‘Isabella . . .’ The girl took long, slow breaths. She lifted her head and saw the crocodile lying still upon the wet floor. ‘Is he . . . all right?’
‘Of course he is,’ said Isabella matter-of-factly, reaching out and gently stroking his head. ‘It’s just a silly little flesh wound, I am sure of it. Thorn will be just fine.’
But the beast was not moving and made no sound.
‘He needs a vet,’ said Adele. She forced herself to sit up and the room swirled, spinning like a top. Isabella reached out and steadied her. ‘Cousin, you must rest.’
‘There is no time.’ Adele’s dark eyes narrowed. ‘Milo.’
It was only a name, and yet it seemed to break the spell. Isabella gave Thorn one last pat then got to her feet before helping her cousin do the same. They were both weak, washed out and exhausted – but neither of them would admit it. A murderous lunatic had taken their cousin and they both knew that if he managed to get Milo away from Sommerset it would be too late. There was only one thing to be done. And so that is what they did.
Isabella was put in charge of weaponry and quickly selected a flame sword from the wall for Adele. Pulling the weapon from its sheath, Isabella gazed over the rippled blade. ‘Perfect,’ she whispered. Then she raced to the back of the chamber and grabbed a weapon for herself. It was not razor sharp like Adele’s, but she considered it the ideal tool for bringing down Dr Mangrove.
Adele had quickly checked on Mrs Hammer then gone straight to the room behind the glass wall. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said to the captives, a grimace crossing her face. ‘This is going to hurt.’
She pinched her fingers around the edge of the tape across her aunt’s mouth and tore it off in one swift, painful movement. It must have stung, but Aunt Rosemary did not show it. A red patch streaked her mouth where the tape had been, yet her lips managed to curl into a smile.
‘Thank goodness for that,’ she said, her voice scratched and weak.
‘Aunt Rosemary,’ said Adele urgently, looking at the pattern of weeping blisters up and down her aunt’s arms, ‘you are badly injured.’
‘I’ll live,’ said Rosemary. She grimaced as Adele pulled the tape from Levi’s mouth. ‘More importantly, how are you? Oh, pet, when I saw you and Isabella go under that water . . . I’m going to kiss Thorn when I get out of this chair!’ Her eyes widened. ‘What of Mrs Hammer – how is she?’
‘She is breathing but I could not wake her,’ said Adele, struggling to free the little butler from the wires coiled so tightly around his arms and chest. She looked at the fresh wounds on his face. ‘Levi, you are bleeding!’
‘Like your aunt, I will live,’ he said softly. ‘Listen to me, Miss Adele, the cables can wait. We can wait. Go after Mangrove, save your cousin.’
Aunt Rosemary was nodding. ‘Go. But please be careful. You know well enough what that monster and his sidekick are capable of.’
‘If you are sure,’ said Adele, itching to go. She bent down and kissed her aunt on the cheek and whispered, ‘I’m so glad you’re all right.’
‘And I you, pet.’
‘Come on, Cousin!’ shouted Isabella, racing towards the hatch.
Before she left the chamber Adele took one last look at her aunt. Then, clutching the sword, she bowed her head and disappeared into the mouth of the tunnel.
Even the cloak of night could not hide the tower. Every time the sky trembled and a bolt of lightning reached for the ground, the soaring metal fortress would pulse in the light, windowless and stark. The tower stood naked except for a platform bordered by an iron rail that wrapped around the summit. There was a low door on the northern side and it was from there that the boy emerged, followed closely by the old man.
‘I told you it was grand,’ said the doctor, a rapturous grin pulling at his flesh. He grabbed Milo by the arm, forcing him to walk around the platform. He pulled the boy to a halt when they were directly above the apple grove. ‘This is the place.’
While the doctor gazed towards the trembling sky Milo’s attention was caught by a wavy line of swirling red lights blinking from the wetlands beyond Sommerset. Although they were miles away Milo’s face suddenly lit up. The police!
‘They are coming!’ he shouted, staring at the procession of cars. ‘You are out of time, Dr Mangrove. The police will be here before you can ever get us off this island.’
‘But of course they are coming,’ said the doctor, not even bothering to turn his head and look towards the wetlands. ‘Mrs Hammer called them before she came down to save you – that is no surprise. As for getting off the island – my dear boy, you must open your eyes.’ Dr Mangrove grabbed Milo’s hair, pulling his head back. ‘What do you see?’
