‘Mrs Barson.’
‘Yeah,’ I said, ‘Mrs Barson. You coming?’
She hesitated for a second more, looking closely at us, trying to figure out if we were playing some joke on her. ‘OK,’ she said slowly, ‘just a sec.’
The door closed again and we waited, listening to the noises from inside, some muffled words, a couple of knocks. ‘What a way to spend a lovely day,’ said Takeru, shoving his hands into his pockets and walking back out to the pavement.
I followed him. ‘Sorry if this is boring,’ I said.
‘Nah, please. What else was I going to do?’
Em’s door opened again and she stepped out, bright pink-and-yellow hat pulled tight on her head. She looked pleased.
‘Wow,’ said Takeru, staring. ‘It’s quite a look you’ve got there.’
‘It’s summer!’ said Em with a smile. ‘We off to the society or what, then?’
She raised one hand to her head in a mock salute and started walking off. ‘Adventures!’ called out Takeru, charging after her. I tried to clear my head. Get the book. I need the book. I have to get the book. For him. The curtain in Em’s front window twitched and her dad’s face appeared, looking out. Our eyes met. He flinched, then tried to smile. I hurried off after Takeru, determined not to look back. Let him think what he wants.
We walked lazily, slowly, making jokes and stopping whenever we wanted. I tried to push all my worries, all the truths I was learning, deep down inside of me. I wondered what Em really knew.
‘Oh! Hello, again,’ said Mrs Barson as she smiled down at us and pulled at the front of her cardigan.
‘Uh, hi,’ muttered Takeru. ‘We’re – well, Oli thought—’
‘I really enjoyed your stories the other day,’ I said. ‘I actually wondered if I could see that book again. With the myths.’
For a moment she didn’t respond. Then, with an enthusiastic nod, she stood back to let us in. ‘My, we could have new members in the making here, eh?’ she giggled, and we walked through to the library. ‘Was there a particular tale you’d like to find?’
‘Well, I guess, all of them,’ I said.
‘Hmm,’ said Mrs Barson, peering at me over her glasses. ‘Do you think you’re likely to be here long, dear?’
‘Oh, sorry. If you’re busy…’
She held up her hands. ‘I apologise. I meant here in town, with your mother. But really, I shouldn’t pry.’
Behind her, Takeru spun his finger in a circle next to his ear. Crazy. Em kicked his shin, and he winced silently, hopping.
‘Well,’ she continued. ‘Here’s the book.’
‘Thanks,’ I said, taking it from her, feeling its weight in my hands. It seemed so small. I thumbed through the pages while Mrs Barson watched. Takeru sat down by the window, his eyes tracing around the room. There wasn’t going to be any way to steal the book, I realised.
‘It’s all so weird,’ I said. ‘So weird and cool.’ Em cocked her head and looked at me with a smile. Mrs Barson nodded slowly.
‘Do – do you think I could borrow this?’ I said. I felt Takeru watching me, saw Mrs Barson’s confused face turn softer, saw Em raise her eyebrows slightly.
‘Oh,’ said Mrs Barson. ‘Oh, I’m not sure. We don’t usually—’
‘Please,’ I said. ‘It’s just really interesting. And, you know, I’d like to know more about the area. I might be here for a while … because of my dad…’
I trailed off and waited for my words to have their desired effect. She sighed and shook her head with a chuckle. ‘Of course,’ she said, ‘of course. What use is a book that’s never read? I’m sure you could use some fun distractions.’
‘Um. Yeah,’ I said. ‘Yeah, totally.’
Takeru stared at me, then turned to Mrs Barson, and let his eyes roam upwards, to the owl skulls perched high above us. ‘I could use some distractions,’ I repeated.
* * *
‘You’re really into this, eh?’
‘I guess.’
‘You totally are!’
‘And what’s wrong with that?’ asked Em. We were walking back home, and I had the book safe in my hands. My thumping heart was still drumming in my ears.
‘She seems a bit bonkers,’ said Takeru.
‘She is not,’ said Em, pushing past Takeru to move ahead again. He winked at me and cupped his hands to his mouth. ‘Come on, Em. You know I’m joking. The book’s cool. And Oli’s got it! You never managed that, eh?’
‘I didn’t ever ask! I was happy just having that room to explore.’
‘Calm down! It’s not a competition.’
