Read Atherton #3: The Dark Planet (No. 3) for Free Online

his ears.
    "I've already done a lot of exploring down there."
    "Then you must know about all the --" Vincent began, but Edgar
    cut him off.
    "I know about some of the challenges. But they're nothing I can't
    handle. It's not so different from the climbing I've always done."
    In truth, the challenges were enormous, but he didn't want his
    friends to know about them. Vincent took Edgar's hint and didn't
    ask anything more. If Edgar really had gone straight down from
    the crevice on the surface of Atherton, then he'd probably been
    closer to the docking station than he knew.
    "I suppose this means we don't need to train him," said Vincent.
    "It appears he's in fine climbing shape."
    "Indeed," said Dr. Kincaid, wondering how Samuel's father
    could have missed Edgar slipping out night after night. But then
    Edgar was a tricky and quiet sort of boy. Dr. Kincaid had to
    imagine it would be hard to keep track of him.
    "I guess we're going to be doing this more quickly than I
    expected," said Dr. Kincaid. "The only question now is whether
    or not Edgar can actually find the docking station."
    Vincent knelt down in front of Edgar, Isabel, and Samuel and
    looked at each of them.
    "I have only had one job to do on Atherton, and you all know
    what it is."
    "To protect us," said Samuel. He loved Vincent for his bravery,
    his skill with weapons and fighting, his singular mission to
    make sure everyone was safe.
    Vincent shifted his gaze to Edgar alone.
    "Allowing you to do this goes against every thing I was sent
    here to do. But I can't help thinking we were meant to reconnect.
    What if we could do some good for the Dark Planet?"
    "We could bring some of the children here," added Isabel.
    "Maybe so," said Vincent. "But this is the thing. We've only used
    the docking station a few times, and we've never gone there the
    way Edgar will be trying to go. Our way to the docking station
    was always through the inside of Atherton, the way it was
    meant to be approached. What Dr. Kincaid is proposing is that
    you go to the docking station from a direction we know nothing
    about."
    "Actually, we know a little," said Dr. Kincaid, and then he turned
    the map over and read the words scribbled there.
    "Below the crack in the surface lies the longest shard and the
    crossing of the bridge of burning stone. Beware the keepers of
    the gate. You must be quick and quiet."
    No one else spoke as the true measure of what Edgar might
    have to face came into view. Edgar would not be entirely alone
    on the underbelly of Atherton.
    Something was down there, awaiting his arrival.
    CHAPTER 4DOWN THE LONGEST
    SHARD
    "Are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Edgar. The meeting
    was over and Samuel and Isabel had gone to the grove, leaving
    Edgar alone with Vincent and Dr. Kincaid.
    "We can't arouse too much interest," said Dr. Kincaid. "Atherton
    is stable, but only a year ago every thing was in total chaos.
    People are final y settling down and feeling normal again. I
    should never have involved Samuel and Isabel to begin with."
    "But why can't they come with us, at least to the edge?" asked
    Edgar.
    "Samuel and Isabel have parents," said Vincent. "They can't
    disappear all day and night without drawing attention, and once
    you start they'll want to stay as close as they can. Chances are
    this little adventure will lead to nothing at all, and if that's the
    case there's no reason to get everyone worried about the Dark
    Planet. I agree with Dr. Kincaid. The best thing to do is to go
    alone for now."
    Edgar felt terrible about deceiving his friends. They would want
    to come along, to see him off and be there when he came back.
    If they found out he'd left without them they'd feel betrayed.
    "If you're sure that's the way it has to be," said Edgar, not hiding
    his displeasure.
    "Let's go to the edge and see where our conversation leads us,"
    said Vincent. "I'm still not sure about any of this. We may well
    be turning back before we know it."
    But Edgar was sure. He knew he