by Maurice Gee
‘Can’t they smell us the way we smell them?’
‘Not unless they get really close. I’m taking you round to one side. They’ll probably post themselves right round the crater. We’ll find the weakest point and try to slip in there. But now we’ve got to go quietly.’
‘Are you taking control again?’
‘No, Rachel. I’ve got to save my strength. We’ve got a long way to go.’
She glimpsed his face in the moonlight and saw how weary it was – almost shrunken. It was the face of an old, old man – a dying man. He was killing himself to get them up this mountain. But she knew this was as it should be – she felt him give her the thought. If they failed he would have no reason to live any longer, and if they succeeded then his job was done. He would want the only rest he could know.
‘Let’s go on,’ she whispered.
They climbed again, carefully, keeping low, keeping in the shade. Once Mr Jones made them stop and huddle on the ground, shielding the glow of their stones, while a Wilberforce went by only ten metres away. It crashed through the undergrowth like a wild boar, and made a sticky hissing sound as its body moved on the rocks. Its smell came strongly as though down a funnel. Further on it stopped and sent out its quack, once left, once right. Answering sounds came flatly through the night.
‘What are they saying?’
‘No sign of us, that’s all. But they know they’re ahead.’
Theo looked at his watch. It was half past ten. He could not believe they had been walking so long. But when he looked back he saw the land sloping endlessly to the sea. Ahead the peak of the island rose like a church steeple.
‘How close are we?’
‘It’ll take another half hour. We’re going to go round to the north. When we get on the rim I’m going to leave you hidden and go further round with Rachel.’
Theo nodded. It made sense. When Rachel had thrown her stone the Wilberforces would lose interest in her.
They climbed again, working to the left. At intervals the Wilberforces quacked to each other but the sounds became more distant and finally died away.
‘They’re at the rim. They’re waiting.’
Every step now they made with care. Not a twig must crack or stone roll. Half an hour went by. A single quack sounded, close and to the left.
‘Now I’m taking charge again,’ Mr Jones pebbled. ‘We’ve only got a hundred metres to go. Keep your stones well shielded.’
They moved silently through the stunted trees over ground that grew more level. Again Rachel closed her eyes. She felt as if she were drifting off to sleep. Theo felt in the grip of a dream – a nightmare. He would rather have been left to shift for himself. The trees thickened. He had to twist, turn, duck, even crawl, to avoid rustling their leaves. His body felt as if it were doing a dance. He knew that if it did not stop soon he would try to break free. But Mr Jones halted at last. He released the twins.
‘Now. We’re right on the rim, in the thickest part of the bush. You can see down into the crater, Theo. There’s a Wilberforce over there, right opposite. He looks like a big black rock. There’s another one along to our left. One of the babies. Don’t look, you can’t see him. The mother’s on our right about fifty metres away. Now, Theo. Stay here. Don’t move, no matter what you see. I’ll come back for you. Until then, not a sound. Don’t even breathe. Rachel, follow me.’
‘Goodbye, Theo.’
‘Goodbye. Be careful.’
The words breathed in their minds. Theo wished they could have been spoken properly. But he kept still, kept quiet, did not even turn his head as Rachel and Mr Jones crept away. He was on his knees, crouching close to the ground, Lenart held tight against his chest. The opposite rim of the crater showed through a gap between trees. The Wilberforce over there had no shape. It was absolutely still. Moonlight gleamed on the oily slope of its back. Theo tried to see the rest of the seven. But only two other pieces of the rim were in his sight and these were clear. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead on the ground. Dreams of his home and parents and friends floated through his mind. That life seemed far away. He did not believe he would ever find his way back to it. Only the Wilberforces were real, and Mr Jones, and Rachel. The stone, Lenart, throbbing in his hand, was real. He wondered why oblivion should be called a gift. That was stupid – the Joneses must have been a stupid race. Oblivion was death, and death was horrible – and close. Only a single mistake … He was struck with terror at the danger he was in. He curled himself up tighter, closed his eyes tighter, tried to sink into the ground. Please, he prayed, please, help me get out of this. I don’t want to die.
