The Sword in the Grotto by Angie Sage

wanted to ask him. Something that had been bugging me ever since he told us that he had drowned in the cave.
    â€œEdmund,” I said.
    â€œI must be gone….”
    â€œEdmund—I just want to know—you knew the way out, so why didn’t you escape when you were trapped?”
    â€œSir Horace was injured. He could not climb to the top of the rocks,” he said. “And a good and faithful page stays by his master. At all times.”
    â€œEven if he will drown?” I asked.
    â€œHe will stay at all times,” Edmund repeatedsolemnly. And then he was gone.
    â€œWow…” said Wanda after a while. “He’s so brave.”
    I didn’t say anything. I tried to imagine what it must have been like all those years ago for Edmund, stuck in that ghastly grotto with Sir Horace and deciding not to escape—but I couldn’t even start.
    Â 
    It was dark when Wanda and I at long last got out of the cave. The full moon was rising over the sea and the beach was empty. I was glad, as I didn’t want anyone to ask stupid questions about how come we were soaking wet and dragging a great big rusty sword behind us. I had a feeling that once we got home, we were going to be asked enough stupid questions to keep us going for quite a while.
    As we walked up the steps from the beach, Wanda suddenly yelled out, “Dad!” and shot off. I slowly dragged the sword up the rest of the steps. I didn’t believe that Barry was there. I mean, how would he know where to find us?
    But he was there!
    Good old Barry gave a loud whoop and ran toward us. He scooped Wanda up in his arms and swung her around, then he rushed over to me and did the same.
    â€œYou’re here!” he gasped. “I don’t believe it. You really are here—just like it said.”
    â€œLike what said, Dad?” asked Wanda.
    â€œWell, you won’t believe this,” said Barry with a big grin, “I didn’t believe it either, but I knew it was worth a try.”
    â€œWhat was worth a try, Dad?” asked Wanda.

    â€œWell, about half an hour ago, Tabitha found some writing in the coal dust on top of the boiler. Which was odd, as you know how clean Mom keeps the boiler. Anyway, the writing—which was very peculiar and hard to read—said ‘W & A Be Upon the Beach.’ Tabitha had a screaming fit, as she thought it was a ransom note, but I calmed her down and said I would go and find you. And here you are….” Barry shook his head as though he did not believe it.
    Â 
    Wanda and I were both in the van and Barry was about to drive off when I remembered something. “The sword! We’re not going without the sword. Not after all the trouble we’ve had getting it.”
    So Barry got out and picked up the sword.“Where did you find that rusty piece of junk?” he asked as we drove past the mushroom farm and took the road home.
    â€œYou don’t want to know that,” I told him.
    â€œOh, yes I do,” said Barry. “And I can think of a few other people who do, too.”

13
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
    I t was fine back home, once the police had gone. Even Aunt Tabby was nice to us, and Uncle Drac was so happy to see us he just couldn’t stop smiling.
    Aunt Tabby brought in some hot chocolate and everybody sat in the broom closet while Wanda and I told them what had happened. When we got to the bit about the water coming into the grotto, it went very quiet—then CLANK ! Sir Horace lurched out from underneath the pile of coats and everyone yelled in surprise. At the same time the clock in the hall struck midnight. Brenda’s cat shot out of the room, and we didn’t see it again for a week.
    I could tell that Sir Horace was about to start on a long lecture about how we should never have gone down the secret tunnel, how dangerous the grotto was, and generally boring stuff like that—which I knew we would be hearing from Aunt Tabby for