Suddenly the dangling objects on the icicle began to jiggle and bounce. They produced a faint tinkling melody.
‘Is it a fortune?’ Grint asked. ‘Come on, Effie! You’ll be in trouble if you don’t look. I swear you will! I’ll see that daughter of yours off to the mines if you don’t do this. Or there’s still a skweener to scare her with. I’ll—’
With what seemed an enormous effort, Effie leaned over the table and put her eye against the end of the crosspiece.
‘Is it a pastune or a fortune? Look!’ Grint raked his hands through his long hair. ‘Can’t you make a picture come? I’m sure you could if you tried. Those damned ice pixies didn’t have any problems using these things. I saw them doing it.’
‘Pixies?’ Effie sat up.
‘Oh, it doesn’t matter. I was just remembering, back up there, on top, the pixie creatures that made these things. They could see so much, backwards and forwards in time. You’re not trying!’
With a sigh, Effie slowly leaned over the table so she could see into the horizontal tube again. A tear dribbled down her cheek.
‘This is a pastune,’ she said quietly. ‘I can see Molly Webber in her garden. She’s planting carrots.’
‘For crying out loud!’ Grint roared. ‘Carrots! Molly Webber! I’m not interested in gardening. I want to know what important things are going to happen!’
There was silence in the room for a whole minute then another tune rippled across the ice sculpture.
‘Fortune. John Carter,’ Effie said. Her voice was flat and expressionless and Crystal realized that her mother had no idea what she was saying because she would never give out information about Stella’s father like this. ‘He’s plotting against Morton Grint. He wants to be the new leader. He is going to challenge Morton Grint. He has not forgiven Morton Grint for putting him down in front of the others. He plans to surprise him at the next meeting.’ She spoke as if what she said had no meaning and was of no importance.
Grint, however, leaped up and clapped his hands.
‘Ha! I shall be ready! Well done! It’s good. It’s good. What else?’
‘A pastune,’ Effie said, staring into the ice tube. ‘Mrs Wilkins made a love potion for Mary Smith to make Jim Collett fall in love with her—’
‘Love potions are forbidden! That’s witchcraft. I’ll stop that. She will be punished.’ He wrote down the names quickly in a small notebook.
Effie’s flat voice went on. ‘This is a fortune: there will be more trouble from the Barnaby Andrews family. They don’t understand how you found out he was going to rebel … They blame Sam Smith. There is unrest. Trouble is coming to Morton Grint.’ Her voice was getting weaker and weaker.
‘Good, good! As long as we’re forewarned we can win. This is no trouble at all for me. More. Come on, give me more. Crystal’s happiness is at stake here, Effie. Remember that!’
‘Another fortune. I can see … something going on at the Wall, at the West Gate. I don’t understand what it is, Morton Grint … It looks like … I can see …’ Effie’s voice trembled and shook, as if what she was seeing was too awful or incomprehensible to describe.
There was a sudden clap of thunder overhead and Crystal jumped. Every nerve in her body was jangling and her brain was spinning. She moved away from the window.
She hadn’t understood everything, but enough to know that the ‘icicle’ on the table was what was draining her mother’s strength and taking away her memory. And this was why Grint appeared so clever, always one step ahead of the Towners: he used Effie and the ‘icicle’ as a sort of oracle, to see into the future.
A flash of lightning was followed by rain suddenly splintering down around her. Crystal ran towards the green door, but passing the shed she heard an awful moan and stopped. The creature! Perhaps it was scared of the storm? Lonely? Hungry? Forgetting about the danger she was in, she searched her pockets. She found a sweet, half an apple and a bunch of herbs. Kneeling down quickly at the door, she whispered, ‘Hello?’
There was a snuffling and whining in reply from behind the door.
‘Here’s some food,’ she said. ‘I’ve got you some food.’ She didn’t suppose that the creature, whatever it was, could understand, but she sympathized with it being locked up. She put the food close to the bottom of the door, and then, fearing for her fingers, pushed it nearer with a stick.
There was silence, total stillness on the other side, and then the long tongue slipped out and hooked first the apple in, then the rest.
