Rose’s expression told of her discomfort. She knew the right thing to do would be to thank him for his wonderful insight and trundle off to follow the railway lines, just as she was instructed.
“Lead the way,” said Lily, in her commanding voice. “Half the time should be…” she counted down her ghostly fingers, “twenty minutes. So let’s see, shall we.”
“Ha-ha, I like your fiery spirit. What’s your names?”
“Lily, and she’s Rose. Whenever you’re ready,” she said, folding her arms, even though she couldn’t rest them.
“Right ye are – follow me!”
The twins left the station in Shane’s shadow, passing antique-looking shops along English streets of eighteen eighty-three E.C. (Earth Calendar). They strolled along to the sounds of an organ-grinder playing merry music, and jugglers performing to enthralled crowds. The twins noticed a man riding an odd bicycle; the front wheel was more than half the size of Shane, whereas the rear was barely above his ankles.
Shane did all the talking as they departed the streets and began walking over grassy terrain. He told of the time the sector had begun operating in nineteen hundred and five E.C. He informed them about his upbringing, how he came to live at the sector and how he died on Earth. His story made an impact on Rose, and she found it hard to begrudge a man for being a stranger, and a helpful, pleasant one at that.
They walked past rows of giant chimneys that seemed to reach into the clouds and blow out their own. They wandered over a large iron bridge, designed by Abraham Darby III. Shane related in detail the history of Abraham and his family, and the first iron bridge ever built on Earth. The beginning of the Industrial Revolution, said Shane.
“Not long now, just a little farther,” he said, glancing back to view Rose. “We can take a short cut through my backyard. My place is just along here, then you go straight on,” he added in a cheerful tone.
They continued along a narrow alley between terraced houses. And around the time Shane had said they would arrive, they came to an opened black steel gate, tall and arched, surrounded by brick and mortar. It reminded Rose of a gate at Mary’s house, but not so grand and elaborate.
“Well, this is me,” said Shane, sounding upbeat. “Like I say, just head through here and straight on. You can’t miss it.”
Rose proceeded to follow Shane and entered an enclosure, at least ten paces long. In the centre, amid a patch of soil, was an apple tree. The paving stones which surrounded it were irregular, featuring cracks where tufts of grass protruded. To her right was an identical gate, held open by a small stone on the ground.
“Well… I hope I’ve been informative for ye. See, there’s a lot you can learn from strangers,” said Shane as he walked through the second gate. “Like…” He paused, placing his foot to the stone that held the gate and slid it along the paving. “Like not trusting them.” He grinned as before, only this time he looked menacing. The gate swung shut, and he brought out a padlock from his jacket, then clamped it onto the bars.
“Rose!” cried Lily, witnessing the first gate being slammed and locked by another man, who looked just as intimidating. His hair was dark and scruffy; his clothes matched.
“What are you doing?” asked Rose, turning around in a state of panic, looking for another way out, but there were none, only brick walls twice her height.
“Sorry, lasses, please don’t take this personal. It’s business, that’s all,” said Shane while the other man let out a snide chuckle and continued to chew on something.
“What do you want from us!” snapped Lily. “Open the gate! Let us out, right now!”
“It’s not about what I want. It’s what the Govern want,” said Shane, leaning on the gate, looking quite chuffed. “Like I say, it’s business. I give them the intruders, the escapees, the misbehavers; they give us loot and freedom very few get to experience. Ain’t that right, brother?”
“Aye, sure is,” the other said, echoing his brother’s accent. He threw down a bag and brought out some equipment, then held it against the bars. “Give us a smile, won’t ye?”
“Go on, give him a smile,” said Shane. “Another one for the album, eh, Niall?”
He grinned and focused the lens, revealing a missing tooth. “Sure is. Say cheese!”
“He’s quite an accomplished photographer, is Ni. You’ll never be forgotten, that’s for sure.” Shane stood straight and his tone became serious. “Now, you be good lasses and sit quiet. Ni, don’t take your eyes off them.” He walked away and out of sight.
