Inferno in Tokyo

by Marianne Hering

Overview

Over 1 million sold in series!

The Imagination Station has been malfunctioning for several adventures now, handing out the wrong gifts and traveling unexpected paths. Patrick and Beth must use their courage, strength, and resilience to help others and survive dangers as they travel through time and space and get caught up in the 1923 earthquake, tsunami, and fire that devastated Tokyo, Japan.

When kids step into the Imagination Station, they experience an unforgettable journey filled with action—packed adventure and excitement. Each book will whisk the reader away on the adventure with cousins Patrick and Beth to embark on a new journey around the world and back in time. This easy—to—read adventure, number 20 in the series, is the latest in the long—running successful series that has sold over 1 million books.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781589979697
Publisher:	Focus on the Family
Publication date:	05/05/2020
Series:	AIO Imagination Station Books Series , #20
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	7 - 9 Years

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

The Tsunami

Patrick felt a gentle rocking motion. He opened his eyes. The Imagination Station was bobbing on a large bay.

Patrick slid his fingers around the door and window seams. He glanced at the floor. It was dry. No leaks.

"The Imagination Station makes a fine boat," Beth said. "Let's just hope it doesn't disappear."

"Yeah, or we'll be swimming," Patrick said.

Beth leaned toward the windshield. "Keep your eye on the coastline," she said, pointing. "Something doesn't look quite right. There's some dust in the sky."

The Imagination Station speakers suddenly blared, "Scientists estimate that the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 was 7.9 in magnitude."

"That's huge!" Beth said.

The speakers continued. "The cities of Yokohama and Tokyo ... Tok ... Tok ... Tok ..." The machine fell silent.

"The Imagination Station's announcer is broken again," Beth said. "But at least we know we're near Japan. And it's the 1920s."

"And there's going to be an earthquake," Patrick said. "It'll be cool."

Patrick watched as the cliff along the coast seemed to rise. It looked like a giant mole was moving under the ground. Wood houses, shops, and wide boardwalks were pushed upward. Then suddenly they dropped.

The hairs on the back of Patrick's neck prickled.

Suddenly a crack in the land appeared. A huge section of earth slowly slid into the water. People and buildings disappeared with it.

Part of the city was gone in fewer than forty seconds. Only a few telephone poles were left. They were sticking out of the water. They looked like straws in a giant mud milk shake.

Patrick held his breath in shock. This earthquake wasn't cool. It was terrible.

He let out his breath when he saw movement. A few heads appeared in the water. Then several people began to swim. Others churned the water, arms and legs flailing.

"We have to help those people," Beth said.

"Maybe the Imagination Station will take us," Patrick said.

He grabbed the knob on the dashboard. It was cool now. He pulled it. Nothing happened.

He tried to roll down the window. The handle wouldn't move.

Patrick opened the glove box. He pushed every button and flipped every switch inside. No lights flickered. No buzzers sounded. No colors flashed across the windshield.

"How can we get to the people?" Patrick asked. "The Imagination Station is just sitting here. It's not moving. The speakers are dead. It's completely broken this time."

The machine began to rise as if to answer him. Patrick looked out the side window. The water was lifting the machine.

"A wave is carrying us," he said.

"The wind has picked up," Beth said.

Suddenly the Imagination Station began to spin. A loud rushing noise filled the inside of the car. The wave moved faster.

"This is a tsunami!" Beth cried.

Patrick felt dizzy as they whirled toward land. A cliff loomed ahead. The Imagination Station would surely crash into it!

The wave turned at the last second. The water pushed the machine farther into the bay.

Higher and faster the wave rose. Patrick looked out the side window again.

The raging sea was tossing a large passenger ship. A few smaller fishing boats were churning in the surf. They looked like toys caught in a giant blender.

The wave was higher than a three-story building. The front of the machine dipped and then flipped over.

Patrick and Beth dangled upside down. Their seat belts held them in their seats.

"Hang on," Patrick shouted to Beth.

"I am!" Beth said.

Patrick felt so dizzy he closed his eyes.

*
Beth dangled upside down in her seat. The seat belt dug into her hips. Her hair fell in front of her face. Something white fell off her head.

The Imagination Station stilled. Beth brushed her hair away and looked out the window. The machine was at rest on land.

All was still for a moment. Beth caught her breath.

Then another wave came. It lifted the Imagination Station and rolled it farther inland. But this time it landed upright.

Beth sank into her seat. She looked out the window again. Great black clouds filled the sky. It was dark and smoky.

"Get out," Patrick said.

"How?" Beth asked. "The Imagination Station is stuck in lockdown mode."

A man's face suddenly pressed against the windshield. He was soaking wet. His straight black hair was plastered to his head. His round eyeglasses made him look strangely owl-like.

The man blinked.

Then the door on Beth's side of the car opened.

The wind rushed in with a howl. The sound hurt her ears.

"Hurry," the man shouted. "More water is coming." He motioned with his arm toward the bay.

Beth unclipped the seat belt. She noticed she was wearing a white summer dress. She spotted the piece of white fabric that fell from her head. She grabbed it and then scrambled out of the Imagination Station.

Patrick followed, climbing over her seat. He was in a boy's suit with a white shirt.

"Run!" the man cried. His agile body moved quickly toward a row of buildings.

Beth didn't hesitate. She grabbed Patrick's arm. The cousins ran. The wall of churning white foam raced toward them.

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Inferno in Tokyo Book 20"
by .
Copyright © 2017 Focus on the Family.
Excerpted by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Prologue, 1,
(1) The Tsunami, 4,
(2) Fire!, 13,
(3) The Bridge, 19,
(4) The Elephant, 28,
(5) Rescued, 37,
(6) The Temple, 41,
(7) Chibi-chan, 46,
(8) The American Embassy, 54,
(9) The Imperial Hotel, 67,
(10) Room 208, 79,
(11) The Crown Prince, 88,
(12) The Tornado Fire, 97,
(13) Mrs. Woods, 108,
(14) The Missing Doll, 119,
(15) Reunions, 128,
Secret Word Puzzle, 135,