Devil's Rock (19 page)

Now I have my boat and I work the oyster beds in the season, and I fish, and I call the dolphins, and I search the sea for my sister’s spirit.

* * *

Dear stranger, that is my story. Pray for me. Pray that one day I may be free. Pray that one day my sister will remember me and return.

Oh, Una, wherever you are, when you do return, you will find me here, waiting.

g

Chapter 19

Zaki looked at Anusha to see if she had finished reading. Anusha nodded and Zaki closed the book. Neither spoke but when their eyes met, Anusha let out a long breath. Zaki climbed up on deck and stood looking at the familiar scene – a few dinghies out sailing, the South Sands ferry busily making its way down the inlet, the harbourmaster’s launch going about its business. How could everything appear so normal? Anusha emerged from the steps and stood beside him.

‘It’s Maunder. That’s what got into me in the cave.’

‘But how could he still be there? It was over a hundred years ago! And she killed him.’

‘No. She poisoned her own body thinking Maunder’s spirit would die with it. The bracelet held his spirit until I put it on, then it passed into me. I let it out. I released it from the cave. I’m like a carrier. It’s like I’ve got a disease but I don’t know the cure.’

‘What about the girl – Rhiannon – maybe she knows what to do?’

‘I think she’s as puzzled as we are. She’s been watching me ever since we got back from the Orme.’

‘The cat?’

‘Yes.’

‘So she knew we were on her boat!’

‘She knew we got on but she must have thought we’d left before she cast off.’

‘Perhaps she meant us to find the book.’

‘Perhaps. But I wasn’t supposed to take the bracelet. I wish I could talk to her but I know she doesn’t want me anywhere near her. And you can’t blame her. What if Maunder suddenly took control of my body and I went for her?’

‘Well, you can’t talk to her – but I can.’

Zaki looked at Anusha. She was right! There was no reason why Anusha and Rhiannon shouldn’t meet. Was there?

‘What about some lunch?’ Anusha asked suddenly. ‘I’m starving!’

‘Food. Good idea.’

They ate on deck in the autumn sunshine. Despite everything, it was good to be on the boat on such a beautiful day. Anusha asked questions about the rigging, about how everything worked, and Zaki answered them, happy for the chance to show off his knowledge.

‘What about a sailing lesson?’ Anusha asked as they tidied away the picnic.

‘What? Now?’

‘Why not?’

Yes – why not
, thought Zaki. A nice little breeze had set in – perfect for a beginner. ‘OK. We’ll have to rig the dinghy.’

Zaki pulled the dinghy up alongside
Morveren
and climbed down into it. Soon, the dinghy was rigged and they cast off from
Morveren
.

‘Where are we going?’

‘Frogmore Creek?’

‘Sounds good to me. I like frogs.’

Any girl who likes frogs has got to be all right, thought Zaki and grinned at Anusha.

‘What?’

‘Nothing.’

They had the wind behind them at first and then on the beam as they rounded Snapes Point and headed up towards Kingsbridge. After the point, they entered the part of the estuary known as The Bag, where the shoreline on each side falls away, creating a wide but well protected anchorage. The many yachts and launches on their swinging moorings provided Zaki and Anusha with an obstacle course through which to sail.

Zaki taught Anusha how to adjust the sails to suit the wind. During their lesson, the wind picked up and Zaki showed Anusha how to tuck her toes under the foot strap and lean out to keep the boat upright.

‘Ever fallen out?’ asked Anusha, as they both threw their weight back, leaning out as far as they could to balance a fresh gust.

‘Not yet!’ laughed Zaki.

‘Hey, yeah! I could learn to like this!’ shouted Anusha as the dinghy took off, skimming across the water in a flurry of spray.

‘Look there!’ Anusha pointed to something behind them.

Zaki saw the distinctive cotton sails and black hull of
Curlew
as she rounded the point and entered The Bag.

‘Do you think she’s following us?’

