Mira was halfway across the sloping timber ramp when she heard it: tap-tap, scrape, tap. Not the sound of a boat bumping, and not the usual whisper of ropes in the gray water. This sound came from the floating shed tied beside the ramp, where the net mender’s tools were kept. Mira stopped so fast her yellow raincoat swished around her knees.
She was there early, as always, because Tomas had promised to show her how he checked the harbor lines before the morning tide turned. But now the shed door stood a little open, and a thin strip of bright blue ribbon peeked out from inside. Mira knew that ribbon. Leni wore it tied on her satchel handle when she wanted everyone to notice her.
Before Mira could call out, the shed gave a soft wobble. Something inside had moved. The ribbon twitched once, then disappeared. From the far side of the shed came Leni’s voice, very small and very busy: “Oop—wait—no, come back!”
Mira looked at the ramp, the shed, and the row of blackened pine pilings beyond it. If she shouted for Tomas, he would come slow and careful. If she climbed over the ramp edge, she might catch Leni first. And if she did nothing, whatever was inside that shed might keep moving.
What happens next?
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