by Lyn Gardner
“Er, Cosi,” said Olivia. “I don’t think Sir Isaac Newton had white fur and a big black nose. Cute pic though.”
“Oh, Livy, it’s so sad!” Cosi turned to her and for the first time Olivia saw something like passion burning in her eyes. “In about a hundred years, if we don’t do something about global warming, there’ll be no polar bears left because the ice is melting and they’ll have nowhere to live!” Cosi looked almost as fierce as a polar bear herself.
“That’s terrible!” said Olivia.
“And it’s not just polar bears – it’s seals as well, and all sorts of other species. Maybe even us too! I’ve been reading about it. By the end of the century, Bangladesh will be under water and the Maldives will have disappeared. Whole countries, just disappearing.” Olivia wasn’t entirely sure where the Maldives were but she couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose her home. It made her feel terrible.
“How come you know about this and I don’t?” asked Olivia, although she had a vague memory of Jack and Alicia sitting talking one night over Christmas about rising sea levels and temperatures.
“I look on websites, and I’ve got some books too,” said Cosi. “It’s all really scary. It makes me want to do something. Look at this!” She clicked on a link and Olivia quickly scanned the screen.
“See?” said Cosi. “Earth is our home but we’re destroying it. We’re trashing the planet. There must be something we can do but I don’t know what.”
Olivia suddenly had a brilliant idea. “But, Cosi, you’re famous! Everyone would listen to you. Instead of using the Wood name to sell stuff, you could use it to tell people about the polar bears and what we’re doing to our home.”
“As if. Dad would never let me do anything like that,” said Cosi miserably. “He says the Woods are about acting and nothing else. Besides, you’ve seen the way we live. My family never walk anywhere. Not if we can go by limo or private jet. I wanted to use some of my money to plant trees to offset the carbon emissions of all the flying we do but Dad said no way. He said it’s not his problem, but it is – it’s everyone’s problem.”
“Oh, come on, Cosi! You’re just allowing yourself to be defeated,” said Olivia quite sharply. “My dad always says there’s no point talking the talk unless you can walk the walk too.” For a moment, Cosi looked as if Olivia had slapped her, but then she suddenly jumped up and threw her arms out wide. She appeared to be about to address a big crowd. “It’s all our problem, and I can do something, and you’re right, I must and I will do something. I can help save the polar bears!”
Everyone in the class looked up. Cosi’s eyes were blazing with passion. She was a very different Cosi from the one who looked nervous and mumbled all the time.
Cosmo rolled his eyes. “Quit going on about the stupid polar bears, will you? Who cares? All that stuff’s just for hippies.”
“I care,” said Olivia.
“Me too,” said Georgia, and loads of other people joined in as well. Cosi started telling the class about melting polar ice caps and rising sea levels. Mrs Wren, the teacher, didn’t stop her. After all, Cosi was talking about science and lots of people in the class were clearly interested. And she was remarkably well informed. Cosi drew breath and moved on to trees and how important they were to the earth’s ecology.
As she listened, Olivia found herself admiring the intensity of Cosi’s feelings. She had never really felt passionate about an issue that didn’t directly affect her, although she had a lot of respect for Aeysha, who had become a vegetarian because she didn’t think you should eat anything that you weren’t prepared to kill yourself. Eel had asked if sausages counted as you didn’t have to hunt them down and kill them, and although everyone had laughed, they all admired Aeysha for taking a stand. Now Cosi was trying to do the same. It was hard to worry about stuff that might not happen for years, by which time she might even be dead. But Cosi’s passion was infectious, and Olivia suddenly felt quite fired up too.
The bell rang and Cosi stopped speaking. “Thank you,” Mrs Wren told her. “You’ve taught us all a great deal. If anyone wants to find out more I’ve got some books you can borrow.” Several people put their hands up.
“See, Cosi,” said Olivia. “You’ve made a difference already.”
Chapter Ten
Olivia and Tom soared out over the empty auditorium of the Imperial theatre one last time. Olivia stretched out her arms as if she was a bird. It was exhilarating. They swung back towards the stage and were gently lowered down by the stage crew using a series of weights and counterweights that made it look as if they were swooping seamlessly to the ground just like real birds.
