He gently guided the eagle away from the mound and began scraping away at the snow, revealing a burst of red material – a coat.
‘That’s Isabella’s,’ Fly whispered.
Byron quickly removed more snow, uncovering her face and arm. He felt Isabella’s wrist.
‘Is she okay?’ Bea’s stomach pinched in panic at Isabella’s pale face.
Byron waited a few more seconds to be sure. ‘We have to get her inside. Fast.’
Isabella’s face looked whiter than her bedsheets. The doctor had examined her and, apart from scrapes on her hands and knees and minor frostbite, said she would be fine.
Griffin sat by her side, holding her hand, watching every rise and fall of her chest while Xavier paced nervously in the background.
Mrs Gooding had left freshly baked blueberry muffins on the table beside her bed. ‘Make sure she eats when she wakes. It’ll help get some colour back into those cheeks.’
She gently squeezed Griffin’s shoulders before she left.
Everyone in the room was still and quiet, except for Corporal Smith. ‘I specifically said no one was to leave the Garrison alone. If she’d followed my instructions she’d –’
‘Izzy?’ Griffin leant in as Isabella’s eyes struggled to open. ‘Welcome back.’
‘Thanks.’ She frowned. ‘Where have I been?’
‘That is what I’d like to know,’ Corporal Smith blustered.
‘Charlie found you,’ Fly said proudly.
‘Outside the Garrison walls,’ Bea said. ‘Under a pile of snow.’
‘Snow?’
‘It was just after the blizzard,’ Raffy explained.
‘And you were wearing a stolen Ornithopter,’ Corporal Smith added.
‘Oh.’ It all came back to Isabella: the flying, the camp and the crash.
‘It’s all my fault,’ Xavier said. ‘I never should have –’
‘It was my decision to take it,’ Isabella interrupted. ‘Xavier told me about them and I wanted to try one. We were so used to going wherever we wanted in Grimsdon that I –’
‘This is not Grimsdon!’ Corporal Smith snapped. ‘You can’t just disappear like that.’
‘I was only –’
‘You’ve been told the rules and they must be obeyed!’
‘But what if some of those rules don’t make sense?’ It was out of Isabella’s mouth before she could stop it.
Vijay’s words circled in her head – honey not vinegar. She had to try and take it back. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that,’ she began. ‘We’re all unsettled since leaving Grimsdon. It was our home for so long. I know you’re doing what’s best for us.’
‘Yes, I am, so in the future it’d be better if you –’
‘Corporal Smith, I think your bedside manner may be a little abrupt, don’t you?’ The Major General leant on his cane. ‘After all, she is the patient.’
‘Yes,’ Corporal Smith stammered, ‘and I’ve been explaining how wrong it was to –’
‘Go out alone and take something that doesn’t belong to her … I’m sure Isabella is aware that she made some ill-advised decisions. Now if you’ll all excuse us, there is something she and I need to discuss.’
‘Is it all right if I stay, sir?’ Griffin asked.
‘It’s up to Isabella.’
‘I’d like that,’ Isabella said.
‘We’ll be outside.’ Xavier led the others out.
Long seconds passed where the Major General sat in silence and Isabella wished he’d say something. Anything.
She clenched her fists beneath the blanket, steeling herself for what was to come. She knew Vijay had told her to play nice, but if the Major General was about to punish her for her visit then she would –
‘We have news about your father.’
Isabella felt her skin ice over. ‘You found him?’
‘Do you know much about what happened to him on the day of the Floods?’
She nodded. ‘He was at work on the barriers.’
The Major General paused. ‘We have evidence that he wasn’t there.’
Isabella sat forward. ‘Then where was he?’
‘According to his credit card records, he was in the city buying a child’s dress, some books and ordering a birthday cake.’
Isabella pictured her dad shopping, which was one of his least favourite things to do. ‘It was my birthday two days after.’
‘In the years since the Floods, we’ve been gathering eyewitness accounts of what happened and we’ve found several that mention him.’
Isabella took a deep breath. ‘What do they say?’
‘Many survivors say it was your father who saved them.’
‘How did they know it was him?’
‘He would calm them down by telling them his name and that he worked on the barriers. He rescued many who otherwise would have been lost.’
‘That’s just like him.’ Griffin smiled. ‘He was always helping people.’
‘So he might be alive?’ Isabella asked.
‘Those who knew him said he searched for you tirelessly, and when he didn’t find you, he died of a broken heart.’
Isabella felt light-headed and found it hard to breathe.
‘There’ve been many articles written about him, news reports and even a documentary about the barriers that is dedicated to him.’
The Major General snapped his fingers and one of his soldiers entered the room and handed Isabella a box.
‘You’ll find it all in there. It’s for you to keep and look through in private. Every report speaks about your dad as a great man. You must be very proud.’
Isabella held the box tight.
‘And my mother?’
‘Nothing, I’m afraid.’
He stood to leave. ‘I am disappointed you took the Ornithopter without permission. All you needed to do was ask. It would be wise if this was your last act of disobedience.’
