Beyond the Shroud (11 page)

‘This Five Grain Pan Bread looks more like instant brick mix to me,' Rich said dubiously, poking at the contents of the saucepan. ‘Are you sure we've done it right?'

We'd decided to set up camp in the woods to the north of Arakesh, have a slap-up rehydrated meal and a good night's sleep, and set out for Shakesh at first light.

‘I'd feel a lot better about tomorrow if we at least knew the way,' Gen frowned, stirring the pot of MeenXtreem Souper Minestrone that was bubbling over the fire. ‘What was it Hob told us?
North to Marshall … and beyond.
Not an awful lot of help.'

‘I don't know.' I took the spoon from her and had a taste. ‘I doubt there's more than one north road, and once it gets light it should be easy to find.'

‘I still wish we had a map,' she said wistfully.

Jamie was rummaging in his rucksack. He turned to face the fire again, his hands behind his back, with a funny, secretive look on his face.

‘Hey, guys,' he said, ‘I'm not keen on going to Shakesh, but one thing's for sure: if we're going anywhere, I'd rather we knew the way. Like Gen says.' He gave her a shy, sidelong look. ‘Remember what Q once told us about keeping our eyes open for things we might find useful? Well, looks like I'm the only one who listened! You wish we had a map, Gen? And now … ta-da!' He brought his hand round with a flourish. We goggled at him. He was holding up a scroll — a rolled parchment, neatly tied with a leather thong.

‘Where did you get
that
?' croaked Rich.

‘From The Brewer's Butt,' smirked Jamie, bursting with pride. ‘While you guys were nattering away to Kai's father, I had a look around. And it's just as well I did. There were two little barrels on the reception desk — not that any of you noticed. But I did.
Maps,
it said — so I took one. And guess what else? It's not just a normal map. Feel!' He held the scroll out to me. Automatically, I took it … and felt a faint tingle, almost as if the scroll was humming to itself under its breath.
Magic.

‘Yeah — it's a magic map,' crowed Jamie. ‘A magic map, courtesy of Jamie Fitzpatrick, the only one to keep his eyes open and his wits about him!'

Rich was grinning from ear to ear. Gen was beaming at Jamie, impressed. But Kenta's face was very serious, and her eyes grave. ‘Jamie,' she said gently, ‘those maps weren't free. You were supposed to pay for them.'

Jamie's mouth dropped open and he gawked at her. ‘But — it didn't — there wasn't …'

‘There was,' she said. ‘Underneath the big sign was a smaller one and it said,
New: 5 gelden. Used: 10 gelden.
'

Jamie's face had flushed a rosy apricot. ‘It can't have said that,' he muttered. ‘You must have read it wrong, Kenta. Why would a new map be cheaper than a used one? That's dumb! And anyway, even if it did …'

‘Even if it did, it isn't Jamie's fault,' I interrupted. ‘We all know Jamie'd never steal anything on purpose. OK, he took a map without paying for it — but it was an honest mistake.'

‘A dishonest one, more like,' grinned Rich. ‘But remember what Kai once told us — about patterns, and things happening for a purpose? Maybe Jamie was
meant
not to see the price on the maps. Maybe he was
meant
to take one. Anyhow, it's done now. Let's have a look at it!'

Jamie untied the thong with careful fingers, and unrolled the scroll. Kenta and Gen huddled beside him as Rich and I peered over his shoulder. The five of us stared down at the map in total silence.

‘Well, Jamie,' said Rich, ‘you might have saved yourself the trouble of pinching it, for all the use it's going to be.'

I didn't say anything. I felt sick with disappointment. Some of the map was how I'd expected it to be — old-fashioned, hand-drawn in black ink on buff-coloured parchment. Sea, rivers, towns … a normal map. But the part of the map we needed — the part north of Arakesh, where Kai had said Marshall and Shakesh lay — was completely covered by a solid black splodge. The stain started about where we were now, just north of the city, and extended up to the very top of the map, and westwards to the entry point to Karazan and beyond.

Cautiously, I looked at Jamie. His lips were pressed tight together, and I could tell he was struggling not to cry. I knew just how he felt. Gen put one arm round him and gave him a hug. ‘Cheer up, Jamie — it's not your fault it's a dud.'

Jamie blushed scarlet. Then Richard started to laugh. ‘You have to admit it's got its funny side,' he chortled. ‘Typical Jamie. Tries to be a hero … steals a map without meaning to … and chooses the only one with ink spilled all over the important bit! We might as well chuck it away
— it's no use to us, and precious little use to anyone else. But at least we're no worse off than we were before. Here, Jamie — shove it back in your bag and perk up. We can always use it as toilet paper if we run out! And now, who's for some Five Grain Gobstopper and a bowl of hot soup?'

In spite of Richard's attempt to put a brave face on things, the disappointment of the map changed the mood round the campfire. It was almost as if some of the darkness from the map had found its way into the forest surrounding our little campsite. The flickering flames that had seemed so comforting before now seemed to make the shadows deeper and more threatening. Without noticing, we'd all drawn closer to the fire. ‘I only want a little, please,' said Kenta when the soup was ready. ‘I'm not very hungry.'

