by Cliff McNish
‘The bears will come for you,’ Heebra told her. ‘The test is to get past them. If you make a mistake you will not be given a second chance. Do you understand?’
Heiki nodded vigorously, afraid that if she asked any questions Heebra would interpret that as weakness. One chance, she thought. I mustn’t spoil it. She shivered, and realized: I’m meant to feel frightened. That’s part of the test, too.
‘Most of the spells taught you by Calen are worthless here,’ Heebra said. ‘You cannot fly, or shift, past the bears. Find another way to cross the snow.’
As soon as Heebra finished speaking the bears picked up their shaggy hindquarters and took up positions at mathematically equal distances across the field. There were no gaps. There was no space through which Heiki might dash to the Witches. In any case she knew she could never outrun an adult polar bear.
I can do it, Heiki told herself. I’m better than the other children.
The first line of bears loped steadily towards her. Prevented from flying or shifting, Heiki tried a wounding spell on the nearest. The bear merely came on faster. She cloaked herself in a fold of wind. The bears lunged forward, still seeing her. Heiki hurriedly sorted through her other new spells. She created a replica image of her body, placing it in hundreds of places on the field; the images simply faded. The nearest bears were almost upon her now, close enough for Heiki to smell half-digested fish on their pluming breaths.
She started to panic. There had to be something she was allowed to do!
Glancing desperately at Calen for advice, she found the Witch’s eyes were expressionless.
Then Heiki noticed Yemi. Unseen even by the Witches he had drifted across the field.
Heebra and Calen consulted. They had not expected this, but made no attempt to remove him.
Yemi meandered vaguely in the air, like a lost balloon, and landed amongst the bears. The nearest animal lumbered towards him. Teeth bared, it lowered its great head and … halted. Uncertainly, digging its paws hard into the snow to avoid crushing the boy, it sniffed him. Yemi raised his little hand and the bear tenderly nuzzled it.
The scent of a Witch is on him, Heiki realized – Calen’s scent. Was that a coincidence? Or did he know that was the way to stay safe? Yemi pushed himself from the snow and floated serenely between the bears, heading for Calen. Sweeping all his butterflies onto his legs, he landed clumsily on her thick neck and smothered her bony red face in kisses.
Heebra’s attention reverted to Heiki.
‘You cannot copy Yemi’s trick,’ she said. ‘Find a different way to us.’
The bears again turned smartly to face Heiki – but this time she was ready.
A Witch, standing near Heebra, flinched as her orange soul-snake suddenly uncoiled. It flew from her neck towards Heiki. The outraged Witch recovered immediately, but Heebra prevented her from retrieving the soul-snake.
‘Wait,’ Heebra ordered. ‘Let’s see if the child can control it.’
The snake landed in Heiki’s sweating hands. Confused and angry, it wriggled in her grasp, not liking her unfamiliar touch or smell. Heiki tried wrapping the snake around her throat to calm it, in the typical style of a Witch. This only infuriated the snake more.
Intelligently, expertly, its coils began to choke her.
Heiki shrieked, trying to pull the snake from her neck – but its hold was too tenacious. If only she could use her spells!
The coils tightened a further precise notch.
Heiki was now shaking, close to losing consciousness. What to do?
What would no other child think of doing?
Abruptly, she relaxed. She ignored her sore throat and forced her rigid neck to untense. She flooded her mind with pleasant feelings about the touch of the snake. Baffled, the snake eased its hold slightly. Heiki continued to think the warm feelings, and gently stroked the under-side of the snake’s head. She fumbled in its reptile mind and understood its soul-name: Dacon. She called that name over and over. Dacon. Dacon. Eventually she had the soul-snake’s amused respect and his peach-tinted eyes met hers.
‘Walk across the field,’ said Dacon. ‘The bears suspect you are a Witch now. They will not attack – or, if they try, I will defend you.’
Heiki walked warily across the field. The grunting bears fell back, lowering their heads. Whispering soothingly to the soul-snake all the way, Heiki walked directly up to Heebra and stood defiantly before her. Calen, close by, glowed with pride.
