B00DW1DUQA EBOK (41 page)

Finn slumped to the ground, Diane with him. Matt had let go of the rope but neither thought about running. They were too exhausted. Matt would hand them over to the Ironclads and that would be that.

The Ironclad broke into a run, racing towards them down the hill, brandishing a metal club. He cried out in fury. ‘I should have killed you when I had chance, Matt Dobey!’

Finn looked on in amazement. He recognized the voice immediately, of course. This was no Ironclad. Was it possible? His father wasn’t as tall as he remembered, but there he was, charging down to rescue them.

Matt fumbled for a knife from inside his jacket and held it forward, but he was too slow. His father, swinging his metal club, smashed Matt’s arm to one side, sending the knife flying.

‘Please, no. I can help you,’ said Matt, cowering to the ground. ‘I have friends in Engn.’ His father swung again, connecting with the side of Matt’s head, sending him crashing to the ground where he lay, still.

His father dropped his weapon and ran across to them. He hugged Finn into his chest, nearly crushing him. ‘Oh, my boy. My beautiful boy.’

Finn squeezed his father back as hard as he could.

‘And this must be Diane,’ his father said, looking over Finn’s shoulder.

‘Yes. You know her?’

‘Mrs. Megrim told us everything.’

‘I should have told you myself. I’m sorry.’

‘It doesn’t matter now.’

‘We? So mother is here too?’

‘She is. And Badger. I’ll take you to them now. It’s not far.’

‘But how did you find us?’

‘I saw Bran’s signals and wondered if it could be you. It looks like Matt saw them too.’

‘You mean the old man’s fire? The smoke?’

‘There’s a whole language to it if you can read it. We’re just lucky it’s a still day.’

‘I thought the old man - Bran - had betrayed us.’

‘No, no. He just put the word out. It’s what people do. I knew Diane had been captured recently and I thought, I hoped, the two of you had somehow managed to escape. And here you are. It’s a miracle.’

‘Matt was going to take us back. Buy favour with the masters.’

‘I know. Don’t worry about him. He can’t harm you any more.’

‘Is he dead?’

His father knelt down to examine Matt. The ground was stained red beneath his head. His father looked up. ‘Like I say, you don’t need to worry about him any more.’

Finn nodded.

‘Come on,’ said his father. ‘Let’s get you to your mother. It’ll be safer inside the hut. And there’s a lot to talk about.’

His mother didn’t speak when Finn ducked into the low hut. But Badger leapt at him in uncontained delight, all tongue and paws and wagging tail. His mother simply clutched him to her and rocked him from side to side as if he was still a baby. He didn’t protest. When she finally let go his eyes had adjusted to the gloom. She looked pinched, sucked dry, but the smile on her face was his mother’s old smile. She stroked his cheek as she studied him. ‘Oh, Finn. Look at you.’

They sat on the ground in a circle in the quiet darkness of the hut. Badger rested her head on Finn’s legs and closed her eyes. They ate freshly baked bread. It was the most delicious thing Finn had ever tasted. How did they manage to even make it out here? It was just one more miracle.

When he had eaten his fill he sat back and looked around in contentment. For the first time in years he felt safe. Felt he could relax, sleep safely. It was a glorious feeling. But, at the same time, he knew it was an illusion. They couldn’t stay here. Sooner or later the Ironclads would find them. He was only endangering his parents. If his father and Matt had read the smoke-signals, Engn could, too.

‘We’d better not stay long,’ he said. ‘The Ironclads will find us.’

‘It’s safer here than trying to cross the plain,’ said his father.

‘I’m not going to cross the plain. The thing is, I’m going to get back inside.’

‘Finn, no,’ said his mother. ‘You can’t do that.’

‘But I have to,’ said Finn. ‘Diane too. It’s the only way. We won’t be free or safe until we destroy the machine. Destroy everything.’

‘Oh, Finn,’ said his father. ‘You must know by now that’s not possible. You’ve seen how vast it is.’

‘I think there’s a way.’

‘What way?’

‘I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know the details. But I’m sure it’s possible. A plan put in place. I’ve been talking to Mrs. Megrim. She’s told us about a tunnel back inside. A secret tunnel. A way to get in touch with Shireen and Connor.’

‘Shireen? She’s still alive?’ said his mother.

