Grimsdon

by Deborah Abela

  ‘We’ll be here with you.’ She smiled.

  ‘What are we looking for?’ Griffin asked Jeremiah.

  ‘Anything that mentions the Flood Barrier Project. Under the Department of Sustainability. Dated five years ago.’

  ‘I was a pretty good snoop as a kid,’ Raven rubbed his hands together, ‘so this should be easy.’

  They broke away and began searching through folders, letters, reams of research papers and endless notes from meetings.

  ‘Is that all they ever did in Parliament, have meetings?’ Griffin asked.

  ‘And lots of fancy dinners and parties while talking about their boats and holiday homes,’ Raven sneered.

  Raven pushed up his sleeves. Griffin noticed a scar running the length of his forearm. ‘Is it true you had fights with kids who ended up in hospital?’

  Raven slunk his arm around Griffin’s shoulders. ‘Only the annoying ones.’

  ‘Oh,’ Griffin’s voice cracked and he went back to searching.

  He flicked through a bulky folder marked with a deep red ‘Confidential’ across the front. ‘There’s a report here about disappearing islands.’ He frowned and looked to Jeremiah. ‘Is that true?’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ Jeremiah said. ‘Small islands around the world have been disappearing for years.’

  ‘How do whole islands disappear?’ Xavier asked.

  ‘Rising sea levels swallowed them up. Small ones, mainly, in the middle of oceans where no-one lived. Governments knew about it bit did nothing, as if the destruction would somehow stop if they just ignored it. But it didn’t. Soon islands with small populations began to disappear too.’

  ‘What happened to the people who lived there?’ Isabella asked.

  ‘They were paid money to be quiet and relocated anywhere in the world they wanted to live.’

  ‘What a surprise!’ Raven said. ‘An untrustworthy adult.’

  ‘But look at how long this list is.’ Griffin turned through several pages.

  ‘It’s longer than that. They must have stopped counting after a while.’

  Xavier looked at the list. ‘I’ve never even heard of these places.’

  ‘Most people never have and never will.’ Jeremiah shook his head.

  ‘Why didn’t we know about it?’ Isabella asked.

  ‘Some people knew and even tried to tell the world, but was only when it began to affect us that people started to ask questions, but by then it was too late.’

  ‘And you tried to warn the government?’ Raven asked.

  ‘With other scientists.’

  ‘And they did nothing?’

  Jeremiah nodded.

  Griffin flicked further. ‘There are papers here by scientists and letters from sailors about the seas changing and acting strange – the disappearance of seabirds and fish; spiders moving in swarms out of the city.’

  ‘The month before the floods you couldn’t find one spider left in the city,’ Jeremiah said. ‘Most animals have a good sense of trouble ahead.’

  They went back to their search, spread throughout the aisle.

  Raven retrieved a box from a high shelf and climbed down a ladder. He perched beside Griffin and lowered his voice. ‘How did you guys meet Xavier?’

  ‘He tried to break into our place but walked right into a trap. We had him swinging by his ankles.’

  ‘Really?’ Raven sniggered. ‘The way he tells it, you saw his flying machine and begged him to stay.’

  ‘But that’s not true, he–’

  ‘Don’t get upset,’ Raven said. ‘He was always good at telling stories. One time he convinced the principal he’d been away from school because his parents had died in a plane crash over the Congo.’ He laughed. ‘Got suspended for a month when the real story came out. Copped it from his dad pretty badly.’

  ‘So you knew him well?’

  ‘All through school. His parents were loaded. Never seemed to be around much. Travelled a lot for business. There were times when he’d stay at my house for days or weeks, and his parents never even called.’

  ‘Even so, it must have been hard not being able to save them.’

  Raven squinted at Griffin through his fringe. ‘Save them?’

  ‘From the floodwaters. He tried to save them, only–’ Griffin stopped.

  Raven shook his head. ‘Looks like someone has been telling fibs.’

  ‘They’re still alive?’

  Raven nodded. ‘They live in a posh house in Summerfield. Xavier sometimes goes back and gets fresh food. Cakes and stuff. Steals them even when his mum’s there. After the floods, his mother and father carried on as if nothing had happened. Parties, fancy clothes and social clubs. His dad was even making money out of it, don’t ask me how. Xavier had a big fight with them and left to come here.’

