by Sue Bentley
Mr. Simpson laughed and glanced at Maisie. “Maybe you’ll spend more time outdoors now that we live near the sea, instead of playing Eagles and Hawks for hours at a time.”
“Da-ad!” Maisie groaned, turning bright red. He could be so embarrassing sometimes.
“What’s Eagles and Hawks?” Joel asked, puzzled.
“It’s a PlayStation game,” Maisie said, amazed that Joel hadn’t heard of it.
“Oh, right. I’m not really into computers.” Joel seemed to lose interest but then his face brightened. “The best rock pools are at Smuggler’s Cove. I’m going there tomorrow. I can show you both if you like.”
“Thanks, but I’ve got a lot of work to do at the house,” Mr. Simpson said. “Why don’t you go with Joel, Maisie?”
“I…um, don’t know…,” Maisie began. She wasn’t sure how much fun poking around in pools could be, but maybe it would be better than painting or unpacking, especially if Flame came, too. “All right, I’ll come,” she decided.
“Great!” Joel said, beaming. “I’ll come get you in the morning.”
“You’ll be careful, won’t you?” Maisie’s mom called from the kitchen the following day, as Maisie dashed into the hall.
Joel was waiting at the open front door. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Simpson. I know this part of the coast like the back of my hand,” he shouted into the house. He wore hiking boots and had a sleeveless jacket with lots of zipped pockets over his shorts.
Without waiting for Maisie to come out of the house, he turned and began running down the road.
Maisie put her shoulder bag on the floor. “Can you jump inside, Flame? It might be a long walk.”
Flame leaped into the bag with a swish of his tail, and Maisie shouldered the bag and hurried after Joel.
“Hey! Wait for us!” she called.
“Us?” Joel turned around with a puzzled look on his face and then noticed Flame’s head sticking out of her bag. He frowned. “Why did you bring that kitten? You’ll have to take it back.”
“I’m not leaving Flame behind. Where I go, he goes!” Maisie said firmly.
“Well, fine then,” Joel said grudgingly. “But make sure you take care of him. I don’t want him getting in the way when I’m rock-pooling.”
“He won’t!” Maisie said. “Flame’s a very unusual kitten. He’s ma—I mean, he understands every word I say.”
“Sure.” Joel rolled his eyes before setting off again.
Maisie was starting to think this was a mistake. Joel had seemed friendly the day before, but today he was treating her as if she was a little kid.
She fell into step with him as they turned into a lane and took the cliff path. As they walked along, Joel pointed out tiny islands and told her the names of different rock formations.
Maisie was impressed. She had to admit that Joel knew a lot about this area. She could see that Flame was enjoying himself. He purred as he looked out of her bag at the sea and sniffed the salty air.
After about fifteen minutes, the path sloped downward until the cliff was more of a steep slope. Joel paused near some large flat rocks and boulders, above a small cove.
Looking down, Maisie saw a semicircular beach, surrounded by dramatic rocks. “Wow. Look at that. What an amazing place,” she whispered to Flame.
Flame nodded.
“This is Smuggler’s Cove. Wreckers used to lure ships onto those rocks and then steal the cargo,” Joel said, pointing to where the surf was crashing onto some jagged black rocks that stretched out to sea. “There’s a cave a bit farther along, where they hid their stuff.”
“Really?” Maisie said, shuddering. The sunlit cove suddenly seemed sinister and unwelcoming.
Joel glanced at her pale face. “You don’t need to be scared. That was a long time ago,” he scoffed.
“I’m not scared,” Maisie said defensively.
“Good. Because I don’t want to turn back now,” Joel said. “We can take a shortcut down by climbing over these rocks. There’s an easier way down, but it’s another ten-minute walk along the cliff path.”
Maisie leaned over a bit. Her tummy clenched as she looked down.
“I’ll go first,” Joel said, jumping onto the first rock, and then he glanced back at Maisie. “On second thought, it’s a bit steep if you’re not used to it, especially if you’re wearing sneakers and carrying that kitten. You’d better come down the easier way. Just follow the path. You can’t miss it—follow the signs to Smuggler’s Cove.”
