‘My name is Xavier Stone. I’m fourteen, my parents died in the floods, swept away as I tried to reach for them, and I’ve been on my own ever since.’
The room went quiet. Xavier frowned and looked away.
‘We need to have a meeting,’ Isabella said.
‘But there’s nothing to talk about,’ Griffin said. ‘He’s a thief who broke into our house, so we don’t want him here.’
‘Which one of us isn’t a thief?’ Xavier asked. ‘None of you actually owns this grand house you live in.’
‘That’s different,’ Griffin said.
‘Is it?’ Xavier held his stare. ‘I never stole a thing before this all happened.’
Isabella pointed to the other side of the dining room at a set of glass doors leading to a library. ‘You can wait in there until we decide.’
Xavier got up from his chair and entered the room. He closed the doors and gave one last look before turning and perusing the shelves.
The children gathered around Isabella.
Griffin got in first. ‘I say he goes.’
Fly flicked back to the drawing of the Aerotrope.
‘It’s true. He has the Aerotrope,’ Isabella said. ‘We can get to places we haven’t been able to reach, like the Haggle he told us about.’
‘The people there could be dangerous,’ Griffin said.
‘But it’s where Xavier found the bike for his flying machine.’ Bea shrugged.
‘And you’re always looking for bits and pieces to help make your inventions,’ Raffy added.
‘We’ve been through the houses around here,’ Isabella said. ‘We haven’t found any new sources of food in weeks. With the sneaker waves and storms, having to go further away using only the flying fox and the dinghy is getting too dangerous.’
Griffin shifted in his chair. ‘I’ve got a bad feeling about him. In three years, all we’ve needed is each other. Why should we let someone else in now?’
‘He could be useful. Plus, he’s older and bigger than us, and his strength will come in handy for defending ourselves and getting supplies for Sneddon.’
Griffin tried to puff himself up. ‘But you have me.’
Isabella smiled. ‘And I will always appreciate you for your many talents, but strength isn’t one of them.’
He shrank. ‘I’m not as puny as people think.’
‘I don’t think you’re puny,’ Bea chimed in.
‘You’re one the smartest people I’ve ever met,’ Raffy said.
‘And the nicest,’ Bea added.
Fly slid her arm around his shoulder and nodded.
Isabella watched Xavier choose a book and flop onto a deep lounge. ‘We can kick him out now or give him one chance. He makes one wrong move and he’s gone. Who votes he leaves?’
Griffin’s hand shot into the air. Xavier’s eyes looked up for an instant before turning back to his book.
Griffin slowly lowered his arm.
‘He has one chance, Griffin,’ Isabella said. ‘I promise. He so much as moves without my permission and he’s out.’
CHAPTER FIVE
An Invitation and a Warning
Isabella led the way to the library. She opened the door and the others piled in after her. The last being Griffin, who slumped, cross-armed, against a bookshelf.
Xavier jumped to his feet and held the book tightly across his chest.
‘You can stay,’ Isabella said.
Xavier’s face spread into a smile and he held his arms out wide. ‘Who wouldn’t want me?’
Isabella plucked the knife from her ankle boot. ‘But you do exactly as we say.’
His smile wavered. ‘Absolutely.’
‘She’s fought against bigger thieves than you and won,’ Raffy boasted.
‘I bet she has,’ Xavier said.
‘Should we show him the house?’ Bea looked to Isabella, who gave a single nod.
They grabbed one hand each and dragged him out of the library and down the long stretch of the dining room. Isabella followed and Griffin stayed behind – until he felt a small hand in his.
‘I know, Fly. We took a vote and I have to accept that, but there’s something about his story I don’t believe.’
Fly leant her head against his arm.
‘Come on,’ he sighed, ‘let’s join the tour.’
The dining room led to a wide corridor with rooms on either side. They each had king-sized four-poster beds, bright curtains and wardrobes bulging with clothes and shoes.
‘This is our bedroom,’ Bea announced at one of the doors.
‘We’re lucky.’ Raffy bounced on the bed. ‘The people who lived here must have had kids our age. There are loads of clothes that fit perfectly.’ He hoisted up his Batman pyjamas. ‘Almost.’
