Ghost Boy

by Felicity Pulman

  ‘No!’ Cassie tugged at his arm, neatly trapping someone coming the opposite way. ‘Froggy, you’ll drown! I don’t want you to drown.’ She let go, freeing the impatient commuter.

  ‘I won’t drown!’ Froggy snapped, trying to convince himself even more than Cassie.

  ‘But you can’t even swim!’ Cassie wailed.

  ‘Yes, I can. Or at least, I could before …’ Froggy heard the roar of the waves, tasted salt water in the back of his throat. He swallowed hard. ‘I have to try.’

  ‘What’ll I tell your parents?’ It was clear Cassie had already determined his fate.

  ‘You can tell them Tad and I’ll be hanging around Dobroyd. You can even invite them along for a visit.’ Froggy tried to smile and failed. His voice shook a little as he laid an urgent hand on Cassie’s arm. ‘You’ll come and see me, won’t you Cassie, if I …’

  ‘You know I will.’ Cassie moved closer to him as they walked along. ‘But I still wish you wouldn’t.’ Her face was flushed and her eyes were wide and frightened.

  Froggy tried to laugh their fears away. ‘It’ll be all right, you’ll see. But you don’t have to come, Cassie. I’ll be fine on my own.’

  ‘I’m coming.’ Cassie stumped along determinedly, heading for the bus queue.

  ‘I wonder if Tad’ll be there. I hope so.’

  ‘I hope he isn’t! Then you won’t be able to go.’

  Froggy didn’t like to tell Cassie he was going whether Tad was there or not. Breaking such news in a queue full of pensioners and housewives didn’t seem like a great idea.

  The driver looked curiously at their school uniforms.

  ‘Enjoyed that school concert, didn’t you, Cassie?’ Froggy tried.

  ‘Ah-ah-ah-ah.’ Cassie’s voice yodelled experimentally up the scale and everyone stared. The bus driver held out a hand for their money and Froggy followed Cassie down the aisle, cursing her, cursing Tad and, most of all, cursing all lawyers.

  Froggy stared moodily ahead, ignoring Cassie’s efforts to cheer him up as he watched the passengers dribble gradually off the bus, loaded down under bags of shopping. They were the last ones left on the bus when it finally came to their stop. Froggy got off slowly and, followed by Cassie, walked reluctantly into the national park. They didn’t speak. There seemed nothing left to say. Froggy walked more and more slowly, his footsteps dragging, until Cassie came up beside him and hooked her arm through his. They walked side by side then, but Froggy could feel her fear. It almost matched his own.

  Would she miss him? There was a brief moment of comfort for Froggy in the thought.

  ‘Is he here?’ Cassie looked around the familiar rocky outcrop.

  ‘No.’ Froggy shivered, feeling cold and miserable.

  Cassie looked pleased. ‘Don’t go then! Please don’t go. You don’t have to, you know.’

  ‘Cassie, you saw those lawyers. They just didn’t believe us. But the family treasure is real, and it’s mine. I don’t see why I shouldn’t have it.’

  ‘It’s not worth it!’

  Froggy shook his head. ‘It is to my family,’ he admitted. Miserably, he started to unbutton his shirt, glad that at least he was wearing decent undies. How embarrassing if he’d put on the teddy bear boxer shorts his mother had given him for his birthday!

  ‘Froggy,’ Cassie grabbed his hand, trying to stop him. Froggy felt the warmth of her fingers, the desperation in her grip. For a moment he held on, wishing it was that simple. He was reluctant to let go, knowing what must come next. At last he looked up, half-expecting to see Tad jeering at him. But the rocks were just as empty, the anxious cry of a black crow the only sound.

  ‘I have to go,’ he said at last, freeing his hand.

  He stripped off and then made his way down the rocky path to the water. He was aware that Cassie was following close behind and felt self-conscious of his white skin and skimpy blue undies. But he was too oppressed by his coming task to care.

  ‘Don’t panic if I take a long time. Tad only gave me a vague description of where he hid the treasure. It might take an age to find it.’ He didn’t look back, didn’t see Cassie nod, or her anxious frown as he walked across the broad ledge of warm rock to the water.

