“If it wasn’t for me, you mean!” Violet teased.
“Anyway, think of all the people those eye plants will help to see again,” Boy replied, ignoring her. “Your dad’s transplants are going to be world famous!”
“One of the greatest minds alive according to Grandmother. She told me Joseph Bohr’s informing everyone about Eugene! And he’s all over the cover of Eye Spy magazine, they’re calling him a vision ary!” Boy’s twin added.
“Yeah, he’s embarrassed – Dad said he can’t take all the glory when William helped too!” Violet replied.
“Oh no.” The twins laughed in unison – they were doing that sort of thing a lot lately.
“Our dad said Eugene can have all the praise! Archers have a bad track record with science.” Boy snorted. “He said from now on, he’s going to stick to making tea. It brings people together!”
Dear Boy and Violet,
I’m sitting here in the semi-dark having just finished the very last edits of your story. It’s a weird time, happy and sad and strange all at once.
I won’t see you both again, at least not in the same way. I mean we’ll probably meet briefly in a classroom or a bookshop; maybe we’ll even stumble into each other somewhere random like on a train or a bus – wouldn’t that be nice? But we won’t be together again, not really. I won’t go to bed dreaming of how your day went, or reluctantly bring you to work or on holidays or to my yoga class (you always managed to disturb me even when I was desperately trying to be zen). I’ll miss your random whispers in my ear, forever pulling me towards adventure.
You’ve been there for all my greatest memories, made me happier than you’ll ever really know and dragged my aching heart through some of its toughest times.
And so in many ways I wish I didn’t have to write this letter, but I know it’s time to set you free.
You see I’ve planned another adventure and I really hope you’ll take it up.
Will you go into the world for me, make new friends, ones more your age, and tell them something?
Will you tell them that they are special, that children are the most special people on this planet. Tell them that whether they are an orphan or a doctor’s daughter, they can do anything. Make them believe that they are brave, braver and wiser than even they know, and that they should never hope to be normal – normal is boring. Make them understand the power of their imagination so they don’t let anyone steal it – not even an Archer brother – as it will bring them everywhere.
And most importantly, Boy and Violet, please remember this bit the best… Tell them that no matter the situation or the size of the problem – whether it’s a thousand zombies or a bad day at work – that they, our children, save us adults every single time. If you can tell them just that, you’ve done me proud.
I’ll miss you two, so much.
Your loving friend,
Winner of the 2018 Crimefest Book Awards Best Crime Novel for Children (8-12)
Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Bord Gáis Irish Book Awards
Available to buy on the Kindle Store
First published in the UK in 2019 by Usborne Publishing Ltd., Usborne House, 83-85 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8RT, England. usborne.com
Copyright © Helena Duggan, 2019
The right of Helena Duggan to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
Cover illustration by Karl James Mountford © Usborne Publishing, 2019
Map and “The Story so Far” illustrations by David Shephard © Usborne Publishing, 2019
The name Usborne and the devices are Trade Marks of Usborne All rights reserved. This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or used in any way except as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or loaned or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
EPUB: 9781474974660
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