A whole town – my heart sped up as I thought of the children falling asleep one by one, and of the ice storms we started having, so I had to ask, “Those fairy enchantments didn’t have anything to do with weird weather did they?”
Forenza shook her head, “No, I don’t think so. But there are lots of fairy legends about fairy magic influencing weather. One famous tale is about how the Oak King and the Holly King wrestle every solstice. One has to defeat the other or the seasons won’t change. The Celts believed the solstice was a dangerous time for fairy meddling.”
“You mean … because maybe people could then end up having winter forever?”
Forenza gave me a long, serious look until I felt uncomfortable and had to remind her, “You know, for my story.”
“I … I don’t think I know any stories like that … Well, I’m afraid I have to be getting back to my work.” She stood up, ready to escort me to the door. I had a sense that I’d upset her, but I didn’t know why.
“Oh,” she said. “I almost forgot that I have something for you.” Forenza went to the mantel and handed me two postcards. They were postmarked from France. “These are for you – I’m sorry, I was planning to deliver them in person, but I’ve been so caught up in my research and all.”
I said thanks and headed back to school, telling myself I’d read the postcards as I raced along so that I wouldn’t be even later than I was. First, Lucinda Greystone’s postcard was of a stone gargoyle that she’d sent me from a place called Notre Dame.
Dearest Cat, wrote Lucinda. You’ve been on my mind of late, and I just wanted to remind you: turn to the old ways of knowing.
That was disappointing. As usual, Lucinda’s words were not clear. They never had been. I guess spending all that time in Fairy had made her, well, mysterious.
But when I turned over Alice Greystone’s postcard of the Eiffel Tower, I came to an abrupt halt and I swear, my heart stopped.
CHAPTER 18 A Perilous Illusion
HELLO, CAT, ALICE wrote. I just wanted to drop you a quick note during our whirlwind tour. I want to make sure that the three of you are taking good care of your feathers.
Our feathers!
Of course, I’d completely forgotten that our special white feathers could help us see through fairy enchantment. Fairies have this thing called glamour where they are able to cast a spell and trick people into seeing things that aren’t real, or not seeing things that are right under their noses – whatever it takes for the fairies to fool them. If there was some kind of spell floating around in this town, the feather would help me see through it. Jasper and Sookie had their feathers, too. How could I have forgotten?
I raced back to my house, burst through the door, skipped up the steps three at a time to my room, and yanked my scrap box out from under my bed. I reached inside, pulled out my feather, and hung onto it as if it was the Soccer World Cup. And I waited. And I waited some more. Last time, at Halloween, holding onto the feather made me remember things that I’d forgotten. But this time I didn’t feel any different.
Maybe what I had to do was pull Jasper away from the cool kids’ table at lunchtime and make him find his feather too. Together we might be able to see through any fairy enchantment to figure out what was going on. Sure of my mission, I hurried back to school.
Trying to sneak into science class late was not a great idea. I almost made it, but the classroom was so jammed with stools that I knocked one over as I tried sliding in between Mia and Amanda. Ms. Dreeble spun around from the board where she’d been writing notes.
“Caitlin Peters, why are you so late?” She peered over glasses.
“Oh. I had to pick up … meet …” my voice trailed off. I should have thought about an excuse. I wasn’t good at making things up on the spot.
“Well, I’ve already sent in the attendance report. Your mother is the secretary, so I guess you’ll have to explain your tardiness to her.” Ms. Dreeble shook her head and went back to her lesson. “So class, can anyone give me an explanation for why we are having such dramatic weather fluctuations lately? The current weather patterns have broken all the town’s records.”
Our teacher knew! My heart started hammering against my ribs – Ms. Dreeble realized there was mysterious magic happening around us. Beside me, Amanda put her hand up.
“Yes, Amanda,” said Ms. Dreeble.
Amanda stood up. “There is a sinister reason for our strange weather,”
Yes, yes! was shouting inside my head.
“Our town is suffering from global warming.” Amanda sat down.
Huh?
“Exactly,” said Ms. Dreeble.