  It was icy, and he gasped and shivered. But he couldn’t back out now. Not with Cassie watching!

  He wondered how Tad had felt, paddling out here in the dark all those years ago. It would be easier now. He could see where he was going. Still, he wished Tad was here to give him some advice and encouragement. He waded deeper and deeper until finally he kicked out, paddling across the stretch of water to the dark mouth of the cave.

  Froggy found himself gasping with fear, trying to catch his breath as the waves slapped at him spitefully. There was nothing underneath him, only water. What was the state of the tide? Had Tad made the swim at high or low tide, and would it have made any difference?

  He paddled on and felt the waves surge forward, breaking over his head, until at last one lifted and carried him into the cave, dumping him with a jolt onto the rocky floor. He lay winded for a moment, feeling his arm sting where it had scraped against barnacles. Finally he clambered to his feet and looked around, still hoping against hope to see Tad.

  But the cave was empty. Froggy glanced across the water. Cassie was hopping up and down, waving energetically. He gave her a half-hearted salute before walking deeper into the cave.

  The tide must be down, he thought, looking at the debris that had washed in. Part of a crate, liberally festooned with rubbery brown seaweed. An orange, sodden and disintegrating. Broken shells and knotted nylon line, all of it stinking of dead fish and rotting seaweed. He picked his way past the rubbish until he came to clean sand. There he stood and closed his eyes, trying to recall Tad’s words, trying to pick up a sense of his presence, anything that might give him a clue as to where the treasure was hidden.

  But all Froggy could feel was fear. He opened his eyes and looked around for the rock ledge Tad had described. There were several. Froggy decided to start at the outer edge of the cave and work his way inwards. He wished he’d thought to ask Tad whether he’d buried the treasure on the right or the left of the cave.

  Left. The word sounded clearly in his mind and Froggy looked up quickly.

  Yes. There were three ledges running along the left side of the cave. Only one looked wide enough to climb. And Tad had been in the dark, Froggy reminded himself. He’d go for the most obvious.

  His eyes followed the path of the ledge across the rocky wall. After a few metres it narrowed, finally blending into smooth rock face once more. Halfway along, at head height above the ledge, was a dark hole. Was that it? Was that Tad’s hiding place? Froggy began to edge his way upwards, remembering Tad’s description of how he’d had to stand on tiptoes to push the box into its hiding place, how it had vanished with a clunk. Would he be able to get the box out again?

  He was taller than Tad. The thought comforted him as he held onto a piece of rock jutting out and carefully slid his other hand into the hole, hoping a giant crab or a sea snake hadn’t taken up residence.

  His exploring fingers touched something smooth and slippery. Tad had talked about a metal box, a heavy metal box. But this didn’t feel metallic. It felt like … Oilskin! Of course! Tad had told him the box was wrapped in oilskin. He’d also said that he’d wrapped his shirt around a bundle of gold coins. Froggy reached to the side and groped about, feeling a kick of excitement as his fingers touched soft cotton. He yanked at it with a triumphant cry, but the rotten fabric tore and Froggy was left clutching a handful of tattered strips as he listened to the faint clinking of coins spilling deeper into the hole.

  With a muttered curse, Froggy turned his attention back to the box. He reached down, gripped it and tugged. But his fingers slipped and the box stayed stubbornly in place.

  Froggy turned side-on to the rocky wall, balancing himself against the rough stone. But now he could fit only one hand into the hole. He turned again, wedging his back against
the rocky surface. This time he plunged both hands behind his head and into the hole.

  It was better with two hands, but the hole was deep and he couldn’t get a good enough grip on the box to drag it out. He looked around, sidled back along the ledge, jumped down and made straight for the wooden crate.

  The wood was waterlogged and rough. Froggy kept one foot firmly wedged on the base while he tugged at the side of the broken crate. He swayed back and forth, pulling each time he leaned backwards, until at last the wood snapped with a resounding crack and Froggy was left holding a thin plank. He could sense Cassie watching him from across the water and gave a half-hearted wave before heading back to the ledge.

  But he still couldn’t shift the box. His position was too awkward. He turned to face the rock ledge once more, levering the box into position with one hand, steadying it with the other, trying to judge the right time to drop the piece of wood and grab onto the box with both hands.

