Copper

by Rebecca Lisle

  She sneaked away from the door with only the slightest feeling of guilt, and made her way to the door with the carved chairs and sofas on it and found the sitting room.

  As she opened the door a delicate smell of sandalwood and lilac wafted out. Copper hesitated, breathing in the scent, then stepped into the room. It was like walking into a garden, the colours were all earthy brown and green, honey and golden. There was the faintest, gentle sound, like wind ruffling the leaves on a mild summer’s day and yet the air was still.

  Copper chose a large, low chair with a high back and wide arms. It was very comfortable, padded with cushions, and when she leant back and closed her eyes, the chair began to buzz quietly beneath her and move, like shifting sand on a beach, until it was perfectly comfortable.

  Brilliant chair! Copper thought, dreamily, and the chair responded, with a stronger buzz, as if the smallest electric current was running through it and into her.

  Then the chair began to sway.

  A little alarmed, Copper opened her eyes. Nothing was moving, and yet beneath her the chair seemed to bend and sway as if she was high in the branches of a tree, being lulled to sleep by the wind.

  She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

  Copper had no idea how long she slept in the special chair, but she woke with a start, aware that something had disturbed her.

  She looked around. What was it?

  The curtains in the alcove were moving. Someone was there! That mysterious snooper again!

  She got up very slowly, tiptoed across the room and flung back the curtain.

  Nothing. No one. But behind the curtain was a small door and she was sure that on the other side of the door she could hear the sound of footsteps, hurrying away.

  Then Oriole came in with Silver and a tray with a pot of tea and she didn’t know what to say, so she didn’t say anything.

  ‘I brought Ralick for you,’ said Oriole, ‘you left him in the kitchen.’

  ‘Thanks. I take him everywhere usually, but somehow it’s not the same here, is it? I mean this isn’t normal.’

  Copper sat down again, carefully avoiding the sleeping chair.

  ‘Don’t you like that chair?’ asked Oriole, smiling.

  ‘It sent me to sleep,’ Copper told her. ‘It was made with palm tree wood and still sways in the wind. Here, come and sit in this oak chair. It’s a good solid chair and won’t play any tricks on you! Your father made it.’

  ‘He made things like Greenwood?’

  ‘Yes. Look, I’m sure you want to see this,’ said Oriole, pointing to a picture on the wall. ‘It’s a painting of Greenwood and Cedar when they were little.’

  ‘But they’re identical!’ cried Copper. ‘Identical twins! So I’ve sort of seen my father already, haven’t I? Weird. Did you ever know Cedar?’

  ‘No. Robin and I only came up to help here a couple of years ago.’

  ‘I wonder if Cedar ever wrote to Greenwood? Where would you go after such a thing? I wonder if he ever thinks of me? Or Amber.’

  ‘I wonder,’ said Oriole, absentmindedly, as she poured out the tea.

  Copper didn’t sit down for long, she jumped up and began looking round the room at the carved mirrors and carved mantelpiece, cupboards and shelves.

  ‘I love all this stuff,’ she told Oriole. ‘I’ve never tried carving wood, only stone, but I think I should start soon. Aunt Ruby was so good at sculpting things, you’ve no idea. But I was hopeless. Now I know why. I love knowing why. You see my life is like a bit of knitting in a way, a bit of knitting that was started but not finished. No, I know, started and then done wrong, dropped stitches and things, and then left. I’ve got to get myself finished somehow.’

  Silver padded into the room and came to stand beside her, rubbing against her legs and together they stared out of the window at the fading light.

  ‘Draw the curtains, Copper,’ said Oriole. ‘It keeps in the warmth and it’s gloomy out there.’

  Copper tugged and pulled at the long heavy curtains and as she did, something fell from the high pelmet above and dropped onto the carpet beside her with a tiny thud.

  It was something small and golden and as she picked it up she saw it was a tiny gold charm, just like the ones on her secret charm bracelet.

  Silver growled quietly.

  ‘What is it?’ called Oriole.

