Mary nodded and tucked the letter in the pocket of her overall. ‘Of course. It’s what we all swear we’ll do when we join the movement.’ She tottered over to Meri and touched her hair reverently like she had never met anyone so precious before. ‘I fell in love with a full-blooded Tean once when I was about your age. Never forgot him. He was a dashing young man, quite turned my head. Would’ve married him in a trice if he’d’ve had me but he wanted a girl with more Tean in her than me. I’m only an eighth.’
‘He sounds a fool to me,’ said Kel gallantly.
Mary shot him a grin. ‘I can see why you fell for this one, Meredith Marlowe, even if he is one of them. So, what’s all this about you being chased?’
Meri quickly filled Mary in on the events of the past few days, starting with her capture at New Year.
‘They’ve put a watch on all the transport links?’ asked Mary.
‘By now, yes,’ said Kel. ‘They don’t know where we’re going but there’s a high risk they’ll know we’ve not yet left the area. The woman at the river bus might remember us if they get round to asking her.’
‘Then we need to get you away as quietly as possible. Give me a moment. I’ll get one of the younger ones to get a boat ready. You’ll need your own transport and one of my grandsons moonlights as a river taxi driver—don’t tell the taxman.’
‘His secret is safe with us,’ promised Meri.
‘And I’ll ask my son-in-law to call Big Ben. They know each other from a little smuggling operation in which they both have a share.’
Meri smiled at Kel. ‘We’ve fallen among a bunch of pirates, haven’t we?’
‘Free traders,’ corrected Mary. ‘That goes back in my family far longer than even the Tean inheritance. Wait here a moment. And young man, for heaven’s sake, sit down. I’m not going to hurt you.’ She changed slippers for ankle boots and left the cabin.
Obeying the captain’s orders, Kel sat next to Meri. ‘I was rather more concerned that she would think I’d hurt her.’
‘Don’t worry about that. Ma Magellan strikes me as pretty indestructible. How old do you reckon she is?’
‘Ninety at least. Her grandson might well be a pirate pensioner already.’
‘I’m hoping he’s more of a capable young Jack Sparrow sort.’
‘Doesn’t Jack’s boat sink in every film they make?’
Meri wrinkled her brow. ‘Not in part sixteen if I remember rightly. Theo loves those films.’ Her expression crumpled as worry returned to her.
Kel hugged her to him. ‘Don’t worry: Theo’ll be all right.’
‘I hope so. I’m trusting a lot in your people being decent at the bottom of everything.’
For a person possibly in their tenth decade, Ma Magellan proved capable of moving quickly once she had made up her mind. She returned with her son-in-law and grandson, both raised as river men used to hard work and with the muscles to prove it. The older one was already talking on a phone.
‘There they are,’ Ma Magellan said without preamble, gesturing to Meri and Kel.
‘Thanks, Ma.’ The man held out the handset. ‘Big Ben wants a word.’
Meri took the phone.
‘Lil’chick?’
‘Yes, Big Ben.’
‘Your boy got word to us that you were in trouble so we’ve had time to get an evacuation organized. You get yourself to the landing stage at north end of Tower Bridge and we’ll be waiting for you. Got a way out of England for you.’
‘Tower Bridge?’ Meri directed the question to the grandson who gave a thumbs-up. ‘Yes, we can do that.’
‘Thing is, it’s for one person only, Lil’chick. Not the Perilous.’
‘Then no deal.’
‘Francis said you’d say that, but you have to understand that Kel won’t be safe where you’re going.’
‘He’s not safe here either since he sided with me. We’re a package deal; I made that clear from the start.’
‘We’re not trying to be difficult; it’s just that there are those who won’t be convinced he’s good news.’
‘Ben? Package. Deal.’
He sighed. ‘OK, Lil’chick. I had to try. See you at the bridge.’
Meri handed the phone back to Mary’s son-in-law.
