Sea Monsters and Other Delicacies (3 page)

ULF RACED TO THE HOUSE. HE RAN INSIDE AND
burst open the door to Dr. Fielding's office. “Dr. Fielding, I know how we—”

Ulf stopped.

Dr. Fielding looked at him from her chair. On her desk was an old leather ball with handles glued on either side. Attached to the base of the ball was an old tin flask.

Ulf stared at it.

“What's the matter, Ulf?” Dr. Fielding asked.

He stepped over and picked up the dusty leather ball, holding it by its handles.

“That's Professor Farraway's venom extractor,” Dr. Fielding explained. “It was an invention of his.”

Tiana perched on the leather ball. “Where did you find it?” she asked.

“In the Room of Curiosities,” Dr. Fielding replied.

“We can mend the sea monster!” Ulf said.

“I'm afraid there's something else you need to know, Ulf,” Dr. Fielding told him. She clicked her fingers, and a small hand-shaped beast emerged from a pile of newspapers on her desk, crawling on its fingertips. “The Helping Hand dug these out for me,” Dr. Fielding said. “I think you should look at them.”

The Helping Hand spread the newspapers out and scuttled across them, pointing to the headlines.

Ulf read:

 

PROFESSOR FARRAWAY

RESCUES A MERMAID

NO MORE DRILLING!

PROFESSOR FARRAWAY CLOSES OIL RIG

NEW MARINE RESERVE ANNOUNCED

 

The Helping Hand tapped its finger:

 

MYSTERY!

PROFESSOR FARRAWAY MISSING

 

The Helping Hand slid a newspaper to one side, and Ulf felt a shiver up his spine as it pointed again:

 

PROFESSOR FARRAWAY

DIES ON EXPEDITION!

 

Ulf read the article below:

Ulf looked up at Dr. Fielding and she took the venom extractor from his hands.

“This contraption was found washed up,” she said. “I'm afraid Professor Farraway's venom extractor doesn't work, Ulf. It would seem he died using it.”

Tiana hovered at Ulf's ear. “That's horrible,” she whispered. “Professor Farraway was killed by a sea monster.”

Ulf couldn't speak. He was thinking back to the viewing gallery, picturing the sea monster's huge mouth and stomach, and the rows of gnashing teeth.

“Are you okay, Ulf?” Dr. Fielding asked.

Ulf felt numb. He turned and left Dr. Fielding's office. As he opened the door to the yard, he heard the sound of whistling coming toward the house. It was Captain Crab.

“Ahoy!” the Captain called. He was walking past the veterinary buildings dragging a large wooden chest by his hook. Around his neck was a jam jar, hanging on a length of string. He came to the door. “Is Dr. Fielding here?”

Dr. Fielding stepped out of her office and stood beside Ulf. “Is everything all right, Captain Crab?”

“It's my boat. The engine won't start,” the Captain explained. “I hate to bother you but is there any chance of a room for the night? It's getting late.”

Ulf glanced across to Sunset Mountain. The orange sun was dipping behind it.

“I won't be any bother,” Captain Crab said, dragging his chest in through the doorway. “I'll be gone tomorrow, just as soon as I get my boat working.”

“Well, I—”

“Much obliged,” Captain Crab said.

“I expect we could find you a room,” Dr. Fielding said, closing the door. She looked at Ulf and raised her eyebrows.

Captain Crab stood the chest in the corridor.

“What have you got in there, Captain?” Ulf asked. The chest was padlocked.

“This is my sea chest. I keep my possessions inside.”

Tiana flew to the jam jar hanging around the Captain's neck. “And what's that for? It's empty,” she said, tapping it.

Captain Crab held up the jam jar and looked at the fairy through the glass. He unscrewed its lid then took a deep sniff. “Sea air,” he said. “There's nothing like the smell of sea air to wake up to in the morning.” He screwed the lid back on the jar and glanced up and down the corridor. “Nice place you have here, Dr. Fielding.”

He peered into her office. “Is this where you work, then?” He stepped inside.

Dr. Fielding followed him in.

“Who is that?” Tiana whispered.

“He's the man who found the sea monster,” Ulf told her.

Ulf peered around the office door, and Tiana perched on his shoulder.

Captain Crab was standing at Dr. Fielding's desk. “What on earth is this?” he asked, picking up the venom extractor and dangling it from his hook.

“That was Professor Farraway's invention for removing a sea monster's venom,” Dr. Fielding explained. She took the venom extractor back. “I'm afraid it doesn't work.”

Captain Crab scratched his beard with the point of his hook. “Are you sure?” he asked.

“That's what got the Professor killed. He died on an expedition to examine a sea monster.”

