Shipwreck Island

by Struan Murray

  And then it started turning.

  I wanted to clap and laugh and cheer. But Varu fell to the deck, his skin completely blue. He was icy cold, muttering in a horrible deep voice that didn’t sound like him at all.

  But the Ark was on a new course, cutting through the waves as fast as a swordfish. And there, in the distance, I saw it.

  A dark peak that burst from the horizon.

  An island.

  A Better World

  It began with the giggling servants in the steam-filled kitchens of the palace, then made its way by courier to the grand houses of the bankers and lawyers. It was draped out of windows with the morning’s wet clothes, rising in the markets with the smell of sizzling fat, whispered politely in the libraries of the Academy. It echoed through the mines and cascaded down the steeply stacked streets of the Shambles to be hurled from the docks out to sea, yelled from one ship to the next:

  Loren was to become Royal Successor.

  The palace became a hive of constant business as servants prepared for the Festival of Life. It was to start with a massive feast, at which Kate would mark Loren as the next Vessel in the Ritual of Succession. Servants scrubbed every inch of the palace, from the bannisters to the bird cages. Sculptors chiselled new statues of Loren to decorate the Divine Hall, while seamstresses sewed banners in the gold of his family crest.

  The only person in the palace who had not been given anything to do, it seemed, was Ellie. This suited her fine, and the workshop buzzed and clanked as she tinkered away at her latest invention, while Seth sat silently in one corner, staring into space.

  ‘Why don’t you go and see Viola?’ Ellie said, rubbing sweat from her forehead. ‘It might be good to get some fresh air.’

  Seth said nothing.

  ‘You could go fishing with her? You’d love that.’

  But Seth just hugged himself tighter, staring forlornly at the ground. Ellie picked an apple from the fruit bowl, leaving it at his side in the hope he might eat something.

  The door creaked, and Ellie turned to find Kate hovering by the door. ‘Hello,’ she said bashfully.

  ‘Um, hi.’ Ellie’s stomach squirmed. She’d not seen Kate since her humiliation in the Felicia Markets. ‘I … I didn’t think you’d … I mean, I’m glad –’ She swallowed. ‘It’s nice to see you.’

  Kate smiled weakly. ‘You wanted to talk to me? Oh, hello, Seth. Is something the matter?’

  Seth’s mouth twitched.

  ‘He’s just, um, been a little under the weather,’ Ellie explained.

  Kate nodded and looked around the workshop. Ellie watched her, hot nerves rattling in her chest. ‘Oh look – it’s your old coat,’ said Kate, clutching a flap of Ellie’s grey coat.

  ‘I was mending it,’ Ellie said hurriedly. ‘Not that I don’t love the coat you made me. It’s just so I have something warm for the winter.’

  Kate frowned. ‘It never gets cold here. Not like where you come from,’ she added, and Ellie felt a stab of guilt.

  ‘Kate, I’m … I’m so sorry. About the other day.’

  ‘It’s not your fault. What are these?’ Kate asked, pointing to the odd flaps of silk that had been attached to the coat, and two long cords trailing from the arms.

  ‘Oh, I, uh, I thought it needed relining,’ Ellie said. This wasn’t true, but the real reason was too embarrassing. ‘Here, I have something to show you.’

  She stepped over to a cart-sized bundle in the centre of the workshop, draped with an oil-stained sheet. She pulled the sheet aside with a flourish, revealing an immense, turtle-shaped contraption with leather flippers.

  Kate’s nose twitched. ‘What is it?’

  ‘A boat that can swim underwater!’ Ellie announced. ‘That way we can leave Shipwreck Island without anyone noticing us. I even know an island we can escape to – Seth and I slept there one night on our way here. It has fewer wolves than some of the others.’

  Kate barely spared the boat a glance, instead inspecting the cages of mice and the vials of ground-up exotic plants.

  ‘Kate?’ Ellie said.

  ‘I hope you’ve stopped eating this stuff,’ Kate said stiffly, examining the brightly coloured vials.

  ‘Mostly,’ said Ellie, rubbing the back of her head.

  ‘Mostly?’

