Greenhouse

by Stephanie Mylchreest

  I force a thin smile. He is trying to keep things light, but the weight of Delphine’s imminent execution is bearing down heavily on me. The elders—with their lust for retribution against Delphine—must be defeated.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The three of us have been resting or napping since Abigail’s mother left just before dawn. Ada offered us the prisms again so we could learn more about the station but neither Rich nor I were in the mood after the news about Delphine. Ada seemed surprised, but she packed away the prisms saying nothing further.

  A melancholy quiet has settled over us when Abigail’s whistle smashes it wide open. We sit up abruptly. Rich returns Abigail’s whistle—two short notes—and Abigail explodes through the green curtain and rushes towards me. She is clearly enraged and I take a step backwards. She closes the gap between us and places her hands on my chest, shoving me.

  “Why did you do it Chris? Why?” She is crying now.

  “Do what?” I ask, even though I know the answer already.

  “Why did you go to the pit last night? I asked you to wait. I told you we would work it out and go together. But you went off alone and now everything is worse. They could have killed you! Your mother and Delphine… This is a disaster.” I sense that more people have slipped into the shelter of our tree and I look up to find Carl Spool and Marissa loitering uncomfortably on the fringes of the willow’s internal space.

  I hold Abigail’s gaze evenly: “I’m sorry Abigail. You’re right. I shouldn’t have gone. I would not have put Mother and Delphine at risk like this intentionally, or the rest of you.” I turn to the others within the willow tree. The space feels too small.

  “Abigail,” says Marissa, moving toward us. She puts her arm around Abigail and hugs her briefly.

  Marissa speaks to me. “She was worried about you, Chris. We all were. I’m glad you are okay.” Marissa hugs Rich and me. She looks at Ada warily and Rich—noticing the unease—introduces Ada to everyone she hasn’t met.

  “I’ve heard about your people up there in space—it’s so amazing,” says Carl warmly as he takes Ada’s hand in his own. I can’t help roll my eyes. Marissa sees me and smiles, her green eyes flashing.

  “Why are you all here?” I ask. “I thought we needed to be discreet. Did anyone see you?”

  “We’ve been discussing whether it may be wise for us to change location, particularly if people are out searching for us,” says Ada. She is surprisingly confident amongst this group of strangers.

  “Yes,” I say, stepping closer to the group. “Come nightfall, I propose that we base ourselves at the lighthouse.” I ignore Rich’s pointed stare. I never discussed my idea with him and Ada. “We also need to decide how to rescue Delphine. Considering we don’t know what time her execution will happen, we need to make a move now.”

  “I’m not sure the lighthouse is the safest place to be,” interjects Abigail.

  “I’ve been thinking about how we can rescue Delphine—” says Carl.

  “So have I,” I say, cutting him short. Marissa is looking at me with raised eyebrows. I turn away from her and continue. “We need some kind of diversion. I was thinking we could light a massive fire in the forest. Once the fire is lit, we can storm the area and rescue her and Mother.”

  “Storm the area?” asks Carl. “There are only a handful of us. How could we storm the area?”

  “Have you all considered that this might be a trap?” asks Ada slowly. “Perhaps they are hoping to flush us out by spreading false news that Delphine is to be executed.”

  We all fall silent, considering Ada’s words. She keeps talking with an earnest look on her face. “It is a big risk to take. We could lose our lives or end up captured. Even if they are intending to execute her, can we risk our own lives for the life of one? Isn’t our need to get off this island more important?”

  I rush at Ada, pushing her up against the tree trunk. She stares back at me, eyes wide. “We have to save Delphine. It’s not optional.” I growl out the words.

  Someone is grabbing me, trying to pull me off her. I reach for my knife and twist away to come face to face with my brother. We are both wild-eyed and I’m still wielding the knife towards him. The group is quiet and all I can hear is my own ragged breathing. We all stare at the knife.

  “Chris, don’t do this,” says Rich. His voice is barely more than a whisper.

