The Children's Crusade Read Online Free Page A

he observed. Well, no mind. They’ll get themselves sorted soon enough. And meantime, I’ve got a present to give! He patted the ballerina statue under his coat. He couldn’t wait to see Marya’s face when he gave it to her.
    He pushed his way through the crowd of confused children. “Coming through, coming through,” he bleated. He charged up the hill, where some of the children Daniel had sent through earlier were gathered around Kerwyn.
    Kerwyn was tall and skinny, and whenever he spoke to the newcomers, he made his voice deeper and lower than it really was. Why he’d want to sound like an old ’un was something Daniel didn’t understand. Isn’t that why we’re all here? To get away from the grown-ups?
    Daniel thought Kerwyn would sound more commanding if he didn’t use all those ahems , ers , and uhms , when he spoke. Blimey, Kerwyn’s given the same speech a million times, so why does he still sound like he’s trying to guess at what he wants to say?
    Okay, maybe a million is an exaggeration, Daniel conceded . Daniel wasn’t really sure how long Kerwyn had been here. He knew it was a lot longer than him. Or Marya. Maybe longer than everyone. That was one of the reasons Kerwynwas head boy. That, and the fact that at fourteen years old, he was the oldest among them. And always had been. And always would be.
    â€œAhem,” Kerwyn cleared his throat. “I am sure you all, ahem, have questions about…uh…er…things.”
    Daniel tried not to laugh. Not a single child was paying the least bit of attention to Kerwyn. Maybe the kiddies should have had some questions, but they were having too much fun, discovering the amazing pleasures of Free Country. Boys and girls were rolling down the soft sweet grassy hills. Others chased brightly colored butterflies, who obliged by landing on their noses, tickling them between their astonished eyes. One group was plucking the candy lollipops that sometimes sprang right out of the ground.
    â€œIf I could have your attention, please?” Kerwyn asked. Now his voice was back to his ordinary pitch, which was sort of whiney.
    â€œKerwyn,” Daniel said.
    Kerwyn looked annoyed. “I didn’t mean you, Daniel. I meant the new ones.”
    â€œWhere’s Marya?” Daniel asked.
    Kerwyn crossed his arms over his chest. He wore a white shirt, with poofy sleeves that dangled a little along his wrists. Marya called it a “poet’s shirt.” But as far as Daniel knew, Kerwyn nevermade up any of that kind of soppy poetry stuff. Kerwyn much preferred spending his time making speeches and playing word games.
    â€œReally,” Kerwyn said, rolling his dark eyes. “That is a stupid question. How should I know where Marya is?”
    Daniel glared at Kerwyn, feeling anger rising. Did Kerwyn not want him to see Marya? He glared at the taller boy and advanced a step.
    Kerwyn took a tiny step backward. “Out mooning with the Shimmers, I suppose.” Kerwyn threw up his hands. “Isn’t she always?”
    Of course! Whenever Daniel didn’t know Marya’s whereabouts, he could always find her with the Shimmers.
    â€œThanks, mate!” Daniel called over his shoulder as he dashed away.
    He charged down to the clear and cold river, which was full of rainbow fish leaping out of the water to greet him. “No time to play now,” he told a speckled bass.
    He hopped onto his lovely, handmade raft. Daniel was quite pleased with his accomplishment, and that made him protective of it. He never let anyone but Marya ride on his raft. Before he came to Free Country, Daniel had never owned anything that was only his. Working in the filthy, noisy, stifling factory, anything he’d made had belonged tohis master, Slaggingham. Everything there, by rights, was his master’s: Daniel’s time, even his life, it sometimes felt. But this raft, this was his .
    Grabbing the tree