‘I’ll volunteer to stay behind!’ Bob piped up. ‘I have no desire to sneak beyond the Veil. I don’t want to die yet, I still have the new season ofDoctor Whoto watch.’
‘Sorry. You don’t get a choice.’
He gazed at me dolefully. It was a long time since he’d pretended that asking for wishes wouldn’t have disastrous side-effects. I wasn’t sure there would be much choice, however. I sighed heavily. Risk versus reward.
Heavy footsteps sounded along the deck, heading in our direction. I checked inside my bag one last time then closed it and swung it over my shoulder. I glanced at the three of them and they all nodded.
Byron turned his gaze towards the lifeboat hanging in readiness on the side of the ferry. Using Telekinesis, he lowered it silently down to the sea. Fergus let out a low whistle of approval. I scowled at him for making a noise then vaulted over the side and down into the boat. I didn’t want to hide from the trolls but if they knew what I was up to, I’d end up with an army at my back. Reassuring as that might sound, it would only cause more problems than it would solve.
Byron released the lifeboat from the last of its moorings. The ferry chugged past us, its vast hull like some steel monster gliding through the night. That was it; we were on our own. I started the tiny starboard engine. We were fairly close to the coastline so it wouldn’t take too long to reach land.
Fergus held up his hand. ‘Wait.’
I glanced at him, askance, then I heard a soft splash. What the hell? May’s unmistakable clawed hand curved round the lifeboat’s edge and she hauled herself in. ‘What?’ I hissed. ‘No! May, get back!’
‘I think it’s too late,’ Fergus said drily. The ferry was already some distance away from us.
I glared at him. ‘It’s too dangerous.’
‘She’s the one person who can really help us. You know that.’
‘We’re putting her life at risk!’
‘All our lives are at risk. She knows that and she wants to come.’
‘You told her what we were doing.’
He gazed at me implacably. ‘No secrets.’
A smile tugged at the corner of Byron’s mouth. ‘Can’t argue with that.’
May gave me a cautious smile. ‘In … tegrity?’ she asked, trying out the word.
I sighed. Crapadoodle. ‘Fine. Let’s go.’
Bob’s bottom lip jutted out. ‘Avast, me hearties,’ he mumbled.
‘Everything will be fine,’ I told him. I injected as much confidence as I could into my voice. Sooner or later I was bound to start believing my own hype.
Bob crossed his arms and huffed. ‘Remind me of that when Fomori demons are chewing on your heart.’
***
We made land shortly before dawn, pulling the small lifeboat onto a chilly, deserted beach before clambering over the dunes and jogging towards the Veil. I wasn’t certain about our location but, when I saw the dark, lightning-filled wall of cloud looming ahead of us, I knew that my calculations had brought us close. From the expressions on my companions’ faces, however, our proximity wasn’t a cause for celebration. Each of them had good reason to be nervous.
‘I never thought I’d say this, Uh Integrity,’ Bob quavered, ‘but I’d quite like a joke right about now.’ He wrapped his arms around himself and shivered. ‘It’s not that I’m scared for me, you understand. It’s you lot who will suffer. You need your minds taken off the horror that’s about to come.’
May might not have understood Bob’s words but she understood his tone of voice. She gave him a huge grin and stuck her thumbs up. He tutted.
‘We should hold hands,’ I said decisively.
Fergus raised his eyebrows. ‘Are you looking to get close to me? Because I think I’m kind of spoken for.’
‘Ha! No, but when I crossed with Angus he almost got lost in the Veil. It’s safer if we hang on to each other.’
Byron’s jaw tightened. ‘I need to know. Are…?’
‘No.’ I touched his shoulder. ‘We’re just friends. I promise.’
