Snowbone

by Cat Weatherill

  “It's a perfect plan,” Lord Fox told himself. “They'll adore Ashenpeake. They'll build a camp and make it cozy. It'll soon feel like home.”

  In truth, Ashenpeake Island really was the tiddlins' home. They were Ashenpeakers. They belonged to the oldest race of people in the world.

  Ashenpeakers were proud, hardworking, steadfast folk. Their wooden bodies made them immensely strong and virtually indestructible. But this blessing became a curse when someone, somewhere, realized that Ashenpeakers would make perfect slaves.

  From that single thought, a worldwide slave trade had grown and flourished. Over the years, thousands of eggs had left Ashenpeake Island, bound for the Nova Land, Candalia, Tuva—wherever cheap labor was needed. The eggs were stored until they were wanted, then thrown into fires, triggering an incredible process that catapulted them from birth to work within a month, full of strength and empty of memory. Perfect slaves, with no past happiness to disturb their dreams or trouble their minds.

  Snowbone learned these things from Barkbelly, the galley boy from the Hope.

  Barkbelly was special. All the other sailors on the Hope— those who hadn't been killed in the fighting—had been taken prisoner. They were down below, safely secured in the Mermaid's hold. But Barkbelly and Griddle, the Hope's cook, had been treated differently. Griddle was now the pirates' cook, and Barkbelly was allowed to roam freely about the pirate ship. Snowbone wondered why. She also wondered about the Hope. Where had it been going when the pirates attacked it? And why was it carrying hundreds of wooden eggs, packed away in crates?

  Barkbelly had been the only Ashenpeaker on board the Hope. He wasn't very old, but he was a big, brawny lad with an honest, friendly face. And Snowbone had realized that, young as he was, Barkbelly had knowledge. He had seen something of the world.

  And so she had asked him what he knew, and Barkbelly had told her. It wasn't much. He hadn't grown up on Ashenpeake, so he couldn't tell her about that. And until the tiddlins were born, he had never even seen another Ashenpeaker, so he couldn't tell her how a wooden body worked. But, based on his own experience, he could tell her two important things. If a bit was chopped off—a hand, say—it would grow back, good as new. But if it were burned off—no. It wouldn't grow back. He showed her the stump of a missing finger to prove it.

  “Fire is deadly,” he said. “It brings us to life, but it can kill us, I know it can. Keep away from it, Snowbone. Keep away.”

  Then he told her what he knew of the Hope. She had been heading for Farrago, a seaport on the east coast of the Nova Land. The Nova Land was a newly discovered country, far across the Indigo Ocean. The eggs would have been sold as slaves.

  Snowbone was outraged. “Why is slavery allowed?” she stormed. “Why has no one done anything to stop it? Doesn't anyone care?”

  “I care,” said Barkbelly, “but I don't know what's to be done.” And he shook his head sadly and said no more.

  Chapter 5

  he pirates sailed north, along the coast of Ashenpeake to Puffin Island. When they arrived, the beach was clamorous with wives and children, and any thought of unloading the ship was abandoned. A safe return, a ship full of booty—it was time to celebrate! So it wasn't until the following morning that the tiddlins began their lessons.

  “Lessons? What lessons?” said Snowbone. “I don't understand. I thought we were unloading the ship today.”

  “No,” said Lord Fox, elegantly wagging his finger at her. “The men are unloading the ship. You are having lessons. I may be the cruelest pirate ever to sail the seven seas, but even I would not be so heartless as to abandon infants without some instruction. No! You must learn how to take care of yourselves, and these lovely people”—he indicated the pirates' families— “will be teaching you. You have just one day to learn these things, so use it well. Tomorrow, armed with your knowledge and boatloads of provisions, you will be taken by my men over to the main island … and left there.” He smiled devilishly. “Alone! Abandoned! Marooned! Oh, you poor things!”

