Home > Work > Charlie Thorne and the Lost City (Charlie Thorne #2)
1 " This city of stone,” Dante said. “It’s probably Paititi.” “What’s Paititi?” Charlie asked. Dante reacted with surprise. “You mean there’s something you don’t know?” “I’m only twelve,” Charlie said. “I haven’t had time to learn everything yet. Like, I still haven’t figured out why you haven’t asked Milana out even though you’re obviously crushing on her. "
― Stuart Gibbs , Charlie Thorne and the Lost City (Charlie Thorne #2)
2 " I think you’re right,” Dante agreed. “Of course I’m right,” Charlie told him. “I’m me. "
3 " Dante grimaced. “I didn’t soil myself. They just startled me, is all. I had no idea a rat could get that big. "
4 " I hate that kid being right all the time.” “Wasn’t that why you wanted to recruit her in the first place?” Milana said. "
5 " And there’s a chance they could be dangerous, like the tribe on North Sentinel Island.” Dante and Milana obviously understood what Charlie meant. North Sentinel Island was located in the Bay of Bengal, between India and Myanmar. It was a notoriously hard island to dock a ship at, and therefore the small indigenous tribe that lived there had little contact with humans throughout its history. They were known for being extremely hostile to outsiders—and so the rest of the world had let them be. "
6 " She knew Dante wanted to go after the treasure too, even though he was acting like he didn’t. She wasn’t quite sure how to read Milana yet, but she had the sense that Milana was at least intrigued by the prospect. Luckily, Charlie knew how to put them over the edge. “Do this with me,” she said, “and I’ll give you Pandora.” An enormous grin spread across Dante’s face. “Sounds good to me,” he said. “Let’s go to the Amazon. "
7 " Among the scenes which are deeply impressed on my mind, none exceed in sublimity the primeval forests undefaced by the hand of man. —CHARLES DARWIN, "
8 " What about your unofficial activities, then? Has Dante worked up the nerve to ask you out yet?” Milana gave Charlie another cold stare, but this time Charlie detected a hint of amusement in it. “That’s also classified,” Milana said. "
9 " The candiru fish are probably worse than the piranhas anyhow.” “Candiru fish?” “It’s this really tiny relative of the catfish that can swim up your urethra, lodge itself there, and then devour you from the inside.” Dante reflexively put a protective hand over his crotch. “That’s not a real thing.” “Yes it is. "
10 " Dante looked as though he might have gone slightly pale with fear, although Charlie couldn’t quite tell because of all the sunblock on his face. He said, “So there are ants out here with the most painful sting imaginable and giant snakes and man-eating piranhas and tiny fish that can swim into your private parts and consume you from the inside. Is there anything else completely horrifying that I should know about?” “Brazilian wandering spiders,” Charlie said. “Electric eels. Giant centipedes. Jaguars. Assassin bugs. There’s also a couple dozen venomous snakes.…” “And caimans,” Milana added. “Oh right!” Charlie exclaimed. “I totally forgot about those.” “What are caimans?” Dante asked. “Relatives of crocodiles,” Charlie explained. "
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12 " And yet, given how important the river was, the people of London had treated it terribly for most of the city’s history. It was used as a garbage dump and a latrine. Factories flushed toxic chemicals into it, and it was common to find the carcasses of dead sheep, cattle—and even humans—floating in it. "
13 " At the same time, London’s air wasn’t doing much better. In the Industrial Age, the main way to heat homes and power businesses was with coal, and tons of it was being burned every day. The result was a thick cloud of soot that hung over the city, which would then combine with London’s notorious fogs to create an atmosphere so dark that it was often hard to see through even in the middle of the day. The soot turned London’s buildings black and did far worse things to the Londoners themselves, filling their lungs with particles that impaired their ability to breathe. Bronchitis killed even more people than water-borne diseases. Between the foul air and the foul water, Londoners were so unhealthy that they could easily be discerned by their pale pallor, weak physiques, and the habit of breathing through their mouths because their nasal passages were so congested. "
14 " Nothing can be more improving to a young naturalist than a journey in distant countries. —CHARLES DARWIN, "
15 " The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man. —CHARLES DARWIN "
