by Caro King
And suddenly, it was dawn.
By the number of days she had glimpsed, at least two dawns must have passed already, but they had happened in those great blanks when time lurched forward. This one happened when she was aware.
First she saw a glimmer of light in the air, drawing a nimbus of gold around her and the Hounds. She could feel the power gathering, an electric quiver spreading through the air. Then the sky exploded. Fire surged through the Storm in a wave of pure energy, turning the clouds to crimson and gold. She felt its hot wind rip through the misty fabric of her body and the force of it filled her with fear and intense happiness all at once. She threw back her head and howled and all the Hounds howled with her.
The clouds boiled in the heat, evaporating around the Hounds and leaving them thinner, ghosts edged in flame and carried on the fierce tide as it burned across the sky. The light was so bright that Nin could see nothing else as they flew at a frightening pace, part of the dawn fire, all sense of time or place lost.
And then it was gone.
It left an emptiness that terrified her. Almost at once the Storm began to thicken again, its dark vapour covering the Hounds like a shroud, giving them back their cloudy forms. Now, they ran in silence, although maybe the sighing was louder. The more Nin listened to it, the more it chilled her. She began to think that if she listened long enough she might hear words, cries for help, not just distant sobbing. But however much that filled her with terror, she also knew in her heart that if she experienced the dawn even once more then she would never want to leave.
If she was ever going to get them out it had to be now.
The clouds were swooping down again, the land rising to meet them at a terrifying speed. Tiny figures dropped everything and fled towards shelter.
Nin could feel Jonas running at her shoulder, and her focus was so clear and sharp that she could see every rock and stone and tiny blade of grass spread out below them. In the middle of it was a small, faraway shape, staring up.
NOW.
She reached for Jonas, catching hold of something that felt halfway between fur and cloth, then turned her face down to the dry land and pulled.
Jonas pulled back. He howled and she saw his head turn towards her. Jaws snapped at her arm. Nin screamed and held on, trying to fight her way down out of the clouds. It was too late.
Lightning cracked over her head and thunder rolled around her. Then the rain began.
She screamed again and thrashed, trying to break free and hold on to Jonas at the same time, but it was no use. The Hounds raised their faces upwards again, turning to leave the land behind.
And then something grabbed her arm and pulled so hard it hurt.
Nin scrunched the hand that was holding Jonas as tight as she could. She felt herself plummeting downwards and screamed some more as the ground rushed towards her. Jonas was struggling against her, but she held on so fiercely that he couldn’t break free. Then she was out and rolling on the ground, yelping at the stones that bruised her limbs.
Above her the Storm flew out over the sea and was gone.
Nin bumped to a halt and scrabbled upright. Her shoulder and thigh hurt badly and her left eye was swelling.
Jonas howled. She was about to run towards him when she saw IT. The thing that she had last seen downstairs in the hall, smirking at her as her mother asked her who she was. It hissed steam.
‘Wotcha done, dumb kid?’ it snarled. ‘Wotcha wanna bring ’im for? Look at ’im. ’e ain’t no use now.’ The bogeyman stabbed a bony finger at Jonas.
‘Skerridge!’ cried Nin.
She turned her back on him and ran to Jonas anyway. He was still on the ground and shivering. She put an arm round him, but when he turned to look at her, she pulled back with a cry. His eyes were glowing white.
‘See,’ said Skerridge. ‘’e’s been in there too long.’
‘Not much longer than me,’ snapped Nin, ‘and I’m all right.’
‘Oh yeah …’ The bogeyman looked at her thoughtfully. ‘Now ya come t’ mention it, y’do look kinda normal.’
Jonas howled again. Nin reached out to touch him, but he sprang to his feet and snarled at her and she drew back in horror. Then he turned away and stood, staring at the sky desperately.
‘Wants t’ go back, see. Carn be anyfin’ ovver than an ’Ound now. Ruined for life, ’e is.’
‘Will you shut up! If you can’t say anything helpful then don’t bother!’
She looked around. They were on a broad stretch of rocky ground. Further on, the rock turned sandy. Far out, Nin thought she could see a blue strip on the horizon.
‘Is that the sea?’
‘Yep.’