Global warming – was that possible? And here I was telling Jasper how once you start thinking of fairies, you see them behind every problem – sour milk? It’s the fairies.
Catching the flu? The fairies cast a spell. Besides, at Halloween, hadn’t we managed to close the fairy portal for good? Of course this weird weather was caused by global warming, which was still worrisome, but at least everyone understood that and we could all do something to help. When the bell rang I tried to whistle cheerfully as I got ready to change classes.
Ms. Dreeble called me to her desk. “Cat, I need to rely on the team captain for the soccer intramurals. You’d better understand that it is critical that you are here on time for the bus this afternoon – at four p.m. sharp. Don’t be late.” Ms. Dreeble folded her arms and frowned.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be there.” I smiled and went to history class.
But I had been so worried the evening before about what Jasper had said about Sookie that I’d forgotten about the history quiz that I was supposed to get up early and study for this morning. Clive must have been worried about Skeeter, because he didn’t taunt me about my poor mark. He simply handed me back my test. He’d lost all the spark in his eyes.
“How’s your brother,” I whispered.
“Sleeping,” said Clive. “He won’t wake up, but the doctors say all his vital signs are good … he doesn’t even have a fever.” Clive slumped onto his desk. “My gran wants me to go to the intramurals today anyway, but it’s just not the same.”
I felt bad for him – although, I didn’t miss his snide remarks.
Mr. Morrows discussed the effect of steam engines on shipping and travel and how that changed the global economy in the late 1800s. Who really cared that Canada could get rubber from Brazil? When Mr. Morrows went to the board and began scribbling our history assignment for over the holiday, there was an announcement on the PA system for me to go to the office.
“It’s about time the authorities caught up with you,” said Mitch as he laughed.
I made sure he saw me roll my eyes at him before I left. I was worried that my mother had spotted my name missing on the attendance sheet. I dragged myself to the office as I tried to think of some excuse to tell her. The problem was I didn’t want to lie, but I couldn’t tell the truth. Just as I was settling into a vague excuse about having to leave school for an important errand, my mom came running out of the office and took my arm.
“Cat, I want you to hear this from me before you hear it anywhere else.” Mom’s voice was sharp with worry.
“What?” I asked, swallowing my heart.
“Jasper was found unconscious this morning on stage in the gym. They’ve taken him to the hospital.”
CHAPTER 19 Magic is Secret
THIS COULDN’T BE happening!
I insisted Mom take me to see Jasper right away, but she said she’d just heard from Mia’s mom who was a nurse at the hospital. The doctors didn’t want the flu to spread, so Jasper wasn’t allowed any visitors.
“His condition is very stable now,” consoled Mom. “His vital signs are good, and that is important. You may as well go back to class, as I’m sure he’s going to be all right.”
Just like Skeeter, I thought.
During lunch, I sat at my table dazed while the cafeteria buzzed with noise. But it was as if a shroud of darkness had fall
en over me and separated me from the rest of the students. Well, not quite, as Amarjeet sat beside me, barely touching her lunch. Mia’s sandwich was still in its wrapper. When I looked over at the cool kids’ table, I couldn’t take my eye off the empty space where Jasper usually sat. No one had taken his seat.
“It’s the fairies,” I whispered. “They’ve hurt Jasper and the sick children.”
Amarjeet said, “People get sick. There’s nothing mysterious about that. My brother and Mia’s sister have caught an awful flu. And now Jasper is ill. But they’re going to be okay. We’re still going to the intramurals.”
Mia nodded wearily, as the dread that overcame me last night now spread through my body. Everyone’s acceptance of the bizarre happenings was starting to feel familiar – in a totally terrible way. All those kids were practically in comas. Why weren’t people freaking out? Because they don’t have the feathers, I thought I heard Lucinda saying to me. They don’t have glamour protection.
The afternoon dragged while I wracked my brain trying to figure out what I could do about the strange malady affecting Jasper and all of Sookie’s former helpers. I had to go see Jasper for myself. But first I had to sit through the school day, pick up my sister, and then wait until Mom got home before I could go to the hospital. I wasn’t going to let a “no visitors allowed” policy stop me. Waiting was torture.
