The Case of the Stolen Film (14 page)

‘Three,' said Dirk.

‘What's your name?'

‘Dirk Dilly.'

‘What's your favourite food?'

‘Baked beans,' replied Dirk.

‘Yep, he's OK,' she said, moving back.

‘Where am I?' asked Dirk.

‘A human would call it hell,' said a male Shade-Hugger, stepping into view, lowering his brown head to get a closer look at him. ‘We dragons are more clinical in our descriptions. Welcome to the Inner Core, friend.' There was something familiar about his face – something in the eyes.

Dirk took in his surroundings. The solid surface he stood on was translucent like frosted glass and full of huge holes. Below, the Outer Core bubbled and hissed angrily. Above and all around were more interlinking chambers, creating a matrix of interconnected caves that resembled a giant beehive.

‘Here, have some water,' said the Shade-Hugger, offering Dirk a black metal flask. Dirk noticed that both his and the Sea Dragon's skin were covered in severe burn marks.

He took the flask and unscrewed the top but as soon as air hit the water it turned to steam.

The Shade-Hugger and Sea Dragon laughed.

‘Sorry, I should have warned you,' said the Shade-Hugger. ‘We're all out of ice down here.'

‘The trick is to knock it back quickly,' said the Sea Dragon, handing him another.

This time Dirk managed to feel a couple of droplets on his tongue before it vaporised.

‘Who are you?' he said.

‘This is Almaz Bartosz,' said the Shade-Hugger, introducing the Sea Dragon. ‘My name is Elsinor Cuddlums.'

‘You're Karny's brother,' said Dirk.

‘You know Karnataka?' said Elsinor.

‘Yeah, he's an old friend. He's mentioned you. You were the one who attacked a Romanian village,' said Dirk.

‘That's what I was convicted of, certainly,' he said, with a bitter laugh. ‘I've never even been to Romania. There are many guilty dragons down here but we who are innocent stick together.'

‘What's your story?' Dirk asked Almaz.

‘Another Sea Dragon called Salt Sheasby accused me of being a Kinghorn,' she replied, ‘just so she could steal my seaweed farm. If I ever see her again, I'll tear her apart.'

‘And what about you, Mountain Dragon?' said Elsinor. ‘Are you guilty of your crime?'

HE HAS NOT BEEN BANISHED. HE CAME HERE OF HIS OWN FREE WILL.

Dirk felt the words in his head. He turned round. At
first all he could make out were two yellow circles, even brighter than everything else. Then the circles vanished and reappeared in what Dirk realised was a blink. The two enormous eyes were set into a dragon's face, bigger than any he had ever seen. He didn't need to ask her name. He recognised the voice. It hadn't changed in the thousand years since the last time he had heard it at the conference in the Himalayas.

‘Minertia,' he said, bowing his head. It was her voice he had heard in the liquid fire.

‘Minertia found you in the Outer Core,' said Elsinor. ‘She told us where you were and we hauled you in.'

YOU COME SEEKING THE TURNING STONE.
Minertia spoke in Dirk's head but he could tell the others could hear too.

‘I want to hide it. Others are seeking it,' said Dirk.

IT WILL NOT BE FOUND.

Minertia's words felt reassuring. Dirk knew with certainty that she was right. Wherever it was, the Turning Stone was out of Vainclaw's reach.

As he thought this, the ground shook. Dense black smoke poured from Minertia's nostrils.

VAINCLAW GRANDIN … CROWLEY'S SON. IT WAS HE WHO HAD ME SENT HERE.

Dirk looked into the ancient dragon's enormous eyes.

‘Why don't you come back with me?' he said. He turned to the others. ‘All of you. The Firedrake is expecting a dip in the temperature when I return. You'll be able to get out of this place. Elsinor, your brother is captain of Dragnet. He has the power to give you all reprieves. After all you said yourself, you're all innocent.'

‘Karnataka? Captain?' said Elsinor.

‘You mean we could be free once more?' said Almaz.

WHAT OF ME? I AM GUILTY OF MY CRIME
, said Minertia.
I BREACHED THE FORBIDDEN DIVIDE. I BROKE THE LAW THAT I CREATED.

‘But you never attacked humans, did you?' said Dirk.