  The box slipped. Froggy tried again. And again. But as soon as he dropped the piece of wood and made a grab for the box, it came crashing down. Perhaps if he could turn the box onto its side, it would make it taller and thinner – easier to grasp. But the box was heavy and the space restricted. Froggy heaved and groaned and swore and sweated, gradually losing the skin from his fingers as they were trapped and pinched by the heavy box and ground against the rocky surface, rough as sandpaper.

  Froggy was getting thoroughly sick of it. One more try and then he’d give up. He dug the piece of wood as far under the box as it would go. Then, with an almighty shove, he levered the box upright.

  This time it stayed in position! Froggy carefully wedged the piece of wood in the hole beside it, hoping the wood would stop the box falling over once more. Now his hands fitted easily around the top of the box and he gave a triumphant tug.

  Nothing happened. The box seemed to be wedged fast. Froggy gave another heave. The box lifted slightly, then settled again. It seemed hopeless. Froggy was close to tears as he looked around the cave. He still had the swim back to get through. Even if he survived, how could he face Cassie empty-handed?

  ‘One last try, Froggy.’ It was Tad’s voice and he looked around quickly. But he was still alone.

  He shifted his feet, feeling for footholds on the ledge, wedging his feet into the narrow fissures. He pressed against the cold rock face, feeling the rough edges bite into him. Then he raised his arms and thrust his hands into the hole.

  ‘One-two-three …’ He breathed deeply as his hands locked like limpets around the box and he gave one last heave.

  The box popped out like a cork, its weight bringing him off the ledge and up, flying backwards through the air. He let go and landed on the sand with a thud, the box only a short distance from his head. Froggy lay still, fighting for breath, winded with fright and his sudden unexpected descent.

  Finally, he got to his feet, bent down and picked up the box. It was heavy, but not as heavy as Froggy had expected. He clutched it with one hand, doing a couple of practice swimming strokes in the air with the other. He had no idea how he was going to manage the next bit. Full of apprehension, he trailed towards the mouth of the cave.

  Cassie was peering anxiously across the water, her body slumped in dejection. She straightened and waved when she saw Froggy. With both hands, he lifted the box above his head. He heard her shout of triumph echo above the crash of the waves and the bleating seagulls. He stared out at the stretch of water he would have to swim. Waves reared towards him, their foaming heads plunging down in a series of shattering roars. They seemed bigger than ever now.

  ‘You can do it.’ It was Tad’s voice, and Froggy spun around. But still the cave was empty.

  ‘Chicken! Why don’t you come with me?’ he spat.

  ‘Chicken!’ The word echoed desolately around the cave.

  ‘Come on, Tad! I’m doing this for you!’

  ‘For yourself, you mean!’ the voice mocked him.

  ‘You’re just too scared!’

  There was no reply. Froggy looked around desperately. ‘Get stuffed, Tad!’ he shouted, hoping to goad him into showing himself. ‘I don’t need a coward like you around!’

  But the cave remained empty.

  ‘All right then, I’m off,’ Froggy announced. Securing the box under his arm, he waded out to the edge of the rock ledge, trying to time the waves so he could jump into the swell between. The water surged up, catching Froggy, lifting him up then dumping him hard onto the rocks. He sat up, coughing and spitting salt water, feeling bruised and battered as he wondered what to try next.

  The sun warmed his skin and for a moment Froggy closed his eyes. He saw a clearing in the bush, a safe place, a place to make a home for himself and Joseph, and Ralph too, if he wanted …

  His eyes opened. Alarmed, he looked about him. Cassie was standing up now, eyes shaded against the sun, watching intently. Froggy stroked the box, feeling its oily wetness. He shook it, trying to hear the tinkle of treasures within. But he could hear only the cries of the seagulls as they wheeled overhead and the sullen slap of the waves on the rocks which guarded the cave.

  He looked out across the water once more. He’d been ages in the cave. The tide must have turned by now. The longer he left it, the harder it would be to get back. Oh, what the hell! Froggy resigned himself to his fate. Swallowing hard, ignoring the cramping knot of fear in his belly, he threw himself into the water and began to swim.