‘Everything OK?’ asked Kel.
‘Nothing we can’t handle together,’ she said firmly.
‘But he said….’
Meri put her finger to his lips. ‘It doesn’t matter. You’ve got to trust me. I’ll keep you safe from my guys just as you did for me with yours.’
16
Kel had his doubts about the boat Ma Magellan called a river taxi. Its electric motor ran smooth and quiet, cabin lit with very low lighting: a smuggling vessel if ever there was one. Still, if it made the skipper happy to call it a taxi, then who were they to argue? The features that made it good for illegal operations also meant it was perfect for a getaway vehicle.
Sonny Magellan, a dark curly-haired man of few words, sat at the controls with his eyes narrowed at the river, concentrating on avoiding the many obstacles just under the surface.
‘Tide’s turning,’ he said.
Meri hovered by his shoulder. ‘Is that good?’
‘Depends if the hunt is ahead or behind.’
Familiar landmarks of Westminster passed and they reached the heart of the city. The Thames was busy with river police patrols, water buses and private craft. Kel kept out of sight as much as possible, using a borrowed pair of binoculars to scan the shore.
‘Ah.’ Sonny took their speed down a knot or two.
‘What?’
‘Looks like the police are doing a spot search under London Bridge.’
Kel turned his binoculars ahead. Floodlights had been rigged in the centre arch and all craft were being funnelled towards the police checkpoint.
‘They sometimes check for unlicensed water buses and taxis,’ Sonny explained.
‘Like you.’
‘Yep. Like me. Though I usually get warning from a friend on the force. He gives me the heads-up to keep off the river.’
Kel focused on the nearest police boat. ‘I think I can see Swanny on board. This isn’t a coincidence. It looks like he’s got friends in the force too.’
‘Swanny? One of yours?’
‘Yes. But, believe me, he will do anything to stop her.’
Sonny gave a brisk nod. ‘Right then, I’ll take us over to the south bank. A shallow bottomed vessel like mine can get between some of those buildings right into old Southwark. I can drop you there and you can get to Tower Bridge on foot.’ Sonny pointed to the next bridge just after the one where the police were stationed. The two towers were lit up like a cathedral stretched across the waters: a tantalising glimpse of the last gateway before they escaped the city.
‘Sounds like the best option. Meri?’ asked Kel.
‘Not like we have a lot of choice. Let’s try it.’
Crouched out of sight as best she could, Meri held on to the side of the boat as it surged in a U-turn. Sonny took an inlet between high buildings and nudged the boat into the warren of flooded streets beyond.
‘Good job the tide is high. Wouldn’t be possible otherwise,’ said Kel, coming to crouch beside her. He placed the binoculars in her lap in case she wanted a look.
‘Old Stoney Street,’ said Sonny. ‘There’s a back run here used by smugglers to what used to be Borough Market.’
‘Handy.’
‘Yeah. I can cut across the inlet where London Bridge station used to be and drop you at the pontoon leading to Tower Bridge. You’ll have to make your own way from there as I can’t get under that.’
Over on their right, the skyscraping spike of the Shard jutted into the night, dark now as the occupancy in this part of flooded south London had sunk as the tidal waters rose. It looked a little like a rotten tooth thanks to the blackening of the unwashed windows. As they gazed up, a military helicopter appeared from right behind, heading for them. Searchlights danced underne
ath, crisscrossing the ground.
‘I think they’re on to us.’ Meri shuddered. ‘Someone must’ve seen us leave the river.’
Kel swallowed his dismay. Panic was no use now. ‘We’re almost there. Across the bridge and we’re with reinforcements. Meri, trust me: we can do this. Sonny?’
‘Yeah, yeah, I see it. Hold on. Gonna have to take a few chances.’ Sonny shoved the throttle forward, picking up speed. He wove around the half-submerged street furniture—lampposts and signboards advertising products long since gone out of fashion. A hundred yards behind them, two speedboats roared into the shallow lagoon that had been the railway tracks. He swore. ‘They’re coming in hot. Get ready to disembark!’