A single quack sounded in the night. Heavy bodies crashed through the bush. He started up on his knees. But the Wilberforce on his right was heading around the back of the patch he was in. Across on the opposite rim the shape was gone from sight. And another was speeding over the rocks further round, its body gleaming in the moonlight. Theo saw Rachel. She was further on, well clear, standing in the light on the crater rim. She looked tiny. Beside her was Mr Jones – a small figure too, frail as an elf. The charging Wilberforce had the bulk of a rhinoceros. The two had no chance, and Theo began to move hopelessly to their aid.
Then he heard an echo in his mind: Mr Jones’s voice, faint but sharp as glass. ‘Throw, Rachel.’ And he saw Rachel raise her arm obediently. The charging Wilberforce gave a frightened quack.
Rachel’s voice rose into the night, clear, thin, careful, the sort of voice she might use for a recitation. But to Theo it contained a note of grief. ‘Go down, People of the Mud.’ She drew back her arm and hurled her stone high in the air.
As it left her hand it turned a brilliant red, threw out spiky beams. The line of its flight was a perfect quarter circle, taking it unerringly to the centre of the crater. The force that propelled it was its own – Rachel could never have thrown so far. It lit the entire crater. The moonlight vanished. Nothing remained hidden. Theo saw sleeping insects on the leaves. He saw the round black mouth of the Wilberforce on the other side of the crater. But for the moment he was safe, for light of this sort would be darkness to the Wilberforces. Then the beams grew fuzzy, the flow lost its hardness.
‘Down, Theo,’ a voice said in his head. ‘They’ll get their sight back in a moment.’
‘I’m all right.’
‘Down, boy. It’s you they’re after now.’
He crouched again, but looked into the crater long enough to see the stone settle on the ground with the lightness of a butterfly and fade a little so that its light filling the bowl was a pulsating furry glow. After the spiky beams it seemed very weak.
Rachel and Mr Jones had gone. Across the crater the Wilberforce was moving quickly. Flat ugly quacking filled the night: the sound of creatures far from beaten yet. Branches cracked and stones rolled down the hillside with an iron sound. The hunt was on again.
Theo curled himself up tightly. He closed his eyes. Lenart throbbed in his hand. Its warmth now was less than the warmth of his blood.
11
WORM
A short way down the mountain Rachel crouched in the same position. But her hand was empty. Tears dripped from her cheeks. Gone. Johan was gone. Her hand seemed made of air – made of nothing.
‘Don’t be so sad, Rachel,’ Mr Jones said.
‘I can’t help it,’ she sobbed.
‘The stone was made for one purpose. It wasn’t yours, my dear. It had a job to do and now it’s done.’
‘I know. Go and get Theo. Please.’
‘Don’t move from here.’
‘I won’t.’
‘The Wilberforces have gone past now. They’re heading down to the shore.’
‘Please go away.’
He vanished. She sat up slowly and leaned back on a rock. After a while she put her empty hand into her armpit to bring it to life. Far away the Wilberforces made their farmyard sound. She was no longer scared of them, not for herself. But for Theo she was scared. They were going to guard the shoreli
ne. And Mount Eden was so far away. Getting Theo there was impossible. How could Ricky bring the boat in while those things swam in the sea?
She stood up. The whole eastern side of the island was lit by the moon. The water had a greyish oily colour. On its far side the city glowed. She saw the curving line of lights that marked the bridge and the banked and clustered lights of the downtown area. Beyond was Mount Eden, a black hump topped with yellow beacons. It could have been on the other side of the world.
She freed her hand and held it in the air. It was warm now. Had it really held that stone? She was forgetting. Was that part of the magic? She turned and looked at the peak. A red glow fitted over it like a cap. That was real. Already boats would be starting out from the other side of the strait. Soon people would be up here. They would examine the stone, photograph it. Scientists would come. But they would never move it. Only when Theo placed his stone would it move, or vanish, or do what the Joneses had built it to do.
Only when Theo placed his stone …
She was filled with dread for him. The Wilberforces would never let him get off this island. They would hunt him like a rabbit.
‘All right, Rachel.’ Mr Jones was at her side.
‘Where’s Theo?’
‘Waiting further down. Follow me. Be quick.’