Thunder growled and two ribbons of lightning launched from the sky like streamers. As they faded another ball of light flickered in the dusk, its glow soft and round like a lantern. But this light did not flare and fade like the others had. In fact, it only grew brighter and bigger – and louder.
The helicopter flew in a wide circle around Sommerset and Milo heard the roar of the engine above the storm. Dr Mangrove pulled a thick gun from his pocket and pointed it above his head. As the rain pounded the platform he pulled the trigger and a flare shot high above the tower, parting the darkness. ‘I hope you are not scared of heights, dear boy,’ he said.
Milo lunged, ramming the doctor with his shoulder. The old man slipped on the wet platform and fell heavily. With rain splattering his eyes, Milo took off around the tower, trying desperately to free his hands as he ran – but the more he struggled the tighter the knot became. He skidded towards the low door and took care taking that first step inside the tower. The stairs were steep and with wet shoes, no handrail and no hands, plummeting to the ground was a very real possibility. Despite the danger his shattered spirit was sparking to life. He was breaking out!
‘Wrong way, Master Milo.’
The boy felt himself flying back, pulled up the stairs and through the door. When his body spilled onto the floor of the platform Hannah Spoon gripped his neck, digging her fingers into the raw flesh of his scars, and frogmarched him back to Dr Mangrove. The old man was on his feet, leaning his aged body against the railing. When he saw the boy the relief bubbled in his voice. ‘I was hoping you two would bump into each other,’ he said. ‘Dear boy, your fate is sealed; you would be wise to accept it.’
‘Go to hell!’ Milo snarled. ‘Both of you!’
The helicopter was hovering overhead and when Dr Mangrove gave the signal it began to descend, dropping smoothly and steadily towards the platform. Dr Mangrove turned and looked at Hannah, his sallow eyes roaming her face. ‘What news do you bring me from the underworld?’
Hannah paused for a moment then said, ‘It is done. They are all gone.’
Milo let out a roar and charged at her, head down like a bull. But Hannah had him pressed to the wall in seconds, pushing her knee into his back.
‘Well done, my dear,’ said the doctor, stroking the maid’s back. ‘You are a true warrior.’
From the corner of his eye Milo saw the red pulsing lights. The police cars were close now, dimmed beneath the canopy of trees which bordered the swamp, but soon they would be at the bridge! As Milo looked up two braided ropes dropped from the hovering helicopter. They hit the railing with a clank and Dr Mangrove quickly pulled them in. Each rope was gated to a belted harness. ‘Hold him still,’ ordered the doctor.
Hannah stood behind Milo, clamping down on his shoulders as Dr Mangrove fixed the harness around his waist. The maid was staring intently at the ropes. ‘Only two harnesses? But there are three of us, Doctor.’
‘Relax, my dear,’ said the doctor soothingly. ‘You and the boy will be taken first. Once you are safely in the cockpit I will follow.’
Relief flooded the girl’s eyes. ‘Yes, of course.’
With Milo strapped in, Dr Mangrove grabbed the second harness. ‘Come, my dear, I will help you.’ Hannah walked to the edge of the platform and stood before the docto
r as the harness belt was slipped around her waist.
‘I could not have done any of this without you, my dear,’ said Dr Mangrove warmly. ‘You have been an inspiration. But . . . I must confess to a few doubts.’
‘Doubts?’ said Hannah, scowling. ‘Doubts about what?’
The doctor was still, silent. Then he said, ‘About you, my dear. In many ways the most difficult part of the journey is yet to come. You are a warrior, Hannah Spoon, but I am not certain you are ready for the jungles of Budatta. Are you sure this is what you want?’
‘You need not worry about me, Doctor,’ said Hannah abruptly. ‘Haven’t I proven myself in these last days? I am ready for anything.’
‘I am pleased to hear it.’ Dr Mangrove smiled at her. ‘But are you ready for this?’
The old man thrust his arms at Hannah and she flew back, the unfixed harness falling from her waist. Her terrified scream was dulled by the roaring wind as her back collided with the hard metal rail, flipping her like a rag doll. The last thing Hannah Spoon saw as she flew from the platform was the hovering belly of the helicopter – the words Winterbottom One painted across it. She shut her eyes and plummeted into the darkness.
