Katie and the Snow Babies (6 page)

“And it's all because of the mermaids.” Max smiled.

Finn turned to thank them, but first he shook his shaggy coat as usual, to dry his fur. The air was filled with diamond drops of water, like a sudden shower of …

“Rain!”
exclaimed Katie, sitting up on her pearly tail in excitement. “That's it! I understand now!”

“What do you mean?” asked Amber.

“It's in the clue—‘A diamond falls from the sky.'” She smiled. “The diamonds falling from the sky are raindrops!”

The mermaids looked at Katie
hopefully. She clasped her hands together and turned pleadingly to the Chief Walrus.

“Ulrick,” she said, “I know the rain doesn't often fall over these icy lands. But you
must
tell me if it has rained here lately. Our quest for the second snow diamond might depend on it.”

Ulrick leaned forward on his strong flippers and gave Katie an astonished look, his mustache twitching in surprise.

“Why, yes,” he said in a puzzled voice. “Only last night we had a most unexpected shower of rain here at Walrus Point. In fact, it was more than a shower of rain—it was a storm.”

The mermaids gathered around him on the rough ice, curling their glistening tails underneath them. “Tell us what happened,” they begged.

“As we were settling to sleep on this icy bluff,” said the Chief Walrus, “some heavy black clouds sprang up in the sky from nowhere. The wind howled around us,
sounding like weeping voices. Strange yellow light flooded over the snow, and we were battered with a storm of thick, icy hailstones.”

“That must have been Mantora's doing,” exclaimed Amber and Jess together.

“It certainly didn't seem natural,” shivered Ulrick. “Even I felt a flicker of fear as the sound of weeping turned into a menacing cackle of laughter. Then the storm stopped as suddenly as it began.”

“Now you see how powerful Mantora is,” said Poppy. “Only she could have made that storm, with her dark magic.”

“But why would she do such a thing?” asked Finn in his deep growl.

“I think I understand,” said Becky quietly. “Hailstones are big lumps of frozen rain …”

“… and one of Mantora's enchanted hailstones contained the diamond inside the ice,” finished Katie. “That's how the snow diamond fell from the sky—inside a frozen raindrop. It fell onto this bluff and is now buried under the snow!”

Everyone murmured in astonishment.

“So now we have to find exactly where the diamond fell down and buried itself,” said Amber, gazing around eagerly. “But it could take forever to find it.”

“No, it won't,” said a small, snuffly
voice. “Is this what you are looking for?” Caspar, the baby walrus, scrabbled in the ice near his grandfather. Then he waddled forward, looking bashful.

“I found a glittery stone after the horrible storm,” he explained. “It was wrapped up in this red paper. I wanted to keep it, because it was so shiny. So I hid the stone and the paper back in the snow, right here where I always sit next to Grandpa. But you can have it, for saving me and my best friend, Max.”

He let the diamond fall from his soft flipper on to Katie's outstretched hand. It flashed in the sun with every color of the rainbow, but at its heart a white flame burned like a living icicle. Next to it was a small, bloodred scroll.

“Oh, great job, Caspar!” cried the mermaids in delight, petting him gratefully. Max rolled over in a bundle of white fluff to say “Wonderful!” to his blushing friend.

Katie gave the scroll to Megan for safekeeping while she showed the dazzling jewel to Ulrick, Finn, and Inga.

“We've found the second snow diamond at last,” she said, “thanks to you and the snow babies!”

“And now those babies must go home after the day's adventures,” said Finn. “Come on, Max. Your mother will be longing to see you.”

“Can I play with Caspar tomorrow, Dad?” asked Max hopefully.

Finn glanced at his old friend. “What
does the Chief Walrus say?” he asked with a faint smile.

“Of course you can, Max,” replied Ulrick heartily. “Tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that …”

“Hooray!” cried the two young friends. “And hooray for the mermaids!”

Katie and her friends laughed and cuddled Caspar and Max one last time. Then they said good-bye to Ulrick and Inga, and last of all to Finn.

“Good-bye, Sisters of the Sea,” he said. “You have done so much for us. The walrus folk and the polar bears will always be grateful. May you meet with good fortune on your quest—for all our sakes.”

The mermaids watched their friends making their way across the ice to their
homes. They had found two precious snow diamonds, but there was still a long and difficult task ahead of them before Ice Kingdom was truly safe.

“I think it's time to look at that scroll, Megan,” said Katie, turning to the others. “Let's see what Mantora has dreamed up for us next.”

Megan squeezed Katie's hand quickly. “Whatever it is, we're ready for it,” she said bravely. “Aren't we, everyone?”

Katie, Amber, Jess, Becky, and Poppy nodded their heads firmly. They were all ready to do their best to save their beloved Ice Kingdom. But the next stage of the quest wasn't going to be easy for the Sisters of the Sea …

Amber has golden curls and a gleaming lilac tail. She looks after her friends and is a good leader.

Katie enjoys playing her mermaid harp. She has a long braid over her shoulder and a sparkly lemon-colored tail.

Megan has sweet wavy hair and a spangled pink and white tail. She is never far from her pet fairy shrimp, Sammy.

Jess is bold and brave, with dark curls and a dazzling turquoise tail. She is friends with Monty, the humpback whale.

Becky loves the beauty of the sea. Her hair is decorated with flowers, and her tail is a pretty peach color.

Poppy has coppery curls, a bright blue tail, and loads of confidence, but her impatience can land her in trouble.