Grimsdon (16 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

‘Isabella!' From the Velocraft, Griffin saw Isabella's torpedo-like dive.

Xavier jumped in after her.

With his life jacket firmly secured, Griffin tied a rope around his waist and the seat of the vessel. He'd slipped his arm through another jacket when Xavier emerged from the river.

‘Where is she?' Xavier yelled.

Griffin searched each wave, churned even more violently by the bullish rearing of the ship. Then he saw her, poking out of the waves. She tried to kick with both legs to keep her head above water but, with her arms and legs tied, the waves easily dragged her down.

‘There!' Griffin pointed to where she sank before launching himself into the harbour. The cold hit him, snatching the wind from his chest. He struggled to take in a deep breath and fought against the sickness that gripped his body.

‘Isabella!'

He swam harder, pulling himself through the squall, not stopping until he reached them. Xavier struggled to hold Isabella above the water while Griffin slipped his knife through her ropes.

‘Told you you were brave,' Xavier cried.

‘I'm trying not to think about it.' Griffin's knife sliced through the last of the ropes.

Isabella had been weakened by her struggle and, as Xavier held her above the waves, Griffin helped her into the life jacket. He turned her on her back, tucked one arm under hers and dragged himself along the rope back to the Velocraft.

Xavier swam past them and, using the rope to prevent being washed offcourse, reached the boat and climbed inside. When Griff was almost there, Xavier leant down and lifted Isabella out of the water. Her skin was tinged with blue and her body shook.

Griffin scrambled in beside her. He threaded Isabella's limp arms out of the life jacket and piled blankets around her.

Xavier settled into the Captain's seat. ‘Next stop, the Palace.' He plunged his feet into the pedals and steered the Velocraft away from the ship.

‘But what about Raven?' Griffin asked.

‘He'll be fine,' Xavier said with a cheeky grin. ‘Trust me.'

Griffin rubbed his hands along Isabella's arms to try to stop her trembling. ‘Bit cold for a swim, don't you think?'

‘I'm sorry, Griff.' Isabella's words were broken by her shivering. ‘I know I promised you I wouldn't go after him, but he'd hurt so many people and I–'

‘It's okay.' Griffin smiled. ‘You were only doing what you thought was right. That's just one of the million things I like about you. I was so scared when I saw you on the plank.'

Isabella laughed. ‘Me too.'

Griffin paused. ‘I don't want anything bad to happen to you. If I had to face a world without you, it would be too hard.' He lifted his hand to her cheek. ‘You're still so cold.'

And, without even thinking about it, Griffin leant in and kissed her.

Xavier turned and whispered to himself. ‘Braver than you think, Griffman.' He flung the Velocraft's cover aside and scanned the sky. ‘The Aerotrope has lift-off!'

Isabella and Griffin turned back to see Raven waving at them from the flying machine. ‘Looks like Sneddon won't be going inland after all.'

‘Do you think we can expose him?' Isabella asked.

‘We have all those papers and, if Jeremiah came with us too, we'd have a great chance,' Griffin said.

‘Unless he doesn't make it.' Xavier watched the ship list dramatically to and fro.

‘The sea isn't that rough.' Griffin scowled. ‘What could be ... oh.'

Alongside the ship, the long emerald-green neck of a sea beast rose from the water.

‘The Skelene,' Isabella breathed.

‘And it looks like he's brought a friend.' Xavier watched another beast rise to the surface, only this one was bigger.

‘There
are
more.' Griffin's voice faltered.

The two creatures circled the boat, creating a whirlpool that tossed it about in its centre until the swirling slowed to a quiet ripple.

‘Do you think they've gone?' Isabella searched the water.

‘Do we have to stay and find out?' Griffin asked.

It was quiet, apart from the drizzling patter of rain.

Xavier grabbed the binoculars. ‘There!'

The larger sea creature erupted out of the water. Her neck snaked up beside the hull, her winged arms unfurled and her long, curved talons clung on to the edge of the ship. She let out a piercing screech. The younger one mimicked with a smaller cry before it latched itself beside her, and both creatures rocked the ship from side to side.

The Velocraft rolled in the wake of the waves.

Griffin held onto Isabella tight.

‘What are they doing?'

‘I'm not sure, but I think they might be standing up for you.'