Zaki shook his head. ‘But let’s keep out of sight and see where she goes.’ He looked around for a suitable hiding place and spotted the high sides of
Queen of the Dart
. ‘Over there – we’ll tuck ourselves in behind my grandad’s boat. Get your head down, I’m going to gybe.’

‘What?’

‘Head down!’

Anusha ducked just as the boom whizzed over her head. ‘Does it have to do that?’

‘’Fraid so. Now, get ready to drop the sails. Those two ropes on the mast – let them go when we’re alongside.’

Hidden from view, they waited until they saw
Curlew
’s sails pass by on the other side, then Zaki eased the dinghy forward so that they could peep around the bow of the motorboat.
Curlew
turned into Frogmore Creek, dropped her sails and let go of the anchor.

‘Can I borrow your dinghy?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean, I want to go and talk to her.’ Anusha’s voice was determined.

‘But . . .’

‘Don’t worry. I can row that far.’ The determination in her voice had a nervous edge.

‘I don’t know . . .’

‘This is your grandad’s motorboat, right? So you can wait here. Look, it’s the perfect opportunity.’

She was right, and yet . . .

‘Listen! I’m going – so get out of the boat!’

Reluctantly, Zaki climbed on to
Queen of the Dart
.

Anusha slotted the rowlocks into place, drifted for a moment while she arranged her oars and then began to row towards the mouth of the creek. At first, her progress was a little erratic and her path far from straight, but she kept at it and the distance between the dinghy and
Curlew
gradually closed.

Watching from the deck of the motorboat, Zaki saw Rhiannon reach down and take hold of the dinghy as Anusha came alongside. Anusha scrambled on to
Curlew
and she and Rhiannon stood facing each other in the cockpit. Zaki did not need to hear what was being said to know that Anusha was not being made to feel welcome. Rhiannon’s arms were folded and her head tipped slightly back. It looked as if she would order Anusha off her boat at any moment. But Anusha was doing all the talking; she was gesturing with her hands – explaining, perhaps even pleading. Then Zaki saw her lean slightly towards Rhiannon and place her hand on the stiffly folded arms. They stood frozen, neither saying anything, looking into each other’s faces, until Rhiannon let her arms fall to her sides and indicated that they should sit down.

Round one to Anusha, Zaki thought.

Now they sat, their two heads close together. Anusha was still the more animated of the two, obviously asking lots of questions. At first, Rhiannon hardly looked at her and seemed to say little in reply. Then something Anusha asked made Rhiannon sit up and turn towards her. Now it was Anusha who hung her head and listened. Zaki was too far away to read the expression on Anusha’s face.

At last, they both stood up. Anusha asked one last question and Rhiannon shook her head.

They looked over towards him and he wondered if he should wave but decided against it. Rhiannon held the dinghy while Anusha stepped into it. She waited on deck until Anusha had pushed off and begun rowing back across to
Queen of the Dart
, then went below into
Curlew’s
cabin.

Soon the dinghy was alongside and Anusha climbed up beside Zaki. She brushed away the hair that the wind had blown across her face. ‘Do you want to talk here, or do you want to get back?’ Zaki could tell by her expression that the news wasn’t good.

‘Can she help us?’ he asked.

‘No,’ said Anusha simply.

‘What about Maunder? What does he want?’

‘He wants to live.’

‘And that means . . .’

Anusha hesitated, took a deep breath and said, ‘She says you can keep the bracelet. That it might help you in some way.’

Zaki could hear that Anusha was trying to offer him some hope. ‘But Maunder?’ he persisted.

‘He will try to take over your body.’

‘And if he does?’

‘And if he does, then he will try to kill her. She thinks he wants revenge for what she did to him.’

‘Can she be killed? What about the bracelet? Doesn’t that protect her in some way?’

‘The bracelets let you move from one body to another. Some part of you, like your soul, can even hide in the bracelet. That was where Maunder was when you put the bracelet on in the cave.’