CHAPTER TWENTY
A Dangerous Idea
‘Oliver tapped at the study door. On Mr. Brownlow calling to him to come in, he found himself in a little back room, quite full of books, with a window, looking into some pleasant little gardens. There was a table drawn up before the window, at which Mr. Brownlow was seated reading. When he saw Oliver, he pushed the book away from him, and told him to come near the table, and sit down. Oliver complied; marvelling where the people could be found to read such a great number of books as seemed to be written to make the world wiser. Which is still a marvel to more experienced people than Oliver Twist, everyday of their –’
from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (chapter 14)
Griffin stopped reading.
He heard a noise. It was slow and rhythmic and coming from all around him.
Bea, Fly and Raffy were huddled into each other on both sides of him, sleeping so soundly he wondered if they’d heard any of the book at all.
He slowly disentangled himself, tucked the blankets around them and snuck into the main room. Isabella was wedged into a corner of the lounge, covered by a halo of lamplight, the box about her dad nestled on her lap.
‘They fell asleep while I was reading. Should I be offended?’
‘I wouldn’t take it personally,’ Isabella said.
Griffin sat beside her. ‘How many times have you read it?’
‘About ten.’
‘What did you find out?’
‘He’s a good man.’
Griffin shrugged. ‘We already knew that.’
‘He helped save at least a hundred people.’
‘I bet there were more we don’t know about.’
‘I’m sorry there’s no news yet about your parents.’
‘They were on a river cruise that day. You and I both know that they couldn’t have …’
‘I’m sorry.’
Isabella ran her hand over the box. ‘Dad did the right thing all his life, even after Mum left. I knew he was so sad that all he wanted to do was hide from the world, but he didn’t becaus
e he had me. He risked his life, Griffin, to save a hundred strangers. He deserves a daughter who is just as brave.’
‘He has!’ Griffin laughed. ‘You flew an Ornithopter through a blizzard. Did you make it to the camp?’
She nodded.
‘Is it as bad as Vijay says?’
‘It’s worse, Griffin. There are only kids. No adults except the soldiers, and they don’t care about them at all. We have to do something.’
‘I knew you’d say that.’
‘But it’s the right thing to do.’
‘I know, and I want to help, but it’d be good if it didn’t involve anything dangerous.’
Isabella smiled. ‘Oh, I can’t guarantee that.’
‘Why does that not surprise me?’ He looked down. ‘I’m glad you’re okay.’ His voice began to shake. ‘It was pretty frightening when we couldn’t find you.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘There’s something else. While you were gone I went to the Innovation Lab. It’s true they’re looking at cleaner ways to create power, and they’re working on some really clever inventions, but I found out something else.’
‘What?’
‘Golden eagles are birds of prey, and with their powerful talons they’ve been known to attack foxes and deer.’ He paused. ‘It’s true they are used for rescue missions and weather detection, but they’re also trained to hunt people.’
‘How do you know?’
‘Next to the lab there’s a surveillance room filled with monitors that play video feeds from security cameras all over New City.’
‘What did you see?’
‘A man running through the backyards of houses, tripping over bins and climbing fences, but the eagle was too fast. At first I thought the eagle was just filming him, but it swooped in with such force that it knocked him down. Minutes later the Garrison pounced and took him away.’
‘So they hunt people down who don’t do as they’re told?’
‘It seems,’ Griffin said. ‘That’s why we have to be extra careful.’
Isabella seemed lost in her thoughts.
‘Isabella?’ Griffin leant in. ‘Did you hear me?’
‘Sorry, yes. Of course.’
She suddenly jumped up from the lounge and headed for the door.
‘Where are you going?’
‘It’s been a big day,’ she said, ‘and I know where we can get the best hot chocolates around.’
When Isabella reached the kitchen door, Mrs Gooding was buttoning her coat.
‘What are you doing out of bed? I was told the doctor ordered you to rest.’
‘I’ve been in bed all afternoon, I needed to do something.’
‘That was a nasty fall you had.’
‘I’m perfectly fine.’
Mrs Gooding turned to Griffin. ‘Is she always this stubborn?’
‘Pretty much.’
The cook’s eyes moved discreetly towards a small glass dome attached to the roof. Isabella and Griffin saw it concealed a camera.
‘I’m off to visit my mother.’ Mrs Gooding slipped her bag onto her arm.
‘Can we walk you to the gate?’ Isabella asked.
‘If I say no will you come anyway?’
‘Now you’re getting it,’ Griffin sighed.
‘All right, but then straight back to bed.’
She switched off the lights and they stepped into the dim glow of the courtyard.
‘Has that camera always been there?’ Isabella whispered.
‘I noticed it when I arrived for work this morning. They’re watching everything very closely, so we have to be careful.’
‘Funny,’ Griffin said, looking at Isabella, ‘that’s just what I was saying.’
Mrs Gooding lowered her voice even further. ‘What were you doing outside the Garrison?’
‘I flew to the camp.’
‘You did what? So that’s why you had the Ornithopter? You could have been badly injured.’
‘I have to work on my landings,’ Isabella couldn’t hold back a small smirk, ‘but I was doing well up until then.’