  ‘I’ve only been taking a little bit,’ Ellie admitted, fidgeting awkwardly with her sling. ‘To help my arm heal. Not enough that it turns my eyes red like before. Well, not bright red, anyway. But about the boat –’

  ‘It was this one, wasn’t it?’ Kate said, picking up a vial of blood-red powder. ‘I’m confiscating it for your own good. You don’t know what long-term effects it might have.’

  Ellie frowned but didn’t argue. ‘Now listen, I thought we could go tonight. Viola and her dad will help –’

  ‘I’m not leaving, Ellie,’ said Kate, pocketing the vial.

  Ellie blinked. ‘But you have to. If you make Loren your successor tomorrow, he’ll have no more use for you. He’ll kill you, Kate. You know he will. You can’t go through with this.’

  ‘If I don’t, he’ll tell everyone that I’m a lie.’

  ‘You’d rather die than have people know you’re not really a Vessel?’

  Kate balled her hands into fists. ‘I am not leaving this island, Ellie. I’ll never abandon my people. Never.’

  Ellie’s eyes prickled. ‘But –’

  ‘Please, I don’t want to talk about this. Why don’t we build something together? Like we used to.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Ellie, feeling a tiny flutter of warmth in her chest. ‘Well, you could help me put the finishing touches on the boat. Even if you don’t … want to use it.’

  ‘Actually, I was hoping to make something simpler. I’ve always wanted to learn to cook, you see. I thought we could make some sort of oven, one that you can turn on with a flick of a switch. For cooking things.’

  Ellie’s shoulders sagged. ‘All right,’ she said. ‘Well, my mum had plans for a stove that was powered by burning gas. I think I can remember –’

  ‘If possible,’ Kate grinned, ‘I’d prefer it doesn’t explode spectacularly.’

  Ellie smiled too, unable to stop herself. They set to work, cutting up squares of metal and fixing bolts into place. Seth sat in total silence, and occasionally Kate would glance worriedly at him then give Ellie a searching look. Ellie would just shrug. By five o’clock, they’d built a gas stove that reliably failed to explode, though it did make an odd smell, like burning dust.

  Kate used it to cook pancakes for dinner, tossing them into the air, and they both laughed hysterically when she launched one with such force that it stuck to the ceiling. They sat together on the floor, eating the not-so-well-done pancakes with their fingers and a jar of fig jam. Kate declared the stove a complete success, then laid the last three pancakes by Seth’s side.

  ‘I hope you feel better soon,’ she said, and Seth gave a small, grateful nod. After checking that the stove had cooled, Kate carried it in both arms to the door.

  ‘Wait,’ Ellie said hurriedly. ‘Do you want to stay a bit longer? We could, um, we could play that game where we throw things at each other?’

  Kate smiled sadly. ‘That’s not really a game for a Queen, Ellie,’ she said, and turned to the door. ‘I must go. Tomorrow, during the banquet, you will stay in here, under guard. I won’t let Loren hurt you again.’

  ‘Wait,’ Ellie said, following her to the door. ‘Please – leave with me, Kate. It’s not worth staying. It’s too dangerous!’

  Kate stared at Ellie for a long moment. ‘My people need me, Ellie.’

  She left, and Ellie slumped down next to Seth. Her heart was like an anchor in her chest.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Seth whispered.

  They sat side by side in silence, Ellie listening to the ticking of the clock, counting down to the Festival of Life. Occasionally she glanced at Seth. Though he was still, Ellie felt she could almost hear his thoughts, tumbling and crashing like waves. She re
sted her hand on his.

  ‘Seth, I know what it’s like to blame yourself for something. But the shame will eat you up, if you let it.’

  Seth pulled his hand away. ‘This is different,’ he said. ‘Your brother’s death wasn’t your fault. I caused the Drowning.’

  ‘We don’t know for sure what happened. There’s a lot in this world we don’t understand. Even if it was your powers that caused it, that doesn’t mean you wanted it to happen.’

  ‘You saw what I did on the beach. I’m … I’m no better than the Enemy.’

  Ellie felt a jolt of anger. She rose to her knees and stared into Seth’s sullen eyes. ‘Listen to me, you are nothing like the Enemy.’

  Seth blinked, and sudden tears tumbled down his cheeks. ‘I don’t want this power, Ellie. I … I don’t want to be a god.’