The Witch from whom she had stolen Dacon wrenched him back, and Heiki felt a pang – as if something precious had been torn from her.
‘Do you want to hold the snake again?’ Heebra asked mildly.
Heiki yearned for exactly this. It was incredibly hard not to reach out for Dacon.
‘You are indeed impressive,’ Heebra admitted. ‘Calen did not overestimate you. Time to receive your reward.’
Heiki gazed at Heebra’s heavy golden soul-snake. It exuded a magical aura so extreme that she wanted to flee – but she was determined to receive her prize.
‘I want—’
‘I know what you want, child.’
Heebra reached inside her dress and pulled out a thin grey snake. It was tiny, with pale ginger eyes. She arranged it decoratively around Heiki’s shoulders.
‘A newborn,’ Heebra explained. ‘See if it likes you.’
The snake contracted against her skin, finding a comfortable place.
Heiki was too overwhelmed to speak. She stayed still, so much wanting the snake to feel at ease against her sharply breathing throat.
‘It belongs to you now,’ Heebra told her. ‘Treat it well.’
‘Does that mean …’ Heiki gushed, ‘does that mean I’ve become a Witch … like Calen promised?’
Heebra laughed. ‘No. Not yet, child. It is a beginning. Touch your snake. It won’t bite – not you anyway. How does it feel?’
The snake welcomed her touch. Heiki passed her fingers across its eyes and the snake did not move.
‘Oh, is it blind?’
‘Yes. All soul-snakes start life this way,’ answered Heebra. ‘Use your magic. As your talent improves so will that of your snake.’
‘Can I give it a name?’
‘Of course. But that is not the traditional way. As your magic develops so your snake will learn to speak. Then it will tell you its own name. And it will also give you a true Witch name. Our snakes name us all. No human child has ever been honoured in that fashion.’
Heiki gasped. ‘Oh, I want to grow fast,’ she said. ‘What do I need to do?’
‘You need to shed blood, without caring how much.’
‘I’m ready.’ Heiki’s eyes shone.
‘No, child. I doubt that. You are ready for a minor task, perhaps.’
‘I’ll do anything you want.’
‘Good. I want you to kill one of your own kind.’
‘One of my own kind?’
‘A child.’
Without hesitation Heiki said, ‘Yes, I will do it.’
‘Don’t you want to know why?’
‘If you want it killed, I’ll do it,’ said Heiki. ‘What’s the child’s name?’
‘There are three. The main one is—’
‘Rachel!’
Heebra nodded.
‘I knew it would be!’ cried Heiki, clapping and dancing in the snow. ‘Oh, this is a perfect day, a perfect day.’
Heebra explained what had happened on Ithrea. She also told her about the endless war against the Wizards. Heiki listened avidly. The longer the story went on the closer she felt to the Witches. They were magnificent! In fascination she drank in the detailed description Heebra gave of Ool. Heiki wanted so much to fly inside a storm-whirl, battling for her own eye-tower. Heebra warned her about Eric’s unmagicking gifts, but Heiki stopped her describing Rachel’s powers.
‘Please don’t tell me. I’ll find out for myself. I don’t want any advantages.’
‘Good,’ said Heebra. ‘That is the answer a true Witch wou
ld give. Tell me how you will defeat Rachel.’
Heiki thought about what she had learned. ‘Finding her is easy. I know Rachel’s pattern already. I won’t attack straight away. I’ll get to know her first, change my appearance and scent so she doesn’t recognize me from the graveyard. I’ll make her feel safe, comfy; that way she’ll reveal her spells.’
‘Rachel has few weaknesses,’ said Heebra.
‘I’ll discover them. Can she heal injuries? Other people’s bad injuries?’
‘Yes. What are you thinking of?’
‘Oh, nothing, just an idea.’ Heiki noticed that the tedious endurance test was over at last, and the rest of the children had been dispersed into the usual training groups. ‘Can I take some of the others with me?’ she asked. ‘I need them to help me deal with Eric. I’m not sure how to handle him yet … I’ll think about it on the journey. It’ll take us a few hours to get there, since I seem to be the only one who can shift.’
‘Take anyone you like,’ said Heebra. ‘I am making you the leader of the children.’