Dr Mangrove was fixing the harness around his waist before Hannah even hit the ground. Beside him the boy was quiet. He had seen too much of the doctor’s work to be shocked. Besides, his heart was not breaking for Hannah Spoon. Not after what she had done to his family.
‘She served me well,’ said Dr Mangrove, securing the latch on his harness, ‘but in the end I had no choice. Hannah would not have given up the Lazarus Rock easily and alas, I need it far more than I need her.’
Milo was puzzled – he had seen Dr Mangrove place the box in Hannah’s backpack. Dr Mangrove saw the confusion on Milo’s face and smiled nastily. He opened his coat, twisting it around and digging his hand into a bulging pocket at the back. It took some doing but soon enough he had scooped out the priceless jewel. ‘I switched the Lazarus Rock with a small bolder of granite,’ he said smugly. ‘The box felt heavy enough to contain the jewel so Hannah never had any reason to doubt she was carrying it.’ He grinned, looking at the stone. ‘With this I will have all the assistance I need in Budatta. Dear boy, we are at the beginning of a great journey, you and I.’
‘I hate you!’ shouted Milo.
The sky lit up as another charge of lightning cracked the darkness. ‘Your uncle needs you, Milo!’ yelled the doctor, pushing the boy towards the edge of the platform. ‘Without you he cannot come home.’
‘Uncle Silas is never coming back!’ shouted Milo. ‘I would rather die!’
Dr Mangrove began to laugh, turning his face towards the rain. Then he threw his arms to the heavens and gave the signal. Seconds later Milo’s feet lifted from the platform and he began to rise.
SNAP
‘Let me down!’
Dr Mangrove looked like a proud parent at a sports carnival watching Milo thrash about, kicking his legs wildly, his feet dragging against the railing in a useless effort to halt his ascent. He has the fury of a lion, thought the doctor. But the boy’s slow, halting rise continued despite his rage. The old man slipped a hand into his pocket and felt the map wrapped within the handkerchief. How he longed to have the Panacea flowing through his tired body once again. Making him strong. Making him young. The wait was nearly over.
‘No! Stop!’
Dr Mangrove frowned – that shrill voice was not Milo’s. Then he heard footsteps on the metal platform. He twisted around and saw Adele running towards him, wielding a sword. It was not possible! The girl was dead. And yet, there she was, coming around the side of the tower with a look of murder in her eyes. The pistol was in his hand before she could swing the blade.
‘Stop, my dear. Drop the sword. Do it now.’
Adele lowered the rippled blade but did not drop it. Her eyes were fixed on her cousin as he rose into the air. ‘Milo, I’m here!’
The boy looked down and for a moment his legs stopped thrashing. ‘You’re alive!’
‘I must be honest,’ said the doctor, plodding towards Adele, ‘you are not the Winterbottom I was expecting to see rise from the dead.’
Despite having a pistol pointed at her, Adele could not stand there and let Milo fly away. She shoved Dr Mangrove’s arm out of the way and lunged towards the rail, reaching out for Milo’s leg.
‘Pull me down, Adele!’ shouted Milo. ‘Grab my legs!’
‘Do not!’ barked Dr Mangrove, grabbing Adele and throwing her against the tower wall. He cocked the pistol’s hammer. ‘Killing you twice in one day does seem excessive. But alas, dead you must be.’
Dr Mangrove felt a tap on his left shoulder. ‘Excuse me, fathead.’
The doctor spun around in just enough time to see the Vulture of Sommerset swooping towards him. It cracked into his head like a hammer upon a nail and the doctor dropped, the pistol tumbling from his hand. ‘That’s for trying to drown me!’ shouted Isabella.
She stood over him, staring proudly at the crimson wound crowning his bald dome, and for the first time since Thorn had rescued her from the well she thought of Hannah Spoon. Where was the homicidal maid? Certain that she was probably lurking in the shadows just waiting to pounce, Isabella took her eyes off Dr Mangrove and looked about the platform. With the girl’s head turned Dr Mangrove seized the moment; his hand lashed out, quick as a rattlesnake, grasping for the pistol. Isabella’s foot flew at him, kicking the gun from his grasp. It slid along the wet platform and dropped over the edge. The doctor roared, his head sinking to the floor.
‘Milo!’ Adele looked up and saw Milo’s legs lifting clear of the rail. Half a metre higher and he would be out of reach. Backing up, she clenched the sword tightly and broke into a run. Then she leaped into the air.
