Summer of the Sea Serpent: A Merlin Mission

crashed against the small rocky island, sending up great showers of spray.
    “What’s going on?” said Jack.
    “Maybe a bad storm’s coming!” said Annie.
    Barrh! Barrh!
Kathleen and Teddy tried to haul themselves onto the rock, but the waves pushed them away.
    “We’ve got to help them!” said Annie. She and Jack tried to help the seals out of the rough water. Their hands slipped over the sleek seal skin, and they nearly toppled into the water themselves.
    The waves kept rolling and splashing.
Barrh! Barrh!
The two seals were swept away from the rocky island.
    “Look!” cried Annie. “The land is moving!”
    Jack looked at the strange green shoreline surrounding the cove. It
was
moving! It shifted from side to side, then slithered forward!
    A great roaring noise rocked the cove. A monstrous head rose above the surface of the water.
    The green hills were not hills at all.
They were the coils of a giant sea serpent’s body!

“A HHH!” screamed Jack and Annie.
    The giant sea serpent arched its long neck into the sky. Its scaly green skin glistened in the late sunlight. Staring at Jack and Annie, its eyes burned like bright yellow lamps.
    Jack and Annie were frozen with terror.
    The monster opened its mouth. Inside were hideous fangs and a purple forked tongue. The serpent made a terrible hissing sound!
    Jack and Annie huddled together on the rock. Frantic seal barks came from far away.
    “Teddy!” yelled Jack. “Kathleen!”
    “Their magic can’t help us now!” cried Annie. “They’re stuck in their seal—”
    Before she could finish, the sea serpent’s deep voice boomed through the cove: “WHO ARE YOU? AND WHY ARE YOU SSSTEALING THE SSSWORD OF LIGHT?”
    Jack was too stunned to answer. But Annie shouted back at the monster. “We’re Jack and Annie! We’re on a mission for Merlin!”
    “SSSSSSSSS!”
the serpent hissed angrily. Its purple tongue flicked as it coiled its body around the rocky island. Then the monster arched its neck and lowered its huge head.
    Again, the ancient voice boomed through the cove: “TO BE WORTHY OF THE SSSWORD, YOU MUSSST ANSSSWER THE QUESSSTION OF THE SSSWORD.”
    “What is the question?” shouted Annie.
    “SSSSSSSSS!”
hissed the serpent. It turned away and circled the rocks again. Soon its scalygreen body was coiled twice around the little rocky island.
    It’s going to crush us!
Jack thought with horror. Maybe they had strength enough to stab the monster before it squashed them. “Pick up the sword!” he shouted at Annie.
    Together Jack and Annie lifted the mighty sword. They gripped its handle and pointed the gleaming blade at the sea serpent.
    “Don’t come any closer!” Jack yelled.
    The serpent came closer. Its eyes flashed. Its forked tongue darted in and out. It opened its mouth wide.
    “Wait! Stop!” Annie shouted at the sea serpent. “Give us a chance! Ask us the question!”
    The serpent closed its mouth. Then it arched its neck, and its huge head dipped down right in front of Jack and Annie. In a low, deep voice, it said, “WHAT ISSS THE PURPOSSSE OF THE SSSWORD? THAT ISSS THE ANCIENT QUESSSTION.”

    “Okay! The purpose of the sword! Just a minute!” shouted Annie. She turned to Jack. “What is the purpose of the sword?” she asked.
    “To defeat your enemies?” Jack said.
    Annie shook her head. “That doesn’t sound right.”
    “To force them to give up?” Jack said. “To slay them?”
    “No, I’m sure that’s not right,” said Annie.
    “SSSSSSSSS!”
the serpent hissed at them impatiently.
    “Then
what
?” said Jack.
    “I don’t know,” said Annie, “but maybe—maybe it’s not about fighting at all! Look at it!”
    Jack stared at the gleaming sword. Its silver blade glowed against the red sunset sky. Staring at the wondrous sword, Jack felt calmer. A strange sense of joy and relief came over him.
    “ANSSSWER THE QUESSSTION!”
the serpent boomed.
    Jack’s mind became clear. “I think I’ve got it,” he said. “Remember the line from Merlin’s rhyme?
Answer a question with love, not fear.”
    “Yes!” said Annie. “That’s it! It’s not about fighting! It’s about not being afraid!”
    “ANSSSWER THE QUESSSTION!”
the serpent boomed.
    Jack looked up at the serpent’s face. As he stared deep into its yellow eyes, he no longer felt any fear. It was the serpent who seemed afraid now.
    “The sword should not be used to harm anyone or anything!” Jack shouted.
    “That’s right!” said Annie.