The Last Phoenix by Linda Chapman Page A

“All right, son?”
    â€œIt’s your lucky day, Barry,” said Michael. “I need some cash, pronto, so I’m having to sell this family heirloom.”
    He held up the phoenix gold. But the windows were sogrimy and the side street so gloomy that little light could sneak in to show its sparkle. Even so, Barry put down his paperback. “What’s that then? It’s not gold, is it?”
    â€œIt’s a special type of gold,” said Michael, nodding knowledgeably. “It was left to me by a long-lost uncle from Cairo.”
    â€œAh.” Barry gave him an indulgent smile. “Your mum and dad know you’re selling it, do they?”
    Michael nodded. “Yeah, course they do.”
    â€œAnd they thought you’d get the best price for a special type of gold down at Barry’s old junk shop, did they?” He shook his head. “Sorry, son, I can’t touch that for you. If I put a thing like that in my window, I’d have your parents kicking up a storm, or the police around asking questions, all sorts of bother.” He picked up his paperback again. “And I don’t do bother.”
    â€œFine,” Michael retorted, his cheeks burning. “I’ll take it somewhere else and let them have the bargain of the century.”
    â€œAny reputable place will give you the same answer I did, son,” Barry assured him.
    Suddenly there was a clatter from the back of the shop. Michael looked over and saw a figure watching him from behind a teetering tower of cardboard boxes. A man in a raincoat, his hair an unkempt gray thatch, his eyes darkand piercing. A metal teapot had just fallen out of a box near his feet.
    â€œNeed help with anything, mate?” called Barry.
    The man shook his head. But his eyes remained on Michael.
    A shiver ran through Michael’s body. “There is always one who watches,” Skribble had said. For a moment Michael was put in mind of the two genies from the Genie Council who’d come after them in search of their magical handbook. The scruffy man didn’t look like the slick, smartly dressed genies, but there was something strangely similar about his sharp, dark gaze…And Jess and Milly had seen those genies first in this very junk shop.
    Michael turned and stormed out without another word. Once outside he ran along the zigzagging alleyway and onto the main road, his heart pounding. But there was no sign that he was being followed, and once back on the sunny, milling High Street, his fears soon faded. But his money worries did not.
    â€œDumb phoenix,” he muttered to himself as he ran along the street. “Unless I can come up with some cash before eight o’clock, I’m doomed!”
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    Jason lay on his bed, still turning his gold over in his hands. The whole day had been unbelievable, and it was all he could do not to run around babbling about it toanyone who’d listen. Like anyone would ever believe me, he thought wryly. Anyway, it’s so cool to have a real, incredible secret again…. He couldn’t wait to go on their next magic mission.
    Suddenly there was a pounding on the stairs, and the next moment Michael burst in through the bedroom door. He looked out of breath and his hair was spiked up with sweat. “Jase, mate.” He panted. “How much cash have you got on you?”
    â€œHuh?” Jason frowned. “Didn’t you sell your gold, then?”
    â€œI couldn’t! No one would take it off me.” He got down on his knees in front of the bed. “I’m begging you, Jase, old buddy—lend me your cash.”
    â€œBut I haven’t got much,” Jason protested. “I put some into my savings account last week.”
    â€œThat’s not fair!” Michael groaned. “If you’ve got enough to put into a savings account, you should let me have some!” He slumped down on Jason’s bed. “It’s hopeless. I said