  And so the lessons began. The pirate boys showed the tiddlins how to whittle an arrow, fire a bow, throw a knife, track a deer, set a trap. The girls taught them how to spear fish, make fires, grow vegetables, find fresh water. The elderly men, excused from lifting and carrying because of old wounds and bad backs, energetically demonstrated how to make shelters and build defensive fortifications. The wives showed them how to cook and make clothes.

  “We don't need clothes,” protested Snowbone when it was her turn to learn sewing. “You're human. You wear them to protect your skin and keep warm. But we're wooden. We don't need them.”

  The women smiled indulgently.

  “There are many reasons why people wear clothes,” said Squid's wife. “Ashenpeake is a civilized island where people go about their business properly dressed, whether they are wooden or not. If you won't wear clothes, what will you wear?”

  “Smiles,” said Blackeye.

  “You'll need clothes!” insisted Squid's wife. “Blackeye, you can't run around town with no pants on.”

  Blackeye grinned. The other tiddlins began to giggle.

  “Shhh!” hissed Snowbone. “You're being very rude. This lady is trying to turn us into proper Ashenpeakers, and all you can think about is bare bottoms.” She turned to the wives. “I'm listening,” she said, picking up her needle. “You can begin. And you,” she added, looking at Blackeye, “can behave.” With that, she winked, and the lesson began.

  By sundown, the tiddlins had learned many vital skills. They had also been given everything they would need and much, much more; Lord Fox had been extremely generous. But then, unexpectedly, the pirate captain sauntered over to Snowbone and said, “There's just one more thing. Pick a couple of chums, there's a good girl, and then we can go.”

  Snowbone's eyes narrowed. She wasn't sure she liked this “good girl” business. But she did as she was told. She summoned Blackeye and then Fudge. Fudge was a tall tiddlin with no visible wood grain on his body. He had some faint swirls on the palms of his hands, but other than that he was a solid block of buttery brown.

  To the tiddlins' surprise, Lord Fox gave them each a lantern and an empty sack. Then he led them along the beach till they came to a cave mouth set deep within the cliffs.

  “Come,” he said, and he lifted his lantern high and entered.

  The tiddlins followed. On and on they went, stumbling down a long, dark tunnel, wondering where it would end, when suddenly they emerged into an enormous cave—and it was stuffed to the roof with weaponry. Knives, crossbows, cutlasses, spears, shields, slings, daggers, swords … Guns too, though the pirates didn't use them much, preferring the polished elegance of a blade.

  “Whoa!” said Blackeye, speaking for them all. “Where did you get all this?”

  “We plunder several ships a year,” said Lord Fox. “So we always have more weapons than we can possibly use. Help yourselves.” And with a flourish, he stepped aside.

  The tiddlins wavered. There was so much to choose from! The hoard even included cannons, though how the pirates had managed to drag them from the beach was anyone's guess.

  But then, in the glow of the lanterns, Snowbone spotted a jeweled dagger … a carved bow … a pistol small enough to fit her hand … and that was it. She pounced on the pile like a dog on a molehill. Dig, dig, dig, she went, deeper and deeper into the hoard, until nothing could be seen but a little wooden bottom, wiggling in excitement, while Blackeye and Fudge burrowed beside her, determined to find the best gun, the brightest sword, the sharpest blade.

  All too soon the sacks were filled. It was time to go. But the tiddlins didn't mind. They had treasure! As they quick-marched back along the beach, with their booty slung over their shoulders, their grins were brighter than their lanterns. They were real pirates now.

  Chapter 6

  he next morning, the weather was appalling. Rain fell endlessly from a sodden sky and a bitter wind whipped across the beach, harrying the tiddlins as they packed bo
xes and bundles into the longboats, ready for their journey to Ashenpeake. Snowbone couldn't believe their adventure was starting so miserably She had hoped for a gorgeous day, with the pirate families standing on the beach waving them farewell. Instead, there was nothing but a squally, fling-'em-in-anyhow mess of a departure, with no one venturing out into the rain to say good-bye.

  Snowbone sighed and clambered into one of the longboats. She had Mouse beside her and a boy with sticky-out teeth. Looking across at one of the other boats, she saw Blackeye, wedged in tightly beside Barkbelly. She waved.

