‘Sorry – I thought we could watch the news, that’s all. To see if Perijee’s on. I haven’t seen him in ages.’
The women glanced at each other. It was strange – they were almost always silent, waiting to see what Mother would do or say next. I hardly ever saw them speak. Mother pushed her plate away with a sigh.
‘A fine idea, my girl,’ she said. ‘But I’m afraid it’s not possible. There’s no TV on board.’
Fi looked up in surprise.
‘No TV? Really?’
Mother gritted her teeth. ‘Yes, Queenie, that’s what I said – no TV.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘In fact, it’s getting late. Maybe the little chef and her charming friend should go to bed before …’
‘What about the one you’ve got hidden in that cupboard over there?’ said Fi, pointing behind her.
One of the old women spat out her food. Mother’s eyes widened with shock. Fi grinned.
‘I found it while looking round the boat earlier,’ she said. ‘Seems odd that you would forget about something like that.’
Mother glared at Fi like she wanted to rip her to pieces. I coughed nervously – the mood in the room was turning bad again. I didn’t want it to get any worse.
‘So … can we watch the news?’ I asked. ‘Just for a bit?’
Mother gripped her butter knife.
‘Of course!’ she said. ‘I completely forgot about that old thing – you know what old ladies are like, ha ha! Yes, a few minutes of TV is fine – but then straight to bed, please. We’ll be at the city in a matter of days, and the women and I need to discuss our plans for the Monster.’
She snapped her fingers. The old ladies obediently leapt up and wheeled out the TV from the cupboard, fiddling with the buttons. Mother was right – it was pretty old. She must have simply forgotten it was there.
But something she’d said didn’t seem right.
‘… Mother?’
She smiled sweetly. ‘Yes, child?’
‘What are your plans for the Monster? I thought … I thought we were going to the city to talk to Perijee. What does the Monster have to do with anything?’
The women fell silent again. Fi and Mother locked eyes across the table. The screen slipped in and out of static behind them, shapes flashing up for a moment before disappearing.
‘Well, that all depends, my girl,’ said Mother carefully. ‘What if the Monster doesn’t go away after you’ve saved Perijee?’
The TV hissed and crackled. I hadn’t really thought about that.
‘Well … we could find my dad,’ I said. ‘He’ll know what to do.’
Mother nodded. ‘Your father – the scientist.’
‘Yeah!’ I said. ‘He’s an expert on aliens. The one who’s going to help me get Perijee home – remember?’
Things were beginning to emerge on the screen now – people, colours, things moving. Mother shared a look with the women. Then she leaned across the table towards me.
‘But, my dear girl,’ she said, ‘do you even know where your father is?’
The screen suddenly flashed clear. I dropped my glass.
‘Dad?!’
He was right there, looking at me out of the TV.
‘… And with us tonight,’ the newsreader was saying, ‘we have Dr Paul Bennett, the leading world expert on the Monster.’
I was speechless. Dad was sitting in a chair, wearing a suit, adjusting his glasses. Why was he on TV? Why wasn’t he out looking for me?
One of the old ladies went to turn off the TV, but Mother waved her away furiously. On-screen, the newsreader turned to Dad.
‘I suppose the first question on everyone’s mind, Dr Bennett, is simply: what is the Monster? Where has he come from?’
Dad smoothed his tie. ‘The answer is obvious – it comes from an alien species that lays its eggs on meteors. A section of rock containing one of these eggs must have broken off during the recent meteor shower and fallen through our atmosphere, after which the egg hatched on land. There’s no other possible explanation for the timing of the Monster’s first appearance.’
The newsreader leaned forwards.
‘And this is the most incredible part of the story, isn’t it, Dr Bennett? The part where you yourself discover the Monster, on the beach of your island home!’
The words hit my stomach and stayed there.
‘It really was a once-in-a-lifetime moment,’ said Dad proudly. ‘I was out for my walk – having just dropped my daughter off at school, like I do every morning – and there he was, right in front of me!’