‘Sorry I haven’t more,’ she whispered. ‘Sorry you’re in there, whatever you are. I know what it’s like being a prisoner.’
12
Crystal Reaches the West Gate
The day of the trip arrived.
Crystal stoked Icicle’s silky ears. ‘Goodbye, kitty!’ The kitten mewed sadly, as if he knew what was happening. ‘Sorry, puss,’ she whispered into his black fur. ‘I’ve left a note with Mrs Babbage to feed you. I know she loves you and she’s always wanted a cat. You’ll be happy with her. I wish we could take you, but pets aren’t allowed through the gates and anyway, Icicle, we don’t know what it will be like out there. We may be making a terrible mistake … Best you stay here.’ A shiver rippled through her. Too late for worrying now. ‘Are you ready, Mum?’
Effie was sitting by the window with her half-carved piece of wood on the round table in front of her. ‘I don’t want to go anywhere. I’ve told you, Crystal, I want to stay here.’
‘I know, I know, but … Listen, Mum, look at me. Do you remember what you and Grint talked about last night?’
‘No. I never remember, you know I don’t.’
‘You don’t remember being cold? An icy room? A sculpture made of ice that you looked through?’
Panic flashed across Effie’s face as if she did remember and Crystal squeezed her hand encouragingly. ‘You do? I see you do!’
‘No,’ her mum said. And the spark of light in her eyes vanished. She shrugged. ‘I just want to stay here, Crystal, please.’
Now Crystal was more certain than ever that she was right to get her away from Grint. ‘I know, I know, but the trip will do you good. It will be fun. We’ll have a good day, Mum, I know we will.’
She put her mother’s cloak round her shoulders and urged her to stand up. ‘There we go. Trust me.’ She pushed her gently towards the door. ‘Come on, Mum.’
Just as they were about to leave, a sudden high-pitched, urgent whine filled the room. Crystal stood rock still; the hairs on the back of her neck prickled. It was not a noise that could be ignored.
‘I forgot the sly-ugg.’ She stared at it. She didn’t want to take it. But if she left it here it would go on crying and someone would come. She didn’t want Raek to torture it again either. She quickly scooped it up in the carry-box. Perhaps she could set it free somewhere? Somewhere beyond the Wall?
‘I don’t want to do this, Crystal,’ her mum said as Crystal closed the door of the apartment. ‘It’s not a good idea.’
Crystal turned the key and put it under the stone by the step. Her mum was probably right. And now she would never find the egg-shaped object from Lop Lake. Crystal would never know why Effie had briefly changed, but it was too late. The answer to the puzzle of their past had to be beyond the Wall – and that’s where they were going.
The tour bus was a covered wagon pulled by four very large horses. It was parked in the Square by the clock tower. The other Towners who had tickets for the trip to the mines were chattering and laughing, excited about their outing. Crystal could barely stop herself from shaking. She kept glancing at Grint’s house. If he saw her, would he stop her? Just to be safe, she kept the wagon between her and his house.
Mrs Hopkins, who lived two blocks north of them, was also going. ‘Never thought of you and your mum being interested in this sort of trip,’ she said. ‘To tell you the truth, I don’t think I am either. I mean, it’s a bit like gloating over the misfortunes of others, isn’t it? Seeing the ugly old rockgoy
les slaving away and all those folk that have been banished having to live like animals in holes.’
Crystal nodded. ‘Yes. No. I mean, well, we got the tickets for free and—’
‘I know, you feel you have to, don’t you, when everyone else wants to go? I really don’t think Effie will enjoy it. But the scenery’s nice. I went two years ago. Shame about Annie Scott passing on, wasn’t it? Still, with those lumps and bulges and that fever, she was unlikely to recover. Well, I hope you’re right about your mum, dear, she doesn’t look too good to me.’
‘She’s fine,’ Crystal said. ‘She’s looking forward to it. Really.’ Nothing could be further from the truth. Effie was tense and her fingers constantly snatched at her bag as if she were going to open it but couldn’t remember how. Her blue eyes darted backwards and forwards nervously.
‘Crystal, Crystal,’ she muttered.
‘Yes, Mum, what is it?’