‘You didn’t know?’ Somehow he’d imagined Mrs. Megrim or the wreckers inside Engn would had kept them informed.

‘No. Tell us,’ said his mother.

‘She’s alive and well. She’s in something called the Directory.’

‘How do you know all this?’ said his father. ‘How have you been talking to Mrs. Megrim?’

Finn held out the roll of paper from the line-of-sight. ‘It’s here,’ he said. ‘It’s all here.’

No-one spoke while his parents read. Finn watched the fear and the hope fighting on his mother’s face. His father simply frowned, deep in thought.

‘Don’t you see?’ said Finn when they’d finished. ‘This is our chance. Our only chance. With Shireen’s help we can find Connor and do … whatever it is we need to do.’

His father shook his head. ‘It’s crazy, Finn. You can’t really do this.’

‘I have to try, father. You brought me up to always do the right thing. That’s what I’m doing.’

‘But you’ll just get yourself killed,’ said his mother. ‘That’s not going to help anyone, is it?’

‘Look,’ said his father. ‘Idealism is all very well. But when you get a bit older you learn you can’t change everything. You learn you have to accept some things as they are.’

‘You don’t understand,’ said Finn.

‘I understand very well,’ said his father.

‘I don’t think you do,’ said Finn. He was suddenly angry with his father. With both of them. He’d expected them to help him, support him. ‘You had your safe life back there in the valley, far away from Engn. You didn’t know what it was like to see your friends taken one by one.’

He regretted his words immediately. Of course they knew. They had lost both their children to the Ironclads. And others. He thought his father was going to be furious with him, but instead he only sighed.

‘I do understand, Finn. I really do. In fact, I tried to do something similar, myself, once.’

‘You?’

‘Yes. Long before you and Shireen. Five or six of us actually marched out of the valley and onto the plain intent on destroying the machine. We were going to smash it to pieces with our sticks before it could take any of us.’

‘You did?’

‘Oh, yes. Connor’s dad, too.’ His father smiled at the memory, a smile with no humour to it.

‘So what happened?’ asked Finn.

‘You remember I said I’d seen Engn, once? That was the time. We were idiots. We had no idea what Engn is like. We didn’t even get close. Standing in the foothills, we realised how foolish we were. The following day we turned around and went home. I don’t think Engn ever knew anything about it.’

‘If you hadn’t turned back, Shireen and I wouldn’t have been born,’ said Finn.

‘No. I know. Still, I’ve often regretted it. Regretted it every time someone gets taken. And when Shireen was taken and then you were taken I saw how much we’d failed you.’

‘Then you understand why we have to go back inside,’ said Finn. ‘Because otherwise it just goes on and on doesn’t it? Some other child. And some other parent.’

‘We don’t care about other children,’ said his mother. ‘We care about you and Shireen.’

Finn looked into her eyes and caught a clue there of what it must have been like for his parents all these years, not knowing if either of their children had survived. And facing the prospect, now, of losing them once again. The truth was he hadn’t thought much about their feelings all this time. He’d longed to see them, fantasised about them coming to rescue him, take him home. He’d never stopped to think what they must be going through.

‘I’m sorry,’ said Finn. ‘But we have to try. We’re in danger whatever we do. But if there’s a chance to destroy the machine we have to take it. And perhaps we can rescue Shireen, too.’

A look passed between his mother and father. An unspoken conversation, like in the old days.

‘Rest here for a few days, at least,’ said his mother. ‘You’re both dead on your feet. There’s no need to rush into anything.’

‘But it’s not safe,’ said Diane. ‘Like Finn says, the Ironclads will find us and then they’ll take you, too.’

‘Don’t worry about that,’ said his father. ‘We’ll hear the signal if any of them come near. And there’s a shaft not far away you can slip down.’

‘He’s right,’ said his mother. ‘You’ll be safe enough here for a little while.’

Finn looked at Diane. Another unspoken conversation. He could see she wanted to stay, also that she wanted to get away as quickly as possible. After a few moments, she acceded with the slightest nod of her head.

‘We could stay a day or two, if you think it’s safe,’ said Finn. ‘But we won’t endanger you. Any sign of the Ironclads and we’ll leave.’

His mother smiled. ‘Then it’s agreed. Make yourselves at home.’

