The Beasts of Upton Puddle (29 page)

Joe paused to give Mrs. Merrynether a moment to compose herself. “Do you think Redwar wants your
animals? He's got his own vault with his own creatures in it, you know. That's where the Beast of Upton Puddle came from. It escaped, and we used its tunnels to get out too.”

“I already know about Redwar's terrible prison.”

“You do?”

“Yes.” Mrs. Merrynether nodded toward a body encased in cloth close to the door. “The Beast of Upton Puddle wasn't the only creature to escape Red-war's prison. Thumbler escaped too.”

“Oh!” Joe looked at the floor. “I'm sorry.”

She nodded. To Joe, it seemed all the strength she had recovered was fading fast, her skin turning almost grey. Yet he could still see determination in her eyes, as though she had to set aside her troubles to deal with something that was too important to ignore.

“So what is it that Redwar wants?”

“He wants to know the location of Pyronesia. All this time he's been trying to get his hands on this mansion just to find the island's location. He's come close by discovering some of the smaller islands, which is why he has some exotic species, like the Beast, but he's never been able to find the main island.”

“So why didn't Heinrich tell him where it is?”

“Heinrich doesn't know its location any more than I do.”

“But you were the ones who found it, weren't you?”

“Yes, but once we left, the location was blinded from us. They cannot afford for the world to know of
their existence.”

“So the island must still be safe, then.”

Mrs. Merrynether sighed heavily. “That's the news I was about to tell you all before Heinrich . . . ran away. Thumbler escaped from Redwar Industries to pass on some information he overheard. Somehow, Argoyle Redwar has discovered Pyronesia's location and is making preparations to go there as soon as possible.”

“What's he going to do when he gets there?”

“I have no idea, but he is power hungry, greedy, and from what I heard from Thumbler, he has a terrible hatred for anything that isn't human. Considering what he and his people will encounter on that island, this can only end badly. We have to stop him or find a way to get there first.”

“So what
will
Redwar encounter if he gets there?”

“That's what I wanted to talk to you about in the burrow, but now that we are back and safe, it can wait until tomorrow . . . Thank you for finding me tonight,” she said, grasping his hand. “I owe you my life.”

“It was Flarp that found you. We would have found you earlier if I'd paid attention to him sooner.”

“But you came looking. That's what matters to me. At least someone is still loyal to me.” She grimaced as she moved her wounded leg. The blood had already soaked through Heinrich's bandage.

“We have to get you to a hospital,” said Joe.

“Oh, don't worry about me. I know things about
medicine most doctors would sell their own mothers to find out. But you don't look so good yourself, young man. Perhaps it's you that needs the hospital.”

“I'm all right,” Joe lied. “Are you sure I can't call an ambulance for you?”

“No, no, I'm out of danger now that I've had my elixir and something to eat. We should both get some rest. What time is it? I've lost all track.”

Joe looked at his watch. “It's quarter to twelve.” He shook his head. “I have to get home. I've pushed my luck way over the edge this time. Mum is going to ground me for sure.”

“Make sure you show that bump on your head to your mother. It's the size of a golf ball, and you might have a concussion.”

“I'll be fine,” Joe insisted with a smile, but it wasn't a happy gesture. “Do you think Heinrich will be back soon?”

“He'll come back,” she said solemnly. “He has nowhere else to go.”

“But you can't trust him.”

Joe regretted stating the obvious when he saw how his statement had cut into her. It took her several long moments to form a reply, which sounded far from confident. “Heinrich and I go back a long way. We'll work this out somehow.”

Danariel drifted from the far end of the vault to hover over Mrs. Merrynether's shoulder, one hand touching the old woman's cheek.

“So much to do.” Mrs. Merrynether sighed.

“You must rest, Veronica. Is there anything I can do to help you?”

Mrs. Merrynether looked doubtful, but she nodded. “I need you to do one thing for me. It won't be easy.”

“Anything.”

“Find Lilly. If we can't find a way to keep Redwar here in Upton Puddle, we're going to need Lilly's help. In fact, we're
all
going to have to pull together before the next few days are over.”

Argoyle Redwar slammed his phone down. “Gumble will be here in twenty minutes to sort out that debacle in the restricted area.”

He leaned on the desk and massaged his forehead. Even with the lights set to low in his office, they were still bright enough to aggravate his headache.

“What 'bout police?” muttered Ms. Burrowdown.

“What? Oh. We'll just have to keep him away from them when he gets here. I don't want that idiot blabbing if he gets scared. God knows we've paid him enough money to keep him quiet, but people say stupid things when the pressure's on . . . Damn them! Who called the police anyway?”

“Mr. Bacon. Out walking his dog. Heard gunshots.”

“And they're still talking to security?”

“Think so.”

“I don't like this at all. If they start sniffing
around—”

“Shouldn't worry. They aren't s'picious. They don't know anything.”

“Maybe not, but that boy does. Have those bungling idiots found out who he is yet? I want to know everything about him.”

“Name's Joseph Copper. Goes to school at Clarkdale. Lives in the village with his mother. No brothers or sisters but has an aunt, Rose Ashworth.”

Redwar leaned back in his chair and wrestled his fat arms behind his head. He gave Ms. Burrowdown a sideward glance, watching her as she turned over the page of her notepad and scratched her forehead with her pen.

