The Alchemyst (30 page)

A rather ordinary-looking text document appeared, written in a combination of Latin, Greek and Italian. At one time, magicians had had to keep their spells and incantations in handwritten books called grimoires. Machiavelli had always used the latest technology. These days, he preferred to keep his on his hard drive.

Now he just needed a little something to keep Flamel and his friends busy….

“I hear sirens,” Josh said, his face pressed against the wooden door.

“There are twelve police cars headed this way,” Sophie said, her head tilted to one side, eyes closed as she listened intently. Her brother was suddenly reminded of the extent of his sister’s Awakened powers. All of her senses were enhanced; she could see and hear beyond the range of ordinary humans. Ordinary humans like him.

“We cannot be captured by the police,” Flamel said desperately. “We have no passports, no money and no alibi. We’ve got to get out of here!”

“How?” the twins asked simultaneously.

Flamel shook his head. “There has to be another entrance…,” he began, and then stopped, nostrils flaring.

Josh watched both Sophie and Scatty react to something he could not smell. “What…what is it?” he demanded, and then he suddenly caught the faintest whiff of something musky and rank. It was the sort of smell he associated with a zoo.

“Trouble,” Scathach said grimly, pushing away her nunchaku and drawing her swords. “Big trouble.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An authority on mythology and folklore, Michael Scott is one of Ireland’s most successful authors. A master of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and folklore, he was hailed by the
Irish Times
as “the King of Fantasy in these isles.” He lives and writes in Dublin. Visit him at
www.dillonscott.com
.

Only one name usually appears on the cover of a book, but behind that name there are dozens of people involved in the creation of the work. Of equal importance, but in no particular order, I must thank…

Krista Marino, the most patient of editors, who said, “A little more perspective…”

Frank Weimann, at the Literary Group, who said, “I can sell this.” And did.

Michael Carroll, who read it first and last and said, “We need to talk about…”

O. R. Melling, who said, “Have you finished it yet?”

Claudette Sutherland, who said, “You really should think about…”

And finally, of course: Barry Krost, at BKM, who is surely the Alchemyst’s grandfather, which would probably make John Sobanski his nephew!

Published by Delacorte Press an imprint of Random House Children’s Books a division of Random House, Inc. New York

This is a work of fiction. All incidents and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known historical and public figures, are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical or public figures appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

Text copyright © 2007 by Michael Scott

All rights reserved.

Delacorte Press and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

www.randomhouse.com/teens

Educators and librarians, for a variety of teaching tools, visit us at
www.randomhouse.com/teachers

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Scott, Michael Dylan.

The alchemyst: the secrets of the immortal Nicholas Flamel / Michael Scott.—1st ed.

p. cm.

Summary: While working at pleasant but mundane summer jobs in San Francisco, fifteen-year-old twins, Sophie and Josh, suddenly find themselves caught up in the deadly, centuries-old struggle between rival alchemists, Nicholas Flamel and John Dee, over the possession of an ancient and powerful book holding the secret formulas for alchemy and everlasting life.

(Gibraltar lib. bdg.)

1. Flamel, Nicolas, d. 1418—Juvenile fiction. 2. Dee, John, 1527–1608—Juvenile fiction. [1. Flamel, Nicolas, d. 1418—Fiction. 2. Dee, John, 1527–1608—Fiction. 3. Alchemists—Fiction. 4. Magic—Fiction. 5. Supernatural—Fiction. 6. Brothers and sisters—Fiction. 7. Twins—Fiction. 8. San Francisco (Calif.)—Fiction.] I. Title.

PZ7.S42736Alc 2007

[Fic]—dc22

2006024417

eISBN: 978-0-375-84317-4

v3.0