Megan got up early the next morning. She wanted to make sure she was ready for Ryan. By 9.30 a.m. she had made her breakfast, washed up and cleaned the bathroom and been to see if the post had arrived. There was no post as yet, but lying on the doormat was a handwritten letter without a stamp. It was addressed to her dad, so Megan took it to him in the lounge.
He looked at it with a puzzled expression, but then put it to one side. ‘I’ll open it later,’ he said. Her dad seemed a little more communicative this morning, but Megan was still worried he might change his mind about letting her go out with Ryan, so she didn’t want to stress him by asking him about the letter. She was relieved when he made no comment as she left the house.
When she stepped outside, the cold blast of winter air took Megan’s breath away, but she felt exhilarated, like a caged animal allowed to be free. Ryan was waiting for her with Skippy straining on the lead. The old dog still had some energy when it came to walks and she barked with excitement as they set off towards the woods. It crossed Megan’s mind that the girls at school would be teasing her if they knew she was going out with the boy next door. She never met up with any of them out of school, so they were always asking her if she had a secret boyfriend. She was thankful that none of them lived nearby.
Ryan also looked better for a night’s sleep. ‘My dad rang me last night,’ he announced cheerfully. ‘He’s having problems with the electrics in our new house, but he said it shouldn’t be too long before we can move into at least part of it.’
Megan was surprised at how upset she felt at the thought of Ryan leaving. Despite the fact she’d found him very annoying at times yesterday, she was beginning to enjoy having someone her own age living next door, even if it was a boy.
‘I bet your mum will be pleased,’ said Megan politely.
Ryan scowled. ‘My mum doesn’t live with us any more,’ he said quietly. ‘My parents got divorced a few years ago. I’ve got a step-mum now.’
Megan was shocked. ‘So where’s your real mum?’
Ryan looked uncomfortable. ‘She’s moved to America,’ he replied irritably. ‘Which means I won’t be seeing much of her now.’
Megan couldn’t imagine having a mother and not being able to see her, but she sensed that Ryan didn’t want to talk about his family anymore, so she changed the subject.
‘How far are we going?’ she asked as they turned onto the woodland path. Ryan was visibly relaxed. ‘I thought we could take another look in the watchtower,’ he said. ‘We could get a stick and see if we could pull that bag towards us.’
Megan wasn’t so sure. ‘Maybe we shouldn’t do that if Irene’s going to the police about it.’ But Ryan was not to be deterred. ‘We’re not doing anything wrong, are we? I can tell the police it was me who found the bag if you’re worried about your dad finding out.’
As they approached the woodland path, Megan finally relented. ‘OK, but I’m not touching it,’ she warned.
Ryan waited until they were well into the woods before letting Skippy off the lead. They smiled as they watched her gamboling about like a puppy for a few minutes, before slowing down to her usual stately pace.
As they came within sight of the bench they saw two people wearing hooded jackets walking away from them in the distance, but otherwise it was quiet. It wasn’t until they were actually at the bench that they both looked up towards the path leading to the watchtower and froze. Clouds of smoke were billowing though the sky. Megan looked around her. The woods were empty. The two people they had seen in the distance were now out of sight and there was no-one about to help.
‘That smoke’s coming from near the watchtower,’ said Ryan. ‘The woods could be on fire. We’d better call the fire brigade.’ As he took out his phone, he looked around for Skippy. She was nowhere to be seen. ‘Skippy! Where are you?’ he called urgently.
Megan gave a shout and pointed up the track. Skippy was chasing something and she was running towards the smoke. They didn’t stop to think. They just ran after her. ‘Skippy!’ they shouted frantically. ‘Skippy come back.’
As they drew nearer the watchtower, the smoke became thicker and the heat became more intense. It was becoming more difficult to breathe. The fire seemed to be spreading rapidly through the pine trees, cutting deeper into the heart of the woods. Ryan glanced through the acrid smoke towards the watchtower. He couldn’t be certain, but it looked as if the iron gate was open. ‘Skippy!’ he yelled again, ‘Skippy!’.
Then a voice came out of the smoke. ‘Get back! Go back!’ It was Kirsty. She was holding Skippy by the collar. ‘I’ve rung the fire brigade. You can’t do anything. Just go back!’ she called.