NO, IN THE COUNCIL'S EYES IT WAS WORSE. I TRIED TO MAKE PEACE WITH HUMANS, BUT IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT I WAS RIGHTLY CONVICTED.

‘We won't go without Minertia,' said Elsinor.

‘That's right,' said Almaz.

‘You won't get a chance like this again,' said Dirk.

I AM OLD. MY TIME IN THIS WORLD IS
NEARING AN END. I WOULD BARELY SURVIVE THE SWIM, BUT YOU, ELSINOR AND ALMAZ, ARE YOUNG. YOU SHOULD GO WITH THE MOUNTAIN DRAGON AND GET OUT.

‘We won't leave you,' said Almaz.

‘We will remain loyal to the end,' said Elsinor.

Minertia turned her eyes to look at the two dragons stubbornly standing in front of her, their skin blackened, blistered and sore from life in the Inner Core.

ELSINOR, ALMAZ, I AM MOVED BY YOUR LOYALTY BUT I CANNOT ALLOW YOU TO PASS UP AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS.

‘We will not abandon you,' said Elsinor.

THEN WE SHALL GO TOGETHER.

Suddenly Dirk felt the ground beneath him shake. Minertia was stamping her feet; the translucent ground was cracking, crumbling into the liquid fire.

‘What are you doing?' said Almaz.

WE HAVE LIVED LIKE THIS TOO LONG. LET US GO TOGETHER.

Dirk saw Almaz, Elsinor and Minertia slip into the liquid fire at the same time that he lost his footing and plunged head first into the boiling liquid. Once again, the intense pain almost knocked him out but he
managed to stay conscious. He tried to propel himself forward, but it was impossible to tell whether he was making any progress. Once again he felt that he would die in the infernal lake. Then Minertia's voice floated into his head, her words cooling his overheated brain.

THIS, MY LAST SECRET, I GIVE TO YOU AND YOU ALONE, DIRK DILLY. AT THE CONFERENCE IN THE HIMALAYAS TO DECIDE MANKIND'S FATE, WHEN I COUNTED THE VOTES THERE WERE MORE DRAGONS IN THE AIR THAN ON THE GROUND. BY RIGHTS, WE SHOULD HAVE GONE TO WAR. I LIED TO PREVENT THAT.

Why are you telling
me
this?
Dirk thought.

BECAUSE SOMEONE NEEDS TO KNOW HOW DELICATELY BALANCED ARE THE SCALES BETWEEN WAR AND PEACE. SOMEONE WHO CARES.

The words vanished and the burning pain returned. Dirk felt a surge of energy. He swam harder and faster.

Eventually he felt his head break the surface of the fiery lake. He flapped his wings and shot from the Outer Core, flying over the lava lake to the shore. The thin material on his wings was scorched and painful. He collapsed on to his back, panting.

Almaz and Elsinor were already there, pacing back and forth.

‘Where is she? Where's Minertia?' demanded Elsinor.

‘I don't know,' replied Dirk. ‘But you should get going. If anyone finds that you've escaped, they'll take you back.'

‘We'll wait for Minertia,' said Elsinor.

‘She'll be out in a minute,' said Almaz, watching the surface nervously.

Dirk didn't say what he felt – that there was no point waiting, that Minertia had told him her final secret because she knew all along she would die in the Outer Core.

Holly and Archie were having a great holiday. Yesterday they had walked down the star-paved street full of people dressed up as famous movie characters, and today Dad and Big Hair had driven them to the beach. Occasionally Holly would look at Archie and notice sadness in his eyes and she would remember about his mum, then Archie would make a joke or do something silly to make her laugh and they would get back to enjoying themselves. Real life could wait. This was too much fun.

When they got home, they got out of the car to see Miss Gilfeather walking briskly up the drive.

‘I am sorry to bother you, Mr and Mrs Bigsby.'

‘Not at all,' said Holly's dad. ‘Miss … er …'

‘Gilfeather,' said Holly.

‘Please, call me Vivian,' she said. ‘I wonder whether I could borrow Holly and Archie for a short while.'

Mr Bigsby said that would be fine and, as Miss Gilfeather led them down the drive, through the gates next door to Petal's house, Holly asked, ‘What do you need us for?'

