Free Emily Eyefinger and the Secret from the Sea by Duncan Ball

1.
Emily and the Gargoyle Gang
    Emily Eyefinger was a very special little girl. She had an eye on the end of her finger. Sometimes this was a problem, but it had also led to many adventures.
    Emily was having a busy day. She and her parents were on holiday in Paris. First they went up to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Then they went on aboat ride down the river. They also went to an art gallery that was so big that walking around made their legs tired.
    In the street, Emily saw some people covered in paint from head to toe and standing perfectly still.
    â€˜They’re called living statues,’ Emily’s mother said. ‘See that lady? She looks just like the lady in the painting we saw today. Here, give her this money.’
    Emily put the coins in the box at the statue’s feet. When she did, the woman smiled and winked at her. She did it so suddenly that it gave Emily a fright. Then the woman went back to standing very still.
    Mr Eyefinger said, ‘If someone gave me money every time I stood around doing nothing I’d be rich.’
    They stopped in front of Notre Dame Cathedral. Mrs Eyefinger was reading from a guidebook.
    â€˜Those statues up there on the cathedral are gargoyles,’ she said.
    â€˜What is a garboil?’ Emily asked.
    â€˜It’s not a gar boil . It’s a gar goyle ,’ Emily’s mother said. ‘When it rains water comes out of their mouths. They’re just like drains.’
    Emily looked up at a devil with horns and wings that stared down at them.
    â€˜They look like monsters,’ she said. ‘Why did they make them so scary?’
    â€˜To frighten off evil spirits,’ said Mrs Eyefinger.
    â€˜Then I must be an evil spirit because they scare me too,’ Emily said. ‘Can we go inside the cathedral?’
    Inside there were stained-glass windows and paintings. Somewhere Emily could hear a choir singing. The cathedral gave Emily a peaceful feeling.
    After they looked all around, Mrs Eyefinger said, ‘Let’s see the treasury.’
    â€˜A treasury?’ Emily said. ‘Is that anything to do with treasure?’
    â€˜Yes, kings and queens of long ago sometimes gave valuable things to the cathedral. Come along, let’s have a look.’
    Mrs Eyefinger led the way down the steps to some small rooms. There were glass cases filled with crosses and crowns and robes covered in gold and silver thread. There were jewels everywhere. The lights shining on them made them sparkle like a thousand stars.
    â€˜These are so beautiful,’ Emily said.
    She used the eye on the end of her finger to look closely at a few of the treasures and she noticed that many of them had jewels missing.
    â€˜They’re probably being cleaned and polished,’ Emily’s mother said. ‘Would you like to have a closer look at the gargoyles?’
    â€˜Oh, yes,’ Emily said.
    The three of them climbed up the steps that went round and round all the way to the top of a tower. Emily’s parents were out of breath when they got to the top. Emily and Mr Eyefinger looked down over the railing but Mrs Eyefinger stood back.
    â€˜I don’t think I like this,’ she said.
    â€˜Oh, Mum,’ Emily said. ‘It’s okay. You won’t fall off.’
    â€˜I know but I think I’ll just stay here.’
    Emily looked at the gargoyles and other strange statues. The one nearest to her faced out over the square below. She stretched her arm as far as she could and used her eyefinger to look at the gargoyle’s face. And when she did she saw something in its mouth. Emily reached in and pulled out a little cloth bag. She spilled the contents into her hand.

    â€˜Jewels!’ she cried. ‘A red one and a green one – a ruby and an emerald!’
    People crowded around. Then two guards appeared. They took the jewels from Emily’s hands.
    â€˜From zer treasury. Where you get zeez?’ one of the guards asked.