‘All the more for me — us, I mean,' said Richard cheerfully.

Spicy steam tickled my nose, and I eagerly spooned up my first mouthful of soup. Silence fell as we ate — at least, as close as the rustling forest would ever get to silence. Kenta pushed her plate away almost untouched. ‘Do you suppose …' she said hesitantly, ‘do you suppose there are …
things
living in these woods?'

‘Course there are,' said Rich with his mouth full of bread. ‘Lots of different little animals, like at home. Think of all the stuff you find in forests. Owls, and bats, and rats and mice and ferrets and here in Karazan there'd be sn …' — he gave Gen a quick glance — ‘things like that. Nothing to worry about.'

But that wasn't what Kenta meant, and we all knew it.

‘Why did you ask?' Jamie quavered.

‘Oh,' said Kenta, trying to sound casual, ‘it's just … I keep hearing funny little rustles, as if … something's trying to creep closer, without being seen.' She gave a forced laugh. ‘Silly — it's my imagination, I know. I'm just not used to camping out at night.'

‘That's right — it
is
silly,' said Rich staunchly. ‘Pass your plate. I hate to see good food wasted.'

I didn't say anything but I'd heard it too. Just beyond the ring of firelight — a stealthy brushing sound rather than an actual rustle: the sort of sound something would make pushing slowly and secretly through the undergrowth. Not a little thing like a mouse or a ferret or a sn … but a bigger thing. About the size of a human … or something that had once been human.

I could see the girls were dreading the moment when we'd have to let the fire die down, unroll our sleeping bags and try to sleep. But the food was finished, the clearing up was done, the talk had gradually wound down … and all too soon Richard gave a big, phoney stretch and said, ‘Well, guys — I guess we'd better hit the sack. Big day tomorrow, and all that.'

‘I'll take first watch,' I offered quickly. The way I figured, if there was something out there, it would make its move sooner rather than later. I reckoned attack was the best
form of defence … and I had a plan.

‘Rich,' I said casually, ‘let's scout around for a bit more wood before we settle down. We don't want people wandering off alone in the middle of the night looking for firewood.'

Together we moved out of the circle of light into the surrounding darkness, searching for fallen branches and dry sticks. We were on the opposite side of the clearing from where I'd heard the rustling. Through the tree trunks we could see the little campsite as clearly as if it was spotlit on a stage. The fire glowed warm and red; beside it were the logs we'd perched on to have our meal. Our backpacks were dark lumps on the fringes of the firelight, and beside them we could make out the shapes of Jamie, Gen and Kenta huddled as close as they dared to the fire.

I touched Richard's arm. ‘Rich …' He turned to me at once. ‘Kenta was right. There
is
something out there, just beyond the campsite. On the other side of the fire from where we are now. I heard it — and I think I caught a glimpse of it. Something pale and … greyish, about the size of a person, hunched over.'

‘I know.' Richard's face was grim. ‘I didn't want to scare the girls … and I didn't want
it
— the thing — to know I'd seen it. I planned to stay awake, then come and talk to you when the others were asleep.'

I swallowed, hoping my voice would sound as calm and steady as Richard's. ‘We need to make the first move,' I whispered. ‘Take it by surprise … whatever it is. That way, at least …'

‘At least we stand a chance. Good thinking. What do you reckon?' Richard's eyes gleamed. ‘A pincer move, maybe? You on one side, me on the other? Then …
whammo!
'

‘Yeah,' I echoed, trying my best to mirror the enthusiasm in his voice: ‘whammo.'

I picked my way cautiously through the undergrowth.
In daylight the forest had been easy to walk through — we'd automatically registered obstacles and navigated our way round them without a second thought. But at night it was different — way different. Even once my eyes had adjusted to the darkness, I could hardly see a thing. More than once I bashed my head on a low branch, or almost tripped over a protruding root. But because the campsite we'd chosen was so sheltered, the ground underfoot was soft, damp and springy with decomposing leaves, and my footfalls made no sound.

I crept through the darkness, keeping our campsite the same distance away from me, circling it warily. My eyes burned from staring blindly into the darkness; my ears strained for the faintest rustle and my heart thumped in my throat. Sweat popped out on my forehead, freezing cold in the icy air; my breath plumed out in front of me, pale smoke in the blackness. I crept on.

Now I was halfway round. I imagined Richard picking his way through the trees opposite, sneaking closer to our quarry. I tried not to think what it might be … or what would happen if we captured it. I wished I had my pocketknife and a length of strong rope. I stumbled and almost fell, lurching forward onto my hands and knees, grazing my knuckles on the branch I'd tripped over. My hand closed instinctively round it.
About the size of a baseball bat, solid and heavy
… I straightened and stole soundlessly on, my makeshift weapon at the ready.

And then all hell broke loose in the silent forest. Ahead of me, I heard a sudden rustle and the hiss of indrawn breath. At the same time, beside the campfire, Gen's voice, small and frightened: ‘Adam … Richard? Where —'

In the same moment from ahead of me in the darkness came an animal roar.
Rich
. Something huge and heavy crashed though the undergrowth; wood splintered, and the night was torn apart by a single, terrified cry.