Jack Shian and the Mapa Mundi (25 page)

Struggling to keep the tears out of his eyes, Jack looked pleadingly at Enda.

“Can you help my dad?”

The tall figure looked down as Jack cradled his father’s head in his lap.

“We’re sailors, not physicians.”

“Luka’s a physician,” shouted Rana. “Head for the island; we can call him back.”

“Would that be Ilanbeg?” Enda enquired.

Rana and Jack both nodded assent.

“We’ll be there in no time. Sure, it’s not far.”

The McCool’s sense of time, however, was not the same as Jack’s or Rana’s. With a fair wind behind them, the small boat was making progress and the Antrim coast behind them retreated, but it was soon clear that the journey would take more than a day, even with summer charms. Placing Phineas and Grandpa in the prow of the boat to rest, Jack and Rana recounted all they could remember of their journey over from St Fingal’s cave and down into the Grey’s pit.

“So ye used the giant’s bridge?” asked Dermot. “Ye’re blessed, then. It’s centuries since that was used.”

“It was the Sphere that raised it,” added Rana. “Show him, Jack.”

Jack fingered the flag around his neck, uncertain whether to show this to the McCools.
But they must be on our side
, he thought, and untied the flag. As it formed into the Sphere, he felt a wave of interest sweep the boat.

“Is that really the
Mapa Mundi
?” enquired Telos, who had been in the prow with Grandpa and Phineas. “Fair play to ye.”

He moved towards Jack, who shrank back. Telos stood over him, and Jack saw a mixture of emotions in the man’s eyes: desire and hunger – and fear. As Telos extended his hand, Jack squirmed backwards.

“Leave him be, man,” ordered Enda. “We’ll decide what happens when we get to Ilanbeg.”

Rana, oblivious to the short drama that had just played out, continued, “And he used it in the Grey’s cave.”

“Ye got away from the Grey?” Enda was clearly impressed.

“I doubt she’s beat,” added Dermot. “I’m not sure any of us will live long enough to see that happen. But getting away from her – that’s a victory.”

“And rescuing his dad,” chimed in Rana.

They looked over at Phineas’ wasted body. Nobody spoke.

It was late the following afternoon before Jack felt sure that he could recognise landmarks in the coast off to their right.

“I remember that headland,” he shouted, pointing to a rocky outcrop. “It was smaller when we were on the bridge, though.” He flicked the Sphere, transforming it back into a flag, which he tied around his neck.

“Ilanbeg’s not far,” said Enda. “We’d better let your family know that we’re coming.”

He looked up at the sky for a moment, then put two fingers to his mouth and blew a sharp whistle. A seagull whirled round before coming to rest on the side of the boat. Offering it some scraps of food, Enda uttered a series of guttural sounds that neither Jack nor Rana understood. The bird flew off, squawking harshly.

After a while Enda started to haul down the sail, and the boat began to drift in towards a bay.

“Is this Ilanbeg?” enquired Rana. “We left by the tunnel.”

“Can’t you see?” laughed Dermot. “There’s Luka. I’d recognise him anywhere.”

Jack and Rana scanned the bay and the fields beyond it, but could see nothing more than a calf at the water’s edge.

“There’s no one there,” stated Jack.

The boat drifted into the shallows and beached itself on gravelly sand.

“We’ll give ye a hand out,” announced Enda.

He lifted first Rana, then Jack over the side of the boat into the arms of one of his comrades, who waded the short distance ashore. As Dermot deposited him on the beach, Jack – human size once more – saw Luka stride forwards. Jack rubbed his eyes in astonishment.

“I understand you’ve got some casualties.” The old man smiled at him.

“Where … where did you come from?”

“Let’s get you all out of the boat.”

Enda and the others between them were carrying Phineas and Grandpa Sandy over the side of the boat and ashore. Lying the two men down on the beach, they ushered Luka forward. Luka made a cursory inspection, then asked them to carry the two invalids up to the house.

“Where did the calf go?” Rana was standing beside her cousin. “I’m sure Luka wasn’t on the beach before.”

Jack was staring at the place where the calf had been. There was a funny pattern there – like a circle. A dozen small stones in the sand. He felt in his pocket. The yucca fibres were oozing oil.

“He’s a sh—”

“Come on now,” Enda called over.

