In Search of Goliathus Hercules (39 page)
Read In Search of Goliathus Hercules Online
Authors: Jennifer Angus
“I doubt she’ll recognize me, but I won’t be by myself. Look! Open the window,” commanded Henri.
Reluctantly, Billy got up and opened it. Outside fluttered several moths, and the group could hear the chirrups of nighttime creatures—crickets, mostly.
They chanted: “Henri, Henri, come out and play!”
“You see! I’ll be with friends. Don’t worry,” soothed Henri. “But before I go I want to tell you that there’s a letter to all of you on the desk in the study. Also, the insect collection, I’m not giving it to a museum. I’m leaving it to all of you.”
They all looked surprised.
“We’ve had a lot of adventures together. One of the things I learned from my Great Aunt Georgie is that part of what makes a great collection is the stories that go with it. You all know how each insect came to be in this collection. They’re small parts of my strange story. Someday maybe you’ll want to share that with people.”
“All right, Henri,” said Maestro Antonio. “We’ll take good care of it.”
“Good-bye. You’ve been my best friends, and I will never forget you. Say good-bye to the professor for me. Thank him for all his help. Tell my mother I love her and…well, tell her not to be sad. I’ll miss you all, but tonight I feel alive! I feel happy. I feel free!”
With that, Henri stepped to the window, spread his wings, and launched himself into the night sky.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
978-1-4804-1987-2
Text copyright © 2013 by Jennifer Angus
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