When the last bell rang, I raced to Drearden elementary school and met up with Sookie as she slowly plowed through snow as deep as the tops of her blue rubber boots.
“Sookie,” I called out. “Jasper is sick and in the hospital. What happened?”
“I’m freezing,” Sookie complained when I caught up with her. She wiped her dripping red nose with a pink mitten. “Father Winter is taking this too far.”
I was about to yell, “Didn’t you just hear what I said?” but I hesitated. Come to think of it, she never even mentioned Skeeter this morning. Then, for the first time I thought carefully about what she’d been saying to me. “Just what is Father Winter carrying too far?” I asked.
“This cold weather. But it’s not his fault, it’s just that he’s sad.”
I sprung into alert mode. It was beginning to dawn on me that I should pay attention to Sookie’s imaginary people. “Who is sad?”
“Father Winter,” Sookie said impatiently. “I could hear his moans in the wind because he wanted to be stronger.
When I found the turban in the magician’s trunk and put it on …”
I noticed a suspicious bulge in Sookie’s backpack that was the shape of a turban. “Go on,” I said calmly, although my heart had leapt up to my throat.
Sookie glanced up at me. “When I wear the turban, he gives me magic words to help him.”
Still trying to sound calm, I said, “Words like the ones you used when Skeeter disappeared?”
“Uh huh …”
“Why didn’t you tell me about those magic words,” I asked.
“Magic is secret,” Sookie said tersely. “It said so in the magic kit you gave me.”
I studied my sister’s face, but she didn’t look like an evil magician, or even like someone under a spell. She barely looked nine years old.
But something was going on with her and I was sure she didn’t understand. So I dug into my pocket and held up my white feather. It lit up with a purple glow, which sure made it look as if it still worked!
I handed Sookie the feather.
In Sookie’s hand, the feather sparkled in every shade of blue, sapphire, indigo, and cobalt. She shrugged her shoulders. “What is it supposed to do?” she asked.
Her reaction wasn’t what I’d hoped it would be. She still wasn’t making connections to her actions and to what was happening to others around her. “You were with Jasper this morning, weren’t you?”
Sookie looked at me. “Jasper wanted a turn in the spirit cabinet.” Now she looked a bit guilty. “He asked me to make him disappear.”
Of course – Jasper wouldn’t have waited for me to get over my argument with him. There was an urgency we had both sensed. I choked up as I remembered he was the bravest kid I knew.
“Do you think Jasper getting sick has something to do with your magic?” I asked.
Sookie waited to answer me. Then very quietly she said, “I don’t know.”
There was a mystery to solve, and I was coming up with zilch. I took Sookie home and asked her to give me her turban. I yanked out the black feather and replaced it with the white one. I watched carefully as Sookie placed the turban on her head. She grew quiet, but after a minute she took the turban off.
“I don’t notice much difference at all.”
Why wasn’t the white feather working?
Then I had an idea. As, soon as Mom got home, I raced off to the hospital determined to do whatever it took to see my friend. I just knew if I could give Jasper the feather, he would wake up and be okay.
***
More than an iron will was required to pass the nurses’ desk. For the third time, I politely explained how I had to see my friend in the hospital.
“I’m sorry, young lady,” the nurse said kindly, but more firmly than the way my Vice Principal, Ms. Severn, always said it. Come to think of it, they sort of looked alike – but it was more than the short gray hair. It had to do with their expressions. You totally got the impression that no excuse would ever fly past them.
As I began to despair, a person spoke behind me. “Oh, we’ve been waiting for this girl. Her familiar voice might help stir our son.”
I turned to see Mr. and Mrs. Chung. My heart tugged as I took in their faces that were wracked with worry.
“Please, follow me, Cat,” said Mr. Chung.
“I’m sorry,” said the nurse, “but only immediate family is allowed into the room.”
“Cat is immediate family,” said Mr. Chung. The nurse flashed a look of surprise but didn’t stop us.