‘Duck!’ she screamed, lifting up towards Milo. Wide-eyed, the sword flying at him, Milo hunched over, and the rippled blade sliced into the rope right where his head had been. As she dropped down, Adele’s foot hit the railing and she was thrown back. The sword slipped from her fingers before the braided rope was severed. It sparked like a cracker when it hit the metal rail and spun across the platform. Adele landed on the metal floor with a thump.
When the rope began to break Milo plunged. But the fall (and the boy’s joy) was short lived; the weight of his slight body was not enough to snap the unbroken threads and he quickly came to a stop. Moments later he was rising again, the helicopter’s hoist reeling him in like a fish.
Wounded, his head aching, Dr Mangrove steadied himself on the rail and watched the boy rising. He signalled the helicopter and then gazed upon the Lazarus Rock cupped in his left hand. Despite that foul girl’s attack the Rock was still his! The ancient man’s heart was full as the harness tightened around him and he lifted from the tower.
As Adele stumbled to her feet she saw the old man flying up. Isabella was holding on to Milo’s feet but his legs were slipping through her fingers. ‘The sword,’ cried Adele, her eyes roaming the darkened platform. ‘Where is the sword?’
‘Forget the sword, Cousin!’ shouted Isabella. ‘There isn’t time!’
Adele charged to Isabella’s side at the edge of the platform. She grabbed Milo’s left foot, clamping onto it with every last ounce of strength and willpower she possessed. Suddenly the damaged rope began to tear. Milo felt himself dropping as one thick braid split apart.
‘It’s working!’ shouted Milo.
‘Pull harder, Cousin!’ cried Isabella. ‘We are nearly there!’
Seeing the boy plunge back towards the tower, Dr Mangrove signalled to the helicopter and his own rope began to descend rapidly. He flew at Milo, and when he was within reach the old man lunged, closing his fist and clenching a handful of the boy’s matted wet hair. As quickly as the doctor’s rope dropped it began to ascend, and this time Milo came with him.
‘Let me go!’ cried Milo, his legs slipping free of the girls’ grip.
Dr Mangrove let out a rapturous laugh. ‘Soon enough, Milo! S
oon enough!’
Beneath them the line of police cars was weaving around the long driveway like a pulsing red serpent. When they got to the great lake and the tower came into view, the lead car suddenly swerved from the road and tore across the meadow.
‘Look!’ shouted Isabella, pointing to the procession of cars speeding through the tall grass. But Adele could not take her eyes off Milo, rising through the storm and struggling to free himself from the clutches of a monster. With his spirit near breaking point Milo let out a cry, and as he did his eyes lifted and latched onto the Lazarus Rock. It was tucked in Dr Mangrove’s free hand, pressed against his belly. Milo struck swiftly, swinging his arm like a golf club. His hand flew up towards the Rock, but the distance was greater than he expected and the tips of his fingers barely swiped the glassy edge of the jewel. But it was enough. The Rock slid in Mangrove’s wet hand and, in an effort to save it, the old man had no choice but to release his hold on Milo. The boy plummeted several feet, stopping with a jolt, his feet just a few centimetres above the rail.
The Lazarus Rock slipped from Dr Mangrove’s grasping fingers and dropped silently into the night. The anguish on his face quickly gave way to a withering rage. The boy would not get away! With a wave of his arm the rope changed direction and once again Dr Mangrove was swooping on his prey.
‘Mangrove’s coming!’ shouted Isabella.
‘Watch out, Milo!’ cried Adele.
The boy looked up and saw the ghastly monster flying at him. ‘You belong to me!’ the old man roared, his talons wrapping around the boy’s neck like a noose.
With hearts afire the cousins coiled their hands around Milo’s spindly legs and jumped as high as their bodies would allow. As Isabella rose she felt the world begin to slow, and in that moment of stillness, suspended between a rise and a fall, she looking into the rain and saw the great beast clawing his way around the platform. The crocodile’s head lifted and his green eyes fixed upon his mistress . . . and Isabella found herself nodding her consent to his unspoken request. Thorn was on the hunt, each muscle in his body coiled as his stout legs charged towards the platform’s edge. Isabella knew they had just seconds before Thorn would be upon them, and from the thunderous look in his eyes she had no desire to get in his way.
The Vulture of Sommerset Page 22