‘Something. I don’t know. I can’t think. I wish I could think but my mind, when I try, it’s all cloudy and cold.’
‘Never mind. It’ll be all right soon, I promise.’
‘Something. Something’s wrong.’
‘Shh. Don’t worry.’
Crystal sounded so certain but inside she was as worried as her mother. She had no idea what they would find on the other side of the Wall or how they would escape. She just knew she couldn’t let such a good opportunity slip by.
The driver glanced at their tickets and punched a hole in them. ‘Welcome aboard!’
Crystal’s heart was thudding painfully as she and her mum got to their seats. She put the carry-box on her knees. The sly-ugg was quiet, munching on the stack of loffseed she’d put in with it. Once they were outside the Wall, she’d give it to someone, lose it somehow.
Trips to the mines only ran three times a year. Crystal could hardly believe her luck in getting these tickets at this time. She knew some of the day-trippers were hoping to pick up precious stones or maybe some rare fruit grown outside the Town that the mine chiefs would have for sale. Not her. She just wanted to get out. In thirty minutes, she thought, they would reach the Wall. In thirty-five they would be on the other side. Free. It was all so easy. Why hadn’t she done this before? They might have been free years ago! They were going to find their home. The snow! The mountains! Those things must be out there somewhere. She slipped her little painting out from her bag. Snow. She had that clue to the puzzle of her past – if only she’d managed to find the mysterious egg-object before they’d left too, she was certain that was somehow important.
They passed down grey streets, shells of buildings, collapsed towers and empty blocks. Here and there amongst the bricks and fallen steel and concrete, grass was growing. High up on the windowsills and rooftops small patches of flowers and baby trees were sprouting. It made Crystal smile. Perhaps in years to come it would all be green. That would be so much nicer than grey.
‘Where are we going?’ Effie was looking up and down the streets anxiously. ‘Where? Why are you telling me to hush! What is it?’
‘Nothing. We’re going to see the mines. It’s a treat. I told you.’
‘The mines? What are the mines, Crystal?’
‘Shh. Where they dig up Grint’s precious metals,’ Crystal said quietly. ‘You know.’
‘Metal and rock,’ her mum said. ‘Solid and hard.’
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘It’s bad, Crystal, bad.’
There were four gates in the Wall and each was heavily guarded. The Town Guard would search their papers. Maybe their names were on a wanted list. She could imagine they might be on a list of people not allowed out. Grint might do that. She could feel her heart pounding madly and her hands were sweating. It was hard to breathe. They were getting closer and closer to the West Gate. The Wall loomed up beside them, towering a hundred metres high like a dark red cliff.
The Town Guard was there; the gold buttons on their jackets glinted. There were so many men, row upon row, as if they expected trouble.
Effie suddenly sat up. For the first time she seemed to see her surroundings.
‘Where are we?’
‘Just coming to the West Gate.’
‘You didn’t tell me we were coming here.’
‘I did. Mum, hush, we’re going out to see the mines and—’
‘We’re not! I know we’re not.’ Effie stood up and overbalanced, falling back onto the seat. People stared. ‘Oh, Crystal, no! This is terrible!’
‘Sit down, Mum. Please!’
‘We shouldn’t have come!’
The wagon stopped in the deep cold shadow of the vast Wall. The West Gate was open and everyone was trying to look through it. Crystal glimpsed pale hills stretching away into the distance. She imagined snow-covered mountains and icy rivers. She longed to run there.
Suddenly two groups of the Town Guard detached themselves smoothly from the ranks and surrounded the wagon. In one neat manoeuvre they raised their spiked staffs and pointed them at the vehicle.
‘What’s the matter?’ asked the driver. ‘It’s only me and the mines tour.’ He laughed. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Sorry, mate,’ said a guard with a silvery helmet. ‘You can’t go through. We’ve had word from John Carter to search the wagon. Everyone out! You’ve got robbers on board!’
John Carter? Crystal was surprised. That was Stella’s father – what had he got to do with robbers?
There were moans and complaints as everyone climbed down and was made to stand in a huddle beside the wagon. Some of the guards kept up the fence of pikestaffs; others climbed onto the cart and began to search it.
