Sea Monsters and Other Delicacies by David Sinden Page A

transformation.
    Outside his door, a pair of jeans and a T-shirt were folded, ready for him to put on. He got dressed, then washed his face in a bucket of water and headed up the track to Farraway Hall.
    Tiana came flying to meet him, weaving along the paddock fence. “Morning, Ulf,” she said.
    â€œMorning, Tiana.”
    â€œYou were brave last night,” she told him.
    â€œWas I?” Ulf asked.
    â€œDon’t you remember? You saved Orson and Dr. Fielding, and the sea monster.”
    Ulf smiled. “Where is Dr. Fielding?” he asked.
    â€œShe’s with Orson in the flower garden. We’re all waiting for you.”
    Tiana flew off and Ulf followed her to the garden at the back of Farraway Hall. Dr. Fielding was holding a wreath of flowers. Orson was leaning on a shovel next to a pile of earth. His hair was combed and he was wearing his best shirt.
    â€œGood morning, Ulf,” they both said.
    In the flower garden, Ulf saw a deep rectangular hole dug in the ground.
    â€œIt’s a grave,” Tiana whispered. “It’s for Professor Farraway.”
    â€œDruce showed us the room,” Dr. Fielding said,putting her arm around Ulf’s shoulder. “Baron Marackai must have brought that key with him. I didn’t give it to him. That room has been locked for years.”
    Orson picked up a long canvas bundle that lay beside the grave.
    â€œThe Professor’s bones,” Tiana whispered.
    Dr. Fielding had wrapped Professor Farraway’s skeleton in a ship’s sail from the Room of Curiosities. “He deserves a proper funeral,” she said.
    Ulf, Dr. Fielding and Tiana watched as Orson gently laid the wrapped bones into the hole in the ground. Then he took his shovel and covered them with earth.
    â€œThe Professor was murdered,” Ulf said. “He came home from his expedition with a flask of sea-monster venom.”
    Ulf looked into the grave. “He discovered Marackai’s beast collection and told Marackai toleave. Marackai used the venom to poison him.”
    Orson looked at Ulf. “Thank you for saving my life, Ulf,” he said.
    â€œMarackai probably thought that if he killed his father then this place would be his,” Dr. Fielding said. “He can’t have known the Professor would leave him nothing in his will.”
    â€œHe wanted to take it from us,” Ulf said.
    â€œAnd he would have succeeded if it hadn’t been for you, Ulf.”
    Dr. Fielding held Ulf’s hand as they stood at the graveside and said farewell to Professor Farraway.
    â€œBye-bye, Professor,” a voice gurgled.
    Ulf looked back at the house and saw Druce the gargoyle leering down from the edge of the rooftop. Druce bowed his head then turned to stone.
    Orson picked up a large slab of rock, one that he’d fetched from Troll Crag. He stood it upright at one end of the grave. On it he’d carved the words:
    Â 
    PROFESSOR FARRAWAY
    RIP
    Â 
    Dr. Fielding bent down, placing her wreath of flowers on the grave. “You would have been proud of Ulf, Professor,” she whispered.
    Tiana flew down and laid a petal beside it.
    Ulf traced the letters on the gravestone with his finger. “What does RIP mean?” he asked.
    â€œRest in peace,” Tiana told him.
    â€œHe’ll like it in the flower garden,” Orson said. “And he’ll make good fertilizer, too.” The giant flattened the earth with the back of his shovel, then walked away from the grave.
    â€œCome on, Ulf,” Dr. Fielding said, putting her hand on his shoulder.
    Ulf stood up, then looked to the window of the library. “I just need to do something,” he said.
    He walked to the house and went inside, heading up the stairs and along the Gallery of Science. Heweaved through the Room of Curiosities to the door of the library. He stepped inside.
    Ulf could hear the haunted rocking chair rocking back and forth in the corner. He crept to the