Niall kept his eyes transfixed on the twins as though his life depended on it, and they sensed every second of his glare, as if he were a spider and his meal had just flown in.
Rose tried to control her breathing, but all she could think about was the Govern. She couldn’t put an image to one, only fear the worst. Her legs strained to function as she dashed to the gate, where Shane had departed. It moved a few millimetres at the most. The lock preventing their escape was as thick as Rose’s wrist; it rattled between the bars and nothing more.
“Don’t bother wasting your energy,” said Niall. “Better to accept your fate. You’ll feel better for it. Trust me, I used to.”
“Stop moving,” ordered Lily, causing Rose to freeze.
“That’s right, stay put. Not long now,” said Niall. He brought out his pocket watch, then placed it to his ear. “Huh… you two are gonna buy me a new timekeeper.”
Lily hadn’t felt the same since entering the spirit world. Her fingertips would tingle from time to time. Her senses seemed to have improved: hearing had become sharper; sight too, clearer than ever. Now she felt something in her belly, a feeling of pressure, energy, building and fermenting, with a notion that if she wanted to, she could release it, like plunging a pin into a balloon.
Rose… said a voice, though it came from nobody’s lips or tongue. Can you hear me? Click your fingers if you can.
Rose paused for a second. She placed her middle finger and thumb together.
Click.
Good. Listen, said Lily in her thoughts, and explained her plan.
Stunned by her sister’s ability, Rose wasn’t convinced the plan would work. Nonetheless, she took a deep breath and made her way over to Niall.
“Had enough looking for a way out?” asked Niall. “Your wait will be over soon. I shouldn’t think it’ll be too painful. But then again… what the hell do I know.”
“Does Shane always order you about?” asked Rose, narrowing her eyes and tilting her head.
“You what? Get away with ye.” He straightened his posture and tilted his head, giving her a menacing stare. “It’s more the other way around actually. He was the one at the station, no? That’s because I told him so. We had a tip-off about one of our targets, see. Well, looks like he found some easier fish to fry. To tell you the truth, I’m glad it was Shane there. Methinks he has a charm with the ladies. Charmed you two, good and proper.”
“I don’t believe you,” said Rose. “I bet he wouldn’t dare give you a key to the locks.”
“Ha-ha, cobblers, and why not? Thinking I might just hand it over to ye, ’cause yer quite sweet looking? Ha-ha!” He shook his head while laughing. Fake laughter.
“Prove it. Show us your key,” said Rose with growing anxiety, though refusing to display it.
“Show ye my key? Yer quite petty, aren’t ye. But if I must, so I can laugh in yer face.” Niall reached into his jacket pocket and brought out a small item. “There, see, my key.”
Lily gleamed at the silver. Within seconds, the key departed Niall’s palm and floated through the bars.
“What the… How on Kiian are ye doing that!” he shouted, hands gripped to the bars.
Rose grabbed the airborne silver and dashed to the other gate. She inserted the key and turned; the padlock joyfully clicked. The lock was stiff and Rose yanked, once, twice, three times for freedom. She twisted and pulled the lock from the bars. It thudded to the ground, denting the paving stone. The gate swun
g open and she sprinted as fast as she could while Lily squished her eyes tightly and poked out her tongue. Her actions were seen, which only ignited Niall’s inflating fury.
“Shane!” bellowed Niall. “They’re getting away!”
Rose ran along alternate alleyways. She enjoyed every stride with an overwhelming sense of freedom, until her senses began to fade. For a moment she felt as though she were fainting, and stopped to cradle her head, leaning against a wall, while thoughts swept her clouded, throbbing mind.
“Rose, keep moving, they might catch us!”
“I know… it’s just… my head, it hurts…”
“Be strong, block it out or something.”
“I’m trying…”
The pain began to ease from her mind. She sighed in comfort, feeling the strength in her legs return.
