Escape the Volcano
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About this ebook
Tom has always been fascinated by volcanoes. So this summer Mum takes him, his sister Anna and his best friend Kevin for a holiday close to a dormant one in France. It's their first holiday away since Tom's dad died two years ago.
They explore the area and make friends with a scientist studying a cave system nearby. Everything is peaceful and fun - until one morning the volcano comes to life again.
Stephanie Dagg
I'm an English ex-pat living in France with my family and a lot of animals, including llamas and carp. I was a bestselling author in Ireland, where we lived for 15 years before we moved to our new home here. I've recently relaunched my writing career, but this time as an indie ebook author and publisher. It's the twenty-first century after all!
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Escape the Volcano - Stephanie Dagg
Escape the Volcano
by
Stephanie Dagg
Published by Stephanie Dagg at Smashwords
Copyright 2011 Stephanie J Dagg
Follow my blog about our life as expats, which is never dull, at http://www.bloginfrance.com and find out about my other books at http://www.booksarecool.com. Follow me on Twitter too: http://www.twitter.com/@booksarecool23
Visit my Smashwords page here: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/SJDagg
Smashwords Editions, License Notes
Thank you for downloading this free ebook. Although this is a free ebook, it remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.
Chapter 1 Arriving at the Gîte
Here we are — our home for the next two weeks!
announced Mum. And the weather is a whole lot better than what we left behind in Cork!
Mrs Donoghue stopped the car outside the old, two-storey farmhouse. Tom, who was eleven, and his best friend, Kevin Murphy, snapped open their seatbelts and tumbled out of the car.
Actually, Mrs D,
laughed Kevin, "you should say that in French since we’re in France now. So, what would it be? Ici notre maison pour . . . pour . . ." He was floundering. He couldn’t think what ‘for two weeks’ was in French.
"Pour deux semaines," finished Tom triumphantly.
Sounds right to me!
laughed Mum. I’ll wake up your sleepy sister and then we’ll go exploring. Get the key to the gîte for me please, Tom. It’s in the glove compartment, in the envelope with the French stamp on.
Tom clambered back into the car and fished around for the envelope containing the large key. It had been sent to them a few days ago. It took some finding as the glove compartment was crammed with sweet wrappers, maps and spare light bulbs for the car. Meanwhile Mum lifted a drowsy Anna out from the back seat. The three-year-old moaned and grumbled.
Come on, wake up, sleepyhead!
urged Mum.
Look, we’ve arrived at our holiday home. It’s a wonderful house, look!
Still Anna refused to wake up properly.
Come on,
said Mum again, impatiently this time. l can’t wait to look around inside!
Here’s the key,
called Tom at last.
OK, open up!
said Mum.
Tom sprinted for the front door. Kevin launched himself after him. Mum stumbled along as quickly as she could with Anna in her arms. It took a couple of turns before the lock creaked back and the heavy door swung open. Mum, Kevin and Tom hurried inside.
All dark!
squeaked Anna.
She was right, it was very gloomy, apart from the shaft of sunlight that had followed them in.
Mum plonked Anna down. Of course it’s dark. We need to open the shutters. Oh, but isn’t it lovely and cool!
Yes,
agreed Kevin. It was getting a bit hot in the car.
Moaner!
teased Tom as he struggled with the big wooden shutters on the nearest window. Stop complaining and give me a hand!
Mum opened three lots of shutters before the two giggling boys managed to open theirs. Gradually the kitchen filled with bright sunlight, revealing a huge room with flagstones on the floor, the biggest fireplace Tom had ever seen and beautiful old wooden furniture. The three windows along the back wall looked out over some rolling green fields. Then there was a wood, and beyond that, the Puy de Canard, a conical volcano. It was just one in a chain of dormant volcanoes that spread as far as the eye could see.
Wow!
gasped Tom as he gazed out.
Oh!
sighed Mum. What a view! And what a wonderful room this is!
Tom stole a look at Mum. Her face shone. She was happy — really happy. Not that false sort of happy that she put on so often these days, thinking the children didn’t notice. No, this was like Mum used to be before Dad died. Real smiles, real laughter, real joy.
But would she say it? Would she say it and go all sad again? Would she say: Dad would have loved this!
Mum was always saying that. Or: Dad would have been so pleased with you,
when Tom did well at school or won a swimming race or something. Or just: l wish Dad could be here
.
Tom knew Mum was trying to keep Dad alive for them so they wouldn’t forget him, especially Anna who had been so small when he died. But talking about Dad only made Mum sad, even after nearly two years.
Suddenly Mum turned her head and caught Tom’s eye.
l wonder if she knows what I’m thinking?
thought Tom, guiltily.
But Mum simply smiled again, even more happily than before.
This is going to be a brilliant holiday,
she announced. Come on, let’s explore the rest of the house.
Chapter 2 A Magnificent Home
It took ages to