At the end of the room was a low door that opened onto a playroom. There was a yellow brick road painted on the floor that meandered between giant papier-mâché boulders and trees. A wooden cubbyhouse was surrounded by giant sunflowers. The ceiling was painted blue with bulging clouds, and on the far wall the Emerald City sparkled.
‘Watch this.’ Raffy placed his hands on one of the boulders and opened it like a chest. ‘Toy boxes.’
Bea ran to an enormous wardrobe. ‘And this is full of costumes. We can be royalty or knights and fair maidens fighting dragons.’ She swung a wooden sword through the air.
‘But wait until you see what’s next.’ Raffy sped past him and into another room.
Xavier poked his head inside to see a series of stands with targets. Arrow holders and bows hung from the walls.
‘This used to be another dining room,’ said Bea. ‘But we already have one of those, so we cleared everything out and turned it into an archery and knife-throwing room. Isabella’s aim is by far the best.’
‘She was also the fencing champion at her school,’ Raffy added.
‘Who would have guessed?’ Xavier said. ‘What are you practising for? An enemy invasion?’
‘We’ve had trouble with thieving adults; we had to make sure they never came back,’ Isabella said.
Raffy then led them to a set of frosted-glass doors at the end of the corridor. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, we give you the greenhouse.’
He opened the doors onto a thick garden nestled in a room made of glass. Scattered around were more statues, this time of two old gardeners, giant lady beetles and a birdbath shaped like a tulip.
Xavier’s eyes widened. ‘No wonder you guard this place so well.’
Griffin and Fly sat on a stone bench surrounded by beds of spinach. Isabella stood by the door. Watching.
‘We collected soil from pot plants and window boxes in nearby houses,’ Raffy said.
‘And herbs and seeds,’ Bea added. ‘And now we have beans, broccoli, carrots – even strawberries.’ She picked one and handed it to Xavier. ‘Try one.’
When he bit into it, the rich strawberry taste made his mouth water and his tongue tingle.
‘Is it warmer in here?’ He looked around the room, puzzled.
‘That’s because of Griffin’s wave-powered heating system,’ explained Raffy. ‘The currents in the river are really strong, so Griffin installed a series of paddles just beneath the surface. The currents turn the paddles, which create energy to power the transformer that sends heat through those vents.’ He pointed at a series of openings in the wall.
‘It works the stove, the lights and heats our water,’ Bea added. ‘Any spare energy is stored in power cells.’
‘What about water to drink?’
‘We built a rainwater tank that funnels filtered water to the kitchen and bath room,’ Raffy announced proudly.
‘You set this all up?’ Xavier asked Griffin, who shrugged.
‘I bet you topped your class every year.’
‘He did!’ the twins cried.
‘He’s the smartest man in the world.’ Bea ran and hugged him.
Griffin tried to untangle himself when Raffy joined in. ‘It’s true!’
Fly squeezed in between th
em and nodded.
Isabella smiled.
‘Well, if you all think he’s so smart, so do I,’ Xavier said.
‘Don’t you–’ Griffin began but Xavier dived in before he could finish. The twins ducked and Xavier kissed Griffin on both cheeks. ‘You are officially my hero, too.’
Griffin wiped his face with his sleeve. ‘As long as you promise never to kiss me again.’
‘Oh, I’m not sure I can promise that. In fact I feel the urge to...’ He held his arms out again.
‘Stop!’
The others laughed.
‘All right, if you won’t let me kiss you again, can I ask something?’
‘What?’ Griffin asked warily.
‘If you have hot water, do you also have a bath?’
‘Sure we do!’ the twins cried.
‘We’ll run one for you,’ Bea offered.
Raffy looked at Isabella. ‘Is that okay?’
Isabella nodded and the two raced back down the corridor.
***
The bath was deep and wide and shaped like a giant shell. Steam filled the room and bubbles floated on top like fairy floss.
‘We even put some of that smelly stuff in there...’ Bea said.
‘Lavender or something.’ Raffy screwed up his nose.