  The salt water chewed at his torn and bleeding hands and the grazes on his arm. Everything hurt. He clutched the box tighter to his chest, kicking out. A wave creamed above him, ready to crash down and batter him against the rocks. Froggy took a deep breath and ducked under it, paddling desperately with his one free hand, fighting panic as the icy water closed over his head.

  What chance did he have anyway, trying to swim with a heavy box when Tad had drowned even though he was a good swimmer and had both hands free? At least he could see where he was going, Froggy thought, as he fought his way free of the boiling current and surfaced, taking a quick look around him before the next wave crashed down on his head. He just had time to glimpse what looked like a patch of calm water to his right. Maybe he should try swimming sideways.

  Froggy lashed out, saw the wave gather force and ducked down once more, paddling strongly against the undertow. Jagged rocks reached out from the sea floor, bruising his feet as he kicked against them. He surfaced, spluttering, taking gasps of fresh air. The salt water was making his eyes stream so badly he could hardly see. The next wave reared up, tall as a skyscraper. Beyond rational thought, almost beyond fear, he arrowed down into its green depths.

  Instinct, an animal instinct for survival, drove him on, scrabbling sideways, seeking the patch of calm water he’d seen. The urge to breathe was strong, but Froggy knew that it was not yet safe to surface. Water began to seep into his nose, mouth and ears, dragging him down. He kicked out blindly, his heart pounding, his lungs bursting for air.

  ‘You’re nearly there. You can do it, Froggy.’

  His eyes flicked sideways, glimpsing the face that was his own, almost seeing the faint flickering form swimming beside him. ‘Tad?’ Froggy’s mouth filled with water and he tried to spit it out, cursing Tad for tricking him. There was no-one beside him. He was alone.

  Froggy’s need to breathe drove him upwards. He broke the surface, choking and spluttering, taking great whoops of salt-spray air. A wave curled over him. Froggy’s eyes swivelled desperately as he tried to get his bearings. He dived once more.

  The chill water dragged him down. He was getting weaker. He had lost his sense of direction. He didn’t know now which way to swim. He clutched the box tighter. If he drowned, at least they would find the treasure with his body. He kicked feebly, closing his eyes against the dark, chill depths, fighting the urge to breathe in water. The sea held him and he could feel his body being pulled along with the current. He relaxed, no longer able to resist.

  His eyes flickered open as he realised he n
o longer felt so chilled. Warm currents ran like threads through the water, bringing him hope, giving him new strength. He pushed upwards. As he broke the surface he was almost blinded by the dazzle of sunlight on the sea. He began to cough, dragging air deep into his lungs, spitting salt water.

  ‘Froggy! Over here! Don’t give up now!’ Cassie’s despairing cry snapped Froggy’s head around in time to see another wave roll towards him. It was smaller than the others and lacked the same angry force, Froggy realised, as he ducked underneath it and came up again. He looked around, trying to get his bearings. He’d followed the line of the cliff around in a great arc to get to the calm water and was way off course. It was a long swim back to Cassie, but the water was calm. All he needed now was endurance.

  ‘Froggy?’

  ‘I’m okay!’ he shouted, then rolled over and floated on his back, cradling the box to his chest, resting before the final test.

  The sun beat down, thawing his chilled limbs. Froggy breathed deeply and contentedly, savouring the fresh air.

  I wish Tad was here, he thought. Surely he’ll come to see what’s in the box! Maybe he’s waiting with Cassie already. He looked up quickly. But Cassie waited alone. Impatient to see the treasure for himself, Froggy rolled over and started to swim.

  What was in the box anyway? Gold bars? Jewels? He’d let Cassie choose something for herself, he decided, sniggering suddenly as he pictured her in school uniform, decorated with diamonds.

  He forgot his tiredness, his fear as he paddled awkwardly with one hand towards the rocky outcrop where Cassie waited for him. He was too busy imagining what was in the treasure trove. His foot hit rock and then he felt Cassie’s eager hands clasping him, dragging him out of the water.

  ‘Froggy!’ She flung her arms around him, jamming the box between them. For one insane moment, Froggy thought she was going to kiss him.

  Feeling suddenly awkward, he pulled away and held the box out to her in triumph.

  ‘Quick! Let’s see what’s inside!’ Cassie squeaked.