Miss Gilfeather stopped and spoke very quietly. ‘It's Petal. She's terribly upset. Do you know, I actually feel sorry for her. Nothing I say helps. Her mother is incommunicado and none of her other friends are answering the phone. So I thought maybe you could talk to her.'

‘But she hates us,' said Holly.

Miss Gilfeather looked at Holly then at Archie and smiled. ‘Oh, I don't think so. In fact, in her own little obnoxious way, I think she's rather fond of you. But that isn't the point. The point is she is upset, and I am asking you to make her feel better.'

She took them inside and showed them into the lounge, where Petal was sitting on a sofa that was the shape of a pair of lips. Her face was blotchy and red from crying. In front of her was a TV screen, paused on a smiley-faced TV presenter with the words
Hollywood Gossip
behind her.

Holly and Archie looked at each other then back at Petal.

‘Hi, Petal,' said Archie.

‘Leave me alone. This is a disaster,' she replied, waving a hand dismissively. ‘It's not fair. It's not even true. They shouldn't be allowed to tell lies like that. Chase is coming over in a minute. He'll put things right.'

‘Put what right? What's wrong?' asked Holly.

Petal pressed the play button on the remote control.

‘… And now the latest gossip from Tinseltown, Hollywood,' said the presenter. ‘Rumour has it that
Petal – The Movie
, the film version of Petal Moses' autobiography, is set to be a total flop.'

Behind her, an unflattering photo of Petal appeared. She was mid-blink and chewing gum. Seeing it, Petal howled in misery.

‘Our spies on set say that Miss Moses is following in her mother's footsteps.' The presenter paused then added, ‘She's an awful actress too. Hollywood legend Chase Lampton must be worried about the impact the film will have on his flagging career, not to mention that of his son, Dante. Mr Lampton refused to speak to our reporter.'

The picture of Petal was replaced by images of Chase quickly getting into the back of a car, being driven away.

‘His silence speaks volumes,' continued the presenter. ‘And, in spite of her executive producer status, Petal's oh-so-famous mother has been strangely distant from the project. Suspiciously, as her daughter's movie looks to become the biggest turkey this side of Christmas, her mum is off recording a new album. A case of
Don't blame me
, perhaps.'

Petal hit the pause button and the picture froze on the presenter's plastic smile.

‘Wow!' said Archie.

Holly tried to think of something better to say. She wasn't exactly a fan of Petal but, seeing her so upset, she felt sorry for her.

‘It's simply terrible,' said Petal.

‘But these are just rumours,' said Holly. ‘No one's even seen the film yet.'

‘That's very true,' said Chase Lampton, staggering into the room, closely followed by Miss Gilfeather.

‘Mr Lampton, I must insist you leave,' she said.

The director smelt strongly of alcohol.

‘Now, Vivian,' he replied, ‘I do wish you'd chase me call … no, that's not right. Call me Chase. That's it.'

‘I'll do no such thing. Now come along, you are in no fit state.'

‘I tell you what's in no fit state,' said Chase, flopping on to the sofa next to Petal. ‘
Petal – The Movie
. It's a piece of junk. One more flop, the studio said. This was my last chance and what have I done? I've taken a kids' film and made a disaster movie …' Chase fell back, laughing at his joke. Petal burst into tears.

Holly and Archie glanced at each other.

‘Now, Mr Lampton,' Miss Gilfeather squawked, ‘are you telling this twelve-year-old girl that the film she has spent all summer making is no good? Are you saying that after one bad report on some silly gossip show you're giving up on it? Is that what you're saying?'

Chase Lampton stopped laughing. He sat up straight. Her words seemed to have sobered him up. He looked at the floor and mumbled, ‘No, Miss Gilfeather.'

‘I'm sorry?' she said.

‘It'll be fine.' Chase turned to Petal, who had stopped crying. ‘It's just Hollywood rumours, Petal. It's going to be a great movie.'

‘Really?' said Petal.

Chase stood up, avoiding eye contact with Petal. ‘Yeah, of course. We'll put a great soundtrack on it, lots
of quick cuts. It'll be great. And hey, it's the wrap party tomorrow night. I'll get Theo to invite everyone who's anyone. By the next morning everyone will be saying what a great movie it's going to be. People are easily distracted in Hollywood. You two must come,' he said, pointing at Archie and Holly. ‘And, of course, you, Vivian. You'll save a dance for me, won't you?'