Heiki smiled proudly and flew off to choose her team.
Heebra called Calen over. ‘You selected Heiki well. An independent, passionate child. It is as if she has been waiting her whole life for us to give her a purpose. Does she really believe your promise to transform her into a Witch?’
‘She does,’ said Calen, smiling. ‘She wants to believe it so much.’
‘I wish the other children were as amenable.’
‘Do you trust Heiki to defeat Rachel?’
‘I trust nothing,’ Heebra answered dismissively. ‘Rachel is too formidable to be treated lightly. Let Heiki decide her own tactics, but I want to approve them. And when Heiki leaves, you shadow her. Stay out of sight. Take Yemi with you, but keep him close – and be wary of him.’
‘Wary? Of a baby?’
‘He is not a typical human child.’
They both turned and watched Heiki making her selections for the team.
Heiki chose carefully, picking a mixture of those who were most talented and also those she believed would follow her orders without argument. When this had been done, she started formulating a plan, gesturing confidently, using others to translate for those children who spoke no English.
‘I see there’s no need for us to push them any longer,’ Calen laughed. ‘Young Heiki will be as exacting a taskmaster as any Witch!’
11
Ambush
A small goldfish rippled the dark surface of the pond.
‘Did you hear that!’ screeched one prapsy, shivering with excitement.
‘Shush,’ the other cried. ‘You’ll wake Eric, boys.’
‘But did you hear it?’
‘I heard it!’
Like blurs, they sped together from the bathroom to the bedroom overlooking the night garden. Perched cheek-to-cheek they scrutinized the pond.
‘There!’ one cried wildly. ‘An underwater devil!’
‘A midget devil. Shall we tell Eric?’
‘Don’t be stupid, you mutant spanker!’
‘You’re stupid! Shush! Wait.’
‘What?’
‘Shadows.’
They both sensed the magic approaching the house.
‘What is it? I’m scared.’
‘Can’t see it. Can’t see them. Must be backside of house. Let’s look.’
‘After you,’ said its companion, bowing gracefully.
‘No. After you,’ said the other – and they both flew off together.
From the living room they peered anxiously over the front street.
‘See how they are creepily hiding?’
‘They are scared of us!’
The prapsies’ big eyes blinked violently. One licked the living-room window, wiping off the condensation; the other pressed a round face against the cleared glass. Together they twitched and gazed out over the empty street.
‘What kind of things are they?’
‘They are flying. Must be birds. Naughty birds, maybe. Should be in bed by now.’
‘Big mad naughty birds!’ A nervous giggle.
‘Shall we chat to them?’
‘Shut up and listen!’
‘They are sneaking up, do you see?’
‘I see them!’
The prapsies flapped their wings, trying to frighten off the dark shadows.
Outside nine large silhouettes emerged stealthily from the night sky. For a moment they gathered in front of the gibbous moon. Then they plunged towards the house.
‘Eric! Eric!’ shrieked the prapsies, fleeing upstairs. ‘Rachel!’
Rachel’s eyes flicked wide. Beneath her she heard glass being smashed – something invading the house. Two shattered windows, her information spells told her rapidly. One in the living room; another in the kitchen. What else? She heard frame wood hit the carpet – followed by the soft thud of shoes.
Eric blinked from a bed that had been placed close to hers.
‘What’s going on?’
‘Stay quiet,’ Rachel told him. She tried to decide who had broken in. Witches were large-bodied and heavy. These landings had been lighter.
‘I think it’s kids,’ she said.
The prapsies were nutting the door of the bedroom. Eric let them in, pushing their quivering heads under the quilt.
‘Morpeth and Mum are down there on guard!’ he reminded Rachel. ‘Come on!’
‘Wait!’ Rachel grabbed his arm.
‘Get off! I’m going!’
She tugged him back. ‘Listen, will you!’
Four more bodies had flown into the house. Rachel heard them squeeze through the gaping holes and land. Neat landings, Rachel thought. Both feet precisely together. Children using magic – and already experienced flyers.
‘It’s an ambush,’ she said. ‘Keep quiet. They might not know we’re here.’