Jonas howled at the sky. Again and again. The sound of it tore at her. Nin shut her eyes and bit her lip. She could easily have cried and if Skerridge hadn’t been there she probably would have. Instead, she marched over to Jonas and dug in his pocket. He ignored her and went on staring hopelessly after the Hounds. His tinderbox was still there. Nin put it in her own pocket and started looking for something to burn.
Skerridge watched her for a minute. ‘There’s bound t’ be driftwood on the beach,’ he said. ‘Wan’ me t’ get ya some?’
Nin struggled for a moment. She would have liked to say no, but Jonas needed help and she wasn’t getting anywhere on her own.
‘You could,’ she said.
‘Done.’
There was a rush of air that made her gasp with surprise. Skerridge was gone. And then he was back, carrying a bundle of wood. Nin gaped at him.
‘Bogeymen move fast,’ he said. ‘Doncha know nuffin’?’
‘I knew that,’ she grumbled.
Nin picked a spot near the beach and piled the wood up carefully. Then she tried to use the tinderbox. Skerridge watched for a moment then shook his head and sent a quick spurt of flame at the wood. It ignited instantly. Nin glared at him. She couldn’t bring herself to say thank you.
Trying to persuade Jonas to sit down was difficult. Watching his face as he howled at the sky made her feel sick. His eyes, when he finally looked at her, made her feel sicker. When he was slumped by the fire, staring moodily into it and ignoring both her and Skerridge, she sat down herself. She had never felt so tired in her life and couldn’t think what to do next. She had checked the amulet a dozen times, but each time she looked it was the same. Dead, nothing more than a pretty necklace, the fiery trace gone. There was no help to be had there.
‘Callin’ the ’Ounds musta taken every last bit o’ power,’ Skerridge pointed out. ‘Carn’ o’ been easy.’
Nin sighed and tucked it away again. ‘I’ll keep it anyway. It helped me save Jonas. I wish I knew who made it.’
‘There’ll be a –’
‘There isn’t,’ she snapped. ‘I know there’s always supposed to be a sorcerer’s mark, but there isn’t on this. I’ve looked.’
Skerridge puffed out his cheeks. ‘Well there y’are then. Simeon Dark. ’e always liked to be secretive about fings. ’Is mark was not to ’ave one.’
Nin glared at him irritably.
‘Wanna rabbit? Makes a nice stew, rabbit. I’ll get the rabbit, mebbe a coupla rabbits, an’ yew make the stew.’
‘I’ve got nothing to cook with,’ she said coldly.
‘I fort you carried the pan while ’e carried everyfin’ else?’
‘Yes.’ Nin spoke with exaggerated patience, ‘But someone stole my … Is that my bag?’
Skerridge whipped it off his back and dumped it next to her. ‘Fort it might come in ’andy.’
Nin stared at it suspiciously. ‘How long have you been following me?’
Skerridge scratched his head. ‘Oooo, lemme see. Since ya ran out the front door, I reckon.’
‘So what are you going to do then? Shove me in a sack and … You are, aren’t you?’
‘Sooner or later.’ Skerridge waved a hand airily. ‘S’bin quite fun really, what wiv one fing an’ anovver. Nearly gave up when ya goes an’ gets yerself ca
ught up wiv the ’Ounds, mind! Still, nex’ thing I know ya was makin’ a break for it. Yer’d never ’ave made it o’ course, but ya got pretty close and that meant I got near enough to jump as ’igh as I could an’ pull yer out.’
‘And now?’
‘Rabbit stew,’ said Skerridge and disappeared.
21
The Thief of You
y the time Skerridge had reappeared with two rabbits, some mushrooms and a hunk of bread, Jonas was up and pacing the beach. Nin hovered around him. Every time she tried to touch his arm or speak to him, he snarled at her.
‘I can’t cook,’ she wailed. ‘I’ve got to look after Jonas.’
‘Strikes me ’e don’ want lookin’ after,’ said Skerridge mildly. ‘I’d wotchit if I was yew. Looks like ’e might bite.’
Nin whirled on him. ‘Shut up!’ she yelled. ‘Just you shut up!’ Her face felt hot and angry and stiff with tears.
‘No need t’ yell at a pore ole bogeyman like that.’
Nin turned her back and gazed after Jonas.
Skerridge scratched his nose. ‘’Ow about I keep an eye on ’im, while ya get on wiv the stew? They’re skinned an’ gutted so no nasty work t’ do,’ he went on, waving the rabbits temptingly in her direction.