‘I’ve been going there for ages without you, Takeru.’
‘Guys, don’t fight,’ I said. ‘Come on, it’s not that big a deal.’
‘Maybe not for him,’ said Em, pointing a finger at Takeru, who took a step back and raised his hands.
‘I didn’t say anything!’
‘You—’ started Em, but she stopped suddenly, turning to the road. A car had pulled up level with us, the two men in the front turning our way, the window already sliding down.
‘Hey, guys,’ said the passenger, and touched his forehead with one finger in a tiny salute. He smiled, and looked at the three of us, from one to the other. The driver smiled too, hands resting on the wheel, his head craned forward to see.
‘Uh,’ said Takeru.
‘Keep walking,’ said Em, pulling at my sleeve and glaring at Takeru.
‘Sorry to bother you kids,’ said the passenger. ‘Don’t suppose any of you know a boy round here—’
The driver elbowed him in the ribs and shook his head. ‘We’re off,’ he said. He nodded again towards us and pulled away, saying something as he did so. The passenger turned around and stared back at us. He looked at me, smiled, and wrote something down on his hand.
‘Just lost, maybe,’ said Takeru.
‘Or creeps!’ said Em. She turned to me, saw me clutching the book and put a hand on my shoulder. ‘Or worse,’ she said. ‘Or nothing. Come on, let’s go.’
We walked quickly back to Em’s house, then to Takeru’s, hardly saying a thing, stopping every time a car came round the corner, not knowing why we were all suddenly so edgy. I turned more than once to see Em looking at me like I was a puzzle to solve.
When I got home I ran upstairs and hid the book under my pillow, as if he wouldn’t find it, then went downstairs and played the piano, making noise, making music, anything to drown out the buzz in my head. Mum walked in, her eyes red with tiredness.
‘Maybe Rob could teach you,’ she said, indicating the piano.
‘Mm,’ I said.
She stood in the doorway, tapping her fingers together.
‘Were you out?’ she said.
‘Friends,’ I said. ‘I went to Takeru’s place.’
‘Oh, that’s nice.’
I hit the keys, making jarring, noisy chords.
‘Well,’ she said. ‘Well. Good.’
She turned to leave. I slammed the piano lid.
‘Oli!’ she said, her voice suddenly louder. ‘Careful, now. That was your gran’s!’
‘Dad,’ I said. ‘Are people saying he’s stolen something?’
Mum went very still. She rested one hand on the doorknob.
‘Stolen?’ she said. She gave a high, fake laugh. ‘What? Of course not. What on earth made you think so? Why would you say that?’
I looked at her, my mouth open slightly. ‘Right,’ I said. ‘Mistake. Never mind.’
‘Well,’ she said. ‘OK then.’
You liar, I thought, and Eren thought it with me. Mum laughed again, smiled at me, shaking her head, and turned around and walked out. In the air, in the silence, I knew that Eren was talking. You see? he said, you see? They’re all such liars!
* * *
The next day was a Sunday. Clouds covered the sky, bland, doing nothing, not changing. Bekah was in the nothing room, humming to herself, reading a book. She looked up when I walked in, knocking gently on th
e door.
‘You don’t need to knock,’ she said. ‘Don’t be daft.’
‘Right,’ I said. ‘Sure.’
Jasper was sitting at Bekah’s feet, his head resting on the floor. He perked up when he saw me, got to his feet, trotted over. I leaned down, scratched his ear, thumped his side.
‘He likes you,’ said Bekah. ‘Eh?’
‘That makes one,’ I said.
‘Oh, don’t be like that. Nothing less attractive than a self-pitying man. Anyway, you seem to have made friends.’
I shrugged. It was true, I guess. Jasper walked away, walked back, jumped up at my knees.
‘Good boy!’ I said. His tongue lolled from the side of his mouth.
‘Oli,’ said Bekah. ‘What I said before…’
I looked up.
‘I don’t want to stick my nose in where it’s not needed, but I just thought I’d say, you’ve been so patient with your mum. You have. It’s good of you.’
‘Sure,’ I said, but I wanted to ask more. Jasper was still walking around me, wagging his tail, jumping up.
‘Oi,’ I said. ‘Stop it.’
‘Wants a walk,’ said Bekah. ‘Ah, the price of affection, eh?’
I leaned down and patted his head. ‘You want a walk?’ I said. ‘Walk?’