  Then the boats were pushed onto the water, the pirates pulled on the oars and they were off, heading over the sea to Ashenpeake. Snowbone thought she would burst with excitement. What an adventure this was! Her thoughts were noisy as gulls, flapping round inside her head. We have so much to do once we get there. Setting up camp. Getting organized. But we can do it. I can do it. First we have to … and then we must … and after that …

  Snowbone was so lost in thought, the journey passed without her noticing. But suddenly she realized the rain had stopped. The clouds had cleared. She sat up straight and peered ahead. The island was close now. It looked a cold place. A bit hilly. Covered in forest, as far as she could see. Empty beaches. Black sand.

  Snowbone felt an unfamiliar thumping in her chest. Her heart! Ten days old and this was the first time she'd been aware of it. Thump, thump, thump. What did it mean? Was she scared? No. Sick? No. What, then? She was already wide awake, so why did she feel she was waking up? Why did she feel such longing for a piece of land? And why, oh why, the tear in her eye?

  “What's going on?” she wondered. “Why do I feel like this? Is there some kind of magic at work here?”

  There were no answers. Not yet. But when the boat reached the beach and Snowbone felt the sand beneath her bare toes, she did discover something. Ashenpeake felt like home.

  Chapter 7

  nowbone had made her plans long before she set foot on the beach. Lord Fox had given them tarpaulins and timber, and she wanted to build a camp. But Snowbone realized she couldn't personally oversee twenty-seven tiddlins. She would need assistants—captains—trustworthy individuals who would accept her orders and organize small groups on her behalf.

  She had intended to ask Barkbelly, but he left almost as soon as they arrived. He said he wanted to find his family and disappeared into the forest. No one was expecting him to return.

  And so, with Barkbelly gone, Snowbone picked just five captains. Blackeye and Fudge were obvious choices. Mouse was a surprise: she was so quiet. But Snowbone had been watching her and knew she was bright and popular. Two Teeth and Tigermane completed the team. Two Teeth was a bit of a joker, but hardworking and capable. Tigermane was a tall, intelligent girl. Strong, calm, practical … everyone admired her. But the most remarkable thing about Tigermane was her hair. It was magnificent—long and lustrous, like a lion's mane, but tiger-striped in black and amber.

  With the captains chosen, a camp was soon constructed. Fudge organized a working party and built the beach huts: six of them, right at the edge of the forest, facing the sea. Two Teeth supervised the digging of a vegetable plot. Tigermane sorted the provisions and moved everything to the safety of store caves. Blackeye constructed a lookout post, right at the top of the tallest tree. Mouse created a meeting circle, a place where the tiddlins could assemble to discuss matters of importance. It was marked out with twenty-eight stones—one for each tiddlin to sit on—with a long, curly horn in the middle. One blow upon the horn summoned the entire company.

  At the end of the first week, Snowbone sat on the beach, alone with her thoughts. She gazed at the camp and the tiddlins going about their daily business, and felt so proud. So happy. So amazed! They had achieved more than she had dreamed possible. The camp was comfortable and secure. The tiddlins were cheerful, well fed, clean and clothed. They were proper Ashenpeakers now.

  But she could also see why people might want Ashenpeakers as slaves. The tiddlins were tireless. They would work from dawn till dusk if she asked them to. And they were so strong! No load was too heavy; no job was too difficult. She had to admit they were a bit clumsy sometimes, but even that didn't matter. There were bumps and bangs galore, but no cuts or bruises. Their wooden bodies were tough, like beetle armor. If they were knocked down, they simply picked themselves up and carried on, generally with a smile on their faces.

  Oh, yes. They would make perfect slaves. Snowbone could see that now, and it troubled her.

  As for Black Sand Bay … well! Snowbone had fallen completely under its spell. It probably wasn't the most beautiful place in the world, she realized, but it was wild and wonderful and she loved it. Here the sea met the sky, and the wind met the water, and they all danced together, rising and falling to the rhythm of the seasons.