The next three days were another golden interlude, another period Finn would remember fondly. His parents tended to their wounds, fed them, made them rest. As well as fresh bread they were brought chicken and fresh vegetables and fresh water from the wells to drink. He and Diane spent their days in the quiet of the hut, swapping details of their respective adventures, remembering their time together back in the valley. The day Finn and Connor had found Diane in the clearing and she’d threatened them with her knife. The barn she’d slept in. The way they thought no-one knew what they were up to.

Finn’s parents came and went, giving them the peace they needed. But in the evenings, after dark, they all sat together outside, eating and talking. Swapping stories. Finn loved to sit under the stars, his back to Engn, gazing into the far distances.

‘What are they saying about us?’ he asked his father on the second evening. ‘Everyone out here.’

‘They’re all talking about you,’ said his father. ‘Two people escaping Engn. It’s unheard of. You’ve given them all hope, I think. Made them believe they might see their own loved-ones again.’

‘But where do the Ironclads think we are?’

‘Some say you had horses ready and galloped across the plain for the mountains. The Ironclads have been seen fanning out in all directions. Others think you’re here somewhere, hiding.’

‘Does anyone know you’re connected to us?’

‘No, no. People are good at keeping secrets here.’

‘But if they’re searching they’ll find us eventually,’ said Diane. ‘Perhaps we should disguise ourselves. Change our appearance.’

‘Wouldn’t do any good,’ said Finn. ‘They have all our thumbprints on record. They can identify you from that. It happened to me once.’

‘There are thousands and thousands of people out here, scattered for miles around,’ said his mother. ‘They can’t search us all immediately.’

Finn nodded and went back to watching the sparks from the fires dancing up into the air to join the stars.

They heard the distant whistle late the following day, a long, falling note. Badger awoke immediately, her ears pricked. Finn looked at Diane, wondering what it meant. Then his father and mother came in. The alarm on their faces was clear.

‘Ironclads coming this way,’ said his father.

‘We should go,’ said Diane. She looked at Finn. Finn nodded.

‘You’re going to do this?’ said his mother. ‘Try and get back inside?’

‘We are.’

‘Perhaps the wreckers will be able to help you. Look out for you.’

Finn shook his head. ‘We can’t rely on them. Some of them helped me but their leader betrayed me to the masters.’

‘Their leader?’ said his father.

‘They call her Lud,’ said Finn. ‘Although her real name is Maeve as far as I know. In any case, we can’t trust her.’

His mother sighed. ‘Then just … just promise us you’ll be careful.’

‘We will.’

‘I’ll come with you now, as far as I can,’ said his father.

‘The thing is,’ said Diane. ‘We don’t know where this tunnel is. Mrs. Megrim didn’t know.’

‘No,’ said his father. ‘But Bran will know. He remembers all the old song-maps. They’ve been passed down for generations because it’s too dangerous to write things down. If anyone knows where it is, he will.’

‘Will he help us?’

His father considered. ‘He might. We can ask.’

They packed in haste. His father peered out of the hut first, then looked back inside. ‘The smoke says they’re still some way away to the south. Half a mile or so. If we hurry they won’t see us.’

Finn hugged his mother again. She clutched him tight but said nothing. Finn smiled at her, stroked Badger and stepped outside. Diane followed. A late-afternoon glow filled the air, making everything blaze with a vivid light, beautiful to see. A slight breeze picked up. Finn watched it ruffling the great expanse of grass, like waves blown on the waters of a pond. It also scattered the lines of smoke rising up into the sky, scrambling their messages irrevocably. As he stepped forward, Finn had the clear sensation of picking up old burdens, of old weights on his shoulders.

‘Follow me,’ said his father. ‘We’ll keep to the dips. We’ll need to move quickly and silently.’

They reached Bran’s little scattering of huts without seeing anyone. His father stood by the fire in clear view and gave a whistle, a rising note, unlike the warning about the Ironclads. After a moment, Bran came out to meet them. He looked warily all around as he approached, but looked pleased enough to see them.

‘I’m sorry I didn’t help you,’ he said to Finn and Diane. ‘Twenty years ago I’d have taken him on. The man who caught you. But now … there was nothing I could do to stop him.’

‘You did plenty,’ Finn’s father replied. ‘Without your signals I’d never have found my son again.’

‘And now you’re spiriting him away somewhere? Getting him safely out of the way, him and his pretty friend?’