A/N: I'm not quite done with this chapter, but I wanted to post it so chapter 1 wouldn't be lonely. Just kidding. But please review me ideas. I'd love to here them.

CHAPTER TWO

The next morning Jewlie woke early. She dressed quickly and sat in her chair to continue her reading of The Merlin Effect.

The window was fogged with the morning mist and when she rubbed away a small circle with her hand she saw the sun coming up over the soft, cotton clouds so bold and red and dazzling against the soft yellows, purples, and peaches.

Just as she was deep into her book, nearly on the edge of her seat with suspense, a knock came at her door.

"Who is it?" she called quietly.

"Ben," a voice replied, slightly muffled by the heavy, oak door.

"Oh, c-come in," she said, stifling a yawn (for it was still rather early).

Ben entered the room and after noting her position, sat on the edge of her bed.

"You're out early," Jewlie commented

"Mum's in a right mood today," Ben explained. "The dog tramped mud all over the new white carpet.

"I see," Jewlie said.

"What are you reading?" Ben asked, suddenly noticing the book.

"Oh, it's called The Merlin Effect. Dad gave it to me yesterday. According to him, Wizardology is a fake. Just a little kids entertainment. He said, well, I think he meant that all the information we need is in this book."

"Really?" Ben said, looking, of all things, disappointed. "So we're not wizards?"

"I guess not."

"Than how do we become them?"

"I-I honestly don't know. I would ask my father, but he seemed very keen to keep out of my way yesterday, after he gave me the book of course."

"Maybe he doesn't know anything," Ben said, shrugging.

"I'm not sure, but he must know something unless he was lying about The Merlin Effect," Jewlie said decidedly.

"I'll bet your right. What do we do next, then?"

"I'm not sure. I'm just going to keep reading."

"Could you, maybe, read aloud?" Ben asked hopefully.

"I suppose so. But I'd better fill you in about what's happened so far first."

So Jewlie explained to Ben about Kate, her father, and his research team. How she had gone out in her kayak to explore the lake and cleared the breakers just as the sun was setting.

After the clarification, Jewlie continued the story. Only then did it get interesting.

The sun was setting and Kate was angry with her father. Knowing it was best for her to burn away some of her rage, she decided that no one would notice if dinner came a little late that evening. Pulling hard at the waves with her paddle, she tore beyond the first buoy.

Suddenly she realized a whale had caught onto the net holding the satellite dish—which Terry used to monitor the under-sea territory—with his tail! She wondered…

Finally she reached for the first knot holding the net to the buoy and after some straining, un-tied it. She reached for the second, struggled for a moment or two, than it broke free.

But the whale was still stuck and she realized to set the whale free she would have to snap the rod of the satellite dish. Reaching down in to the icy sea, she found her hold, pulled hard, and watched it break away.

Pleased with her self she watched the whale disappear. She turned and began to head back towards shore only to discover that not one but two buoys were ahead of her. The current had carried her out, closer to the whirlpool!

She pulled and pulled with her paddle but this gained her no headway! The second buoy disappeared into the mist. Than out of the fog and huge shadow appeared like a ship and she paused in awe to stare.

"Suddenly, a great wave swept over her, an avalanche of foam, capsizing the kayak." Jewlie read. "A few seconds later the small boat drifted back to the surface, floating aimlessly. For now it carried no passenger.

"Chapter Three: The Horn of Merlin.

" "Scrambled eggs, coming up," announced Jim Gordon, trying for the third time to light the burner. "Just can't—"

"Just a minute, hold on," Ben butted in. "How did Kate get out of the water? Is she okay? Whose her father cooking eggs for?"

"Her father saved her, of course she is—apart from some mild shock--, and Kate," Jewlie explained almost exasperatedly.

"How do you know all this?"

"It's called inferring, Benjamin," Jewlie said mildly.

"Oh," said Ben. "Well, I guess continue."