  And though the winter was coming and they might be safer moving into the forest, Snowbone wanted to stay on the beach, where she could see her beloved ocean. Here she felt free. Nobody's slave.

  At Black Sand Bay, the tiddlins would weather the storms together, and grow taller, stronger, wiser. In time, they would move on. She didn't know when. She didn't know why. But she did know one thing. When that time came, they would be ready.

  Chapter 8

  he year turned. First it was winter and the land was lost, hidden beneath a mantle of snow. Then came spring and the forest edge was peppered with primroses. Then came summer and dolphins sang in the bay. And then came autumn and the birds flew south, ahead of the winter winds.

  Snowbone had grown and so had the members of her gang. Blackeye and Two Teeth were as tall as ten-year-old humans. Fudge was a head taller. Tigermane was the biggest girl; Mouse was the smallest. Snowbone was middling, like most of the others. All were healthy and strong, with boundless energy. Together they made a formidable team.

  Snowbone was feeling restless. She might be strong, but she was ignorant. She knew nothing of the Ashenpeakers and her body was a mystery. She knew that fire was dangerous, but other than that, nothing. How long would she live? Would she grow any taller?

  Her head was full of questions and she was determined to find answers. The tiddlins had explored some way into the forest, but it was immense. They had found no sign of habitation. Yet Snowbone was sure there were people out there. If she wanted to find them, they would have to widen the search. And so one crisp, windy day, she sent for Blackeye.

  He ran to her instantly, at full speed. “What?”

  “You're going away for a few days,” said Snowbone. “Into the forest.”

  “Yes!” cried Blackeye, punching the air. “Why?”

  “There must be someone out there,” said Snowbone. “We're just not going far enough. I want you to stay out until you find something.”

  “OK.”

  “I want three of you to go. Who do you want?”

  Blackeye thought for a second. “Two Teeth, 'cause he makes me laugh, and Fudge.”

  “Not Mouse?”

  “No!”

  “I thought you were friends,” said Snowbone mischievously.

  “Not 'specially.” Blackeye couldn't blush, but he was definitely glowing.

  “Your decision,” said Snowbone.

  And so the three boys shouldered their backpacks, filled their water flasks and were off, slipping between the trees like deer.

  Snowbone watched them go. She had every confidence in Blackeye. He was a good captain and a born adventurer. She knew he wouldn't return until he had found something.

  And she was right. He didn't.

  Chapter 9

  lackeye, Fudge and Two Teeth walked on through the forest, fighting the urge to fool around. It wasn't easy.

  There were branches to swing from and pinecones to shove down shirts. Pools to splash in and mud to squelch through. This was their second day of walking and they hadn't found anything. They needed some amusement. But they were also farther into the forest than they had ever been before. They needed to look and listen.


  “Snowbone's right,” said Blackeye. “There must be people somewhere. Even if we have to walk right out of the forest, we must—”

  “Shh” Fudge stopped, a finger to his lips and a hand in the air. “Listen.”

  Dura. A dull thud, somewhere to their right. And more: a low shushing sound. And a voice, calling.

  The boys nodded at one another. Cautiously, silently, they moved toward the sounds. The light was failing; a mist was rising, curling round their feet like serpents. The forest suddenly seemed strange, otherworldly. And then, through the mist, they saw shadows. Shapes. Men, moving silently. Working with axes and saws.

  “Woodcutters,” whispered Blackeye.

  They crept as close as they dared, then hid themselves behind a tangle of brambles. For some reason, they didn't feel like introducing themselves. Not yet. Better to watch awhile.

  There were a dozen men, working in teams of two. A constant, savage ripping of timber cut through the forest. One after another, trees fell sighing to the ground.

  Then the boys heard a shout: “Tarn! There's one here with a face and fingers. What do you want us to do?”

  “Hold on,” came the reply. “I'm coming.” Peaty footsteps thudded on the forest floor and a woman appeared through the veils of mist. “Where are you, Kilim?”