  ‘Why?’

  Raven shrugged. ‘Adventure.’

  ‘Adventure?’ Griffin scowled.

  ‘He was bored. Everything his parents did seemed so fake.’

  Isabella waved a document in the air. ‘I found something.’

  The others hurried over as she turned through pages. ‘There are some mentions of Jeremiah and the other scientists, plans to improve the flood barriers and even construct flood storage areas. This is from a session in parliament.’ She read out loud: ‘With respect, I don’t see why we should waste any more time talking about this. This city is as likely to be flooded as it is to be taken over by sea monsters. Let’s deal with the facts and not the overactive imaginations of a few scientists wanting attention.’

  Isabella read on. ‘It says Jeremiah Pain was ejected from the House for disorderly conduct.’

  ‘I’d been patient for months, but I lost it. Started yelling at them. Threw my shoe across the room, if I remember right. They dragged me away. All on camera for the world to see.’ Jeremiah’s smile had no trace of happiness to it. ‘That’s what I became; a troublemaker. After years of scientific work and study, I was made out to be a madman. After awhile, I started to believe it.’

  ‘What else does it say?’ Griffin asked.

  Isabella turned the page and her face lost all colour.

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘It’s a letter from my dad.’ She read silently. ‘It’s about why the government should act and then–’ She bit her lip.

  Griffin sat beside her and read the paper in her hands. ‘We have to act now. We’re in charge of a world we’ve made sick, and we have the chance to change that. Every day my daughter, Bella, looks at me like I have the power to do anything. If I don’t do all I can to convince you, then I’ll have let her down. She deserves a world as beautiful as she is. All our kids do.’

  Griffin reached out and wiped a tear from her cheek.

  Jeremiah wiped his own eyes before dabbing Snowy’s.

  Xavier looked through the rest of the folder, through more arguments for and against. ‘There’s something else.’ His eyes widened. ‘I vote we turn down this expensive and wasteful idea and get back to the business of running the country.’ That part was written by Byron P. Sneddon.’

  ‘Sneddon?’ Griffin asked.

  ‘The lunatic Captain Hook of the harbour used to help run the country?’ Raven scoffed.

  ‘He lives here?’ Jeremiah asked.

  ‘On a ship in the harbour,’ Griffin explained.

  ‘Did you know him?’ Isabella asked.

  ‘He was the advisor to the Minister who was about to approve our plans for the improved barriers. Sneddon was always whispering in his ear whenever the topic of the floods came up.’ Jeremiah frowned. ‘In fact, it was only when Sneddon became involved that the plans seemed to stall.’

  ‘Sneddon caused this?’ Raven’s look was icy.

  ‘Not alone,’ Jeremiah said. ‘But he did everything he could to discredit the science behind what we were saying.’

  Isabella folded her father’s letter and buttoned it into her coat pocket. ‘And now he lives in comfort thanks to us?’

  ‘I knew I should ha
ve finished him off,’ Raven said.

  All eyes turned to Isabella. ‘Let’s take what we’ve found and go home.’

  Carrying boxes and backpacks filled with papers, they made their way through the long corridors back to the Haggle. Griffin stayed close to Isabella while Xavier stomped and blustered behind them. ‘At least we know one thing. We were right to stop paying Sneddon. He’s nothing but a thief and a liar. Standing up in parliament and telling lie after lie! But that’s all politicians are. Liars! Just to get what they want! Dirty, rotten...’

  Griffin dropped his box and turned on him. ‘Tell her!’

  Xavier stepped back. ‘Tell her what?’

  ‘Tell her why you’re here.’ Griffin’s jaw clenched.

  ‘To help Isabella look for–’

  ‘No!’

  ‘What’s going on, Griff?’ Isabella asked.

  Jeremiah hugged Snowy close.

  ‘Tell her about your parents.’

  Xavier lowered the box he was carrying. ‘I told you, they died–’

  ‘They’re not dead. They live inland in a huge house with lots of money and the food you get is from them – the cakes, the ham, the chocolate. You steal all of it from your own parents, who are still alive.’