Rose stood and ran, slightly off balance, with thoughts of Lily’s unexpected feat, her stupidity in involving Shane and his sibling, and the fate at the hands of the gruesome Govern, which they had avoided; for now at least.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Scrap-yard Tower
Rose gasped for breath, stomping down a narrow bricked alley, rapt with thoughts of Lily’s magical moment.
Invading a shaded corner, she leaned against an abandoned wagon and wanted to collapse onto the bulging sacks within. Instead, as she slumped next to the wagon’s wheel, when a distraction caught her attention. She glanced down the alley. Along the major road, cheering was generated by a mass of gatherers. Rose pushed off the wheel and drifted towards it. The scene reminded her of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, which she’d seen on television. Like that, horses trotted by with a carriage in tow surrounded by hordes of people, cheering and waving flags. A man stood within the open-top carriage and waved to the abundant crowd. Rose had seen him before in a book, but couldn’t put a name to his face.
Not all felt the same about the silver-haired man. Amongst the cheerers, others held large boards that read:
GREATER LIFE EXTENSIONS FOR ALL!
BOYCOTT FAVOURITISM NOW!
END TO PREJUDICE – EQUALITY FOR ALL SPIRITS!
The angry men and women shouted their statements too. Some of the callers were brutally pushed aside; men were thrown to the ground by patrolling officers, who were wielding rifles.
As the parade continued along the street, Rose finally regained her breath as she continued to observe the spectacle.
“Rose, over there, look,” said Lily, pointing at a tall structure. “Stanley Hopkins must live there.”
What Rose looked at was indeed a tower, of sorts. Made of rusty steel, it featured sheets of metal-like patches that looked to have been stitched on. Protruding from the side were what appeared to be balconies and other unidentifiable objects. The tower was more akin to a monstrous machine, with a giant wheel half-buried in the ground, giving the appearance it was mobile.
Rose picked her path through the crowd of people, many of whom wore long white jackets. As she crossed the road the sounds of cheers began to fade. She looked up, and the steel structure loomed, covering the twins in shadow.
The first obstacle seemed to encompass the entire scrap-yard: a thick iron fence reached three times her height. She followed the fence along, seeking an entrance. A sign caught her eye:
ALL TRESPASSERS WILL BE ERASED
Rose couldn’t help but think the sign was a scare tactic. After all, the professor had told them to go seek Hopkins for help; and helpful folk are not the kind to erase people – trespassing or not.
She reassured herself and proceeded with caution to what must be the front entrance. Alongside it, a chain with a handle hung from a bell. Rose took hold of the handle and gave it a yank. Her efforts resulted in nothing but a rattling chain. She leant forwards and pushed the entrance door. The noise caused her to halt, as it creaked and groaned like it were in pain. The gap she created was slight, but enough to slip through.
Rose had never entered a scrap-yard. Nevertheless, her surroundings were just what she imagined. Rows of crushed junk reached unstable heights, with wires extending out like scrawny robotic hairs. More than anything, the yard featured plane carcasses – wings, tails, propellers – all in a dire state, and the fumes reminded Rose of her father’s toolbox.
Treading with care, she stopped and listened to the crashing and smashing. She followed a path that led around piles of worn tyres, dismembered furniture and a rusting train. The sounds became louder and more frequent, as Rose stepped closer to a large mound of junk.
“Where are you?” shouted an aggressive male voice.
A cog came tumbling down the mountain of metal. Rose dodged, preparing herself for more flying objects. “Hello! Mister! Are you Stanley Hopkins?” she shouted, and leapt to avoid an airborne exhaust pipe, followed by a typewriter.
“Huh?” uttered the man. “Who’s there? You should have rung the bell; you’re trespassing! I’ll… have you erased!” he threatened. “Unless you have my module, or its damn tracker!”
“Your bell doesn’t work!” shouted Rose, on her tiptoes, trying to see the man she presumed to be Stanley.
She clambered onto a rusted car shell for a better view. At the very peak of the mountain a man appeared from behind a propeller. His face looked like he had bathed in motor oil. His hair was black and stood out in rigid spikes. He pulled himself up, revealing his grease-stained overalls with turned-up sleeves.