Ryan lunged forward and snatched Skippy from her hands. There was no time to say any more, but out of the corner of his eye, he spotted another red cigarette packet, lying on the ground. He put the whimpering dog back on the lead and they headed back down the track.
The choking smoke stung their throats and burned their eyes as the fire devoured the woods. All they could do was run. They ran with all the other creatures in the woods, like a great avalanche moving down a mountain.
Kirsty was in front with Megan close behind, followed by Ryan, who was now holding Skippy in his arms like a baby. The old dog was trembling with fear and he couldn’t risk losing her again. They were about half-way down the track when something crashed through the branches nearby and the faint sound of a low growl could be heard behind the crackling of the fire. Skippy let out a long howl, but only Ryan and Megan turned to look. In the shadows of the burning pine trees, two golden eyes looked at them through the smoke. Tom had returned to look for Zoe.
Ryan couldn’t say whether it was the sighting of Tom that caused him to fall, because it all happened so quickly. One minute he was on the track and the next minute he was lying on the ground in agony, with his ankle twisted underneath him. Skippy had jumped free, but was now whining and licking his face. When Megan and Kirsty tried to help Ryan to his feet, he cried out in such pain that they had to stop. Megan looked at Kirsty. ‘What shall we do?’ she cried. But Kirsty was beginning to panic. Her face was full of terror and her hands were shaking uncontrollably. ‘Ryan, you have to move!’ she shrieked. ‘You have to get up. Get up Ryan! Get up!’
Megan stooped down beside Ryan. She knew she had to keep calm. ‘Put your arm round my shoulder Ryan,’ she said firmly. ‘Kirsty, you get the other side of him and we’ll get him to stand up.’ Kirsty did as she was told, but when Ryan cried out in pain as he stood up, she let him go. ‘Let’s try again Kirsty,’ said Megan. ‘We’ve got to get out of here.’
Ryan braced himself for the forthcoming pain. The flames were getting nearer by the minute and he knew it. Megan did her best to keep hold of Skippy’s lead as they helped Ryan down the track. Ryan did his best to keep going, but by the time they reached the bench, he was beginning to feel faint.
It was at this point that Kirsty began behaving even more strangely. She threw her arms round Skippy’s neck and began to cry hysterically. The old dog trembled and looked at Ryan with her soft brown eyes, but she didn’t move. It was as if she was grateful for the comfort.
Megan didn’t know what to do, so she just waited. She waited until Kirsty’s tears subsided and then watched as Kirsty tied Skippy’s lead to the bench.
‘Sorry,’ she sniffed as she bent down to look at Ryan’s ankle. ‘Can you move your toes?’
Ryan didn’t reply. He wasn’t sure if he could move anything. He was grateful for Kirsty’s help, but her strange behaviour made him feel uneasy.
Kirsty sat beside them on the bench, as Ryan nursed his throbbing ankle. ‘The fire brigade should be here soon,’ she said, as if trying to reassure herself.
They sat in silence for a few moments before Kirsty spoke again. She seemed to be making an effort to get back to her usual self. ‘I’m sure it’s only a sprained ankle Ryan,’ she said breezily, ‘bu
t we need to get you both home. I would take you in my car, but it’s in the car park at the Hall and you’ll never walk that far.’
Ryan looked surprised. ‘Three of us wouldn’t get into your two-seater sports car,’ he scoffed. Kirsty looked puzzled. ‘What do you mean? I’ve not got a…’. The wailing sound of a siren in the distance told them that the fire engine was on its way.
‘You need to stay here Kirsty,’ said Megan. ‘You need to tell the fire brigade what you saw.’ Kirsty nodded weakly. She was beginning to look deflated again. ‘I’ll go and get Irene,’ said Megan. ‘She lives in one of the gatehouses. She can help me get Ryan to her house and then maybe she’ll drive us home.’
‘OK,’ said Kirsty. ‘I’ll stay here with Ryan ‘til you come back.’
Ryan didn’t look too pleased, but he was in no position to argue.
Megan sprinted towards Irene’s gatehouse as fast as she could. When she saw Irene’s car outside, she banged on the door, but it was some time before Irene appeared. She had been trying to get some bedding into Zoe’s cage, but Zoe kept on trying to attack her. When Irene finally opened the door, Megan burst into the hallway. ‘The woods are on fire!’ she gasped. ‘Ryan’s hurt his ankle and can’t walk. Can you come and help him? Can you take us home in your car?’
