The Return of the Dragon (13 page)
Read The Return of the Dragon Online
Authors: Rebecca Rupp
Sarah Emily anchored the note under a rock next to the dragon’s front claws.
“He’ll see it first thing,” she said, “right when he opens his eyes.”
They stood quietly for a moment, watching the golden dragon sleep. Then they turned and softly made their way out of the cave. The flashlight in Zachary’s hand made sweeping yellow blobs of light against the cave walls.
Sarah Emily trailed reluctantly behind, looking back over her shoulder.
“Goodbye, Fafnyr,” she whispered.
Suddenly a narrow beam of light pierced the darkness. A single neon-green eye cracked sleepily open.
“
Au revoir,
my dear,” the dragon murmured. “And thank you.”
Sarah Emily hurried to catch up with Zachary and Hannah. Without speaking, each lost in thought, they descended Drake’s Hill and set off along the little path leading back to Aunt Mehitabel’s house.
Finally Sarah Emily broke the silence. “Hannah,” she asked, “what does
au revoir
mean?”
“It’s French,” Hannah answered. “It means ‘until we meet again.’”
Many thanks to all who have helped in the making of this book, among them Josh and Caleb Rupp, who imaginatively consulted; Ethan Rupp, who patiently and repeatedly fixed the computer; Cynthia Platt, my editor, who — as always — gave invaluable and supportive advice and never once used a red pencil; and all the kind and creative book people at Candlewick. Special thanks also to Elizabeth Bluemle and Josie Leavitt of the Flying Pig, Dragon Friends extraordinaire; and to my husband, Randy, for everything.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or, if real, are used fictitiously.
Copyright © 2005 by Rebecca Rupp
Cover illustration copyright © 2005 by Wendell Minor
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, taping, and recording, without prior written permission from the publisher.
First electronic edition 2013
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rupp, Rebecca.
The return of the dragon / by Rebecca Rupp. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
Summary: Hannah, Zachary, and Sarah Emily return to Lonely Island to save their friend Fafnyr, a three-headed dragon, from being captured by a rich man who wants to put the creature on display.
ISBN 978-0-7636-2377-7 (hardcover)
[1. Dragons — Fiction. 2. Brothers and sisters — Fiction. 3. Islands — Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.R8886Re 2005
[Fic] — dc22 2004045184
ISBN 978-0-7636-6413-8 (electronic)
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