“But aren’t you coming with…” Maisie began.
Joel didn’t reply. He was already scrambling down over the rocks.
Maisie stared down at him. She couldn’t believe he had just left her to find her own way down. “That’s just great!” she said to Flame.
Flame pricked up his ears and looked at her.
Maisie watched as Joel jumped down onto the small beach and then turned to look up at her and Flame. “Are you still there? Hurry up. I’ll be just over here!” he called, waving, before turning around and disappearing out of sight behind a big rock.
Maisie clenched her fists. “Ugh! I’ve had about enough of Joel Denning. I’m climbing down there after him. How hard can it be? Hang on, Flame. Here we go.”
Steadying her shoulder bag with one hand, she stepped down onto a large flat rock. Moving slowly and reaching for firm handholds, she climbed down backward. This was easier than it looked. Now she was almost halfway down.
But on the next rock, her shoe skidded and she slid toward the edge. She grabbed at a nearby rock to steady herself.
“Oh!” Maisie gasped as the rock moved under her hand and she lost her balance. She scrabbled for a foothold, but her foot slipped again and she found herself kicking out at thin air.
Time seemed to stand still. Flame sprang out of the shoulder bag and landed on the rock above Maisie.
His long brown tabby fur glittered with sparks, and his whiskers crackled with electricity. A warm tingling feeling flowed down Maisie’s spine.
Flame raised a tiny paw and a fountain of bright silver sparks shot toward Maisie. They swirled around her like a snowstorm.
“Oo-oh!” Maisie cried as her whole body slid backward. She screwed her eyes shut and prepared herself for a very painful landing.
But she didn’t fall. Instead, Maisie felt herself sinking down slowly and gently. Her eyes shot open and she realized that she was encased in a big sparkling bubble. The bubble, with Maisie inside, landed on the beach. It bobbed up and down gently before settling and then disappeared with a faint pop!
Flame sprang down and landed beside Maisie. Every last trace of sparks had faded from his fur.
Maisie’s knees suddenly gave way and she sat on the sand. Although she was safe now, she still felt shaken up.
Flame jumped into her lap. “Are you hurt?” he mewed anxiously.
“No. But only thanks to you. You were amazing, Flame! I didn’t know you could do that! Thanks for saving me,” she said, kissing the top of his silky little head.
“You are welcome,” Flame purred.
Joel appeared from behind the rock. His eyebrows lifted in surprise when he saw Maisie sitting on the sand. He marched toward her, a fierce frown on his face.
“You went and hurt yourself, didn’t you? I told you not to climb down!” he shouted.
Maisie felt her cheeks reddening with anger. “You just left me up there by myself!” she shouted back.
“Because I thought you might fall, you stupid kid!” Joel snapped.
Maisie lost her temper. She jumped to her feet and put her hands on her hips. “You’re just a fat-headed idiot who likes ordering people around! I wish I hadn’t come. I’m going home, right now!” she yelled.
Joel’s mouth dropped open as Maisie turned on her heel. “Fine! See if I care,” he called after her.
Tears of anger pricked Maisie’s eyes as she found the path and stormed up the shallow rocky slope to the cliff path.
Flame scampered over the rock
s and gullies, trying to keep up. He gave a frustrated little meow as he struggled to climb out of a gap between two rocks.
Maisie slowed down and lifted him into her shoulder bag. “Sorry, Flame,” she apologized. “I didn’t mean to march off like that.”
She put her hand inside her bag and stroked his long soft fur as she walked along. Thank goodness she had Flame for her friend, because it didn’t look like she had any others now.
Maisie had just about calmed down by the time she and Flame reached home.
She sneaked quietly into the house, hoping to avoid awkward questions about why she was back so early. Luckily her parents were still working in the old store.
Her heart lifted when she saw the computer set up on a wooden desk in the corner of the living room. She went to turn it on, but nothing happened.
“Oh, great,” she murmured. “I still can’t find out if Jane and Nina want to be my friends.” It felt so weird not to be in touch with them.
