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"I’ht this boat was--"

"Many have tried to steal from Sharon!" the man thundered "Now their skullsto--"

"We’ll just be going," squeaked Addison, backing away, "so sorry to bother you,onto the creaking dock with one enormous stride "Anyone who comes for my boat must PAY THE PRICE!"

I was completely terrified, and when Eotten a few paces, though, whenboard and I pitched face-first onto the dock I tried to scrah deep in the hole I was stuck, and by the time Emma and Addison circled back to helpoverhead and laughing, his cavernous guffaws booht have been a trick of the darkness, but I could’ve sworn I saw a rat tumble from the hood of his cloak, and another slip from his sleeve as he slowly raised his arm toward us

"Get away froht a fla to chase away the dark inside the boatman’s hood--I suspected not even the sun could do that--it showed us what he held in his outstretched hand, which wasn’t a knife, nor any weapon It was a piece of paper, pinched between his thu it tolow so I could reach it

"Please," he said calmly "Read it"

I hesitated "What is it?"

"The price And so with fear, I reached up and took the paper We all leaned in to read by the light of Eiant boatman "So this is you?" I said uncertainly "You’re … Sharon?"

"In the flesh," he replied, his voice an oily slither that made my neck hairs stand on end

"Good bird, man, you scared us half to death!" said Addison "Was all that bluster and cackling really necessary?"

"My apologies I was napping and you startled ht you really were trying to steal h "No, ere just …sure it was moored properly"

Sharon turned to examine the skiff, which was simply roped to one of the wooden pylons

"And how do you find it?" he asked, the dull white crescent of a grin spreading beneath his hood

"Totally … ship-shape," I said, finally ji"

"Couldn’t have tied a better knotme to my feet

"By the way," said Addison "The ones who did try … are they really all …?" He glanced at the dark water and sed audibly

"Never mind that," the boatman said "Now you’ve woken me, and I am at your service What can I do for you?"

"We need to hire your boat," Emma said firmly "By ourselves"