The litter party had reached the top of the bay, and was disappearing out of sight. The McCools were marching almost as fast as the two youngsters could run, and Jack and Rana took some time to catch up. Nearing the house (still a ruin from the outside), the youngsters ran ahead and were met by Aunt Katie and Aunt Dorcas, closely followed by Petros.

Aunt Katie clutched Rana to her chest, unable to speak. Petros stopped as he reached Jack, smiling sheepishly.

“You got on all right, then.”

Jack didn’t speak, but indicated the McCool party that was approaching quickly. As they arrived, Luka and Armina took Phineas and Grandpa Sandy indoors, ushering the others outside.

Marco led Uncle Hart, his eyes still bandaged, up to Jack.

“You’ve done well, lad. You’ve brought my brother back.” Uncle Hart’s voice croaked with emotion.

Jack didn’t know what to say. He’d dreamt about this day for such a long time, but his father was so nearly dead he still didn’t dare hope that all would be well.

“And you’ve brought back the
Mapa Mundi
,” said Marco. “May I see it?”

Jack untied the flag from around his neck and presented it to Marco. It remained as a flag, the two circles showing their maps.

“It’s only the Sphere for Shian,” explained Jack.

Marco smiled. “I know, but it’s beautiful for us too. It holds many secrets. You keep it for now. We’ll need to attend to our new guests.”

“Where are all the others?” enquired Rana.

“Finbogie took them down to Trog’s bay,” explained Petros. “Trog wanted to ask Fenrig’s forgiveness for something. They should be back soon.”

“I want Trog to hold the flag,” stated Jack. “He deserves to.”

Marco smiled at him. “I’m sure he’d like that.”

“Will … will my father be all right?” stammered Jack.

Marco looked towards the house and indicated to Jack that Luka was beckoning them in. Nervously, Jack stumbled over to the odd-looking house. With relief, he saw that Luka was smiling.

“Jack,” mumbled Grandpa Sandy as Jack entered. “You’ve done it again. And you’ve brought our Phineas back to us.”

“Is he … going to be all right?”

“He’s weak,” replied Luka, as he ushered Jack upstairs to where Phineas was stretched out on one of the beds. “More than ten years suspended is brutal. And by the looks of it you brought him back just in time. But I can get him better – in time.”

“The Grey said he’d breathed his last, but I thought of the Chalice, and that seemed to bring him back.”

“You did well, then. And when the time is right, he’ll tell you the secret that the Grey never got from him – about the Stone key.”

“But that’s just a myth!” exclaimed Jack.

“On the contrary,” continued Luka. “Your father is one of very few who knew something particular about the Stone in Edinburgh. Tamlina was another, though she didn’t know that he knew. A shame, that: if she had, she might have saved him from being taken by the Grey.”

“But you defeated the Grey,” added Marco. “And to bring the
Mapa Mundi
back, that was bold. You showed your bravery and courage – well done.”

Jack blushed and glanced through the small window. To his delight he saw Finbogie leading Trog and the others up to the house. He looked over to where his father lay. Despite what Luka had said, it was hard to believe he was really alive. But he trusted the physician.

“Can I show Trog the flag?” he enquired.

“Of course.” Luka nodded at the door, and Jack gratefully bounded down the stairs.

He met Trog just in front of the house. The Norseman stopped, a look of uncertainty on his face. Jack untied the flag from around his neck and presented it to the warrior-savant. Trog, initially hesitant, reached forward and took the ancient cloth in his weather-beaten hands, cradling it gently. A look of serenity swept his features, and his eyes sparkled. Turning to Marco, he enquired, “Can I wrap it around me?”

Marco looked over at Jack, who nodded.

The Norseman took the flag and gently wrapped it around his neck. His look of serenity changed abruptly, as the skin on his hands and face aged visibly. Startled, he began to unwrap the flag, but Marco stayed his hand.

“Think about it,” he urged.

Trog paused, and left the flag as it was for a minute. His fair hair had turned sandy grey, then white, and his face sagged. But he was smiling. Then he removed the flag, folded it tenderly, and handed it back. There were tears in his eyes. He knelt down and looked at Jack.

“Bless you. Tonight I shall die.”

Jack sat with the others around a huge bonfire late into the night. They had feasted well – the best meal Jack had had in a long time. It felt so strange to be back on the island, even though he’d only been gone a couple of days. And despite all the successes – bringing his father back alive, finding the third Shian treasure, disposing of Malevola and even defeating the Grey – it wasn’t enough. He longed to get back to Edinburgh to finish off the job. Marco caught the look in his eyes.