  ‘It’s a little gold tree charm,’ said Copper, taking it over to show her. ‘But it’s not lovely, not like the ones I’ve got … I mean, seen.’ Her heart raced, realising she’d nearly told about her bracelet. Aunt Ruby had said to keep it secret and she must. ‘There’s nothing charming about this charm, look.’

  It was a tiny fir tree, beautifully made with every pine needle clear, but the tree was bent over, cut almost in half by the long axe thrust into its side.

  The message was plain.

  ‘Now how on earth did that thing get up there?’ said Oriole. ‘I can’t imagine. It’s certainly not very nice.’

  ‘It’s horrid. Who made it?’ whispered Copper, in a quivering voice. Because, surely, she thought, surely, whoever made it, made my lovely charms too … ‘Do you know who made it?’ asked Copper again.

  ‘Why, of course,’ said Oriole. ‘I’d recognise that style of metal work anywhere. That charm was made by Granite.’

  12

  Sledging

  The following morning, Copper was woken by birdsong again. This time it was a fat robin. Copper lay quietly, watching him, remembering everything that had happened yesterday. The sense of excitement, of things yet to come, still absorbed her and she couldn’t help grinning to herself.

  ‘What’s that racket?’ said Ralick.

  ‘Just the robin,’ said Copper. ‘And he’s got a message for us.’ She gently removed the tiny roll of paper from a container on the bird’s leg.

  ‘Good morning! Breakfast is ready.’

  The robin flew away and Copper flew out of bed.

  ‘Questrid said he’d take me sledging today,’ she told Ralick, propping him up on the pillows. ‘I’ve never sledged before. I’d better not take you, though, it’s so cold out there.’

  ‘Cold? Bah!’ said Ralick. ‘You’re bored with me. You like Questrid better than me.’

  ‘Silly creature. I love you, but sledging really isn’t suitable for … for a …’

  ‘Go on, say it. A cuddly toy! That’s all you think of me now, isn’t it?’

  ‘But think, if you fell into the snow you’d get wet and your fur is … a bit worn and it’s so cold and then there’s the bracelet. We mustn’t lose that.’

  ‘Huh, so I’ll stay at home all on my own … maybe I’ll take up knotting, you’ve almost stopped doing that too.’

  ‘Knitting,’ said Copper. ‘I know I have, I don’t feel the need at the moment.’

  ‘Bah!’ said Ralick again.

  Outside the air was grey and very still and heavy as if clogged up with snow just hanging in it and waiting to fall. Copper pulled her hat firmly down over her ears and thrust her hands deep into the pockets of her big, borrowed coat.

  Questrid called to her from the stables and Silver bounded out from her warm bed beside the horses to greet her too.

  ‘Good girl!’ said Copper, stroking her luscious fur. ‘You stay here in the warmth and don’t catch cold. You must look after yourself and your puppies.’

  ‘Hello,’ said Questrid. ‘Here’s your sledge.’

  ‘That’s beautiful!’ said Copper, gazing at the old wooden sledge. She rushed to help Questrid drag it out in the snow.

  It was an old-fashioned design, with curved runners trimmed with a silver metal. There were leather reins attached to the front which swivelled from side to side and the seat was padded with fur.

  ‘Who made it?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Questrid, ‘but I’m sure it was a Beech. My sledge is the same. They’re both really fast and well-balanced, you’ll love riding them.’

  They pulled the sledges across the yard an
d headed up the hill.

  ‘Did you find out anything new, yesterday?’ Questrid asked Copper.

  ‘I told you everything,’ Copper said. It was easier to talk to Questrid than anyone else. ‘And now all I can think about is going to look for my mother and father. I wrote to Aunt Ruby this morning, a long letter telling her everything too. I do miss her.’

  Copper had given the letter to Oriole who promised to send it on.

  ‘Of course you must miss her … Can you manage that sledge? Come on. We’ll go up to those pine trees, there,’ said Questrid, pointing up the steep hill. ‘Then we can zoom down and whiz straight into the courtyard – right through the arch – without stopping. It’s fantastic!’

  At last they reached the trees, and dusting the snow off a fallen log, they sat down, panting heavily.

  ‘Now, take a look at that,’ said Questrid, spreading out his arms at the scene in front of them.