Part of Nin wanted to go on trying to get through to Jonas, part of her knew it was no good and another part was hurting so much she just wanted to leave it behind for a while.
‘I s’pose something to eat might help him?’
‘Bound to.’
‘I’ll need water,’ said Nin reluctantly.
‘Over there,’ said Skerridge. ‘Nice little stream wanderin’ down t’ the sea.’
Nin set off towards the stream. She was glad to go. She wasn’t sure she could have stood much more of it. The worst thing, worse than the lightning eyes and the howling, was the way he didn’t want her there. He knew she was there all right, he just didn’t care that she was. Right now, Nin could walk off and leave him and he wouldn’t even notice.
She sniffed hard. She had to use her sleeve on her wet eyes and nose because she didn’t have a handkerchief.
When she got to the stream she sat down on a rock. The sun, half in and half out of some feathery clouds impersonating a giant eagle with ragged wings, was drying everything and a brisk breeze cooled her face and ruffled her hair. The stream mumbled on about Death and Doom in the usual way.
‘You can stop all that stuff,’ she said to it as she filled the cooking pot. ‘It will be all right, you’ll see. At least I hope it will. I just have to believe it will work out in the end.’
She began to see that Skerridge had been clever when he gave her something to do, because she was already beginning to feel better. Like perhaps she could cope after all. Carrying the pan, she set off towards the beach again.
‘Hope,’ whispered the stream to her retreating back. ‘Believe.’ But Nin was too far away to hear.
Before she got back someone said …
‘Jik?’
‘You found me!’
The mudman was watching her from a slab of rock. He jumped down and trotted towards her. She had never been so glad to see a friend in her life.
‘Are you OK? You look kind of thin. Like you lost a layer or something.’
‘Yikyik.’
‘Come on then, better go find Jonas. He’s not too good after that Gabriel Hound thing.’
‘Ik.’
‘Yeah, it’s ik all right,’ said Nin with feeling.
Jonas was standing on the edge of the sand, staring out to where the sea streaked the horizon with blue. Skerridge was crouched a few yards away, watching him carefully. He looked round when they appeared.
‘’Ullo.’
‘Jik.’
Nin glanced at them both. ‘D’you know each other?’
‘O’ course. ‘E’s a Fabulous. Got good senses the Fabulous.’
‘If you knew he was following, why didn’t you say anything?’ She gave Jik a stern look.
Jik shrugged. ‘Tik yik nik.’
‘How could I possibly know when … Oh never mind.’ Nin shook her head, dumped the pot on to the fire and began to sort out the rabbit and the mushrooms.
‘Ooo!’ Skerridge fished about in the pocket of his waistcoat. He dug out two twists of paper. ‘’ere y’are. Seasonin’ fer the stew. Pop in all o’ that one and a tiny bit o’ that one an’ it’ll spice fings up jus’ great.’
‘You can cook?’
‘Bit out o’ practice. Eat on the run mostly, jus’ ’ave to grab what I can get. ‘M a very busy bogeyman, y’know.’ He scratched his ear.
Nin couldn’t stop herself laughing out loud, although she cut it back quickly. Skerridge looked vaguely pleased.
‘Wha’s yer name, by the way? Used ter know, but I forgot and I carn call ya Ri – Gotta call ya somefin’, ain’t I? An’ don’ look at me like that. I might steal kids, but that don’ mean I wanna be on first name terms wiv ’em.’
‘Ninevah Redstone.’
Skerridge screwed up his face. ‘Bit of a mouful. ’Ow d’ya manage?’
Nin shook her head. ‘People call me Nin. And he’s Jonas.’
Skerridge nodded and sighed. ‘S’a first for me, y’know. Bovverin’ to remember a kid’s name. But we been frew enough that I reckon we orta be introduced.’
Nin frowned to stop herself laughing again. ‘You really are something else.’
‘Bogeyman,’ said Skerridge cheerfully. ‘Ain’t ya gonna get on wiv dinner?’
It took her a while to get the stew going. When it was ready, she steeled herself to go to Jonas. Reaching out, she touched his arm gently.
‘Please, Jonas. Come and eat something. Please. It might make you feel better.’
‘I wouldn’ do that ’f I were yew.’
Jonas turned on her so fast that she didn’t have time to scream. Skerridge moved faster. Jonas had seized Nin’s hair to pull her head back, but Skerridge snatched her from the bared teeth just as they grazed her skin.