“Are you the owner?” asked Rose. “Are you Stanley Hopkins?”
The man did a double take, balancing himself with the propeller blade, his expression one of great bewilderment. “Are you what I think you are?” he asked, brushing his brow with a black cloth. “You’re human, aren’t you? And you… why, you’re a primitive.”
“So everyone keeps telling us,” said Rose.
“You two shouldn’t exist here. This is all terribly wrong.”
“That too,” she added, stepping down from the car and taking slow strides towards him.
Lily would usually have given the man an earful after calling her the ‘p’ word. However, she remained calm and held it, this once. “We need to find our mother, as soon as possible!”
“Hold on, how did you even arrive here? And why Stanley, what’s he going to do for you?”
Rose stopped moving. “I read a spell from a book. I discovered my sister, and we entered this world to find our mother. That’s why we’re here. We need Stanley to navigate, and help us find her, so she can separate us – hopefully.”
“Mighty, that’s a big ask. You have tokens?”
“Tokens? No,” she said, shaking her head.
“Then what’s in it for him?”
Rose paused, searching for a reason.
Lily spoke on her behalf. “Only a heartless, soulless, no good, petty prune of a man wouldn’t help us!”
Rose held her breath before adding to Lily’s reasons. “Professor Pei told us Stanley would help, and that he knows the sectors better than anyone. That is you, right?”
“Stanley? (pfft) No, he’s… out!”
“Out where?”
“Oh… out doing what strange men like him – do. My name is Henry, his… errand boy. I’m not even allowed to set foot in his precious tower. All I do is serve the man: find this, clean that, fix those. That’s pretty much my existence. He says carry; I say, where?”
“When will he be back? He does live in there, doesn’t he?” asked Rose, glancing at the tower.
“Stanley has been known to live throughout Kiian. He can travel for days, weeks, even months at a time. I have no idea what he gets up to. Now, if you don’t mind, be on your way. I’m extremely busy. That is, unless you have my module?” he asked with an expression that indicated he knew the answer. “I thought not. Now scarper, as time is short and I’ve got metal to move.”
Rose sighed with disappointment as he clambered down the trash mountain, searching along the way. She glanced at Henry as he approached. “Well, if you see him, tell him we need
his help,” she said, and observed Henry shooing her away.
He escorted the twins to the entrance and eyed them both, remaining tight lipped upon opening the door.
“Henry, please tell him, my and Lily’s life depend on him. He’s our only chance of finding our mother, otherwise we –”
“Yes, yes, yes,” said Henry as he gently, though with urgency, pushed the twins out of the yard, closed the entrance door and locked it tight. “I saw that.”
“Good,” said Lily, who had given him a farewell tongue poke.
* * *
Rose scanned the streets for preying eyes, namely slimy Shane and his even slimier brother. She looked up in the hope of seeing a flying vessel preparing to land, which Stanley Hopkins would be piloting. Only a scattering of clouds drifted beneath the blue sky.
Realising how obvious they were, Rose made her way alongside the fence and onto a heavily shaded path. Hidden behind foliage, she stopped, recalling her sister’s hidden talents. “Lily, how on Earth did you move that key?”
“Don’t you mean Kiian?”
“Oh yes, you know what I mean. And speaking to me, with your mind?”
“Well… by not being on Earth for a start,” she said, softly. “Ever since we arrived I’ve not felt the same. It’s like a tingle in my belly. Like the globe on the table, at the professor’s. It would have rolled off the edge had I not stopped it.”
“I thought that seemed … You did that?”
“Or when the police car chased him, when we arrived at the station, I–”
“You burst the tyre?”
“Yep. I just focused, wishing for it to pop, and then…” She clenched her hands into fists and opened them quickly. “Booooom! I did it,” she said, gleefully.
“Wait, after that, I did feel something, like a dizzy rush to my head, like when I’ve stood up too quickly. After we escaped too, my head hurt – that must be why. I wonder if there are others like you.”
Twin Spirit Page 6