“But I've seen him swim with those beasts,” the
Captain said. “He knew what he was doing. Are you sure that's how he died?”

“I'm afraid we can't use that contraption, Captain. I cannot risk another life.”

Ulf turned from the office door. “Come on, Tiana,” he said, running up the back stairs.

“Where are you going?” Tiana called.

“To the library,” Ulf told her. “To find out what really happened.”

What Ulf and Tiana knew, that no one else did, was that Professor Farraway was now a ghost. He lived upstairs in the library of Farraway Hall.

ULF SKIDDED DOWN THE GALLERY OF SCIENCE
,
a wide corridor with huge framed pictures of beasts on the walls. He ran past a diagram showing the blood system of a vampire and a drawing of a dragon's eye.

Tiana sparkled at his shoulder. “You know I don't like it up here.”

“But there's nothing to be afraid of,” Ulf told her.

At the end of the corridor, Ulf opened the door into the Room of Curiosities. Inside, artifacts from the history of the RSPCB were piled on tables and
displayed in cabinets. He weaved between old veterinary tools, past a collection of antique hoof picks, a tattered canvas sail, a climbing rope from Professor Farraway's yeti expedition and the fire-suit he wore tunnelling for blaze serpents.

On the far side of the room, Ulf came to a door. This was the entrance to the old library, the room where the ghosts lived.

The door to the library creaked open.

It was dark inside and Ulf could barely see. He could just make out the dusty books lining the walls. He heard the haunted rocking chair rocking back and forth in the corner of the room.

“It's creepy,” Tiana whispered, holding tightly to Ulf's T-shirt.

A hushed whispering echoed all around and Ulf felt the hairs tingling on the back of his neck.

He trod carefully, and with each step the floorboards creaked beneath his hairy feet. He knocked
into a bucket. It was full with glowing green liquid. He glanced up. Fluorescent green ectoplasm was leaking from the ceiling.

On the upper reading level a blue mist was seeping from the wall. It formed into the shape of a girl and drifted down the spiral staircase. She disappeared through the floor.

Ulf walked between two large bookcases, glancing into the shadows. He saw a cluster of glowing orbs circling one another like tiny planets.

“Professor Farraway, are you in here?” Ulf asked. He stepped to the far wall. On a small table a candle flickered on, lighting a dusty painting of an old man in a tweed suit. He was sitting at a writing desk. His hair was grey and his eyes were smiling. Underneath, a gold nameplate read:

 

LORD JOHN EVERARD FARRAWAY

PROFESSOR OF CRYPTOZOOLOGY

 

Ulf looked at the painting. “Professor, how did you die?” he asked.

The table started shaking. All of a sudden the candle rose into the air. Ulf felt a cold draft pass through him and the candle began floating across the library.

“What's he doing?” Tiana asked.

Ulf watched as the candle drifted to the spiral staircase, then up to the upper reading level.

“Professor, come back!” Ulf called.

“He's being spooky,” Tiana said. She shivered, sprinkling sparkles onto the floor.

Ulf walked to the spiral staircase. He gripped the metal handrail and crept up the steps, following the floating candle. “Professor, were you killed by a sea monster?” he asked.

The candle was now drifting along the upper reading level.

“Does the venom extractor work?”

Ulf watched as the candle flickered along the bookshelves.

“Where's he going, Ulf?” Tiana called.

Ulf followed the candle along the upper reading level. “Come and see, Tiana,” he whispered.

The candle had stopped in front of a small black door.

Tiana flew to Ulf's shoulder. “What's he doing?” she asked.

Suddenly, the door creaked open.

ULF AND TIANA FOLLOWED THE CANDLE INTO A
narrow gloomy corridor.

“Professor Farraway, where are you going?” Ulf asked.

They were on the top floor of Farraway Hall. Nobody ever went to the top floor. It hadn't been used in years.

Tiana perched on Ulf's shoulder. “My wings are getting dusty,” she complained.

The candle floated along the corridor and Ulf followed it, pushing his way through a giant spider's web. Tiana clung tightly to Ulf's T-shirt, spitting and
coughing, pulling cobwebs from her face. “This is the last time I come upstairs with you,” she said.

The candle turned a corner. In the darkness, Ulf trod in something slimy. It squished between his toes. “Ugh! House beast poo,” he said.

Tiana flew up, glowing brightly, her sparkles illuminating the walls. A clawhammer beetle the size of a rat was scuttling across flaking paint. A colony of sabre-toothed bats was hanging from the ceiling.

Tiana dived and hid in Ulf's trouser pocket. “Tell me when it's over,” she said.