“Thanks!” they chorused to the stagehands as they helped them unclip their safety harnesses.
“What a smooth landing!” said Tom. “That was such fun. It’s a great way to spend Saturday morning. Better than doing maths homework. It’s a pity Georgia and Aeysha couldn’t come.”
Jon James gave Jack a thumbs-up and clapped him on the back. “It’s brilliant, Jack. I’ve never seen such realistic flying in the theatre. Your system really does work. I’m sorry I doubted you after seeing the twins fly. The problem’s obviously with them, not the equipment.”
“Don’t worry,” replied Jack. “It’s not so very different from what theatres have been using for over a hundred years. I just made a few tweaks, and don’t forget that Liv and Tom are real naturals in the air and completely fearless. Sometimes worryingly fearless, particularly Liv. Cosmo and Cosi just need to build their confidence, then they’ll look less like sacks of potatoes and more as if they’ve been sprinkled with fairy dust.”
“Hmm,” said Jon grimly. “It’s a pity that none of their people thought to mention that Cosi is afraid of heights. You would have thought they’d realise that playing Wendy would involve flying.”
“It’s not the poor kid’s fault,” said Jack. “She’s not had a normal childhood. I don’t think she’s ever been allowed to do anything other than work. You know where the Swan’s grounds meet the river? Well, Liv and Eel and their friends took the twins tree-climbing there yesterday, and apparently they just looked at the trees completely baffled and said, ‘We don’t know how to. Nobody’s ever taught us.’ You’d laugh if it wasn’t so tragic. What child needs to be taught to climb a tree? It’s something you find out how to do by doing it.”
“I haven’t climbed a tree for years,” said Jon wistfully. “I don’t know why I stopped.”
“You grew up, Jon,” replied Jack. “One of the things I love about having kids is I can carry on doing all the things I enjoyed as a child.”
“OK, let’s try and get the twins up there again now they’ve seen how it can be done,” said Jon. He called out to the stagehands, “Ready crew for flying sequence. Cosmo and Cosima on stage, please. Livy and Tom, can you help them?”
“Cosi?” said Olivia.
Cosi reluctantly put down her magazine and came over. “It makes me sick,” she said.
“You’ll stop feeling queasy when you’ve been up a few times,” said Olivia soothingly.
“I don’t mean the flying,” she replied. “I’ve been doing some more research. Mrs Wren showed me some more websites and gave me this magazine. At the end of last summer there was a third less sea ice in the North Pole as there was in 1979. If you’re a polar bear, it means you have to swim further to find food and you get a whole lot more tired. Some even drown. It also means that they don’t have as much body fat and the females can’t feed their cubs properly so they grow up weaker than they should. And the worst thing is nobody cares.”
“You do, Cosi,” said Olivia as one of the stagehands fastened Cosi’s safety harness.
“Yes, but I’m still not doing anything about it even after everything I said in class. I’m like everyone else; I do nothing even though I know more so I’ve less excuse,” said Cosi sadly.
“You’ll find a way,” said Olivia before she was interrupted by a loud shout.
“You�
�re strangling me, you jackass!” said Cosmo angrily. Cosmo’s minder rushed over and glowered at the stagehand. The stagehand, a nice man called Gary with years of experience, backed away.
“You know, I think you need to have a word with your brother, Cosi,” said Tom seriously. “He treats the stagehands as if they’re servants, but they’re not. They’re professionals and his life is in their hands. He wouldn’t want them to drop him mid-air, would he?”
“Oh my gosh, they wouldn’t, would they?” asked Cosi, looking terrified.
“No, of course not,” laughed Tom. “But they can give you a hard time up there. There was a famous actress who had a big bust up with the stagehands while she was playing Peter Pan. But they had their revenge at the next performance. Instead of lowering her gently into the Darling nursery they bounced her off the walls like a wrecking ball on a building site.”
“I bet she was really nice to them after that,” said Olivia.