Her dad came into the room and saw her standing by the computer. “Hi, honey. I’m afraid it’s not working yet. The computer man can’t come to set up the Internet out for a few more days. How was Smuggler’s Cove?”
“Okay. But a bit creepy, too,” she replied. “Joel said that wreckers lured ships onto the rocks so they could rob them.”
“Where’s Joel? Did he come back with you?”
“No. I don’t know where he is,” Maisie said vaguely. “What’s for lunch?” she asked, changing the subject.
Her dad gave her a questioning look, but didn’t say anything.
“I wonder who that can be,” Maisie said to Flame later that afternoon as she went to answer the front door.
Joel stood there with his hands behind his back and a sheepish look on his face. There was a girl with him. She was small with short brown hair and a pretty, round face and looked about eleven years old.
Maisie blinked at them in surprise. She hadn’t expected to see Joel again so soon. “What do you want?” she said stiffly.
“Er…hi,” Joel said awkwardly. “This…um, is my sister, Louise.”
Louise smiled at Maisie, her brown eyes sparkling. “Hi. Joel told me that you two had a fight this morning. He can’t help being an idiot sometimes. It’s because he’s so crazy about wildlife. He thinks everyone should take it as seriously as he does.” She grinned and nudged her brother. “Give them to her.”
“All right, I was just going to!” Joel blushed and held out a pair of battered hiking boots. “These don’t fit me anymore. I thought you might be able to use them for climbing rocks and stuff. They’re better than sneakers. And…um, sorry about yelling at you earlier,” he mumbled.
Despite herself, Maisie smiled. “That’s okay,” she said as she reached for the boots. “I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have lost my temper. Thanks for the boots.”
“Thank goodness for that!” Louise gave her brother a friendly shove and then turned back to Maisie. “Now we can all be friends. You and I are going to be in the same class at school, you know.”
“Are we?” Maisie said, liking Joel’s forceful sister more every minute. School was certainly going to be interesting with her around.
Louise looked down to where Flame was standing by Maisie’s ankle. Her eyes lit up.
“Oo-ooh! What a gorgeous kitten. Can I pick him up?”
Maisie nodded. “But be careful. He’s very small.”
“I will. Don’t worry.” Louise bent down and scooped up Flame. She held him close to her chest and scratched him gently under his chin. “Hello, you,” she crooned.
Flame purred loudly and closed his eyes with pleasure.
Seeing that Flame felt secure, Maisie relaxed. She suddenly remembered her manners and opened the front door wide. “Why don’t you both come in? I’ll show you around and you can meet my mom and dad.”
Louise stepped inside, still carrying Flame. “I thought you’d never ask!”
Maisie took Joel and Louise through to the old store where her parents were working and introduced them. “Look what I have. Joel gave them to me,” she said, holding up the boots.
“That was very nice of you, Joel,” Mrs. Simpson said, wiping her hands on a cloth. Joel blushed. He looked at the half-painted walls, wooden shelving, and bare floorboards. “It looks really different in here. Lighter and sort of…bigger.”
“That’s because there’s no brown wallpaper or counter with musty newspapers, and no shelves with jars of sticky old candies,” Louise said.
“Is that how it used to be? The old store sounds like a nightmare,” said Mr. Simpson.
Joel and Louise laughed.
Maisie smiled at her parents. They were so good at making people feel at ease. She showed her new friends the rest of the house and then brought them back to the kitchen. They sat at the table. “Would you two like to stay for dinner?” she asked Joel and Louise.
Louise answered. “Thanks, but we better get back. Mom will be expecting us. Come on, Joel.”
Maisie picked up Flame, who was curled up on her lap, and went to the door. “Bye. See you later!” she called as Joel and Louise left.
“We’re going on a bike ride to Smuggler’s Cove tomorrow and having a picnic with us. Do you want to come?” Louise said.
“You can wear your new boots,” Joel encouraged.
As Flame gave an extraloud purr, Maisie grinned. “We’d love to!”
Maisie’s hair streamed out behind her as she rode her bike the following morning.
