Storybound (24 page)

Chapter 36

U
na and Indy lay on the Tale-station floor, enveloped in the quiet of the place. They didn’t talk about Alethia’s house. Or the dreadful storm. They had come to in a heap, limbs tangled together, both exhausted from their flight. The only sound was Horace’s snores, drifting across the stone platform.

It was a long time before Indy sat up. “We should go, Una,” he said.

“Where?”

“To the examiners. They will have read what happened. Professor Edenberry. Thornhill. There are others who will help us.”

Una stayed on her back and looked over at him. “Our exam isn’t being read,” she said hollowly. “Elton told me.” She began to laugh, a dry mirthless sound that echoed throughout the chamber. “Who is going to believe us, anyway? What are we going to tell them—that we saw the Muse Alethia? That the Enemy they’ve never heard of has returned?”

Indy looked defeated for a moment as he registered this information. “It doesn’t matter about the examiners. We’ll go to the Resistance. Find Peter and his parents.” He swallowed. “My father.”

“You’re right,” Una said. Hope rose within her and raised her to her feet. “We’re not altogether alone, are we?”

“Not alone at all.” Indy clasped her hand. Una felt braver with her hand in his, braver to know that she wasn’t by herself, that there were others who would help her. She took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and together they stepped out into the light.

TO BE CONTINUED . . .

Acknowledgments

L
aura Langlie, for graciously guiding me through every step of the process, for never giving up on Una, and for being such a kind and available lifeline for a first-time author. My deepest appreciation. I am so glad to be working with you.

Erica Sussman, for your unfailing investment in Una, for your fabulous insight into the story, and for your willingness to help me revise, brainstorm, and revise some more. Many thanks. I couldn’t have dreamed up an editor like you.

Tyler Infinger and all the others at HarperCollins Children’s whom I know only by the fruit of your hard work, for the gorgeous art design, the brilliant copy editing, and all the other behind-the-scenes work that sent this project out into the hands of readers. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

The brave souls who read very early drafts of this book and offered encouragement and input: Emerson, Greg and Victoria, Meg, the entire Gentry crew, Theodore, Beth, Anne Tyler, Ashleigh, and Kate. Bless you! Your kind words energized and challenged me.

To Casey, for sharing every step of the process with us, for cheerfully enduring many rambling writing-related rants, and for everything else, so glad we’re friends. And to Christy, for the marathon brainstorming sessions, the speed-reading of drafts, and the writerly encouragement. I owe you an unending supply of pumpkin spice lattes.

The Hopefuls, for your companionship in the writing world, for sharing your stories, and for all the virtual empathy. Cheers! A toast for all our books.

Mr. Hazel and Ms. Baker, for your tireless commitment to high school English students. I’ve often thought of your instructions to make every sentence count and your advice to keep writing. Thank you.

My mom, dad, and Ben, for the immeasurable love and support you’ve given me over the years, for fostering a love of reading and writing in our family, and for the countless words of encouragement and babysitting hours. Words are not enough. And to Jon and Kim, for your enthusiasm for anything writing-related and your belief that this book is a rock star. A thousand thanks.

My boys, for loving stories and for loving me. I’m so glad you’re ours!

Aaron, for everything. I love you.

About the Author

Marissa Burt
was forever getting notes sent home from teachers about reading novels during class. She also wrote her first story while avoiding the chemistry teacher’s gaze and scribbling madly in an old notebook. Marissa grew up in Oregon and now lives in the Seattle area with her husband and three sons. You can visit her online at www.marissaburt.com.

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Credits

Cover art © 2012 by Brandon Dorman
Cover design by Alison Klapthor

Copyright

Storybound

Copyright © 2012 by Marissa Burt

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Burt, Marissa.

  Storybound / Marissa Burt. — 1st ed.

      p.  cm.

  Summary: Shy, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild is suddenly transported by a mysterious book into the Land of Story, where characters from books hope to be cast into a tale of their own, and Una attends the Perrault Academy while trying to discover why she is there.

  ISBN 978-0-06-202052-9

  [1. Fantasy. 2. Books and reading—Fiction. 3. Characters from literature—Fiction. 4. Adventure and adventurers—Fiction.] I. Title.

PZ7.B94558St 2012

[Fic]—dc23

2011016619
CIP
AC

12  13  14  15  16    CG/RRDH    10  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1

EPub Edition © MARCH 2012 ISBN: 9780062102096

FIRST EDITION