‘This isn’t a laughing matter. And I said you mustn’t get involved.’ Even though Mrs Gooding was angry, Isabella could tell she was curious. ‘What was the camp like?’
‘The food’s horrible and the kids are bullied and made to work hard and live in draughty sheds built on mud and … we have to get them out of there.’
Mrs Gooding sighed. ‘There are many of us who would like just that.’
‘Are you really going to visit your mother?’ Isabella asked.
‘Yes, of course I am.’ She stopped at a side gate. ‘I know you want to help but it’s too dangerous. I mean it.’
‘Are you going to walk?’ Griffin asked. ‘Isn’t that risky with the weather?’
‘My Detector predicts a lovely night and Mother isn’t far away. Now please, go to bed.’
Mrs Gooding unlocked the gate and made her way into the street.
Isabella watched her become a silhouette against the lights of the city.
‘She’s right,’ Griffin said. ‘It is too –’
Isabella stuck her foot in the gate before it shut. ‘Let’s go.’
‘What part of “too dangerous” didn’t you hear?’
‘She’s not going to visit her mother.’ Isabella slipped outside. ‘Coming?’
All Griffin wanted to do was turn back, crawl beneath warm blankets, read a book and imagine he was braver than he really was.
But he knew that wasn’t going to happen.
‘I wish I’d brought a thicker jacket.’
Isabella smiled. ‘We’ll walk fast so you’ll stay warm.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
A Narrow Escape
They kept close to the walls of buildings and shops, staying in the shadows and treading with light footsteps. Mrs Gooding turned a corner and Isabella and Griffin followed at a careful distance.
When the street suddenly blazed with the lights of an approaching Armavan.
‘Quick, in here.’ Isabella pulled Griffin into a darkened doorway of a house. Inside, there were people talking and music playing. They huddled in the shadows while the grinding engine of the Armavan rumbled closer. And with each passing second, Mrs Gooding was getting further and further away.
The music inside the house stopped and there was the muffle of ‘goodbye’ and ‘come again soon’.
Griffin thought his heart would officially stop beating.
The Armavan’s headlights flooded the street, lighting up windows and footpaths.
Another voice spoke from just behind the door. ‘Please, stay a little longer.’
Yes, please do, Griffin silently pleaded.
If they ran for it now, they’d be seen by the Armavan only hours after they were reminded not to leave the Garrison without supervision.
But they couldn’t stay where they were, not with the door about to open any second.
The Armavan lumbered by as if in slow motion.
Another voice from inside said, ‘We really must go.’
A key chinked in the lock.
They needed more time. In only a few more seconds the van would be completely out of sight.
They heard a chain being unhooked. The door-handle turned and a sliver of light spilled onto the path.
‘Now!’ Isabella and Griffin scooted out the front gate just as the door opened wide and the guests stepped outside. They crouched low and ran to the corner where they last saw Mrs Gooding.
The street was quiet with no one in sight.
‘She’s gone.’ Griffin tried to catch his breath.
‘No, there she is.’ Isabella saw a small figure in a scarf standing outside a house.
They sped down the street, running as fast as they could.
The door opened and Mrs Gooding stepped quickly inside. Isabella sprinted even faster. She knew she could be there in only a few seconds when she heard a thud and an oooph behind her.
‘Griffin?’
She rushed back and dropped by his side. ‘Are you okay?’
He lifted his head. ‘I think so.’ A stream of blood trickled from a graze on his forehead.
Isabella picked up his glasses. ‘They’re bent.’
‘It’s a miracle they’ve survived at all.’ He tried to bend them back into shape but they sat crooked on his nose.
‘Can you stand?’ Isabella asked.
He nodded. ‘The question is, can I stay standing.’
Isabella helped him up and they hurried to the door. She knocked.
After a few seconds of silence, she knocked again.
A short series of footsteps was followed by a quiet, ‘Who is it?’
‘Isabella Charm,’ she whispered through the door. ‘I’m a friend of Mrs Gooding.’
There was a brief silence and quiet murmurings before locks clicked and the door opened.
A tall, thin woman searched over their shoulder. ‘Come inside, quick.’
Mrs Gooding was standing behind her – and she wasn’t impressed.
‘I told you to go to bed. Do you realise how much trouble you could cause for all of us by being here? You could have been followed.’
‘I’m –’
‘I ought to march you straight back to the Garrison.’ Mrs Gooding’s face was blazing red.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Did you listen to me when I said coming here was dangerous?’
‘Yes.’
She sighed and shook her head. ‘If anything were to happen to you I’d …’
‘Does that mean you’re starting to forgive me?’
‘Not yet, but you’re here now so you’d better sit down.’
She led them into the dining room, where a small group was sitting at a table filled with cakes and sandwiches.
‘Everyone, this is Isabella and Griffin, two of the children who were rescued from Grimsdon and who are no good at doing what they’re told.’
She turned to the others. ‘This is Mrs Fern, who let you in. She owns the bookshop. Mr Omar the butcher, Mr Vivas the fishmonger and Mr Finch –’
‘The teacher!’ Isabella cried. ‘Vijay told me how you leave him books and clothes.’
New City Page 10