‘What about Morpeth and Mum?’ Eric fumed. ‘I can’t hear them!’
Downstairs glass tinkled underfoot. Even Eric’s ears could now easily hear the sound of many pairs of feet tramping noisily around the living room. From his bed the prapsies kissed each other for comfort.
‘Whoever they are, they’re not trying to catch us by surprise,’ said Eric. He lunged for the stairway. ‘Morpeth! Where are you?’
Morpeth’s gruff voice called up, ‘I’m all right! So is your mum. Come to the kitchen.’
Eric tucked his quilt gently around the necks of the prapsies, calming them.
‘Sleep, sleep, boys,’ he said. ‘Close your peepers.’ The prapsies squeezed their eyes shut and pretended to nap because they knew that was what he wanted.
Eric and Rachel hurried downstairs.
They found Mum and Morpeth unharmed, standing by the dining table. Behind them a spiky-haired boy stood gazing out of the broken windows.
‘Paul!’ said a shocked Eric.
Eight more children were also crowded into the room. The curtains had been drawn back. All stared at the blazing broad moon, watching intently, as if unable to take their eyes from the sky.
Paul turned to Rachel and his eyes brimmed with tears.
‘Oh, it is you, it is,’ he murmured. ‘I never thought we’d find you. You’ve no idea what we’ve been through to make it here.’
Eric glared at him. ‘Where’s your ugly Witch, Calen?’
She’s …’ – Paul choked on the words – ‘given up on me. Oh, I don’t mind, don’t think I mind,’ he said, but his face sagged awkwardly. ‘Not good enough, you see. Wasn’t ruthless enough.’ He spread his arms, indicating those around him. ‘None of us were.’
Rachel saw how distressed all the children looked. Heiki was not with them.
‘How many Witches are there?’ she asked. One, she thought, please just one.
‘Five,’ Paul answered.
Rachel tried to stay calm. Morpeth seemed unfazed by the news, and she gripped his hand.
‘Why do you keep checking the windows?’ he asked.
‘We’re bein
g chased.’
‘By Witches?’
Paul laughed bitterly. ‘You think Witches can be bothered with the likes of us? We’re the rejects.’
‘Then who’s chasing after you?’
‘Kids, of course. Better kids. The favourites.’
Mum gasped. ‘Why?’
‘You’ve no idea what’s going on, have you?’ said Paul. ‘The Witches make us fight, to see who’s the best. They weed out those not up to scratch.’ He glanced at his companions. A few dropped their heads. ‘We lost too many battles. They’ve made us target practice.’
Eric asked, ‘Target practice for whom?’
‘For the favourites. They’ve caught us once. Banged us about a bit, then gave us a head start. Next time they’ll finish us off. We can’t outrun them. Most are quicker fliers than us. Hey, we haven’t got much time, They’re—’
‘They’re here,’ a girl whispered. She staggered back from the window.
Outside a new group of children hung in a line against the rooftops. They made no attempt to conceal themselves. Kneeling or sitting at ease in the air, they all stared boldly at Rachel.
Morpeth studied Paul closely. ‘How did you find us?’
‘All the kids know this address,’ Paul said. ‘And the scent of Rachel’s magic is hardly difficult to find.’ He glanced at her. ‘You’ve left trails everywhere.’ From the darkness outside a child called his name, and he shrank away from the window. ‘Look, are you going to help us, or not!’
Morpeth noticed that Paul and the other children’s injuries were not serious – a few bruises and superficial cuts. ‘I see no evidence you’ve been involved in a real fight,’ he said.
‘That’s because Ciara drew them off!’ bellowed Paul.
‘I’m listening,’ said Morpeth evenly.
‘Ciara’s a girl who’s good enough to fight with the best kids, but she won’t. She helped us get a good head start. The Witches went after her for that. They’ve probably killed her already.’
‘We should get everyone away from these windows,’ Mum said.
‘No,’ Morpeth replied firmly. ‘We can defend ourselves better if we keep them all in sight. Those inside and outside the house.’
Mum looked curiously at Morpeth. ‘Don’t you believe this boy’s story? Isn’t Paul the one who’s been resisting Calen?’