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"It's the secret of passing through the Bore," Barak roared "We circle the Maelstroain more speed If the ship doesn't break up, she coh the riptides beyond the Maelstro us back"

"If the ship doesn't what?"

"Sometimes a ship is torn apart in the Maelstrom," Barak said "Don't worry, boy It doesn't happen very often, and Greldik's ship seeh"

The ship's prow dipped hideously into the outer edges of the Maelstroe whirlpool with the oars their backs to the frenzied beat of the dru to his iron ring, keeping his eyes averted fro below

And then they broke free and shot like a whistling stone through the churning water beyond the Maelstro, and Garion felt half suffocated by its force

Gradually the ship slowed in the swirling eddies, but the speed they had gained from the Maelstrom carried them on to calm water in a partially sheltered cove on the Sendarian side

Barak was laughing gleefully andspray from his beard "Well, lad," he said, "what do you think of the Bore?"

Garion didn't trust hi to pry his nu

A fa out frootthe fact that standing in the prow had been his own idea Aunt Pol spoke scathingly to Barak about his irresponsibility and then turned her attention to Garion

"Well?" she said "I' Would you like to explain?"

"It wasn't Barak's fault," Garion said "It wasin trouble, after all

"I see," she said "And as behind that?"

The confusion and doubt which had been troubling him made him reckless "I felt like it," he said, half defiantly For the first tie of open rebellion

"You what?"

"I felt like it," he repeated "What difference does itto punish me anyway"

Aunt Pol stiffened, and her eyes blazed

Mister Wolf, as sitting nearby, chuckled

"What's so funny?" she snapped

"Why don't you let ested

"I can deal with it," she said

"But not well, Pol," he said "Not well at all Your teue's too sharp He's not a child anymore He's not a man yet, but he's not a child either The problem needs to be dealt with in a special way I'll take care of it" He stood up "I think I insist, Pol"

"You what?"

"I insist" His eyes hardened

"Very well," she said in an icy voice, turned, and walked away "Sit down, Garion," the old man said

"Why's she so mean?" Garion blurted

"She isn't," Mister Wolf said "She's angry because you frightened her Nobody likes to be frightened"