Worlds Explode. Shane Hegarty
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Название: Worlds Explode
Автор: Shane Hegarty
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Детская проза
isbn: 9780007545759
isbn:
Holding the torch under his armpit, he inspected the dust on his hands before giving them a clap in an effort to be rid of it. He didn’t appear satisfied so took out a small bottle of hand soap, squidged it on his palms, gave them a clean and then grabbed his torch again to point it towards the way out.
“We have to see what the crystals do,” insisted Finn.
“Don’t worry, we’ll run tests just to be conclusive,” said Estravon. “Although, when I say we will run tests, I obviously don’t mean you. Now it’s time to go. Your co-operation would be appreciated. For the report and all of that.”
Sulking, angry, Finn started for the exit, with Emmie and the Assessor following. They emerged into the daylight at the base of the cliff, where Yappy sniffed busily at the stones littering the entrance. Narrowing their eyes to the brightness, they made their way unsteadily across the stones, where crashing waves splashed at them, until they rounded the small rocky headland. There, Emmie walked closely alongside the Assessor.
“You know I came here to Darkmouth with my dad,” she said. “We spied on Finn’s family.”
“Yes. I appreciate that,” said Estravon. “Now we do need to get a move on.”
“I haven’t stopped spying, you know,” Emmie continued. “Actually, there are a couple of things I could tell you about what’s happening here that you really should know.”
“Watch your step,” he said, holding her elbow. “Seaweed.”
“Number one,” she said, pulling her arm away. “That dog that was sniffing about at the cave? Its owner was in contact with the Infested Side. Definitely. And she’s been missing ever since. That has to be important.”
Somewhere behind them, Yappy yapped.
“I’m not sure that’s very likely,” said Estravon.
“Number two,” Emmie said, walking on. “Has it occurred to you to ask us how we even found that cave in the first place? Surely that’s quite important for your assessment.”
Back towards the cave, out of sight, the dog was yapping incessantly. “I had fully planned to investigate that particular …” The Assessor stopped and looked around, distracted.
The dog kept barking.
“Where’s the boy gone?” he asked.
“Oh yeah,” said Emmie. “Maybe there’s a third thing I should have mentioned. It’s about the crystals.”
A smile crept across her face as she held a palm up to display the red, dusty residue clinging to it. But she wasn’t holding a crystal. “There might have been three of them,” she said.
Estravon ran back towards the cave.
“Shush, Yappy,” Finn begged the dog as he clambered over the mound at the cave entrance.
Yap, replied Yappy. Yap. Yap. Yapyapyap.
Pushing towards the darkness, Finn wished he hadn’t given his torch to Emmie. As any natural light became choked off, he had to trust his hands, the feel of the walls as they narrowed either side. His head scraped the roof of the cave, causing him to wince in pain.
In his pocket was the crystal that Emmie had shoved into his hand as they were leaving the cave. She had distracted Estravon while rounding the headland, and Finn had dashed back, the waves drowning out the clatter of the armour in his bag, but not the drumbeat of his heart in his ears.
Finn knew he would need to make this count. It was his only chance. He was going to try and open a gateway with the crystal. At least they would know there and then if it would work.
He felt the cave wall open up in front of him, sensed the sound suddenly released to bounce round the high roof of the chamber. He gripped the crystal tight, making sure he didn’t drop it in the near-total darkness.
As his eyes tried to adjust a little, Finn recalled what he had seen when Mr Glad had opened a gateway, the day his father disappeared. He remembered how Mr Glad had searched for a snag in the air on which to attach the crystal. Broonie had done the same thing, reaching up and scraping down an invisible divide until he found one and opened a way into the Infested Side.
From outside the cave, he heard Yappy yapping and Estravon shouting.
Hurriedly, Finn pushed the crystal into his palm. It felt sleeker than the dust coating suggested it would, a little greasy compared to the clear crystals he’d held before. Yet his grip felt more secure, and the crystal stayed in his hand so that he could relax it a little, hold it out flat and run his other hand down the empty air in search of something in nothing.
The scramble of feet coming through the cave grew louder; the intrusion of torchlight began to dance in the chamber.
Finn searched for a snag. No luck. He tried again. It still wouldn’t take.
Light flared fully into the room.
“This will all go in my report—” shouted Estravon.
“Wait!” Finn shouted. “I’ve got it.”
He had caught the crystal on something. Slowly, he spread his fingers and opened his palm to let the crystal go, while keeping the other hand cupped underneath, ready to catch it should it fall. But it didn’t budge from its invisible hook.
Under the white light of two torches, Finn could see the edges of the crystal become agitated, the smokiness accelerating inside. Where his skin met the crystal, it felt almost ticklish, as if it was writhing into position.
Briefly, he laughed at the impossibility of that while turning his head to Emmie, whose eyes were wide with encouragement. Estravon stepped between them, sporting a look of deep unhappiness. “That is not good,” the Assessor said. “That is not good at all.”
The tickle turned into a crackle on Finn’s palm. He moved his hand to separate it from the crystal, but it didn’t come away. His skin felt glued to the air.
Finn stopped laughing. “Erm, Emmie …” he said.
She stepped towards him, halting as the crystal sparked a little.
Finn felt heat flow through his right hand. With his left, he pulled at the stuck wrist, but couldn’t release it.
“What’s going on, Finn?” enquired Emmie, torch lighting up his panic.
The red crystal crackled, fizzed in his palm, like a trapped firework ready to explode.
“Put СКАЧАТЬ