  ‘They’re alive?’ Isabella slowly laid her box on the floor. ‘The house we stole from,’ she realised. ‘That lady was your mother.’

  ‘Who’s the liar now?’ Griffin yelled.

  Xavier’s laugh was small and nervous. ‘It’s not the same–’

  ‘It is!’

  ‘Why did you lie?’ Isabella asked.

  ‘I thought ... I didn’t mean to...’

  ‘Because the poor little rich boy was bored.’ Griffin jabbed him in the chest. ‘He wanted adventure and a bit of fun. Isn’t that right, Raven?’

  Raven slunk his hands into his pocket and nodded.

  Isabella flew at Xavier, knocking him to the ground. ‘You lied!’ she shouted. ‘We’re here because we lost our parents. You’re here because you want to have an adventure? You told us your family died. You said you watched them, that you couldn’t do anything to save them – and instead you steal from them.’

  ‘Isabella, please. I only wanted to–’

  ‘You asked us to trust you and we did. How could you?’

  Xavier said nothing.

  Isabella gave him one last push in the chest before standing above him. ‘Don’t bother coming back to the Palace. You’re not welcome there or in our lives ever again.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Revenge

  ‘Griffin, wake up!’

  Griffin dragged his eyes open and squinted against the dull morning light, until he realised it was Xavier leaning over and shaking him.

  He sprang upright and flicked Xavier’s hand away. ‘What are you doing here? Isabella told you you’re not welcome.’

  ‘Isabella’s gone, and so is the Aerotrope.’

  ‘She’s gone?’ Griffin pushed past him and pulled a coat over his pyjamas. ‘Have you checked her bedroom, the kitchen, what about the greenhouse?’

  ‘Everywhere. I think she’s gone to fight Sneddon.’

  Griffin stopped. ‘She said she wouldn’t,’ he whispered. ‘We talked for hours last night. I asked her and she promised.’

  ‘She probably meant it, but it must have been too much. Thinking about Sneddon and all he could have done to stop the floods, to save her dad.’

  Griffin felt his chest tighten.

  ‘Come on, let’s go.’ Xavier tugged his sleeve but Griffin snatched it away.

  ‘Why should I go anywhere with you?’

  ‘Because Isabella’s in danger. She’s angry and not thinking straight ... and I owe it to her because of what I did.’

  ‘We ready?’ Raven stood at the door.

  ‘What are you–’

  ‘We came to get the Aerotrope and have it out with Sneddon, but Isabella beat us to it.’

  He handed Griffin a knife and belt. ‘Take this.’

  ‘I’m not very good with–’

  ‘You’ll be fine.’ Raven’s voice was final. ‘Xavier told me you’re good in a fight.’

  They ran into the corridor where they were met with a bleary-eyed Bea and Raffy, followed by Jeremiah. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘We can tell you later,’ Griffin said.

  ‘Is it Isabella?’ Bea asked.

  Griffin knelt down before them. ‘She’s gone out and we’re going to get her.’

  ‘Is it because of what Sneddon did?’

  ‘We think so.’

  ‘I worried this might happen.’ Jeremiah twisted the cords on his coat. ‘My fault, my fault,’ he murmured.

  ‘Can we come too?’ Raffy asked. ‘We can help.’

  ‘I know you can, but the most important thing you can do now is look after each other until we get back. Can you do that for me?’

  Fly appeared behind them carrying a sword.

  ‘Don’t mind if I do.’ Raven tucked it into his belt.

  ‘Will you bring her back?’ Fly’s eyes trembled with tears. Jeremiah placed his hands on her shoulders.

  Griffin smiled. ‘In time for a very big breakfast.’

  The boys raced to the window leading down to the landing and Xavier’s Velocraft.

  Isabella struggled to control the Aerotrope. It was battered through the skies by wind and rain, lashed this way and that, swinging at impossible angles. Her arms ached with the effort of trying to keep the machine level. She snuck quick looks at Xavier’s compass attached to the handles and the harbour that wrestled in tangled waves beneath her.

  Sneddon’s ship appeared through the harbour mist. Another slap of wind forced the Aerotrope sideways and Isabella slipped from her seat. She gripped the handles and pulled herself back on, the pain burning into her arms and hands.

