Free ABACUS by Chris McGowan Page B

thought you were dead!” she cried, forcing the air from his lungs.
    â€œKeep this up and I will be,” he croaked. “I can’t breathe.”
    Medoc waited inside the gate to hail the returning heroes, alongside Gwendolyn. After greeting Arthur and his commanders, he turned to AP.
    â€œWelcome home young Arthur!” he cried aloud for all to hear. “I see my protective spell kept you safe.”
    â€œMore like a curse,” AP thought to himself. Kate shot Medoc a look that said exactly what she thought of him.
    AP planned to keep well out of Medoc’s way, but the old man disappeared from the fort soon after their arrival. Arthur explained this was normal—the sorcerer needed solitude to meditate.
    When the excitement had died down, Kate and AP walked down to the river so they could talk.
    â€œHere,” she said, slipping the abacus over his head, “back where it belongs.” Then she asked, “So, how was the battle?”
    â€œBad.”
    The long trek home had given AP time to think, and now he was ready to talk. His account of the fighting shocked her into silence. Then he told her that his going with Arthur had been all Medoc’s idea. Kate was enraged.
    â€œThat evil, scheming, lying old goat needs a lesson. I’d like to—”
    â€œSave your breath Kate, he’s not worth it. We’ll just stay out of his way and keep an eye out for him.”
    â€œI’ll tell you one thing AP, I’m not letting you out of my sight. Nothing’s going to happen while I’m around.”
    AP told her how Medoc “turned” into a bird just before battles began.
    â€œTypical!” she scoffed. “Just what I’d expect from a fraud like him.”
    â€œBut get this,” AP continued. “He turns into a falcon! One of the English falcons is called a Merlin—I read about it in that field guide.”
    â€œMedoc—Merlin,” murmured Kate.
    â€œExactly. This must be the way the Merlin legend started.”
    The final straw was when AP told Kate what Medoc had whispered before he left the fort.
    â€œWHAT?” she exploded. “He told you to go into battle, knowing you were unable to defend yourself?” She was yelling so loudly that AP wondered whether she’d be heard all the way back at the fort. “I’d like to string that hateful old devil up by his beard and let the crows peck him to pieces!”
    AP had never seen his sister so mad. Thinking it best to change the subject, he asked what she’d been doing while he was away.
    â€œMostly thinking of what I’d say to Mum and Dad if I returned without you.”
    â€œThat won’t happen. We’ll go home together, or not at all.”
    â€œNot at all?” Kate shot back. “Are we stuck here?”
    â€œMaybe,” he admitted. “We’ve tried activating the abacus so many times with no luck. Something must be wrong.”
    â€œThe thing’s broken?”
    â€œIt seems okay,” he said, pressing the white button. “See? The map and the displays still light up.”
    â€œCould it need a new battery?”
    â€œWell, if it does we’re out of luck.”
    â€œSo what do we do?”
    â€œWe try the abacus, every so often. But we…” He left the sentence unfinished.
    â€œBut we what?”
    â€œWe might…have to stay here.”
    â€œNever go home again?” she gasped. “Never see Mum and Dad again? Or any of our friends?”
    â€œI—don’t know.”
    Kate was distraught.
    â€œIf it comes to that,” he began, hesitantly, “the people are nice…”
    â€œIt’s okay for you!” she snapped. “You can be the big sorcerer. And play sword-fighting and bows and arrows with the grown-ups. What’s here for me?”
    â€œYou like Gwendolyn and her friends. I thought you were having a good enough time.”
    â€œGwendolyn’s