  ‘I know,’ said Ellie, sitting back down. ‘And I don’t want to be a Vessel. But we don’t get to decide that.’

  She let out another long sigh, staring up at the ceiling. This time, Seth put his hand on hers. He squeezed it, then winced and grabbed at his head. He took a shuddering breath.

  ‘Seth? What is it?’

  ‘It’s Varu and Leila. They’re in trouble. They’re in …’ He winced again. ‘Pain.’

  ‘That happened a long time ago,’ Ellie said softly.

  Seth gritted his teeth. ‘No, it’s happening now,’ he said. ‘I can … I can feel them in the sea. The memories. There are people hurting … always. Then, now, over and over and over again. It won’t end.’ He looked at Ellie, his face wet. ‘And I’m part of it.’

  Ellie pulled Seth into a tight hug. His breathing came in ragged bursts.

  ‘Seth,’ said Ellie, resting her head on his shoulder, ‘please don’t give up. We have to hope that we can create a better world than the one we have.’

  ‘But you tried to make this island better, and they wouldn’t let you.’

  ‘So we’ll keep trying,’ said Ellie, pulling back and pressing her forehead to his. ‘I nearly gave up once before, but you and Anna showed me that hope is always there, if you look for it. There will be a better world.’

  ‘What better world? Where?’

  ‘The one we’ll make. It’s there, Seth, I know it.’

  Seth shook his head. ‘I can’t see it.’

  ‘Well I can,’ Ellie said defiantly.

  He nodded, though didn’t seem sure. He took a deep breath, some of the tension easing out of him. For a long time they sat there, and Ellie listened to the steady rise and fall of Seth’s breathing.

  ‘Your turn,’ said Ellie, with a furtive smile.

  Seth looked at her, then understanding dawned in his eyes. He stared at a flickering candle for a moment, thinking.

  ‘I … I hope that … we’ll find a new little island to live on. Where we can build you a workshop. Where I can have a boat to go out fishing in, and make us dinner. Where Anna and the orphans can come live with us. Where nobody will chase us, and where the sea will be calm.’ Seth closed his eyes. ‘So calm we can hear the whales sing at night.’

  Ellie closed her eyes too, and pictured it all, until she could almost feel the gentle breeze on her face and the sand beneath her feet. She reached into her pocket, pulled out her penknife, and carved an S into the side of a workbench, scoring a single line beneath it.

  ‘You win.’

  Seth smiled.

  They sat together as the clock ticked into night. Eventually, Seth got to his feet. ‘I think I’ll go for a walk,’ he said, putting on his shoes. ‘Get some fresh air.’

  ‘Do you want me to come with you?’

  ‘No. You’ve helped enough. See you back at the Oak.’

  He left the workshop, and Ellie felt immediately smaller without him. She stared at the new underwater boat, and her hand strayed to a hammer, consumed by a desire to smash it to tiny pieces. She’d been so sure Kate would come with them, but now that hope seemed so foolish, so childish, so embarrassing. She groaned, and felt more alone than ever.

  She heard footsteps, and Seth put his head back round the door. He’d pulled on his green cardigan, and looked vaguely troubled.

  ‘Ellie, I had an idea.’ He stifled a cough, and Ellie worried he’d caught a chill from lying on the workshop floor. ‘Maybe you should tell Kate about me. About what I can do. Maybe then she won’t feel so powerless?’

  Ellie thought about this, then shook her head. ‘No. No we shouldn’t – it’s not safe for anyone else to know. Even Kate. They might not understand. They might think you’re the Enemy again.’

  Seth nodded. ‘Okay.’ He coughed. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘I’m sure,’ she said, and Seth shrugged and left the room. Ellie paced the workshop, trying to clear some of the clutter from the floor, her mind churning. She heard a persistent dripping, and worried that one of her chemical bottles had fallen over.

  ‘A better world,’ hissed a voice.

  The bandaged child was sitting on a workbench, scratching at a leaky patch on its arm, dripping blood on to the floor. Its head was bent at an odd angle. Ellie turned away, deliberately ignoring it as she picked up a wrench and a jar of nails from the ground.

  ‘You don’t really believe that, do you?’ The child grinned, blood pooling between its teeth. ‘You thought this island would be a better world, and now look at it. Look at Kate. She’s nothing more than Loren’s puppet. Nothing but an empty –’ the child licked its lips – ‘vessel for Loren’s power. And soon, he’ll have no need for her at all.’