The larger Skelene's head snapped back and she let loose another cry. Huge waves spread out with each tilt until, in one great splash, the ship rolled onto its side. An explosion of foam wash burst from the ship as it began to take on water. The smaller Skelene stepped on the mast and it snapped like it was a toy. The ship bobbed upwards, but only slightly, before it took on more and more water. In one great, drawling moment,
The Sea Serpent
slid into the sea, leaving a bubbling cauldron on the surface of the harbour.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

‘Maybe she should stay with her new friends.' Raffy sat with his hands squeezed between his knees. ‘What if she gets home and finds everything was destroyed by the tornado and Aunt Em and Uncle Henry aren't there and she has to live with people who will make her eat cold porridge and scrub floors and–'

‘You know none of that is true,' Bea reminded him. ‘We've read the story about a hundred times.'

‘Will we be okay?'

‘We'll be fine, and Jeremiah has promised he'll do everything to make sure that happens.'

‘Me too, Raf.' Xavier sat on the end of the lounge. ‘And if anyone gives you any trouble, I'll come round and personally sort them out.'

‘Still playing the hero.' Griffin raised an eyebrow.

‘Can't help what comes naturally.'

‘You sure you don't want to come with us, Raven?' Isabella asked.

‘I don't belong inland. I didn't even belong when I
lived
there. And a whole bunch of kids would rely on me to run the Haggle. They're noisy but I like them.'

‘You can always use the Aerotrope to visit us,' Isabella said.

‘Just might do that. Promise no knives?'

‘Promise.'

‘I better go before your rescue party arrives.' He hugged Isabella and whispered, ‘I know now why Xavier wanted to be part of you all.'

Raven and Xavier went through their complicated routine of shaking hands, clicking fingers, entwining arms and bumping fists and chests.

‘Be careful with my machine,' Xavier warned. ‘It's a work of genius.'

‘Which is why it's about time she had a great pilot.'

Raven gave a final wave and disappeared up the stairs to the roof, leaving behind a heavy silence.

‘Are we doing the right thing?' Griffin asked.

Isabella nodded. ‘Griffin, you're the smartest person I know and you, Fly, are the most gifted illustrator, and Bea and Raffy, with all your ideas you're destined to rule the world one day. It isn't fair to keep any of you away any longer.'

‘I'll miss living in the Palace,' Fly said.

‘Me too. But I knew from the time Xavier and I went inland that we had to go back. The world was getting on with life and we were hiding away from it. But I'm glad we did it and that I spent the time with all of you.'

‘Think of all those foods you can have,' Xavier said. ‘Ice-cream, chocolate cake, pizza ... anything you want.'

‘That will be good.' Raffy brightened.

‘What will happen to us?' Fly asked. ‘Will we still see each other?'

‘Of course,' Isabella answered.

‘But not like before.'

‘No. Not like before.'

‘And we can never go back.'

‘No, never.'

They sat in the grey light of the library.

The sound of choppers buzzed in the distance.

‘That's them.' Raffy looked scared.

‘You've always wanted to fly in a helicopter,' Bea reminded him. ‘Now's your chance.'

Raffy whispered. ‘Will you always stay close, Bea?'

‘Always,' Bea whispered back.

‘Better get your bags ready.' Isabella forced a smile. ‘Remember, there won't be enough room for everything, just the things you can't live without.'

‘First one finished packing gets the front seat,' Griffin challenged.

Raffy smiled and he and his sister were off. Fly went to the bay window to gather her things.

‘I'll go and make sure they don't bring everything,' Griffin said.

‘Griff?' Isabella handed him a small toy car.

Griffin turned it in his hands to see his name scratched underneath. ‘It feels strange not going back home to Harrowgate.'

‘There's not much left.'

‘We'll be okay.' He smiled and tucked the car in his pocket. ‘We found a new home once, we'll do it again. I better check on that packing.'

Xavier loitered in the background as Isabella looked around their home for what would be the last time: the wave-like walls and staircases, the angel-winged chairs and wavering windows that stretched to the roof. ‘There aren't many people who can say they've lived in a palace,' Isabella said. ‘Thanks for going inland to get help.'

‘It took some convincing but eventually they believed me.' Xavier sat opposite Isabella and looked her in the eye. ‘I'm sorry I lied about my parents.'

‘Why did you do it?'

‘They've never really liked me very much. I always felt they were disappointed they didn't have a different kind of son. Dad did anyway. If they had been caught in the floods, they would have grabbed the silverware and antiques before thinking about me.'

‘That's not true.'

Xavier shrugged. ‘We can't all be lucky with our parents. Ever since I was a kid, there always seemed to be something more important for my dad than spending time with me. After awhile, when kids at school asked about him, I'd make up stories about how great he was and all the presents he'd buy and the trips he'd take me on. When you asked me about him, I did the same thing I'd been doing for years ... I pretended I had a dad who cared.'

