would need to make friends with kelp. I didn’t like the taste at first. I preferred a good fat salmon, but my mother insisted I try her kelp soup.
    On and on they swam. The sea seemed murky, flat and gloomy. As Magnus Fin cast his eyes about him, the destruction after the storm was evident. He spiedsmashed lobsters, broken creels and everywhere a brown haze. Miranda swam with her seal body pressed close to Magnus Fin, to protect him and keep him warm. Fin had jumped into the sea without his wetsuit, and a school uniform was hardly fitting swim gear for the cold North Sea, even if it was the month of June.
    They slowed down when the dark swaying kelp forest came into view. We’ll have you on the mend in no time, Miranda said, flicking her body to glide downwards. She nudged Fin along with her, then, when they reached the slow swaying tops of the seaweed, left him and dived down amongst the dark fronds.
    Fin treaded water and watched as Miranda, with lightning speed, pulled up strand after strand of the best kelp, using her flashing teeth and her deft flippers. She tore strands free of their holdfasts, and when she had finished looked like some storybook creature – a silver seal with a long wavy beard. Fin laughed at the sight, but catching the flicker of fear in Miranda’s eyes, his laughter quickly died away.
    We have to act fast, she said, nuzzling him out of the kelp forest and on into the still waters of a nearby cavern. Glancing about, Fin saw stones arranged like seats and tables. Miranda nudged Fin gently down onto a flat stone that looked like a table and there she wrapped the kelp bandages around his hand. Instantly Fin felt the effect. The seaweed seemed to suck the burning from him. He could feel his torn skin close up.
    It was only when the bandage was secured that Miranda allowed herself to slump down onto the flat rock beside her grandson and rest. She looked into his eyes, concern shadowing her beautiful face. We are lucky the kelp still contains healing power. So much is losing its power. You must have noticed – all is not well in the sea. What happened, Magnus Fin? Tell me, what did you touch?
    It seemed a long time ago. Fin tried to reach for the memory. There had been damp, gritty sand. And a storm. And rubbish. He had been excited. Treasure. He had discovered something. But what was it? I don’t know , was all he could say.
    Try and remember, Fin. These are uncommon tides, uncommon times. Angry storms one day, flat tired seas the next. Please, Fin – this is important. What happened?
    He stared at his hand, now fat with seaweed bandages. Slowly it came to him. It was a thing washed up in the storm , he said.
    What kind of a thing?
    I don’t know.
    Just then a luminous jellyfish drifted into the cavern, stretching its long tendrils.