I couldn’t believe it – he was lying. Why would he lie about something like that?
‘Of course,’ said Dad, ‘I go into all the details in the latest edition of my book, published today.’
He held one up to the camera. On the front cover there was a picture of him stepping on the Monster’s head and crushing it to a paste.
‘Inside you’ll get the full story – how I taught the Monster to speak, how I know it better than anyone …’ He smiled to the camera. ‘But most importantly of all, how it can be destroyed.’
I sat in silence, the pain in my stomach getting sharper and sharper. I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised. It was just like Mum had said – I knew what Dad was like. He’d always put his work before everything else. Of course he would never have searched the country for me – he probably hadn’t even noticed I was gone. I couldn’t believe I’d been so …
‘Stupid,’ I said quietly.
My eyes were welling up. Fi held my hand.
‘Caitlin … are you all right?’
I nodded. ‘Yeah. I just … I can’t believe he’d give up on Perijee like that.’
Mother reached across the table and took my other hand.
‘Oh, my poor girl,’ she said. ‘I am so sorry. There is nothing worse than being failed by your own family – believe me, I know.’ She nodded to the rest of the table. ‘But look around you, child! Look who you’re with! Who needs family when you have us?’
I looked down the table. Mother was right – I had Fi sat right beside me, and a sea of warm smiling faces in front. It didn’t matter if Dad had let me down – I didn’t need him any more. Not when I had so many new friends.
Here on this boat, I was the safest I’d been in my whole …
‘BREAKING NEWS!’
The TV slammed back to the newsroom, a reporter glaring down the camera.
‘Another bloody attack by Obsidian Blade!’
The old ladies flew from their chairs to turn off the TV, but they were so panicked they crashed into each other and ripped the dial off the front. Mother threw the entire table to one side and charged forwards, but she was too late. I watched as the camera slowly panned round the smouldering remains of a burned-out building.
It was the theatre in Wanderly.
There was nothing left – only a single blackened wall where the stage had been. The scorched map hung in tatters at the back. Across it, in blood-red paint that pooled into greasy ashes, someone had drawn:
The TV turned black. Mother stood beside it, her face white, the plug hanging from her fist.
Her arms were bare where her nightgown had ripped. They were covered in tattoos from shoulder to wrist – black tentacles twisting into the symbol I’d just seen on TV.
‘… You?’ I whispered. ‘You’re Obsidian Blade?’
The old ladies stood rooted to the spot. Mother stepped forwards.
‘My child—’
I scrambled out my chair.
‘No! I know all about you!’ I pointed at her with a trembling hand. ‘You’re the ones who go around blowing up buildings and sneaking into people’s houses and … sacrificing them!’
Mother clapped a hand to her chest.
‘Sacrificing people? Is that what you think we do, child?’
She burst out laughing, a rich warm laugh that bounced off the walls like a bell.
‘Good heavens! No wonder you look so frightened!’
The other women started laughing along with her. I looked at them in confusion – I had no idea what was supposed to be so funny. I glanced over at Fi, but she looked as mystified as I did. She was pressed against the wall behind me, her sharp black eyes flicking between Mother and the exit.
‘It is true,’ said Mother. ‘We are the group known as Obsidian Blade. I am sorry we had to hide the truth from you … But of course, there is no need to hide anything now.’ She nodded to the others. ‘Ladies?’
One by one they ripped the arms off their nightgowns and showed me the skin underneath. Every single one was covered in tattoos of winding black tentacles.
‘We are an ancient organisation that is dedicated to protecting the Monster,’ Mother explained. ‘At least, that is what most people call him. They say that he is evil and that he must be destroyed – but they are wrong. They do not understand what he truly is.’
‘What do you mean?’ I said.
Mother nodded and the women instantly bowed their heads. When she spoke her voice was soft and quiet, like a prayer.
‘Thousands of years ago, a sacred prophecy was written by the first priests of Obsidian Blade,’ she said. ‘A prediction that one day a powerful creature will appear on Earth. His body will be covered in words that will answer all questions. And when the time is right, he will take us all to a better place – to paradise, my girl.’