Irene was stunned. ‘Slow down Megan. Tell me again. What’s happened?’
As Megan became a little calmer, she was able to explain to Irene exactly why Ryan needed her help and it wasn’t long before they were both on their way back to the bench, armed with a small ice pack and a bandage.
Megan raced ahead. She was wanting to get Ryan home as quickly as possible, but she was also worried about what her dad would say if she was late home. Irene called after her. ‘Slow down Maggie… er… Megan. I’m sure Ryan will be fine.’
It was just one mistake. It was just one little word, but it tore through Megan’s body like an electric shock. She stopped to let Irene catch up. ‘You just called me Maggie,’ she said. ‘That was my mum’s name.’
Irene sighed deeply. ‘Sorry!’ she whispered. ‘I knew your mum well. You look so like her that I called you Maggie by mistake. Your hair is exactly the same colour as hers. Sorry if it upset you.’
Megan swallowed hard before she spoke. She had found over the years that this was the best way to fight off any unwanted tears. ‘No-one ever mentions my mum,’ she said softly. ‘It’s as if she didn’t exist.’
‘Well she did exist,’ said Irene reassuringly. ‘She was my best friend.’
‘Then why won’t you tell me the truth about what happened to her?’ implored Megan.
‘I’m so sorry Megan, but your dad is the one who needs to tell you,’ said Irene gently.
‘He won’t even say her name,’ replied Megan. ‘He can’t bear to talk about her.’
Irene shook her head. ‘I’m sorry,’ she muttered. ’I’m so sorry.’
‘Maybe you could talk to him,’ said Megan. ‘Maybe you could persuade him to tell me what happened.’
Irene shook her head. ‘He won’t speak to me.’
Megan was shocked. ‘Why?’
‘Because he’s angry with me,’ she confessed.
‘Why?’
‘I can’t tell you that,’ replied Irene. ‘But I’ll tell you what I will do. I’ll go and see Bill. Maybe he can persuade your dad to talk to you.’
‘How do you know Bill?’ asked Megan.
‘He used to repair Mike’s vintage cars,’ she said sadly.
By the time they got to the bench, a fire engine was throbbing nearby and Kirsty was talking to one of the fire crew. A few passers-by were standing in a group, looking up at the clouds of smoke still billowing above the trees. Megan recognised one of them. It was Joe. When he saw Megan, he moved towards her. ‘Are you alright Megan?’ he asked.
Megan thought his concern for her was surprising, considering how much worse Ryan was, but she answered politely that she was fine and moved away from him to sit next to Ryan. Megan watched as Joe had a quick word with Kirsty, before running off towards the woodyard.
‘They think they’ve got to the fire in time,’ said Kirsty, as she joined them at the bench.
‘It shouldn’t take long to put it out.’
‘Good job you called them when you did then,’ said Irene. ‘Well done.’
Between them, Irene and Megan managed to strap the ice pack around Ryan’s painful ankle and bandage it up firmly. He looked pale, cold and shaken.
‘Now let’s see if you can lean on me and stand up,’ suggested Irene, but Kirsty had a better idea. ‘I can carry Ryan to your house,’ she said, flexing her muscles. ‘I can do a fireman’s lift.’
Ryan leant heavily on Irene, and struggled to stand up. ‘No-one’s carrying me anywhere!’ he declared angrily. ‘I can still hop on one leg you know.’
‘OK. OK,’ laughed Kirsty, but Ryan was not amused. He was suspicious of anyone who could turn on cheerfulness like a tap, but there were other reasons why he didn’t trust Kirsty. Even though she said she didn’t smoke, Ryan couldn’t stop thinking about the cigarette packet he had seen on the ground, when they saw Kirsty at the watchtower. It was the second such packet he had found up there and it was the same brand as the one on the passenger seat of what he thought was Kirsty’s Frog-Eyed Sprite.
‘I’ll help you walk, Ryan,’ said Kirsty, ‘if you won’t let me carry you.’
Irene picked up Kirsty’s backpack from the ground and passed it to her. ‘That’s heavy,’ she remarked.