  She pedalled furiously, her fingers tense and her skin raw from the biting cold, but the ship was now in reach. She leant forward and brought the flying machine lower. It swooped and lurched like an injured bird until, at just the right moment, a small window of calm slipped between the flurries and Isabella landed with a jolt on the deck of The Sea Serpent.

  She collapsed forward with a heavy sigh and unhooked her frozen fingers from the handles. But before she could move, the sharp point of a knife found its way to her neck and her arm was held in a vice grip.

  ‘A visit to us!’ Tyran slurred with glee, his hair bustling wildly around his head. ‘Captain will be so pleased, especially as this time you have brought him the machine.’

  ‘Yes, he will.’ Mouse bowed ever so slightly and held out his hand. ‘Milady?’

  ‘Take your hand away from me if you don’t want to lose it.’

  Mouse looked offended. ‘But I was only trying to be nice.’

  ‘You could try for the rest of your life, but you’ll never achieve nice.’

  His voiced hardened. ‘Now you’re just being mean.’

  ‘Where’s Sneddon?’

  The ship lurched. Tyran almost lost his grip of Isabella.

  ‘That’s “the Captain” to you.’ Tyran tugged her arm and the knife jabbed into her neck, piercing the skin so that a trickle of blood dripped onto the deck.

  ‘You’ve got quite a talent for picking on kids. It must make you feel very powerful.’

  Tyran shoved his face close to Isabella’s so that his putrid breath spilled all over her. ‘Push it too far, little girl, and we’ll show you just how good we are.’

  ‘Show me then.’ Isabella twisted out of his hold and kneed him in the stomach. He collapsed to the deck in a wheezing clump. She flicked a snap-kick at Mouse’s face, sending him stumbling backwards clutching his nose, blood dripping between his fingers.

  ‘My nose!’

  Isabella snatched her knives from her ankle and waist and aimed straight at them. ‘Now, if we’ve finished playing, I’d like to see Sneddon.’

  ‘Well, you’re in luck.’ Sneddon stepped out of his cabin on the upper deck
and held out his hands. ‘I’m here.’ Albert was coiled around his neck, his tail dangling into Sneddon’s front pocket.

  The Captain stepped down to the main deck, holding the handrail ropes as the ship was rocked by the wind.

  ‘My nose!’ Mouse whined through muffled sobs. ‘Captain, she...’ He caught sight of his bloodied hands and passed out.

  ‘There go your good looks,’ Sneddon mumbled and walked over to the Aerotrope. ‘And you’ve brought my flying machine! That’s a good girl.’

  Tyran managed to stand in a hunched pose. ‘But she–’

  ‘Is far more useful than either of you ever have been.’

  Sneddon revealed a covetous smile as he circled the machine. ‘Ah, she’s a beauty. What can I give you? I have some lovely diamonds, a tiara – oh, maybe a sapphire ring.’

  ‘All I want is the truth.’

  ‘The truth?’ He sniggered. ‘Wouldn’t a sapphire necklace be much more–’

  ‘I know about your part in the floods.’

  Albert’s head shifted towards Isabella.

  A wave heaved beneath the ship. Sneddon lost his balance momentarily.

  ‘The floods?’ Tyran scoffed. ‘How could the Captain have anything to do with that?’

  ‘By doing nothing when he was told it would happen.’

  ‘Nonsense.’ Sneddon laughed.

  ‘You’ve hidden on this boat all these years gathering jewels and antiques – and it was only last night I realised why.’

  ‘Can I help it if I like nice things?’

  ‘You’re going to use them to buy your way back into a very nice life inland. That’s why you needed Xavier’s Aerotrope.’ She turned to Tyran. ‘And he’s going on his own.’

  Tyran frowned. ‘The Captain would never do that. He said we were all going.’

  ‘So it’s true?’ Isabella asked Sneddon.

  ‘That we’ve had enough of this watery prison, yes, but your accusation about the floods only proves you’ve read too many of those ridiculous books.’

  ‘I have evidence. From Parliament House. Boxes of it. I am going to show the whole world what you did. People lost their city, their homes and their families because of you.’

  Sneddon put on his best politician’s voice. ‘The floods were just a monumentally unfortunate case of bad luck.’