“Take time to enjoy your victories, Jack. I know you’ve more to do, but the time for that has not yet come.”

Jack looked over to where Fenrig and Morrigan sat. Ossian was seated next to Morrigan, and she was paying little attention to her brother.

“Your father will need a lot of care, but I believe he’ll recover in time. Your grandfather – well, he’s a tough old fox. Armina will have him right in a while.”

“What about the Sphere?”

“You found it, and you were meant to find it. If that wasn’t so, you’d never have got across the bridge, or got out of the Grey’s cave. You knew that it showed the true path to someone who believed. Keep it for now.”

“On the boat, I thought one of the McCools was going to take it. I’m not sure if I’m ready to look after it.”

“Something tells me that it will be safe with you.”

“I … I wanted to share it with Trog.”

“That was gracious. You felt his pain. But you heard him bless you. He’s happy just to have held it.”

“Did he really mean it about dying tonight?” Jack wasn’t sure why the old Norseman wasn’t at the feast with everyone else.

“He’s found the peace that has eluded him for so long,” answered Marco. “Just wearing the flag for a minute was enough. You saw how he started to age when he put it round his neck? He knew then that he would die.”

Jack thought how Trog had been startled by the change, but how he’d overcome his initial fear.

“Isn’t he afraid?”

Marco smiled sadly. “He finally learned to forgive others – and to let others forgive him. He knows he will be gathered, and he’s ready. He asked me to give you something.”

Marco reached inside his cloak and withdrew Trog’s long steel knife.

“In recognition of your generosity, and his release. It’s his only real possession.”

Tentatively, Jack took the knife from Marco. The knife that had dispatched the great swordfish of fortune. It seemed to glimmer in his hand.

“He had the knife so long, he believed it knew what to do. Maybe that will pass on to you. Guard it well.”

Jack shrugged. “Are things on the mainland really so bad that we can’t go home?”

“Pretty bad. The Kildashie are dragging many areas back to winter, more or less. And their takeover has given heart to Unseelie like the Thanatos all over. It will be hard times for the Seelie – and even the humans – for a while.”

“What about Cos-Howe? Are the Claville crew still there?”

“The Kildashie have Cos-Howe surrounded – but they can last there for ages,” he added, seeing Jack’s look of dismay. “Cosmo and Henri know a thing or two about defending themselves.”

“Have the Kildashie taken the Stone yet?”

“No, but they hold the Square, and are even in the Stone Room. The cabinet and the Stone’s iron rings are keeping them at bay, though – for now.”

“So how are we going to get home, then?”

“It will take time, and the most direct routes may not be open to you. You will need to be smart to take the Unseelie by surprise.”

Time. It’s always there, determining success and failure,
thought Jack. Then he thought of the Kildashie … Thanatos … Red Caps … how could they possibly take that lot on?

“You have allies all over.” Marco seemed to be reading Jack’s mind. “But you’ll need to collect them together before you can take the Unseelie on. And I think the McCools will stay; more may even join you.”

“Did any of the other Congress members escape?”

“Not as far as we know. For the time being, all you have is here on this island. But what you have is your family and good people around you. Never doubt the strength in that.”

Jack looked round at the group. Rana and Lizzie were huddled in conversation. Aunt Dorcas was helping Uncle Hart to feed himself. Aunt Katie sat with Petros … What about Uncle Doonya? What would the Thanatos do with him? Armina had allowed Grandpa to join the group for a while, but he limped badly.

Ossian’s not much use – he can’t keep his eyes off Morrigan. Only Finbogie’s likely to be able to help if we need to do anything. Great.

“Don’t despair, Jack. You’ve a long road ahead of you, but think how far you’ve come. You’ve found your father; you got Tamlina’s ring back. And you have the
Mapa Mundi
. Think about it: the treasure that will show you your true path, if only you believe.”

Jack fingered the flag that remained tied around his neck, and smiled.

I’ve got the Sphere.

He looked over to Petros, who waved back. Grandpa Sandy was looking over at Jack and gave a broad wink before resuming his conversation with Armina. Finbogie was in earnest conversation with Uncle Hart, but looked up at that moment and acknowledged Jack with a nod of the head. And Rana: she’d been great on the bridge, saving Grandpa’s sceptre and helping to defeat the demons. Even dispatching Malevola.