‘It’s got weights in,’ explained Kirsty. ‘I’ve got to get fit for the York marathon.’
Irene was curious. ‘Are you running for charity?’
Kirsty fished in her pocket and handed Irene a leaflet. ‘This tells you all about it, if you want to sponsor me,’ she said. ‘Come on. Ryan needs to see a doctor.’
The level path meant that they were soon outside the gatehouse, where Ryan limped painfully into Irene’s car. ‘Thanks for your help Kirsty,’ said Megan, as they waved her goodbye, but Ryan said nothing. He didn’t even look at her, because he had now convinced himself that it was Kirsty who set the woods on fire with a careless cigarette.
6
A Seventh Birthday Card
Bill was visiting Paul’s house when Irene’s car pulled up outside. He saw the car from Paul’s lounge window and rushed to the door when he saw Ryan. Irene put down the car window. ‘Hello Bill,’ she said cautiously. ‘Ryan’s hurt his ankle. I can drive you both to the hospital if you like. It will save having to move him again.’
By now, Paul was standing at his front door, beckoning frantically for Megan to come in. His face was dark, like thunder clouds before a violent storm. Megan touched Ryan on the shoulder. ‘Good luck,’ she whispered. Ryan looked at Paul standing in the doorway. ‘I think you might be the one who needs the luck,’ he said.
Megan hoped Irene hadn’t forgotten that she was going to talk to Bill, but now was not the right time to remind her. So, she took a deep breath and went to meet her father. A few minutes later, Bill got in Irene’s car and they drove off to the hospital.
Paul was very agitated. One minute he was pacing round the room and the next he was sitting in his chair with his head in his hands. ‘What were you doing in that woman’s car?’ he demanded. It wasn’t easy trying to explain when her dad was like this, but Megan persisted. She always tried to keep as calm as she could, so he wouldn’t get any worse. She told him they had been in the woods when they noticed some smoke and then Skippy ran away and Ryan fell. She explained that Irene’s house was the nearest place to get help. She told her dad that she knew who Irene was because she had visited her school.
After a while, her explanations seemed to pacify him. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said suddenly. ‘I’m just trying to take care of you that’s all.’ He walked over to where Megan was standing
and put his arm round her shoulder. ‘You see,’ he continued, ‘that woman is not someone I want you to talk to. I know she helped Ryan but she’s a bad influence.’
Tempting though it was to disagree with her dad, Megan decided this was not a good time to ask about the relationship between Irene and her mother. So she just smiled, like she always did when her dad got over one of these outbursts. All she wanted was for him to be at peace. She would just have to wait for Irene to talk to Bill. Maybe then she would find out a bit more of the truth.
After making a quick meal for herself and her dad, Megan went to her room. Her dad said he was tired and would be going to bed early, but he was still downstairs when she heard the phone ring. She opened her bedroom door to listen. From what her dad was saying she could tell it was Bill on the phone. When her dad put the phone down, she dashed back to her bedroom and jumped into bed as he came upstairs.
‘I’m glad you’re still awake,’ said Paul sitting on the end of Megan’s bed. ‘That was Bill on the phone. Ryan’s ankle is badly sprained, but they’re now on their way back from the hospital, so there’s nothing to worry about.’
Megan sat up in bed and switched on her bedside light. ‘That’s good news,’ she said.
‘It is,’ said Paul, ‘but he won’t be able to walk for a while.’
Megan was relieved that her dad appeared to have calmed down after his outburst. So, on the spur of the moment, she decided this might be a good time to try to talk to him again. She reached for the memory box on her bedside table and placed it on the bed. ‘Can I ask you something Dad?’ she said as she lifted the lid of the box. ‘There are things in here I don’t understand.’
Paul sat with his eyes downcast and braced himself, as if he was expecting pain.
‘I’ll be thirteen soon,’ said Megan, ‘and I need to know things, otherwise I’ll be guessing and making things up.’ She pulled out a bright pink birthday card. On the front was a picture of a teddy bear holding a box and above the box were the words Happy 7th Birthday. ‘You said I was six years old when Mum died,’ she said as she opened the card, ‘but inside this card it says Happy 7th Birthday Megan. Love from Mummy and Daddy.’
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