‘And what about me?’ Zaki asked. ‘What happens to me if Maunder does take over my body? Do I become a sort of ghost like her sister and live with the dolphins?’

‘She doesn’t know. But that’s not going to happen, Zaki! We’re going to think of something!’

Why
, thought Zaki bitterly,
why did I have to put the bracelet on? Why didn’t I leave it alone?

Anusha waited for him to say something. When he remained silent, she said quietly, ‘There’s something else.’

‘What?’

‘She says you have to stay awake.’

‘All the time?’

‘Yes.’

‘That’s not possible.’

‘I know. But every time you go to sleep it gives Maunder a chance to draw strength from your body. He was weak when you put the bracelet on, hardly a human spirit, but he’s strong now. She says, when we sleep our spirits wander. One night Maunder may be strong enough to shut you out.’

Zaki could feel the fear taking hold of him. ‘What else did she say?’

‘She thinks Maunder will win.’

‘Over my dead body!’

‘Maybe not a good choice of phrase?’

‘Yeah, thanks. Maybe not.’

Zaki looked across the water to where
Curlew
swung at anchor. He felt the now familiar weight of the bracelet in his pocket. The bracelet had let Maunder in – could it be used to get him out?

‘I’m sorry,’ Anusha said.

‘For what?’

‘I thought she might know a way out of this.’

‘It’s not your fault,’ said Zaki but, of course, he had hoped for the same thing.

‘Come on – we’d better get back. Grandad’ll be wondering where we’ve got to.’

They climbed down into the dinghy, hoisted the sails and cast off.

‘What was she like?’ Zaki asked, after they had sailed for some time in silence.

‘A bit scary!’

‘How?’

‘She looks so young – but her eyes – it’s like she’s looking at things all the time that you can’t see.’

g

By the time they had sailed back to
Morveren
, Anusha had tacking down to a fine art.

‘Fancy crewing for me next time I’m racing?’ Zaki asked.

‘Yeah, any time!’ said Anusha with enthusiasm.

Once they had the dinghy stowed on
Morveren
’s deck, they hoisted ‘the mermaid’ and it wasn’t long before Grandad’s old launch was put-putting towards them with Jenna standing in the bows, her tail wagging.

Back ashore, Grandad sent them across the road to the cottage while he finished up in the boat shed.

‘Give the ol’ dog ’er dinner. I’ll be over directly.’

Zaki fed Jenna while Anusha had a look around.

‘Zaki! You have to look at this!’ she called from the small front room. When Zaki joined her he found she was examining the framed black and white photograph that always sat on top of Grandad’s television.

‘Who’s this?’

‘My great-grandfather. Why?’

‘Look at what’s behind him.’

The photograph had obviously been taken on the slipway behind the Luxtons’ boat shed. A stocky old gentleman in a cap and a waistcoat, his shirtsleeves rolled up to the elbows, stood with his thumbs tucked into his grubby trouser pockets. The picture was grainy and faded.

Anusha passed the photograph to Zaki.

‘Look at the boat.’

Behind Zaki’s great-grandfather was a boat that was being built or repaired. Of course Zaki had seen the picture heaps of times, but he took it across to the window to examine it in better light.

‘Do you see?’

Then, Zaki saw what Anusha had seen and it made the hair on the back of his neck creep – it was something he’d never noticed before, but then, why would he? It would never have meant anything to him before. The lettering on the boat’s bow said
Curlew
.

‘Your great-grandad built
Curlew
!’

‘No,’ corrected Zaki, ‘rebuilt. Look, don’t you see? They’re putting a cabin on her. She was an open fishing boat and they’re converting her to the way she is now.’

‘What’s so very interestin’?’ They turned to find Grandad standing in the doorway.

‘This boat . . .’ Zaki began.

‘What of it?’

‘Do you remember who the owner was?’