  They could see for miles.

  Below, Spindle House was dark against the snow, the red roofs balanced like pointed hats on its branches were the only speck of colour. Smoke, trailing out of a chimney at the back, lay draped over the wall like a wet scarf. It was like looking at a toy house and there was Silver in the yard, a tiny toy dog.

  It was very quiet and still. The only sound was the wind gently teasing the pine trees and occasionally the softest plop as snow dropped from their branches.

  Then, Copper heard something else.

  Behind the normal earthy noises was a creeping noise, a slithering and sneaky noise. Something or someone was creeping up on her … again! But this time the hairs on the back of Copper’s neck prickled and she felt really scared. This was different. This was menacing.

  Her fingers tightened their grip on the fallen tree beneath her.

  Copper looked at Questrid; yes, he’d heard it too, his eyes were as round as saucers. They stared at each other, straining to hear the tiny unnatural sounds: soft slithering of snow, bodies brushing against the trees, squelching, crunching snow beneath feet.

  Whatever it was, it was getting closer and closer …

  Suddenly: ‘Yahoo! Yahoo! There she is!’ a voice called and six small men stormed out from the cover of the trees, and came running straight at them, whirling long pointed swords above their heads and yelling.

  ‘Rockers!’ cried Questrid, leaping up. ‘Quick! Get on your sledge!’

  Rockers? ‘But they’re the men from the station!’ cried Copper.

  ‘Come on!’ yelled Questrid, ignoring her. He yanked the sledges round, but his foot caught in the reins and he tripped and fell, sending the two sledges across each other, runners jammed and stuck together.

  Copper screamed.

  The men were so close: they looked so dark and hard against the white snow, like a flock of angry crows. They were nearly on top of them, she could hear the whirr of their swords through the air, see their shining black eyes locked onto her.

  Questrid hauled himself up and the two of them pulled at the sledges, tugging them apart, then suddenly hers was free and she spun it round to point downhill.

  ‘Hurry, hurry. Get on!’ cried Questrid.

  Copper threw herself onto the sledge just as a man with a black woolly hat and a straggly black beard reached them, grabbing at her, snatching at her clothes.

  ‘GO! GO!’ screamed Questrid. He gave the sledge a massive push and heaved his shoulder against her.

  The sledge went.

  It shot off with a whoosh like a rocket, swerved as Copper yanked it straight, then went racing, straight as an arrow down towards Spindle House.

  Behind her, there were shouts and cries of anger, but Copper didn’t dare look back. Was Questrid all right? If she turned she knew she’d fall off. She was too scared to do anything except hold on. What if they were right behind her, reaching and grabbing at her collar?

  Hunched down, she urged the sledge on faster and faster and soon there was only the sharp sound of its runners cutting through the icy snow and the cold wind singing in her ears.

  Seconds later, the sledge slid under the archway and into the courtyard, just like Questrid said it would.

  Home.

  Copper glided to a standstill and slipped onto the ground. Silver bounded over to her, licking her face, pushing her wet nose against Copper’s cold cheek.

  Copper wrapped her arms round the dog. ‘I’m all right.’

  Before Copper could even scramble to her feet, she saw Questrid’s sledge heading down the hill and a second later it came zooming into the courtyard like a bullet.

  ‘Look out!’ cried Questrid, swerving round Silver and Copper. ‘Watch it!’ and he tumbled off, landing upside down in a pile of snow. ‘Phew!’ he said, dusting himself down. He was grinning from ear to ear. ‘That was fun, wasn’t it?’

  ‘Fun?’ cried Copper. ‘It was scary, more like. They were trying to get me, or didn’t you notice?’

  ‘I know, I know,’ said Questrid. ‘Sorry. I suppose I’m used to Rockers. Are you all right? Don’t look so worried, you’re safe now. Come on, I’ll take you in and Oriole will look after you.’

  Copper was trembling as Oriole and Questrid settled her into a chair by the stove.

  ‘It was the way they pointed at me,’ said Copper. ‘The way they had this determined fierce glare in their eyes …’

  Copper picked up her needles and started: click, clack, click.

  ‘Just like old times,’ whispered Ralick.