I stared at her in amazement. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
‘… You think the creature is Perijee?’ I said.
Mother nodded. ‘That is why we must protect him, child. He is more important than anyone realises.’
I looked at the TV. All I could think about was the blood-red message scrawled across the stage wall.
‘But … you blew up the theatre,’ I said. ‘And the castle. You could have hurt someone.’
Mother leaned towards me.
‘Soldiers are being trained to blow him up in two days’ time, Caitlin. How is that any different?’
‘But … Perijee wouldn’t want anyone hurt,’ I said. ‘I taught him killing things is wrong.’
Mother looked surprised.
‘You said you would do anything for him, Caitlin.’
I shook my head. ‘Not that.’
Mother gazed at me, her face calm and expressionless. Then she nodded.
‘As you wish,’ she said. ‘We’ll stop the attacks. From now on, no one else will be hurt.’ She held out a hand. ‘I give you my word, Caitlin …’
‘Don’t touch her!’
Fi leapt forwards, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from Mother.
‘She’s a maniac, Caitlin! We have to get out of here!’
I frowned. ‘But … she just said she’s not going to hurt anyone else. She promised …’
‘You can’t believe a word she says!’ said Fi. ‘She’s lied to you, and she’ll lie again!’
Suddenly Mother was on her knees in front of me, gripping my other arm.
‘I admit it, child,’ she said. ‘I lied – and it was a terrible mistake. You must stay with us. Without you, we cannot save Perijee.’
I looked between the two of them in shock. I had no idea what to do.
‘Caitlin, come on!’ cried Fi, pulling me hard. ‘We have to go …’
‘You must stay, child …’
I closed my eyes. In my mind I could see Perijee on top of the Monster’s head – frightened, lost, alone. On the ground below him were thousands of people like the ones in Wanderly, waving pitchforks and screaming for him to be killed. And in the air above him were a hundred planes, swooping down and firing their missiles at the same time …
I shook my head and pulled free from Fi and Mother. The whole room was silent, waiting for me to speak.
‘Well?’ said Fi. ‘Caitlin, what are you waiting for?’
I turned to Mother and sighed.
‘If I stay … do I have to get a tattoo?’
The rest of the night was a blur. After I agreed to stay and convinced Fi to do the same, Mother said we should celebrate. I stayed up till midnight, but Fi slipped off by herself not long afterwards. I was worried I’d upset her by siding with Mother, but I promised myself I’d make it up to her soon – maybe with some more pasta.
When I opened my eyes the next morning, I knew immediately that something was wrong. I sat up. All of Fi’s stuff had gone.
‘… Fi?’
I searched the entire boat but she was nowhere. When I went out onto the deck I found Mother and the women standing at the edge, gazing across the water.
‘Come, child!’ said Mother. ‘We were just admiring the view.’
The river around us was unrecognisable. The flooding was even worse now. It looked like an ocean, stretching out in every direction as far as the eye could see and dotted with treetops.
‘All this extra water has made our journey quicker than expected,’ Mother explained. ‘We can sail through the next village and that’s it – we’ll be at the city tomorrow morning!’
All the old ladies cheered. I smiled weakly.
‘That’s great,’ I said. ‘But has anyone seen F— I mean, Queenie?’ I glanced around. ‘I can’t find her anywhere. Or her cow.’
There was a heavy silence. Mother placed a hand on my shoulder.
‘I’m afraid there is some bad news, child.’ She sighed. ‘It seems … well, it seems that your friend climbed overboard last night. She has left us.’
I was stunned.
‘N – no,’ I said, shaking my head. ‘You’re wrong. Fi would never …’
‘Our lifeboat is missing,’ said Mother. ‘The women found this lying in the slipway.’
She held out a bobble hat with the words FI QEENY written on the front. I was speechless.
‘I am sorry,’ said Mother. ‘I could tell how much you liked her.’