“It must be the same boy we saw at Merrynether's place. That's why he had one of those blasted fairies with him.”

“And the eyeball.”

“What? Oh, yes, that thing as well. Damn them all, I wasn't expecting Merrynether to do something as drastic as this. That ugly little troll must have convinced her to mount a rescue operation. But why use the boy?”

“Expendable.”

“Perhaps. It's certainly her style.” Redwar paused in thought. “But, no, I think there's something else going on. Perhaps she hasn't taken our bait.”

“Need to wait.”

“Wait? How long has it been since that troll escaped?
More than a week, I'm sure.”

“Only arrived at the mansion a few hours ago.”

“Really? What's it been
doing
all this time?”

“Doesn't matter.” Ms. Burrowdown shrugged. “It's there now. Not moving 'bout much, though.”

“Are you sure the bug is still attached?”

“Don't know. That's why we should wait.”

“All right. We'll give it another day or two before we try something else.”

Burrowdown scribbled something on her pad. “What about Copper?”

Redwar stroked his chin as if he had an imaginary beard. “The boy? Hmmm. Well, I'm hoping nobody will believe him if he says anything; nevertheless, I don't want to take any unnecessary risks.” His lips spread into a callous smile. “I'll have someone . . . invite him to see me.”

Burrowdown leered in approval, then turned back to her notepad.

Much had happened in the last few hours on Joe's street. Usually at a quarter past twelve his neighbors would be tucked up in bed fast asleep, but not tonight. Small groups stood in the road busily discussing, pointing, and looking generally angry. A police car and several service vans were parked a few doors up from his house, and a huddle of workmen had gathered around
a section of road that looked like it had been flooded.

“Joe!” came the voice of his mum. She marched toward him, slightly hunched with her arms folded close to her body to hold back the chill of night. “Where have you been? I've been worried sick.”

“What's been going on?” asked Joe, looking around the road for clues. Then he saw the answer.

One of the men in overalls moved aside. He held a bent manhole cover, and a flood spilled across the road.

“Never mind that,” she said, grabbing her son to steer him toward the house. “Why didn't you tell me where you were? I called the Duggans, and they said you left hours ago. I couldn't even call you because your mobile phone is broken. Where have you
been
all this time?”

She stopped just outside the door and held him at arm's length. “You look terrible. Are you hurt?”

“I'm okay, Mum. What happened to the road?”

“There's blood on you!” She pulled Joe into the house. “Get inside in the warmth. I want to have a proper look at you and make sure you're all right before I go.”

“Go? Where are you going?”

“Is that our missing pumpkin, Jane?” a familiar high-pitched voice called from the kitchen.

“Yes, he's back, Rose. Could you get the first aid kit? I think he's hurt.” She took him to the kitchen and sat him in a chair. “What happened to you, Joe?”

“Oh my!” Aunt Rose said as she heaved herself from her chair. She puckered her lips and examined Joe as if
he'd accidentally pulled the pin out of a hand grenade and swallowed it. “Oh my! Oh my! Look at you. Just look at you. That's a terrible large bump, that is.” She planted a soggy kiss on Joe's forehead, wrung her hands, then bustled up the stairs.

Joe's mum ran some warm water into a bowl. “Are you going to tell me what happened, or is this going to be a one-way conversation?” she said with her back still turned.

Joe bit his lip. What could he tell her? She wouldn't believe most of it.

“I left Kurt Duggan's house at about seven, I think.”

“Go on,” she said, turning around with a damp cloth in her hand. “Did you go into Ringwood Forest?” She glanced at him.

“Umm . . . yeah. I . . . got attacked.”

His mum dabbed at his face, and Joe felt the sting of something salty in the cloth. “I can see that.”

“Attacked?” Aunt Rose almost fell down the stairs on the way down. “We should call the police at once, Jane. At once!”

“Let's hold on a minute first.” Joe's mum held out a hand to receive the first aid kit. “Who attacked you, Joe?”

Joe flinched when she pressed the bump on his head. “I fell into one of those burrows, and the Beast came after me.”

“Oh, goodness,” said Aunt Rose, finding her way back to her chair and fanning herself with a newspaper. “They
said it was the Beast that damaged the sewers, you know. It's probably made tunnels all the way under the street. Oh! It could pop up in the garden any minute! Do you have a shotgun, Jane?”

“How did you get away?” Joe's mum asked.

“I got rescued by a friend of Mrs. Merrynether's. Heinrich Krieger.”

“Off with your shirt . . . And how did he know you were there?”

Joe removed his shirt, feeling a sharp pain across his chest as he lifted his arms. A large blue-red bruise had spread across his shoulder. “I called for help, and he came,” said Joe, wincing as his mum touched his skin.

Alarm flashed in her eyes. She gave him a look Joe recognized very well: she knew he wasn't telling her everything. “You must have been quite close to Mrs. Merrynether's place, then . . . Does it hurt here when I press it?”

“A little bit,” Joe said. “Did you say you were going somewhere? Is it Nan?”

“Yes, it's Nan. She's had another fall. That's why Aunt Rose is going to look after you while I'm away. I should have left four hours ago. Rose, would you run Joe a bath please?”