Great day off!!!

[flowerisexist]

I went to movies... Inkheart...
First thing I have done coming home from cinema was to check whether I really had this book "Inkheart".
I DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With every word spoken, the story comes to life...

the story

3

Sven lay beneath the hay and listened. When all was quiet he crawled out. A lantern, hanging from a beam, dimly lit the hold. He crept to the foot of the gangway.
He breathed deeply. Air currents from above provided relief from the smelly, stagnant air in the hold.
For three days Sven stayed near the gangway to enjoy the fresher air. Each time Dillon and two soldiers tended the animals, forking hay or shoveling manure, he burrowed deep into his hiding place. Twice he hid in the mules’ stall to avoid discovery by the new fireman.
When the Valencia docked, Sven listened beneath the gangway. He heard nothing. Curious, he inched his way up and poked his head out to scan the lower deck. Empty.
He walked to a dirty porthole and peered out. A few small houses and two larger buildings formed a small village. A smaller ship was tied to the opposite side of the dock. Between the ships stood five men. Sven recognized captains Adams and Glenn.
He dropped to his knees and sprawled into a shadow when a noise startled him. As soldiers descended from the top deck, he crouched behind a pile of miners’ supplies and watched. He counted as Lt. Castner and twenty-seven other soldiers lined up.
“Tention,” Lt. Castner ordered as Capt. Glenn descended the gangway.
“At ease,” Capt. Glenn ordered. “Lieutenant Learnard, have your squad prepare to move aboard the Salmo. You, your men, and I will begin searching for a pass through the Chugach Mountains.
“Lieutenant Castner, you and your squad stay on the Valencia. After Captain Abercrombie and his company unload at Valdez, continue westward and look for an ice free harbor. It will serve as our base for inland exploration. Do you understand?”
Lt. Castner’s heels clicked together and he stood taller and straighter than usual as he snapped to attention. “Yes, Sir.”
“One more thing. After you establish camp, use the Valencia and search for a starting point for a trail into the interior.”
“Yes, Sir.”
From his hiding place Sven watched as half the soldiers packed their duffel bags. He sighed with relief as all the soldiers returned to the upper deck. He quickly descended into the hold and the safety of the hay. He prayed and thought about Lt. Castner. The stiff, cold lieutenant had provided money for his return to Seattle. How would the lieutenant react to finding him on the Valencia again?
He burrowed deeper into the hay and dozed.

---


Sven awakened as the ship shuddered to a rocking stop. Shouts and stamping feet sounded over his head. He crawled from the hay and saw the fireman climbing the gangway. He listened until the noise overhead died away.
He had climbed halfway up the ladder when he heard steps. He jumped down and crouched in the shadows. Soldiers stepped inches above his head as they descended into the hold.
They opened the side hatch and Sven looked out. Miners in small boats loaded with gear rowed toward shore. On the beach other miners gathered around growing stacks of supplies. Tied against the Valencia was a flat barge.
“Half of the mules and three horses.”
The voice attracted Sven. He looked at the men who had entered the stalls and recognized Lt. Castner and Dillon, the civilian mule handler.
Under Dillon’s supervision the soldiers blindfolded the mules and horses and led them onto the barge. After an officer and the soldiers stepped onto the barge, Lt. Castner and Dillon closed the hatch.
“That leaves only us and the ship’s crew, Dillon,” Lt. Castner said as the two men climbed the gangway.
And me. Sven smiled as he thought of how surprised Lt. Castner would be.