The Red Lantern

Polly flew up the coast of Portugal and landed on a strange lighthouse. It was not a tall white tower. It was a short red lantern on top of an old stone fort, high on a cliff. From the lantern she could see the whole coast.

The cliff divided the sea in two. On one side was the town of Nazaré, with a calm beach and small colored boats. On the other side was a long wild beach with no houses at all. People call it Praia do Norte, the north beach. That evening its water was completely flat.

An old albatross came up to the fort wall with a spyglass under his wing. He looked at the flat sea for a long time. Then he said, do not trust this quiet sea, little bird. Far away, the ocean is already moving. The giants are coming.

The sea looked so calm. But far away, a big storm was pushing the water toward this coast. Polly held the warm red metal and decided to stay seven days and watch.