‘He missed out then.' Isabella smiled. ‘You are very much worth caring about, Xavier Stone.'

Xavier frowned and blinked away a few tears.

‘What are you going to do?' Isabella asked.

‘Go back home. Work with Mum after school to help some of those kids in trouble.' He laughed. ‘I hadn't realised it before, but I've missed school.'

Fly carried her suitcase and snuggled in close to Isabella.

Griffin appeared with Bea and Raffy, dragging bulging backpacks. ‘Hopefully they'll make it inland without bursting open.'

The sound of the choppers grew louder.

‘Just in time, it seems,' Griffin said, and the others squeezed together on the lounge.

‘Where's Jeremiah?' Fly asked.

‘He said he wanted to clean up,' Isabella said.

‘It's only his second bath in years,' Xavier added. ‘We should let him enjoy it.'

‘If he ever gets out,' Fly said.

At that moment, Jeremiah appeared at the door. His plaits and bobbling nightcap were gone, his slippers replaced by shiny leather shoes and his wild, fluffy beard was gone. He was now a man in a suit, with almost neatly cut hair and clean fingernails.

‘What happened to you?' Raffy's mouth hung wide open.

‘Raffy!' Bea scolded. ‘He meant to say, “you look great”.'

‘Thanks.' Jeremiah tugged at his tie and shifted from one foot to the other. ‘I hope you don't mind, but I found these clothes in one of the wardrobes. They're a bit big.'

‘I think you look handsome,' Isabella said.

‘Where's Snowy?' Fly asked.

Jeremiah opened his jacket. Snowy was perched in an inside pocket. ‘I thought he could stay here while I try and look respectable.'

‘I don't think the rescuers expected us to dress up for them.' Xavier laughed.

‘It's not only for the rescuers...' Jeremiah played nervously with his tie. ‘I owned some land in the country. With a small house on it. If it's still there, I was planning to ask the government if you could all live with me.'

‘Live with you?' Griffin asked.

‘If you'll have me,' he answered nervously.

‘Could we really?' Raffy jumped to his knees.

‘Do you mean it?' Bea chorused.

Isabella snuck a look at Griffin before Fly answered for them all. ‘We'd love to.'

Jeremiah's tense shoulders fell. ‘Oh, that is good news.'

A loud clunk came from the roof and the slowing of whirring blades. There was a commotion of bags and scuffling feet and final goodbyes to the Palace as Griffin and Xavier followed the kids upstairs.

In the quiet that was left, Jeremiah said, ‘Thank you, Isabella.'

‘For what?'

‘For breaking into my house and almost being attacked by a fish.' He smiled.

She smiled back. ‘You're welcome.'

‘I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life in that library. I'd forgotten how nice it was to get excited about life and people and–'

‘And books?' Isabella grinned.

Jeremiah nodded. ‘And books. I was a good scientist. I put all I had into convincing the government to act. And I lost everything.'

‘Including the people in the photograph.'

‘Eliza and Milly.'

‘Was that the real reason you stayed?'

‘I let them down. I became so obsessed they hardly saw me. They'd been so patient and understanding, knowing it was important.'

‘Why didn't they leave?'

‘Eliza wouldn't. She refused to leave unless I came too. I begged her to go, but she could be quite stubborn when she wanted to. Part of the reason I loved her. You would have liked them. You remind me a lot of Milly. She was full of ideas and strong, too. She'd beat me in an arm-wrestle any day.'

Isabella's eyes filled with tears. ‘I don't feel so strong, and I've got this sick feeling in my stomach that I can't make go away.'

Jeremiah took her hands in his. ‘It will go away. I promise. You will take all that strength and spirit and determination, and you will be brilliant. And I'll be standing nearby to watch it all happen.'

‘Even though we've lived with sneaker waves and giant fish and a few thieving adults, going inland feels even scarier.'

‘Only at the beginning. Once you're back at school and we've made a new home, it won't feel scary at all.'

‘Do you think?'

‘I'm a scientist,' he said. ‘I only come to conclusions when I have cold, hard evidence.' Isabella laughed. ‘And you'll be free to do more of that laughing. Not worrying about surviving and scavenging and people like Sneddon.'

Isabella hugged Jeremiah, squeezing him so tightly that the breath was taken from his lungs.

When she moved away, he held out his arm. ‘Ready for your new life, Miss Isabella Charm?'

She wrapped her arm through his. ‘Yes,' she said a little uncertainly, then with more confidence. ‘I think I am.'