Jasper barked, danced around, looked at me. ‘Ha! He knows that word!’ I said.
‘Honour bound now, you are,’ said Bekah. ‘You can’t tease him. He won’t forgive you.’ She coughed. ‘Your mum,’ she said, ‘has been feeling very conflicted.’
I didn’t look at her. I rubbed Jasper’s ears, smelled his weird, outdoors scent.
‘Sometimes she wants to pour it all out, and then she thinks that she’s protecting you by keeping it all in. She wants you to be happy more than anything. I think it’s killing her, a little bit, that there’s this thing between you, now.’
‘I told you. I’m not a kid,’ I said, staring at Jasper’s fur.
‘That’s as may be,’ said Bekah, which didn’t mean anything. ‘You’re her son, though,’ she added, ‘and that means so much to her. She’s so proud of you. Keeps telling us so.’
Silence for a beat, for two, for three. ‘Oh,’ I said.
Jasper barked and jumped.
‘Want a walk?’ I said again, leaning towards him, not looking at Bekah. He barked, rushed forward, then rushed out of the room, bounding down the corridor, searching for something. He raced without looking, and with a sudden skid ran straight into—
‘Ow!’ shouted Rob. There was a thump, then a crash of something breaking. I looked at Bekah. Her mouth was open in surprise.
‘Rob!’ she called. ‘What on earth—?’
Uncle Rob came round the corner into the room, the front of his shirt dark with something wet, and a broken mug handle in his fist.
‘Damn dog!’ he said. ‘Raced right into me. There’s tea everywhere, and my mug – just look at my— Bekah, why are you laughing?’
Bekah was looking at Rob, her hands raised to her face, her shoulders shaking as she tried to hide her laughter. I smiled, started to snigger, looked back at Rob.
‘You’re not serious,’ he said, still frowning. ‘My shirt!’
As soon as he said that, Bekah lost it. She was laughing so hard that the book she’d been reading slipped off her lap and landed on the floor. She looked up, wiping her eyes.
‘Oh, I’m sorry, love,’ she said. She took a breath. ‘Ahem. Sorry. You looked so angry, I just…’
And she started again, doubling over as Rob scowled. I tried to hide my face, turned away from him, towards Bekah. She caught my eye and we both laughed even harder.
‘Bloody dog,’ said Rob, and he stomped out of the room.
‘Oh!’ said Bekah, wiping her face, clutching her sides. ‘Oh, we have to stop! Oh, but…’
She kept laughing, holding up one hand to me. ‘No! No, it’s too funny!’
‘Bloody dog!’ I said, stomping my feet, doing an impression of Rob.
‘Ha!’
‘My best shirt! Bah!’
‘Oh, you’ve got him to a tee!’
She took another deep breath. I looked at the door, looked back, smiled at Bekah.
‘Good old Jasper,’ she said. ‘Good old thing.’
On cue, Jasper appeared again, an old, red leash in his mouth. Bekah and I burst into more mad laughter.
* * *
I spent the day walking, reading old books, putting things off. I went round to Takeru’s, not stopping for Em, not using the secret gate. When I got to the door I heard shouting, something bang, and my hand froze at the knocker. I backed away again, up out of the driveway, hoping he wouldn’t see me. His parents’ shouts rang out in the cold air and something – a glass, I guessed – smashed inside.
* * *
Night came, and I couldn’t wait any more. I took the book to Eren. He was standing in the corner of the loft, hands clasped together, eyes closed, half asleep, half praying, waiting.
‘Ask and I shall receive,’ he said. His voice made the hairs on my arm stand up. I smiled.
‘I brought it, like you wanted.’
‘Clever boy, you.’
‘You want me to read for you, or…?’
‘Just put it down, there’s a lad,’ he said. I threw the book to the floor, where it skidded in the dust and lay in front of him. He sniffed. ‘Wherever did you learn manners, speckle? Books should be shown more respect than that.’
‘Eren,’ I said, but stopped. His eyes were keen and wide. He scuttled towards me and I shivered.
‘Oh, say it again,’ he asked.
‘Eren.’
‘Yes?’
‘I … I want to know more. Where did you come from?’