  I am so angry that my hand holding the knife is shaking. Rich glances over my shoulder. I turn to see what he’s looking at and at the same moment, Ada grasps a low-hanging branch and swings it hard into my face. The foliage momentarily blinds me and Ada knocks the knife out of my hand as she skips past me.

  When I look up, everyone is staring at me. Ada stands with the others, her arms folded. Abigail shakes her head. “What are you doing Chris?” My face burns with shame after her question.

  “This isn’t helping anyone,” says Marissa. She stands next to me and I’m grateful for the subtle show of support. “I agree that it’s not an option for us to let them execute Delphine. She’s one of us.”

  “I’m not suggesting we let them execute her,” replies Ada. “I’m just questioning whether the end justifies the means. It’s also possible they don’t intend to execute her, and this is all a ruse to draw us out. Have they ever executed people before?”

  “I remember my father talking about a couple of executions however they all happened before any of us were born,” says Abigail. “It was before your father became senior elder.” She looks at Rich and me.

  “So none have happened for a long time,” says Ada. “It sounds like the elders have never executed anyone themselves.” I catch the others nodding.

  “You’re all crazy, all of you,” I say. “Delphine risked her life to go to the mainland to save everyone on the island.”

  “You could also say she went to the mainland to prove her point,” says Abigail.

  “Are you serious, Abigail?” She refuses to meet my eye. “I can’t believe this,” I mutter. I bend down to retrieve my pack. “I don’t need any of you.”

  I push through the green curtain and the hanging branches swing closed behind me, more gently than I had hoped. I hoist the pack onto my shoulders and set off through the forest towards the lighthouse.

  I’m not surprised when Rich calls my name from behind. I don’t stop. I knew he would come after me. We would never desert each other. I slow my pace but keep walking away. Rich soon catches up and we walk side by side for a few moments before he speaks.

  “We need their help,” he says quietly.

  “They’re not going to help, Rich. Didn’t you hear them in there? Ada has them all wrapped around her little finger and they’ve only just met her.” Their betrayal stings more than I can express right now.

  “Ada has her own concerns,” replies Rich. “Her people are facing imminent death. Her priority is to get off the island.”

  “Well, there you have it. It’s clear I will have to save Delphine by myself.”

  “You have me. I’ll always stand beside you, brother.”

  “Thank you, Rich.”

  “So will you come back and talk to the others?”

  “No, I can’t stand to even look at them again. I can’t stand Ada and Carl. You can come with me if you like, but I am done with them. I’m going to save Delphine and Mother and then I’m going to leave the island.”

  Rich says nothing, but he looks over his shoulder as we put more distance between the willow tree and us. Then he sighs and I know for certain he is coming with me.

  “Thank you, brother,” I say.

  We are almost to the lighthouse when Rich stops and takes my arm. He pulls me down and we both crouch behind some dense bushes. I hear voices.

  “Let’s go a little closer,” I whisper. We approach slowly, keeping a line of trees and bushes between ourselves and whoever is at the lighthouse. I can see the white, curving walls of the lighthouse now but the view of the Harbormaster’s Cottage and the surrounding grassy
area is obscured.

  “Who do you think it is?” asks Rich softly.

  “I’m sure it’s a patrol out looking for us,” I say. We edge closer until my suspicions are confirmed. There are four people stationed at the lighthouse. They’ve formed two teams of two and are patrolling the perimeter of the cleared area, looking into the forest.

  “Isn’t that the Mumfords?” I ask Rich, pointing at the man and the woman walking along the cliff edge near the lighthouse. “Aren’t they with us?” Rich squints into the distance.

  “You’re right.” He frowns and we watch as the other patrol moves past our hiding place and the Mumfords circle around towards us.

  “Get ready to run,” says Rich. Before I can stop him, he picks up a small stone and throws it close to where the Mumfords are walking. Sally pauses ever so briefly. If you weren’t watching for it, you wouldn’t notice any change in her pace.