I followed the Chungs down the hall with its green and white linoleum, and its harsh disinfectant smells stuck inside my throat. The Chungs led me into Jasper’s room.
“There is a bad wind in our town,” said Mr. Chung. “The elements of air and earth are not aligned. Jasper’s energy flow is out of balance.” We approached Jasper’s hospital bed.
Jasper lay on his back – his face still, his eyes closed. He did not look at all ill. Just like all the other kids – and Buddy
– he seemed healthy, except for the endless sleep. I took out my feather, and when the Chungs turned away for a moment to whisper softly to each other, I dropped it to the blanket and watched it drift to Jasper’s chest. It landed.
And then in muffled cries, I tried to suppress my screams.
CHAPTER 20 Magic is Misdirection
MRS. CHUNG LEANED over the bed and stroked Jasper’s forehead before giving me a puzzled look.
“She didn’t see – they didn’t see it!” cried a voice inside my head. “It’s the glamour that’s tricking their eyes!”
The room spun around me, and it was as if an eclipse covered the sun and choked out the light. But what was happening wasn’t going on outside. The shock was shutting my brain down and turning my stomach inside out. I fought to stay conscious. I had to keep a hand pressed over my mouth because I couldn’t stop screaming.
“What, Cat?” Mr. Chung rushed to my side, pulled me away, and sat me down on a chair beside Jasper’s bed. I kept staring back at a horror.
A brown and shriveled thing with frozen, dead eyes stared up at me from the bed. Skin peeled off the gnarled, hideous creature in chunks. Instead of a mouth, a gaping hole silently screamed back at me, and a piece of gray cobweb dangled from its lips.
“This is too much for you – seeing your friend so sick,” Mr. Chung said in alarm. “I didn’t mean to unsettle you.”
I couldn’t bear to be in the room one second longer, but I had to fight with myself not to terrify the Chungs any more than I had. I also had to get that feather back – maybe my friend’s life counted on it. “
I … I’m late, I’ve got to go …” I managed to say, but when I reached out toward that nightmare in the bed to grab my feather, I gagged.
“Are you going to get sick?” Mr. Chung asked, sounding panicked. “I should get the doctor.” But I shook my head and stumbled out of the room.
“Cat, what are you doing here?” I heard Mia’s mother call after me. I started running.
My friend? That wasn’t my friend, that … it … wasn’t even human. I clutched the feather and raced out of the hospital. Once outside, I chugged in the sharp, brutally cold air and let out a piercing scream. It wasn’t until I’d run all the way home, slipping and sliding in the snow and ice, and stood panting on my front porch that I managed to get my brain working again. I looked for Sookie and found her in her room. She was sitting on her bed, covering her ears.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Father Winter is laughing,” she said in a voice that managed to sound annoyed and frightened at the same time.
Carefully, I listened to the shrill wind as it blew against the window. Perhaps it did sound like a menacing chuckle. Taking my feather, I went over to Buddy’s cage. I poked the feather through the bars and began tickling the hibernating hamster.
“What are you doing?” Sookie rushed to my side.
“Stay away,” I said, not wanting to frighten her. “Our feathers still work,” I said. “There is enchantment going on, and someone has been deceiving our eyes. This isn’t really Buddy.”
But of course, telling Sookie this only made her more determined to see what was going on.
“That’s not Buddy,” said Sookie in surprise. “It’s a piece of wood.”
She was right. The chunk of wood was roughly hewed into the shape of a hamster with a round body and tiny face. I forced myself to picture the thing I saw lying in the hospital bed, and I shuddered. I realized it had been a stump of wood with crudely carved human features. The peeling skin had been chiseled bark that revealed lumpy chunks of raw wood – a horrible Pinocchio face, but not Jasper at all. Except to everyone else who didn’t have the feather – who fell for the fairy glamour – it was Jasper. His mom and dad thought the stump of wood in the hospital bed was him, just as Sookie and I thought this piece of branch had been Buddy.
Grim Hill: The Secret Deepens Page 10