They left the room, closing the door behind them.
Xavier sank beneath the thick froth and let the water swirl over him. He’d had a chill in his bones that he hadn’t been able to shake since the flooding began. A chill that no amount of coats or scarves or climbing around the city would shift, but for the first time in years, he felt as if he was thawing.
He closed his eyes and enjoyed every warm, sudsy moment.
Until the door flew open and he was met with Isabella.
He stayed still, hoping not to disturb his cover of bubbles. Isabella tossed a pair of pyjamas onto a stool. They were blue with fluffy rabbits on them.
‘Bunnies? My favourite.’ He laughed.
Isabella didn’t. ‘We only decided to let you stay because you can be useful to us. But if you make one small move that shows me we can’t trust you, if you hurt these kids in any way, you’ll be on the wrong end of my knife.’
‘Don’t worry.’ Xavier shook his head. ‘I’ve seen you in action. I’m not about to mess with any of you.’
‘And tomorrow you’ll take Griffin and me to the Haggle.’
‘I’ll first need to...’
Isabella stepped closer, her voice calm. ‘It wasn’t a question.’
Xavier shrugged. ‘A trip to the Haggle it is. You need to bring something useful to be let in.’
‘Done.’ Isabella turned to leave.
‘Those pictures of the sea monsters in Fly’s notebook. They’re not real, right?’
‘There have been some frightening times,’ Isabella said. ‘She has nightmares, and drawing helps her feel calm.’
‘Where did you find her?’
‘On a rooftop. All she had was a suitcase. On it was a label with a picture of a small plane and the word Dragonfly. She’s been Dragonfly ever since. Fly for short.’
‘Has she ever said anything?’
‘Not that we know ... I’ll leave you to your bath–’ there was the smallest of smiles edging into her lips – ‘before too many more of those bubbles burst.’
Xavier rounded handfuls of bubbles over his body as the door shut with a small click.
CHAPTER SIX
The Haggle
‘Dad!’ Isabella held firmly onto the side of the rowboat. She could see the wave in the distance. Growing, strengthening, rolling towards them.
‘Hold on!’ Isabella’s dad dragged the oars through the waves, trying to get them back to shore.
The wind whipped into them, drenching their clothes and plastering Isabella’s fringe against her face. Her mouth and eyes stung with the salt water. Her hands ached with the cold, red and raw. Thunder cracked all around them as bulging steel-grey clouds pelted a wall of rain into the boat.
The wave reared into the air like a breaching whale.
Water pooled around their ankles. Isabella grabbed a bucket and started bailing.
But it was no use. The sea washed over the boat. Her dad struggled to row harder. Little by little they edged towards the shore.
‘You can do it, Dad!’
He gave another fierce tug at the oars and smiled through his exhaustion. Even with the bitter cold of the rain and sea, Isabella felt warmed by it.
Then it hit. The wave blasted into the boat, spilling over them, folding them into its wake.
Isabella held her breath. There was water everywhere, tearing her off her feet, dragging her further down into the sea. The wave passed over and she was thrown upwards into the wash. She drew in a long, gasping breath and spun around, looking for her father. She saw him in the heaving swell. He reached out to her.
‘Bella!’ He struggled against a second wave, which rammed into him, pulling him underneath.
‘Dad!’ Isabella swam towards him, could almost reach him, but he was swamped by a final wave. ‘Dad!’
She waited for him to reappear, for the wave to let go of him, waited until...
‘Isabella?’
Isabella woke to see Griffin leaning over her, his eyebrows knotted in worry. ‘You were having another nightmare.’
‘Did I wake the kids?’
‘No, they’re on the roof,’ Griffin said. ‘All excited about the flight.’
‘The Haggle,’ she remembered.
‘Was the nightmare about your dad again?’
She nodded. ‘Each time it’s the same. I can’t save him, Griffin.’
Griffin watched a tear fall down her cheek. He reached to wipe it away just as she sat up. He sunk his hands into his pockets as she ran the sleeve of her pyjamas across her eyes. ‘I better get ready.’ She threw off her blankets. ‘It got a bit cold up in the air yesterday.’ She rifled through her wardrobe. ‘Make sure you dress warm.’