  Sally says something indistinguishable to her husband and they continue walking, although more cautiously than before. Rich throws another stone that lands close to their feet. They look down but don’t miss a step. They are close to us now and Rich calls out Sally’s name softly. Sally ducks her head slightly but they keep walking.

  “What are they doing?”

  “They probably don’t want to alert the other members of the patrol we are here.”

  “Do they know it’s us?”

  “It’s hard to tell. They probably guess it is someone from the alliance.”

  “The alliance?”

  “I thought it was a good name,” says Rich dryly. “Call us what you will.”

  We both watch the Mumfords complete their slow circle around the clearing. As the Mumfords pass the cliff edge and come back past where we are hiding, Sally pauses and looks into the depths of the forest.

  “We saw something,” she yells, calling to the other team of two people.

  Two men from a different village come running over to where the Mumfords stand. Sally points away from the place where we are hiding and they appear to be in discussions with the men. Eventually, the men set off in the direction Sally pointed and the Mumfords hurry towards us. I realize my fists have been clenched tightly and I release them, shaking my hands to get the blood flowing again.

  Rich gestures further into the forest and the Mumfords follow us. They approach us nervously and we come together in deep shade. Sally rubs at the red scar on her cheek anxiously.

  “What are you doing here?” asks Sally in a low whisper. “There are patrols all over the forest looking for you. The elders have ordered day and night monitoring of the lighthouse and extra guards at the pit. It’s not safe for you here.” Her husband holds his finger to his lips before we can reply and we all listen for the other patrol. I can’t hear anything and shake my head.

  “The others said it would be safer for us to keep moving for now. We are familiar with the forest and can remain hidden, even if we come across a patrol.” I lie smoothly and easily to the Mumfords.

  “Do you have any more information about the execution? Do you know when and where it will be?” asks Rich.

  “It’s scheduled for sunset tonight. They’ll do it outside the pit. The elders don’t want to create a spectacle at any of the villages. They don’t want people to hear about it until after it’s done,” Sally replies, looking at her husband as her voice trails off.

  “How did you find out about this?” asks Rich.

  “Carl told us. He overheard his father and the other elders planning it this morning,” says Sally.

  “Do you trust the information he has given you?” I ask. I barely manage to keep my voice steady.

  “I do,” replies Sally. She has an odd expression on her face. “Boys, we must go now. The others will be suspicious if we aren’t back soon. Please, keep your heads down.” Sally takes my hand in hers briefly. She presses something into my palm. “Give that to Philip Parsons—Marissa’s father—when you see him.” I close my hand around the object.

  “What about our mother?” asks Rich.

  “We’ve got no news,” says Sally. “She is probably still in the pit but no one knows for certain. I’m sorry, I wish we had more information.”

  “We have to go,” says Sally’s husband. He looks nervous. We whisper goodbye and they walk back towards the lighthouse. We watch them disappear through the trees and then we are alone in the deep shade.

  “We should get away from here,” I say. “A patrol could find us at any moment. We can’t risk being caught, not with the… the execution happening at sundown.”

  “I agree. What did Sally give you?” asks Rich. I open my hand and there is a key.

  “What do you suppose it’s for?” he asks me.

  “I’m not sure,” I say. “I’ve not seen this key before.”

  Keys are rare on the island. Only one man from our village knows how to make a lock and key mechanism and he’s one of only a couple of locksmiths on the whole island. I remember my frantic search for the keys to the door imprisoning my mother and Delphine and my hand tightens involuntarily over the key. Rich takes the key gently from my hand and puts it into a leather pouch he wears on a string around his neck.

  “We should try to find the tunnel I told you about,” I say. “The one Delphine showed me that leads to the lighthouse. We could wait there until we’ve decided how we rescue Delphine and Mother.”

  “That’s probably not a good idea, Chris. What if they’ve already discovered it? Besides, I’m starving. I need something to eat.”