‘Aha!’ he laughed, and danced on the spot from one foot to the other, a strange, weightless jig. ‘What is Eren, what am Eren? Oh yes, oh yes indeed, tee-hee-hee!’ In a rush of wind he stood behind me and whispered into my ear, his hand clasped over my mouth to stifle my shout. ‘Wants to see more?’
He let go, stumbling back to the book, picked it up and started leafing through the pages. I stepped towards him again.
‘Yes!’ I said. The book slammed shut with a single, echoing thud.
The world spun.
Everything stopped.
Everything started.
I was standing on a cliff, a swirling, tangled jungle spread out far below. Eren tapped my shoulder and pointed with one claw. ‘Down here,’ he said, ‘is something terrible.’
‘Terrible? What?’ I asked.
He shook his head, tutted, lowered his eyes and kicked at the dirt. ‘Death,’ he said, quietly. ‘Death of so many things.’
‘Who died?’ I peered down into the trees, but we were too far away. In the air, insects droned, bird cries echoed and died, strange croaks and high screeches swam and bubbled.
‘Come on,’ he said, and the air shimmered. We were standing in amongst the trees, the warm, damp soil sinking beneath my feet, the tropical air hot and wet and sticky. Something tiny bit at my hand and I slapped it away.
‘Look,’ said Eren, his voice barely a whisper. He shuddered. ‘I so rarely come here, any more,’ he said. I followed his eyes and gasped. A man was lying on the ground, his chest rising and falling slowly, too slowly. He was naked, staring up at the sky, wide, blood shot eyes staring and scared. His fingers trembled as he grasped at the soil.
‘What’s wrong with him? We have to help!’ I said, moving towards him.
‘Please, child,’ said Eren, loud as thunder. ‘Don’t you get it? He’s been dead for longer than you can imagine.’
‘Who is he, then?’ I said, looking away, looking back. He looked pathetic.
‘Oh, he’s the last,’ said Eren. ‘The last of his people. All the others are gone, already. He thought he could run, but no. No. Got him too. A virus,’ he explained, seeing my face. ‘Wiped them all out. He’ll be bones, and then less than that. And no one … no one … wrote anything down.�
��
And then I understood. I saw Eren’s face, pained and angry, and watched the dead man as he lay dying in Eren’s dreams. ‘Stories…’ I said. ‘It’s their stories that are dying.’
‘He’s the last!’ said Eren, pointing at the man, moving forward and looking down at his face. The man didn’t change, didn’t blink, stared at the sky and waited to die. ‘He is the only one who knows his entire world’s worth of treasure. You know what he’s thinking right now? You want to know?’
‘Eren, I don’t—’
‘He’s thinking that he’s scared, and that he doesn’t understand. That’s what fills his head.’
‘Please—’
‘He has completely forgotten,’ he continued, his voice filled with rage, ‘everything else that he learned, that his people knew, and now, in a second, it will all … be … lost.’
The man gave a shudder, closed his eyes, and finally, his fingers grasping at the earth, stopped breathing.
‘Death,’ said Eren, and looked at me.
‘Monster!’ I said. We were back in the loft, the cries and heat and smell of the jungle already gone.
‘They didn’t die ’cause of me,’ he said. ‘But I mourn what I miss. We all do.’
‘So that’s what you are, then? Memories and whispers and selfishness.’
He looked at me silently. Outside, a fox screamed.
‘You think that,’ he said, ‘but you come back, eh? You and me, lad. We’ve got a lot to give each other. You know what I like about you? You’re really very interesting. You remember that, eh? Eren thinks you’re interesting.’
I shivered. ‘Am I really … special?’ I asked.
‘You are,’ he said, holding his hands together like a saint, raising his head. ‘And you have no idea what I could show you if you agreed, if you stayed here with me.’
‘I could stay?’ I said. The words felt wrong and dark, a secret I’d just dared to whisper.
‘Yes!’ Eren shouted, a tooth-filled grin splitting his face. ‘Yes! You’d be so … so…’ He stopped and sighed happily. ‘Ah, but what times we could have.’
‘If I stayed. Here. With you.’
‘If you stayed here with me!’
‘How…?’
‘Questions, questions!’ said Eren, swatting the air in front of his face. ‘No time for those things. Just time for stories and fun and games and hope and wanting things.’ He looked down at me. ‘What’re your hopes, spotling? What’re your wantings? Think about that. Mark those things, Oli, boy.’
Tell the Story to Its End Page 12