They moved fast through trees and over frozen lava. Theo was waiting on the dark side of a huge overhanging rock.
‘You were great, Rachel,’ he pebbled. ‘I hope I can do as well.’
‘You will.’
‘I didn’t know you could throw like that.’
She saw Lenart glowing through his fingers and was jealous.
Mr Jones moved ahead impatiently. ‘There’s no time for chattering now. The hardest part comes next. Follow me. And be quiet.’
Once again they found themselves scrambling over boulders and squirming between branches and trunks. At first going down seemed easier than climbing up. They followed a shallow gully that kept them out of the moonlight. Then Mr Jones turned to his right and led them through a tangle of bushes that grew in deep crevices in the rock. Their hands and faces were scratched by twigs and stung by whipping branches. Theo, with only one hand, found it especially hard. Several times he fell and once scraped his shin so badly that blood ran into his sandshoe. He was puzzled that Mr Jones should lead them this way. Surely the beach where they had landed was round to the left. Even if the Wilberforces were waiting that was where they had to go.
‘Aren’t we going the wrong way?’
‘We’ve got to keep clear of them.’
‘But Ricky will be coming in. We’ve only got half an hour.’
‘I know what I’m doing, Theo. Now let’s keep going.’
They went on. The way became easier. Whenever they moved into moonlight Theo looked at his watch. Only twenty minutes left. Ten minutes. Five. The beach must be a good kilometre away. They were never going to make it.
Rachel too was growing anxious. She had no wish to face the Wilberforces again, but if Ricky had to they had to. She supposed Mr Jones had some plan for getting them into the boat. He would probably try to lure the Wilberforces away. But if Ricky brought the boat in before they were close it wasn’t going to work.
They came to the shore. Mr Jones led them into a patch of shadow. ‘Wait here. Don’t move. There’s a Wilberforce just along the shore.’ He vanished.
‘This is crazy,’ Theo pebbled.
‘I know. But we’ve got to trust him.’
‘He’s made too many mistakes already.’
‘He’s tired, Theo. I think he’s going to die soon.’
They sat brooding about this. The smell of the Wilberforce along the shore was carried to them as though on a gentle breeze. Then Mr Jones was back at their side.
‘All right. We’ll rest.’
‘Where have you been?’
‘Talking to Ricky.’
‘Where is he?’
‘Can’t you hear?’
They strained their ears and soon they heard the faint chugging of a motorboat. The Sea Lady came round the reef into the moonlight. It was moving slowly and Ricky was sitting in the stern as if out for an evening cruise.
‘Is he coming in here?’
‘He’s going to the beach.’
‘Why not here?’
‘They’d be on us before we could get near the boat. He’s going to wait for us at the beach. And so are the Wilberforces. You can hear our friend moving now.’ A faint movement of a heavy body sounded below the noise of the motor. Theo began to understand.
‘He’s a decoy.’
‘Yes, Theo. He’s going to wait. And the Wilberforces are going to wait. And while that’s going on we’ll be heading for Mount Eden.’
‘How?’
But Rachel broke in. ‘It’s dangerous for Ricky. Won’t they attack him? They’ll sink the boat anyway.’
‘I don’t think so. They’ll lie quiet and try to catch us when we get there. They’re not interested in Ricky. Now Rachel, there’s one more thing. Theo and I will move faster by ourselves. I want you to wait for us here. We’ll come back for you as soon as we can.’
She had thought this might be coming. Her body seemed to grow cold. Alone on this island with the Wilberforces …
‘They won’t touch you, my dear. Even if they find you. Theo’s the one they’re after now. And he’ll be safer if we don’t have you to slow us down.’
She saw the sense of it – but could not say yes. Alone with the Wilberforces. It was more than she could do.
Theo stepped forward suddenly. ‘She’s not staying here,’ he said.
‘Now, Theo –’
‘I’m not leaving her here with those things.’
‘You’ll do as I say, Theo.’
‘I won’t. I’m tired of being shoved around. First the Wilberforces and now the Joneses. Well, I’ve got the stone and I’m telling you this, I’m not going to move unless Rachel comes too.’
‘Please, Theo, I don’t mind,’ Rachel said.