“She was,” said Tom. “She had to have a few performances off. But when she came back she treated them like royalty.”
“I think we’d better warn Cosmo immediately,” said Cosi.
“Everybody ready?” called Jon. The stagehands nodded. “OK, let’s fly!”
Cosmo and Cosima were hauled upwards. Cosi screamed and even Cosmo looked uncertain. They were pushed out over the auditorium flapping their arms like a couple of frightened ducks. Cosmo made a sudden movement, lost all control and started bouncing up and down like a baby in a baby bouncer, before going into a spin and squawking loudly. The twins’ minders were getting agitated. Olivia and Tom looked at each other and tried not to laugh.
“I’m going to throw up,” warned Cosi.
“Oh no you’re not,” boomed Jasper Wood, who was striding down the centre aisle with Alicia following behind him. Jasper looked rather dashing, wearing a full-length leather coat. “Remember who you are. You are Wendy and you are flying to Never Land on an awfully big adventure. Quit complaining and start acting. It’s what we Woods do.”
Cosi opened her mouth to reply, made a strangulated noise and was promptly sick all over her father, who was standing right below. Jasper looked murderous and if he’d had a cutlass would probably have shaken it at his daughter. Olivia and Tom were convulsed with giggles.
“Ah!” muttered Jack. “I think that all flights are probably grounded for the rest of the day.”
Half an hour later Jon, Jack and Alicia were sitting alone together in the Green Room. Jon had his head in his hands. “They can’t act. They can’t fly. What can they do?”
“They look absolutely lovely,” said Alicia soothingly. “Don’t blame the twins, Jon. They’re being asked to give more than they can possibly deliver. Cosi is already well aware of her limitations and Cosmo is far too self-confident, although he does show sparks of real potential. You’re just going to have to be really ingenious, and think of the box office. I’ve heard that Peter Pan is the fastest-selling show in West End history.”
“We’ll have to give it all back if we have to cancel the show. The investors will lose every penny and none of us will ever work in the West End again,” groaned Jon. “Thank goodness for the Swans. At least I’ve seen some real talent at the auditions for the other children’s roles.”
“I have a proposal,” said Jack. “Two, actually. First of all, I’m going to show all the children who have to fly exactly how the system works. If I show Cosi all the mechanics behind it and which ropes and wires are responsible for which actions, maybe it will make her less nervous. She won’t think she’s being held up by magic and can relax a bit.”
“That could help,” said Jon. “What’s your other proposal?”
“We ask Liv really nicely and, if she says yes, we bring her in as a flying double for Cosi. Only for the more difficult sequences such as soaring out over the auditorium and when Wendy gets shot down by the Lost Boys because Tinkerbell tells them that’s what Peter wants. At least let’s use her for the previews and the first few weeks until Cosi’s really got her confidence. Nobody need ever know. Liv and Cosi are similar builds and they’re nearly the same height. It will be one less thing for you and Cosi to worry about.”
Jon had visibly brightened, but then a frown crossed his face again. “That’s all great, Jack, but it doesn’t solve the problem of Cosmo. That was like watching an elephant trying to fly.”
“Well,” said Alicia, “I think I might have an answer for you there too. Why not get Tom to hold his hand? Literally and metaphorically. Release him from the last few performances of The Sound of Music and cast him as John in Peter Pan. I know you’ve seen lots of children, but you haven’t cast the role yet. He’d be brilliant and you’d have somebody you really trust to help Cosmo with the flying and the acting. You need to surround the twins with people who you know will deliver and who will help them with their confidence.”
“Alicia, you are a genius! Let’s do it,” said Jon excitedly.
“You’ll have to ask Livy and Tom yourself, Jon; I can’t speak for them,” said Alicia. “They may not want to do it.”
“Livy won’t mind not getting to act?” asked Jon.
“Goodness no,” said Alicia. “I don’t think she’ll care. She is an actress but she just doesn’t know it yet. She has to find out for herself, and she hasn’t as yet, although it’s only a matter of time. She’ll just love working alongside her dad.”