  The words were like the vicious stabs of a knife into Ellie’s stomach. The child put both hands to its head, cracking it back into position. When it spoke again, its voice was stronger.

  ‘He will kill her.’

  ‘I …’ Ellie stammered. ‘I can stop – I can –’

  ‘No,’ said the child, sliding off the workbench and stepping towards her. ‘You can’t. You’ve failed. And if you don’t ask for my help soon, you will lose her forever.’

  Ellie closed her eyes, and pictured her brother. ‘Finn,’ she said.

  The Enemy cried out, lurching backwards in a swirl of bandages, and vanished.

  The warmth inside her cooled too soon, as the thoughts of her brother faded. She screamed in frustration, launching the jar across the workshop, where it exploded in a shower of glass, nails raining down on the floorboards. She curled her hands into fists, hating the Enemy for its very existence. Hating that it had made her its Vessel, and hurt her, and her friends, and so many people before them.

  Hating that she had no choice but to ask for its help.

  The Festival of Life

  The Festival of Life was to start with a sumptuous feast in the Divine Hall of the palace. There would be five lavish courses, including a special cake, the eating of which would mark Loren as the Royal Successor. After that, Kate was to tour the island, pretending to cure diseases, with actors that Loren had no doubt blackmailed into secrecy.

  The clock struck seven, and Ellie tied her hair back and changed into a white shirt and black skirt. She stuffed a pillow inside the lilac coat Kate had given her, laying it across the workshop floor, sticking yellow straw above the collar. Then, she threw a flash-bang at the wall.

  It exploded with a CRACK, and the workshop door flew open. A Warden clattered inside, falling to his knees beside Ellie’s coat.

  ‘Oh no! Ms Stonewall, what happened to you?’

  Ellie leapt from behind a cupboard and pelted through the door, locking it from the outside with the new bolt she’d attached the night before. She heard the Warden hammering his fists on the door as she raced along the corridor and up into the palace.

  The Divine Hall was a sweltering mass of puffy sleeves and floppy hats, as nobles milled around, shaking hands and searching for their allotted seats. Four long mahogany tables were strewn with flowers of pure white and blood red, little golden basins for the washing of hands, and tall silver candlesticks already nesting in mounds of wax. The fifth table at th
e far end was perpendicular to the others, with two empty wooden thrones in the middle.

  Ellie kept her back as straight as possible and tried to hide her limp as she joined a line of servants delivering jugs of water. She ducked from the line and between two nobles, who were taking in the Divine Hall’s grandeur with theatrical gasps.

  ‘Look at those silk tablecloths! Loren’s outdone himself – you know I heard he provided all the flowers.’

  ‘And the food too! He’s really brought us back from the brink of disaster.’

  It wasn’t just the nobility who were present. There’d been a special lottery, and people from all over the island had been invited to share in the occasion – farmers and tailors and musicians and innkeepers.

  ‘This is actually my third time in the palace,’ Molworth was proudly telling the noblewoman to his right, who seemed disgusted to be seated next to someone who wasn’t a noble, or even an adult. ‘I’m extremely important.’

  ‘Molworth,’ Ellie hissed, ducking down at his side.

  ‘Ellie? Why are you dressed like the servants?’

  ‘Shh!’ said Ellie. ‘Act like I’m not here.’

  Soon, every seat in the chamber was filled, save for the two thrones. A band played in the gallery above, a jaunty melody of cellos and violins. Guests muttered excitedly as the first dish was set before them: a single octopus tentacle, soaked black in squid ink and curled in a question mark upon a bed of pickled red cabbage.

  ‘Young lady, what are you doing down there?’ said an old nobleman to Molworth’s left.

  ‘Oh, just mopping up,’ said Ellie, taking Molworth’s napkin and dabbing the floor. ‘This boy is very messy.’

  Up and down the table, people slurped at tentacles, spraying squid ink on their napkins and faces. Ellie looked around, wondering why the Enemy hadn’t appeared yet.

  The Seven Sentinels stood before the great double doors. They stamped their feet once, and servants heaved the doors open.

  And there were Kate and Loren.