  We discuss the tunnel for a few moments and Rich convinces me it is not worth taking the risk. If they capture us, Delphine will surely die tonight, so it does not take long for me to agree. We decide instead to press on towards the pit. We’ll catch or forage something in the forest to eat along the way and plan as we walk.

  We veer away from the lighthouse, creating as much space between the patrols and us as possible. Rich trudges along next to me and I can tell that he is feeling as spent and exhausted as I am.

  “We must keep alert for another patrol,” says Rich as we pick our way slowly through the forest. We should be more careful, but our fatigue weighs heavily on us like an unwanted cloak in the heat of summer.

  We come to a small stream that meanders through the forest and we both stop to drink and refill our flasks. I find some edible leaves that I wash and offer to Rich. He eats them reluctantly. The leaves are bitter but take the edge off our hunger. I rummage through my pack to see if I have anything more substantial and find a small slice of stale bread that Abigail gave me a couple of days earlier. We split the bread and soak it in a little water to make it palatable.

  I look at Rich while we sit and rest. His face is emaciated, and it pains me to see him like this. I ask him gently: “Did they not feed you when you were down there?” He replies with a hollow laugh that turns into a hacking cough. I pass him some water and he drinks quietly.

  “Chris, it was honestly the most terrible time of my life,” he tells me. “And worst of all,” he pauses now and there are tears welling in his eyes. “Worst of all, it was Father who put me in there. He knows! He knows how terrifying it is down there because he told me it would terrify me, that I would feel rats running over my frigid body, that I would go days without speaking to a single person with nothing but blackness for company.”

  “I’m so sorry, brother,” I say. I rub my eyes.

  “Mother came, when she could. Hearing her weeping for me on the other side of the door was almost worse than being alone.”

  “I get it Rich. I do. I’m so sorry you were the one who ended up there. I would do anything to change the past, for it to be me who was locked up down there. Will you ever forgive me?”

  “I never needed to forgive you. It wasn’t you who did this. It was Father. It was the other elders. I hate them. I want them to understand what they’ve done to us. I want them to suffer like they made me suffer, like they made Mother suffer.”

  I pause and let the weight
of his words fall over us. After some time, I ask him: “Why did they let Mother visit you?”

  “She told me the elders hoped she would get through to me, that she would convince me to turn on you and Delphine.”

  “You should have told them so you could get yourself out,” I say.

  “I would never do that, Chris.”

  “I know.”

  “They locked Ada up in the other cell after she crashed near the island and Mother would visit her too. Mother believed her, Chris. When Delphine and Mother were imprisoned, right before you rescued us, they moved Ada to my cell. Ada told me that Mother saved her life. Having another living, breathing human to talk to gave her the strength to go on. I feel the same. Mother saved me too. We must get her out. We must.”

  “I agree Rich, we will get her out once we save Delphine from the execution.”

  Rich closes his eyes for a moment. He seems to be steadying himself. His voice sounds calmer when he speaks. “Should we try to find the others?”

  “We’ll find them once we rescue Delphine and Mother. I don’t trust Ada and I don’t trust Carl. We can do this ourselves.”

  “Ada is okay,” says Rich softly. “She doesn’t know Delphine like you do. None of us do.” He looks down as he speaks.

  “I can’t let her die.”

  We both stare at the stream, watching the water trickle past us.

  Rich breaks the silence: “We need to get supplies for tonight. We need gunpowder and more ammunition.”

  “We don’t have time to make gunpowder. We’ll have to steal some,” I say.

  Everyone on the island knows how to make gunpowder. I learnt the skill of creating charcoal as a child—Mother showed us how to burn wood under a cover of soil—and the sea birds provide a plentiful supply of saltpeter, although scraping the guano off the ocean rocks can be hazardous at high tide. We get our sulphur from trades with the gangs. Then it’s a case of careful grinding and mixing and leaving the pellets to dry.

  “You’re right, we should have some gunpowder at home. We also need more food. Let’s go back to our village to find what we need. I also want to find out what the key opens.”