Crystal’s legs were weak; her knees longed to fold so she could sit down. She could not keep herself from staring out at the free, vast landscape through the big gateway. She just knew there would be clear water there: waterfalls, pools, rivers, oceans. And she was close. So close …
‘I saw this,’ Effie whispered to her. ‘I remember seeing all this, as if it was in a mirror. It was flat and bare, but I saw it. Why do I always remember too late?’
‘What do you remember?’ Crystal whispered back.
‘The gate, the guards … I saw them …’
The other Towners were muttering quietly to each other too. Crystal knew that some were glancing over towards her and her mother as if this delay was something to do with them. It was dreadful to be different. Perhaps they should have dyed their hair for the trip? Perhaps they should have dyed their hair long, long ago. But how could they ever hide their blue eyes?
A tall guard jumped down from the wagon. ‘Who was sitting in seats thirteen and fourteen?’ he demanded.
Crystal stared at her feet.
‘Hang on a minute.’ The driver was checking his papers. He read out from his list: ‘Seats thirteen and fourteen, was it? Effie and Crystal Waters, that was.’
The other travellers turned and stared at them. Then began to shift back, putting as much distance between the Waters and themselves as they could.
The guard held up the sly-ugg’s carry-box that Crystal had left under the seat. ‘They were trying to smuggle out a sly-ugg,’ he said.
‘We weren’t!’ Crystal cried. ‘I didn’t know you couldn’t take it. You know we have to take it with us everywhere, so of course we took it. Anyway, it wanted to come!’
‘Sly-uggs do not have wishes or wants. It is highly illegal behaviour. And look here! This is what we were looking for, a gold candlestick belonging to Grint, Bless and Praise his Name. It has his initials on it. John Carter suspected Effie Waters had stolen it and he was right. She was probably going to try and sell it to the mine chiefs.’
‘She didn’t!’ Crystal cried. ‘It’s not true! I don’t know how that got there. It wasn’t—’
Suddenly she knew. It was as shocking as being drenched with cold water. She remembered how keen Stella had been to get her on the trip, how delighted she’d been to give up her tickets. She recalled Stella’s cold knowing smile.
/> Stella, surely not you! The Carters, father and daughter, had set them up!
‘Arrest them!’ the guard cried.
Immediately they were surrounded. Two burly guards grabbed Crystal and held her arms behind her back. Two more took hold of her mother and marched her off to their office. It all happened quickly, so quickly Crystal could hardly believe everything had gone so completely wrong.
‘Mum, Mum!’ Crystal struggled against the strong hands. But they had already got her mother through the door of the West Gate office and she was out of sight.
‘Stop yelling!’ the guard said. ‘She’ll be taken to the prison for questioning. You can see her later.’
‘She didn’t do anything wrong!’ Crystal sobbed. ‘It’s not fair! We didn’t steal anything!’
‘Not how it looks to us,’ said the guard.
‘But it’s true! Wha-what about me?’ Crystal asked.
‘Back home for you,’ he said. ‘You’re a minor so you aren’t responsible. Mr Carter has had his eye on that Effie Waters for some time, I understand. Here, take your horrid sly-ugg and get off back to your block.’
‘But I want my mum!’
‘Do as you’re told, go on!’
The other guards began to usher the Towners onto the wagon. They got back on with obvious relief. Once they were safe in their seats they peered down at Crystal as if she were something disgusting, something unclean. The driver gave her a sad little smile as he returned to his place and chivvied the horses to go. The wagon disappeared through the gateway and the great gates slowly closed behind them.
The black kitten had disappeared, so Crystal sat in the apartment alone. Alone, except for the sly-ugg who had curled up in its carry-box on the table where she had left it. She could see it had shrunk into the corner, as if it were shy or suddenly nervous of her.
‘What’s up with you?’ she asked it crossly, opening its box. ‘You’ve nothing to worry about, you horrid little worm.’ The sly-ugg cringed and she regretted her words immediately. ‘Sorry.’
She felt leaden. She couldn’t move. She looked round at the grey walls and metal furniture. She hated it so much! And she’d really thought this morning that she would never see it again.
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