Ulf followed the candle, peering into shadowy rooms coming off the corridor. They were full of junk.

The candle floated around another corner. In the darkness, Ulf could barely see. He crept slowly, feeling his way along the walls. He turned the corner and saw the candle hovering outside a doorway. The candle drifted lower, lighting the door handle.

“Ulf, let's go,” Tiana whispered, darting out from his pocket.

“Wait. He's showing us something.”

Ulf turned the handle on the door. “It's locked,” he said.

“I don't like it here,” Tiana said.

Ulf looked at the candle. “Professor, how did you die?” he asked.

Suddenly, the candle blew out.

“Professor?”

In the darkness, Ulf felt an icy chill run through him. “Professor, where
are
you?”

“I told you. He's trying to spook us,” Tiana said, glowing softly. “Come on! Let's get out of here.”

Tiana flew along the corridor, lighting the way.

Just then, from around the corner, Ulf heard the sound of footsteps and something being dragged up a flight of stairs. A faint yellow light appeared, shining on the end wall. It was getting brighter. The footsteps were getting louder.

Tiana squealed and dived back into Ulf's pocket.

At the end of the corridor a figure appeared, holding a lantern. It was Captain Crab. He was dragging his sea chest by his hook.

“What's the matter with you? You look like you've seen a ghost,” the Captain said to Ulf.

“Captain Crab, what are you doing up here?” Ulf asked.

“I'm going to my room. I'm staying the night.”

Ulf watched as the Captain took a key from his pocket and dragged his wooden chest to the locked door.

Captain Crab put the key in the lock, turned it and opened the door. “Well, don't just stand there. Give me a hand with this, will you?” he asked, pointing to his chest on the floor.

Ulf dragged the Captain's chest into the room. By the light of the lantern he could see crates and boxes, and furniture draped with sheets. The room was crammed full with junk.

The Captain placed his lantern on a table by the door and slipped the key back into his pocket.

“Where did you get that key from?” Ulf asked him.

“From Dr. Fielding,” Captain Crab replied. “This is where I'm sleeping.”

“In this room?”

“So that I can see my boat.”

Captain Crab stepped over to the window, squeezing between a large wooden crate and an old armchair. He wiped the dusty glass with his sleeve and peered out. “There she is, safe and sound.”

Ulf stepped over and looked out. It was dark outside. In the distance he could see moonlight reflecting in the seawater lagoon and the silhouette of Orson the giant standing on the dock, watching over the sea monster. Captain Crab's boat was in the docking area next to the examination bay.

“A Captain always sleeps with one eye on his boat,” Captain Crab told him.

Ulf looked around the beast park. On Sunset Mountain he could see the flickering lights of moth-rocks, and up on the Great Grazing Grounds he could just make out the shadowy armorpod waving its trunk in the moonlight.

“Old Farraway would've loved to have seen all this,” Captain Crab said. “All these beasts being looked after. Such wonderful modern facilities.”

The Captain turned, his eyes glinting in the lamplight. “He was brilliant with beasts, old Farraway. He could track a vampire in the dark. He could coax a troll from its tunnel.”

Ulf could see the Captain's eyebrows moving up and down.

“He could hypnotize demons. He could even outsmart a sphinx.” The Captain tapped his hook to the side of his head. “Clever he was.”

Then he pushed past Ulf and stepped over to his wooden chest.

Tiana tugged at Ulf's pocket. “Let's go now,” she mouthed, pointing to the door.

“Did the Professor really swim with Redbacks?” Ulf asked.

“For sure he did,” Captain Crab said. “
He
wouldn't let a sea monster die.
He'd
jump in and save it.”

The Captain opened the padlock on his wooden chest. He lifted the lid and pulled out a bundle of netting, then stood up and began unravelling it. “Well, are you going to stand there all night?” he asked.

Ulf was staring at the net. “What's that for?”

“It's my hammock,” the Captain said. “It rocks me back and forth like the sea.”

“Let's get out of here,” Tiana whispered, tugging again at Ulf's pocket.

Ulf stepped over a pile of boxes, heading to the door. “Night, Captain,” he said. He left the
Captain's room and closed the door behind him.

Tiana flew out into the corridor, filling it with sparkles. “Thank goodness,” she said. “I thought we'd never leave.”

Ulf didn't reply. He looked left and then right. He was looking for Professor Farraway's ghost, but there was no sign of the candle anywhere. “Why did Professor Farraway lead us to that room, Tiana?”

“It was just full of junk.”

Ulf headed around the corner and down the stairs. From the top floor, he could hear the Captain singing. “When I was a boy my father said to me, ‘Yo ho ho, it's a sailor's life for thee….'”