Griffin turned to leave. ‘Will you be okay?’
‘Sure.’ Her smile was infectious but, when Griffin reached the door, he snuck one last glance. Isabella was staring into the mirror, her smile gone. She wiped her eyes again. Xavier walked around the Aerotrope, finishing his final checks before climbing on. ‘All aboard the Haggle Express.’
Isabella slipped her arms through her life jacket and settled onto the seat behind him.
‘Are you sure there’s not room for one more?’ Raffy pleaded. ‘Look how little I am.’
‘Not this time, Raf.’ Isabella buckled the strap of her helmet. ‘Don’t worry, you’ll be flying before we know it.’
‘Are you sure it can take three of us?’ Griffin kept getting tangled in the straps of his life jacket.
Xavier waved his hand. ‘You worry too much, Griffy.’
‘Just because he doesn’t worry about anything,’ Griffin mumbled.
Fly helped untangle the jacket and clipped the strap around his waist. She gave him the thumbs-up.
‘Thanks, Fly.’ He stood still. All eyes focused on him.
‘Um ... ready, Griff?’ Xavier asked.
‘Sure.’ Griffin gave another tug on his already over-tight straps and clicked on a bicycle helmet. ‘Where do I sit?’
‘In the cargo box. Your legs can hang over the side.’
‘Is that safe?’
‘Depends if you decide to jump out halfway.’ Xavier smirked.
Each time Griffin tried to step inside, his jacket jammed into his face until he worked out a way to twist his body and thread himself into the cargo box.
Xavier pulled on his leather goggles and began pedalling. The wings on either side of them lurched to life. A small whimper escaped from Griffin’s lips.
Xavier released the small pair of wings on the back wheels. He kicked back the safety stand and, with a few small bounces, the Aerotrope was teetering across the roof.
Griffin’s head felt light. His breaths were short and his heart jolted
in his chest. ‘Wait! I have to–’
But before he could finish the Aerotrope lifted over the edge of the rooftop and fell from view.
A strangled cry wrenched at the air.
Fly, Bea and Raffy rushed over in time to see the flying machine catch a strong updraft and loop skyward. The wind buffeted the Aerotrope so that it swung up and down like a horse on a merry-go-round. Xavier gave a cowboy yell while Griffin groaned and shut his eyes tight.
The sun was only just managing to peek through small breaks in the clouds. It sparkled off waterways, windows and the ironwork facades of Grimsdon.
‘There’s the Queen’s castle.’ Isabella pointed at the ragged crenulations of the castle wall. She turned to see Griffin, his face scrunched into a grimace. ‘Griffin, you’re missing everything.’
‘I’m okay with that.’ He kept his eyes shut. ‘Just let me know when we’re there.’
The city opened up beneath them. Pointed towers, smaller, barely visible buildings and the top half of a giant Ferris wheel, all swirled by the floodwaters.
The Aerotrope dropped suddenly. Griffin screamed as it tipped sideways, faltering through the air until Xavier finally gained control and eased it back to a smooth flight.
‘Sorry about that,’ Xavier cried. ‘Air pocket.’
Griffin hunched into a ball. ‘Why did I ever agree–’
‘Griffin, you have to see this,’ Isabella called over her shoulder.
His hands clung onto the sides of the cargo box. He took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes, which widened at the sight of the river far below them. His body slumped and his grip loosened. ‘I think I’m going to be sick.’
‘Don’t look down,’ Xavier shouted. ‘Not till you get used to it. Look left.’
Griffin’s head wobbled to the side, to see the rising majesty of the clock tower. ‘Parliament House?’ he whispered.
‘That’s not the best part.’
Griffin followed Isabella’s pointed finger to the nest lodged inside the arches of the belltower. ‘Robins.’ He watched as the mother held a worm in her beak and the babies clambered to reach it.
‘She must have flown a long way to find that.’ Griffin momentarily forgot his fear.
‘Hold on,’ Xavier cried. ‘We’re going in for a landing.’
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