  ‘Those Rockers! What a nerve,’ said Oriole. ‘They’re getting more and more daring! It’s Granite, playing at king up there, making them do this.’

  ‘She’s right about them being after her,’ said Questrid, sitting down by the fire. ‘They yelled: It’s her! and ran for her like she was important or something.’

  Copper went on knitting.

  ‘But why me?’ she said. Knit one, pearl one, knit one, pearl one: her knitting needles skipped along. ‘Why me?’

  Robin didn’t make any comment. Copper noticed that when she’d finished telling them what had happened, he quickly scribbled something on a scrap of paper, picked up a blackbird and went outside with it.

  He was sending a message, but who to?

  ‘Yes, why do the Rockers want Copper?’ said Questrid.

  ‘I’d never have let you go sledging if I’d thought they’d attack you like that,’ said Oriole. ‘I thought you’d be safe here with us around, but you’re not. No more than you were with your Aunt Ruby. But you’re all right now.’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ said Copper. ‘I feel very safe here. They’d never try and get me in here, would they? And I’ve been thinking about all the things that Uncle Greenwood told me yesterday, about my mother, because I’m sure she’s still there, up at the Rock. I’m sure she’s not dead.’

  ‘Oh, Copper,’ said Oriole. ‘Don’t get your hopes up, please don’t.’

  ‘You need to see the place to understand,’ said Robin, coming back in at that moment. ‘It’s impossible to get in! Solid rock. They tried, I know they did.’

  ‘So you don’t think she’s in there?’

  ‘No,’ said Oriole, putting her arm round her. ‘I’m sorry to say that I don’t. I think if she was still there Granite wouldn’t be still fighting us, he’d have given up and settled down with his precious treasure because he would have got what he wanted which was her. No, dear, I’m afraid she must be dead or run away.’

  ‘But you don’t know?’

  ‘No, not absolutely for certain.’

  Copper went back to her knitting.

  They don’t know for certain. Well I shall find out for certain and if she is alive in there … I shall find her.

  13

  Looking for the Room at the Top of the House

  Silver was missing.

  ‘It’s not like her at all,’ Oriole fretted next morning. ‘She had her dinner last night as usual and she went out to the stables as usual, but now there’s no sign of her. What if she’s gone and had her pups som
ewhere? Or she’s hurt?’

  ‘We’ll go and search for her later,’ said Robin. ‘We’ve got to go to the station to pick up some provisions, this morning,’ he told Copper. ‘You and Questrid mustn’t leave the house,’ he added. ‘It isn’t safe after what the Rockers tried yesterday.’

  ‘Silver should be on guard,’ said Oriole, worriedly. ‘Uncle Greenwood’s in the Root Room, but he’s working on something intricate and I don’t think he’d notice if the place exploded.’

  ‘We won’t be long,’ said Robin. ‘Don’t worry.’

  When they had gone, Copper sat at the big kitchen table and wrote to Aunt Ruby again.

  Dear Aunt Ruby,

  Did you send me away because of the Rockers trying to get me back? Well, they tried to catch me here too, but don’t worry I am too fast. Of course I forgive you for everything, but I haven’t found anything to forgive you for, yet. I wish I knew how you found me. Did you rescue me from Granite? Did you know my parents? Are you really one of those people, those Stone people? I still love you even if you are, because Uncle Greenwood told me that my mother was one so they must be all right. Robin is sending this with one of his birds. Do write back, I do miss you and think about you often.

  Lots of love, Copper

  PS I have not met anyone called Linden.

  Then, because she hadn’t much else to do, she began thinking about the mysterious person she was sure lived at the top of the house and by the time Questrid came in to get something to eat, she had hatched a plan.

  ‘Questrid, I want you to help me. I think there’s someone else living here, secretly.’

  Questrid looked puzzled.

  ‘Oh, Questrid, haven’t you ever thought there might be? Think! Who lives up in that tiny room at the top of the tree? Who does Oriole send food up to in the dumb waiter?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘You’re very nice but you have no imagination, Questrid. Yesterday, after the Rockers attacked, I’m sure Robin told someone about it. But who?’