Flame was in the basket attached to the handlebars. He leaned forward, his nose twitching as he sniffed at the exciting smells.
Maisie could see Joel and Louise up ahead. They were having a race to see who could reach the top of the hill first.
“I won!” shouted Joel, waving both arms in the air.
“Only because you have longer legs than me!” Louise cried. She turned around and biked back toward Maisie. “Almost there now. Smuggler’s Cove is just around the headland.”
“Great,” Maisie said, pedaling hard as Louise wheeled around again and sped after her brother once more. “Phew! Those two are some double act! I can hardly keep up with them!” she said to Flame.
Flame nodded, his bright emerald eyes sparkling. “Are we a double act, too?”
“We’re the best ever!” Maisie said, feeling her heart swell with affection for the tiny kitten.
Smuggler’s Cove had a picnic area on the cliff top. There was a small parking lot and a kiosk selling ice cream and drinks. Maisie lifted Flame out of the basket and then chained her bike up. Joel and Louise chained their bikes next to hers.
They sat on the grass to eat. The food was delicious, and Maisie ate hungrily. She broke off pieces of her cheese sandwich for Flame.
Joel was wearing his sleeveless jacket with all the pockets. He sprawled on his stomach to eat his chips. He’d almost finished them when Louise jumped on him. The chips shot everywhere.
“Hey! I hadn’t finished those!” Joel complained.
“Tough! You have now!” Louise said, giggling as she wrestled with her brother and tried to stuff grass into his mouth.
Maisie laughed. They were completely crazy. She hoped that they didn’t decide to start on her!
After a few minutes, Joel and Louise sat up. Joel’s jacket and Louise’s T-shirt were covered in grass stains.
“Let’s go and explore the caves,” Joel suggested, shaking his head to get grass out of his hair.
“Do you think we should? Maisie might be scared,” Louise panted, her brown eyes gleaming mischievously.
“Scared? Why would I be?” Maisie asked.
“Because of the legend,” Louise said, winking at her brother. “A smuggler was trapped inside the cave by the rising tide. Sea monsters swam up and dragged him away. Sometimes you can still hear his screams.”
“I really believe that!” Maisie scoffed, laughing.
But even though she knew Louise was just teasing, she had a horrible squirmy feelin
g in her tummy. In her imagination, she could hear the bloodcurdling screams echoing around the lonely caves.
“Shut up, Lou, you’re scaring her,” Joel said. He got up and started walking down the grassy slope.
“Aw, she’s not scared! Are you?” Louise said, beckoning to Maisie and Flame. “Come on, let’s go!”
Flame trotted along at Maisie’s heels as she made her way down to the small, sheltered cove. They had to scramble over seaweed-draped rocks at the mouth of the cave.
Maisie frowned as she entered the shadowy cave. It was very dark at the back, where the sunlight didn’t reach. Rocks were spread over the cave’s sandy floor. Small pools of cold, dark water were dotted among them.
“Come on, you guys!” Joel called from deep inside.
“We’re coming! Hold your horses!” Louise shouted, disappearing into the shadows.
Maisie told herself that there was nothing to be scared of as she went farther into the cave after Louise and Joel. “Are you all right, Flame? Do you want me to pick you up?” she whispered.
“I am fine, thank you, Maisie,” Flame answered, placing each tiny brown tabby paw with deliberate care as he followed her over the rocks. Silver sparks shone faintly in his long silky fur.
Maisie shivered. It was getting chilly and smelled of damp and old seaweed. Every slight sound seemed magnified and spooky. There was no sign of Joel or Louise. She was really glad she had Flame with her.
Maisie was thinking of turning back, and risking being teased for being too chicken, when she noticed the natural shelves in the cave walls. There was a lot of driftwood there, washed up by the high tide when it filled the cave.
“Wow! Look at all that amazing wood. Dad would love it for his carvings,” she said to Flame.
“Maybe you could tell him it is here, and then he can come and get it,” Flame purred.
“Better than that, I’ll take some back for him as a surprise!” Maisie said.