Dumped in a heap on the rocks with Skerridge holding her still, Nin covered her head and wailed. Her scalp throbbed where a clump of hair had been torn out and the scratches on her neck burned like acid.
‘Ain’t ya glad ole Skerridge is ’ere?’ The bogeyman grinned, his breath tickling her ear. ‘’e was goin’ fer the jug’lar that time.’
Nin fought him off and struggled up. Jonas was still howling.
‘He’ll get better,’ she said stubbornly. ‘And he wouldn’t have hurt me really.’
‘Ik.’
‘Yeah, see. Even the mudman knows better’n that an’ e’s only been aroun’ five minutes.’
‘Traitor,’ snapped Nin.
Jik drooped his head sadly. Nin ignored him and stamped back to the stew. She didn’t look at Jonas.
‘Let ’im alone fer a while,’ said Skerridge. ‘’ere.’ He dug a couple of small bowls out his pockets along with a pair of spoons. ‘Picked ’em up alonga the bunny an’ that.’
‘Do you know where we are?’ she asked, trying to block out another howl from Jonas, who was pacing the beach restlessly. Jik had turned to watch him.
‘Yer jus’ a few miles up the coast from the ’Ouse,’ said Skerridge as he slobbered down the stew, ‘and I gotta nidea about ’Ound boy. Ever ’eard of the Lock’eart Sanctuary?’
Nin looked blank for a moment and then she remembered. ‘Enid Lockheart was one of the Seven Sorcerers! She set up a hospital for Quick. Do you think they can help him?’
‘They’ll try!’ Skerridge grinned craftily. ‘Know where it is? Right under Mr Strood’s nose.’
‘Near the House?’
‘More than that! It’s in the blimmin’ grounds, innit! I’ll take yer there if yer like.’
‘Hmm. I guess you’ve got to get me to the House somehow, right?’
‘Never said I was gonna be nice.’
Nin smiled half-heartedly. ‘Shame, I was hoping you might, like, give me my life back? Just for the fu
n of it?’
Skerridge drew in a breath and shook his head. ‘Ain’t that simple. Even if I didn’ ’ave a reputation to keep up. Y’see, all the mem’ries of ya, all the ones I stole, they’re wrapped up in a memory pearl. The pearls are all in a secret room in the ’Ouse.’
‘But you were following me. You wouldn’t have had time …’
Skerridge shrugged. ‘Miles are pretty much nuffin’ when yer got super-speed. Anyway, point is, yer gotta get ’old o’ yer pearl first an’ then swaller it.’
‘Swallow it?’ Nin frowned.
‘Dunno why I’m tellin’ ya this really, cos I’m gonna deliver ya to Strood, make no bones about it! But jus’ in case somefin’ ’appens an’, oh I dunno, ya gets away from Mr Strood – which is impossible o’ course – I fort I’d let ya know what t’ do next. But don’ go finkin’ ya can get away easy. Look at it like this. Plenny o’ kids over the years ’ave got away from the BMs, ’cept me o’ course. But of all those ’oo didn’ get away an’ got ’anded over, not one of ’em ’as ever escaped from Mr Strood. S’impossible.’
Nin smiled. ‘So was getting away from you.’
‘Yer ain’t done it yet, kid,’ grinned Skerridge. ‘Yer ain’t done it yet!’
By the time they had finished their meal, the day was drowning in its evening light, sinking into clouds like a purple lake. The waves were tipped with foamy horses that gleamed bone white in the dying sun and galloped before the breeze, dragging the sea behind them. It would have been beautiful if Nin had been in the mood to care.
She felt deeply tired. Every bone and muscle ached with it and she knew they had a long trip ahead. Trouble was, how could she get Jonas calm enough to go with her to the sanctuary?
Jik was rummaging around inside her pack. A moment later he hurried over to Nin and dropped the crowsmorte candle at her feet.
A warm smile stretch across Nin’s face. ‘Perfect! Thank you.’ She picked up the candle and held it for a moment in silent hope. Then she lit it at the fire and carried it over to Jonas, where he had settled in a sprawled heap on the sand.
Skerridge curled up by the fire and was asleep in a second. Nin followed his example and knew nothing more, not even dreams, until the electric feel of gathering dawn woke her up.