Kel clutched Meri’s hand, guiding her over to the side, putting himself between her and their pursuers. A sharp crack sounded from the rear and the motorboat’s windscreen shattered.
‘They’ve guns!’ yelped Meri. She hadn’t really understood until this moment that they were serious about killing her if they couldn’t capture her.
‘Really? Never’ve guessed,’ said Sonny. ‘Fecking Perilous. Slowing in five….four…three…two…one…Go!’
Kel jumped onto the pontoon and reached back to give Meri a hand. ‘Thanks, Sonny!’
‘Take good care of each other!’ With a wild grin, Sonny spun the boat in a circle, switched on some floodlights of his own, and drove straight at their pursuers, dazzling the pilots. One boat swerved and crashed into a signboard, turning over in a spectacular roll. Definitely reckless pirate stock, thought Kel, hoping their skipper didn’t pay a high price for helping them. Kel didn’t have time to see if there were any survivors from the wreck as the other craft was almost at the pontoon, several Perilous readying to jump the gap. He chased after Meri who hadn’t looked back. He caught up with her as she kept sprinting towards the towers. Sirens sounded behind them as police cars raced along the pontoon some way off to the south.
‘More friends…of Swanny’s?’ she panted as he drew level.
‘Let’s not stop and ask.’
The incline increased as they reached the old road surface.
‘Got a stitch.’ Meri clamped her hand to her side, but she didn’t slow.
More lights came on, spotlighting them as they fled towards the north bank. Then Kel noticed the road was sloping even more than it had before.
‘Meri, they’re lifting the bridge!’ That hadn’t been done for years. The Victorian mechanism was judged too delicate to put through the strain of lifting the road as it once had to allow tall ships to pass under.
Meri put on a burst of speed. He felt so proud of her: she was really digging deep. ‘Who’s doing it? Friend…or foe?’ she panted.
‘No idea. But if we don’t get across we’ll be stuck.’
On the far side they could see a party advancing to meet them, a big man at their head.
‘That’s Ben!’ said Meri.
‘Lil’chick, you gotta fly quickly!’ bellowed Ben. ‘We’re cutting them off!’
So it was the river people lifting the bridge! That was a good strategy, but only as long as they got the timing right. The crack in the roadway had widened to half a metre. They were almost there.
Then shots rang out behind them. Meri stumbled and fell.
‘You’re hit?’ Kel dragged her up. He could see her left calf was bleeding.
‘Bloody hell, that hurts.’ She sucked in a pained breath. ‘I think it just grazed me.’
‘Can you walk?’
‘Is there a choice?’
‘Keep going. I’ll hold them off.’ Pushing her towards Ben, Kel spun round to face the Perilous. He was relying on the fact that they didn’t want to kill him. At least, that was the hope. As long as he could stop them getting a clear shot, Meri should be able to get over.
‘Remember…’ gasped Meri, limping on. ‘I’m not leaving without you.’
She would do what she had to do, Big Ben would make sure of that, thought Kel. ‘Come and get me, you fecking cowards!’
The car from which the shot had come screeched to a halt, blocking the entry to the bridge. His father, Jenny and Ade emerged from the rear doors. Of course they had to be there for this, thought Kel grimly. Striding forward, his father raised his gun and aimed just past his son’s head.
‘Get out of the way, Kel.’
He spread his arms wide, making himself as big a target as he could. ‘If you want to shoot an unarmed girl, then you’ll have to do it through me, Dad.’
Not waiting for her brother to get clear, Jenny crouched, took aim and fired off two shots, Ade beside her took a single one, both trying to avoid him. Horror filled Kel that he might not have done enough to spoil their aim, but when he glanced over his shoulder, he saw that none had found their target. Meri had leapt the gap and disappeared into a huddle of people, shielded by Ben and his mates, leaving just the trail of blood from her earlier injury behind.