“I don’t suppose I could have Eel as well?” asked Jon wistfully. “She’d make a brilliantly stroppy Tinkerbell. It would be great publicity. A complete set of Woods and a complete set of Marvells.”
“She would indeed be a delicious Tinkerbell, but I think you might be pushing your luck,” replied Alicia. “Eel is currently dedicating her life to dancing with commendable zeal and doesn’t need or want any distractions. Besides,” she added with a twinkle, “I don’t think Eel believes in fairies. The only thing Eel really believes in is Eel.”
Chapter Eleven
Olivia leaned out over the window sill of the Swan’s upper rehearsal room and threw the end of the wire over the spike sticking out of the roof of the derelict building next door. It caught first time. She had become adept at lassoing the spike during her first term when she had used the upper rehearsal room as a place to practise the high-wire in secret, convinced that everyone at the Swan hated the circus.
It was Monday evening and it was starting to get dark. Tom, who had agreed to join the Peter Pan cast with Olivia, was in his final week of The Sound of Music, but he and Georgia had Monday nights off because they played the Sunday matinée. Georgia only had two more weeks and then she’d be free every evening too. Jack was working late at the theatre; he’d come up with a novel idea for how they could represent Tinkerbell on stage and he and Jon wanted to try it out. Eel had gone to have supper with her friend Emmy, and Olivia had told Alicia, who had gone to Billy Elliot to check up on some of the Swan children, that she and her friends were working on a scene for Sebastian Shaw’s acting class. She felt a twinge of guilt for telling Alicia a lie.
Olivia’s phone bleeped. It was a message from Katie saying that she was outside the derelict building waiting for Olivia to let her in. Olivia texted back to say she was on her way. It was time to walk the wire.
“Liv, are you really sure this is a good idea?” asked Tom. “When you did it last time you had a really good reason, and when we risked our lives walking between the New Vic Theatre and the Duke’s it was an emergency situation. It doesn’t feel that there’s so much at stake now.”
“It does to me,” said Olivia fiercely. “You didn’t see Gran this afternoon. She had tears in her eyes. And I heard her talking to Sebastian Shaw. A lot of parents have been complaining about the noise. Some have even been threatening to withhold this term’s fees. She said that she was thinking of temporarily closing the school down and renting somewhere just for morning academic lessons. That’s not like Gran at all. For Gran, the show always goes on, whatever happens.”
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nbsp; Georgia saw the determination in Olivia’s face. She turned to the others. “We won’t persuade Olivia not to do it so I think the best thing is to give her whatever support we can,” she said.
“Just you being here is what I need,” said Olivia.
“I’m going to come with you, Liv. I can’t let you go alone,” said Tom.
Olivia looked at his open, freckled face and thought how lucky she was to have a friend so loyal and supportive. She shook her head. “No, Tom, you’re not. Only one of us needs to take the risk. It’s my idea and I’m the one going across. You can help me best by staying here and keeping a watch out for Gran in case she comes back unexpectedly. Oh, and if I don’t come back after a while you can go and get help.”
Olivia clambered up on to the window sill. She turned round and added, “Besides, I’m not going to be alone in the building. I’m going to let someone else in.”
“Who?” demanded Georgia.
“Katie Wilkes-Cox.” If Olivia had just lobbed a small bomb into the room it could not have had a more explosive effect. Her friends all looked appalled.
“You can’t be serious, Liv?” said Tom.
“I am though. Perfectly serious,” said Olivia. “Her dad has bought the building. She thinks he’s trying to close the Swan down, and that’s why we’re going to get inside and find out exactly what he’s up to. Then we can stop it.”
“How do you know all this?” asked Aeysha.
“She texted me a couple of times and then I went to meet her,” said Olivia.
“But how can you be sure it’s not some kind of elaborate trick? A Katie Wilkes-Cox special?” asked Tom.
“I can’t be sure,” said Olivia. “I just have to trust my instincts and believe that she really has changed.”
“And if it’s a trap?” asked Georgia.
“I’ll be relying on you three to bail me out in whatever way you can. Pass me that torch,” she said. She took it from Ayesha, slung it round her neck and stepped out on to the wire.