‘You keep out of it. He’s getting too bossy. We’re going together or we’re not going at all.’
Mr Jones turned away. He walked a few steps and sat down in the deepest part of the shadow. The sound of Ricky’s boat died away round the reef. At last Mr Jones said, ‘All right, Theo. You’re right, of course. It’s your world, not mine. And your battle. I’ll take you both. It’ll slow us down but you must be together at the end – whatever it’s going to be. Now let me get my strength.’
They were quiet. Theo grew ashamed of his outburst but felt a little better when Rachel pebbled softly, ‘Thank you.’
‘Do you think he’s all right?’
‘He’s tired. He’s dying, Theo. Be kind to him.’
Mr Jones stood up. He came to them and took them by the hands. ‘Now for the last part, children. It’s hard but you must be brave – and trust me. Rachel?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you, Theo?’
‘Yes.’
‘Guard your stone.’
‘I will.’
‘Then follow me.’
He led them through the shadows until they came to the sea. ‘Softly. No splashing.’ He walked in and they followed. Rachel began to understand. She did not know whether she could go through with it. Perhaps it would have been better to stay behind.
They swam carefully, making no noise. In a moment they came out of the shadows onto moonlit water. At once she felt as if the Wilberforces’ eyes were on her, that something was rushing up from below, and she curled up her legs defensively. But Mr Jones kept steadily on and Theo, coming behind, gave her a push. She dog-paddled with care.
They were well out from the shore when the old man stopped.
‘We’re over it now. You first, Theo. I’ll guide you down.’
‘How far?’
‘Just a short way. Hold your breath. I’ll help you.’
They sank and Rachel was alone. A long time seemed to pass. The moon was so br
ight she felt as if a searchlight were playing on her. Surely the Wilberforces were coming. Surely that was a quack, a splash in the water. But nothing came. When Mr Jones appeared beside her she almost screamed.
‘Easy, my dear. Take a deep breath.’
‘Is Theo safe?’
‘He’s waiting for us. Just let yourself sink.’
They went down. She felt his hands pressing on her shoulders and when she opened her eyes she saw him glowing faintly in the water. Her feet touched something: a rock. She shifted them, felt about until they found something soft. The pressure came on her shoulders again. The jelly substance of the valve came over her ankles, over her knees, up over her body. Then she felt her legs come free and that made it more bearable when her face went in. At the last moment she clamped her hands over her mouth and nose. Then she fell and bruised her knees. But Theo was there, grabbing her, and Mr Jones came down lightly at her side.
She let out her breath and drew in another and the stench of the Wilberforces struck her like a blow.
‘The father was down here ten minutes ago, checking on his worm.’
‘Is it free?’
‘It will be before morning, Theo. Unless we place your stone. And unless it works. Now I’m going to give you some light. And then we slide. It’s a long way down but there’s nothing on the way that can hurt you.’
Quickly his hands appeared out of the darkness, at first as a pale yellow shape, then as a red-orange glow that lit the tunnel. The tunnel was similar to the one under the lake – the same height and roundness, the same walls of grey glassy stone.
‘You first, Theo.’
Theo clutched Lenart to his chest and went forward to the point where the tunnel began its downward slope. Rachel followed. She saw him sit, glance back a moment, pale-faced, then push himself off. He vanished around the curve.
‘Now you. Quickly.’
She sat and pushed herself forward. At once she was sliding at the speed of a sledge on a hillside. The force of her motion pushed her on to her back. She felt the tight corkscrew turns of the tunnel. Ahead was a swishing sound. That must be Theo. She could not hear Mr Jones but the light that kept pace with her meant he was following. The walls hurtled by, flickering with giant shadows. She shut her eyes and concentrated on keeping her legs and arms from flying about. If the tunnel did not level out soon she felt she would leave them behind. But on and on it went. How deep were they now? Much deeper than the bed of the sea, deep under the island. They must be almost down to the molten lava. As soon as she thought this she almost screamed with fear. What would happen if the tunnel ended in lava? But then the twisting stopped and the slope began gradually to level out. Her speed dropped little by little. She opened her eyes. Ahead was a dark shape rushing onwards at the same speed as herself. That must be Theo.