I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe Fi would just leave in the middle of the night without even saying goodbye. I mean, Mum or Dad or Frank letting me down was one thing, but Fi … well, Fi was different.
‘I thought she was my friend,’ I said.
Mother shook her head. ‘No, Caitlin. She was never a true friend – not if she abandoned you when you needed her the most.’
Mother was right. My eyes started stinging really badly.
‘Hush, child,’ said Mother, holding my face. ‘Don’t waste your tears on her. She’s not worth it.’ She took my hand. ‘Come – I have something to show you.’
She led me to the edge of the boat. Ahead of us lay a village – at least, the top half of a village. The other half was under water. All the shops had moved up a floor and were selling stuff out the windows with sticks. The high street was filled with rowboats and rubber dinghies, people clattering their oars against lampposts.
‘You and I are taking a trip,’ Mother explained. ‘I rarely leave the boat nowadays – but today I will make an exception, for you. There’s something in this village I would like you to see.’
I wiped my eyes. ‘The others aren’t coming with us?’
Mother shook her head. ‘They have too much to prepare for tomorrow, my dear. Besides, this is a chance for the two of us to spend some time together before we see Perijee. That’s what real friends do – isn’t it?’
I smiled, and Mother smiled back.
‘Now, look sharp!’ she said. ‘Our bus has arrived.’
A giant raft was floating down the road towards us, made of thousands of empty plastic bottles tied with string. It stopped and a handful of people leapt through the window of the nearest building. A small boy was left standing on top, sunburned and shirtless, holding a rope that stretched down the road behind him.
‘Where to?’ he said.
*
The theatre was pretty good, considering it was under water.
It wasn’t all under water – the stage was flooded, but the balcony seats were high enough to stay dry. Mother and me sat in our own private box, eating ice creams and watching the spot
lights dance on the ripples below.
‘Amazing, isn’t it?’ said Mother. ‘I was going to take you to the cinema but apparently it’s infested with beavers.’
An usher appeared to take our tickets. At once Mother sank into her chair and bent over double, looking up at him with bleary eyes.
‘Ooh, hello, young man!’ she croaked, just like a normal old lady. ‘Two please – for me and my lovely granddaughter!’
I almost choked on my ice cream but managed to keep a straight face. We waited until the usher had gone before cracking up. It was nice to be happy again.
‘I hope you don’t mind me saying that,’ Mother chuckled.
I frowned. ‘Saying what?’
‘That you were my granddaughter.’
I didn’t mind at all, but I tried not to look too pleased.
Down below, a man in a tuxedo was rowing into the centre of the stage.
‘Ladies and gentlemen!’ he announced, standing up and almost tipping the boat over. ‘Tonight’s performance of The Tempest has been cancelled due to bad weather.’
Everyone booed.
‘Instead we have a stand-in performance!’ He gave a flourish of his arms. ‘Presenting … The Water Puppeteers of Saigon!’
All the lights slammed off at once and the room turned black. Mother leaned in close.
‘Have you ever seen water puppetry before?’ she asked.
I shook my head. ‘I’ve never been to a theatre.’
Mother was shocked.
‘Your own mother or father never took you, child?’ She snorted. ‘Honestly! These so-called “parents” of yours … if you ask me, you were smart to leave them behind!’
It felt wrong for her to say it – but the more I thought about it, the more I realised she was right. I’d come all this way without them, hadn’t I? And even after Frank and Fi had given up on me, I’d still kept going.
I grinned. They were going to feel so stupid when I saved the world all by myself.
A tiny light appeared on the water below. It wasn’t a stage light – it was a candle. A candle held up by a wooden hand.
‘What’s that?’ I whispered.
‘Just watch,’ said Mother.
The hand started to rise out the water. It kept lifting up, bit by bit, until a wooden arm appeared – and then a whole wooden man, rising up and up until it stood on the surface of the water. There was nothing holding him in place at all. It was like magic.
Perijee and Me Page 10