‘Going to gun down a whole group of innocent people?’ Kel asked bitterly.
‘Who are those men?’ asked Rill, lowering his weapon.
‘Friends.’
‘Of yours?’
‘What does it matter?’
The bridge was still rising, making it hard to keep his feet.
‘Kel!’ called Meri. ‘Come on! It has to be now!’
Rill holstered his gun. Even he wasn’t prepared to fire into a crowd with so little chance of hitting his intended target. The Perilous could bend the law but not totally flout it. ‘The Tean’s right. You’ve got to choose before it’s too late. Us or the people who killed your mother?’
Kel risked a look behind him. He could barely see Meri but he knew she was watching. She would be all right whatever happened, her new friends would make sure of that.
‘Don’t go, Kel. Stay with us,’ pleaded Jenny. ‘We’re your family.’
‘Kel, we can sort it out,’ said Ade. ‘Whatever you’ve done, you’re still one of us.’
Meeting his father’s eyes last of the three, Kel wanted to howl, punch something, do anything to relieve the tearing pain he felt. This was his final chance to go home with them.
But his choice was clear.
‘I’m not one of you, not anymore.’ Turning, Kel sprinted up the slope. His mind chipped in unhelpfully that it would be one pathetic failed exit if he got to the top and found the gap too wide. He’d jump anyway, he’d already decided that.
The split had reached three metres, not too far if he hadn’t to battle against an incline. Pushing hard, he leapt, arching his back to carry himself forward. Big Ben was waiting on the other side, hands outstretched.
‘Kel!’ He didn’t know if that was Jenny or Meri he could hear screaming.
His fingers missed Ben’s hand by a whisker but he just managed to catch the edge of the road surface. He banged into the underside of the bridge and would’ve lost his grip if Ben hadn’t dived and caught hold of his wrists. Using his considerable strength, Ben hauled Kel up onto the top.
Kel lay on his back, heart pounding. Rolling over he saw his father, Ade and Jenny watching from the other side, his sister pale with fear at the near miss. Seeing him safe, one by one they turned their back and walked away.
No regrets, Kel promised himself.
‘Get a move on, lad, if you’re coming. It won’t take that lot long to get to the other side if they’re determined to keep on chasing.’ Ben set Kel on his feet and helped him along until they reached Meri.
‘I could kill you for leaving it to the last moment!’ Meri broke free of the men surrounding her and launched herself at Kel, hugging him and hitting his chest at the same time.
‘That would rather defeat the object of me surviving.’ He embraced her, careful of her injury. Someone had already bound it with a white bandage so it could keep for now.
‘No time for that,’ Ben broke in, interrupting their kiss before it got started. ‘This way.’ Swinging Meri up into his arms, he led them at a jog to the northern end of the bridge and
down a flight of damp steps to a motor launch. ‘Get on board.’
‘How will you stop them catching us on the river?’ asked Kel.
‘Look over there.’ Ben pointed to the string of barges that had emerged from their mooring spot at St Katharine’s dock and now blockaded the Thames east of Tower Bridge. A sign rigged between the masts declared that they were running an impromptu winter fair. Londoners crowded on board, enjoying the live music, cheap food and drink the Tean Sympathizers were providing. ‘I can’t see anyone ramming those in full view of the public.’
Meri tucked herself close to Kel. ‘And where are we going?’
‘The captain’s brought the yacht up from Gravesend. We are going on a little sea voyage.’ Ben patted Meri’s shoulder gently. ‘Mabel was a doctor before she married Francis and joined the Sympathizers. She’ll treat your injury.’
As they travelled on downstream, a huge white yacht appeared around the next bend of the river, the kind of vessel billionaires used to party on board in Monte Carlo back at the beginning of the century. Sleek lines with solar panels and wind turbines on the topmost roof, it cut through the water coming directly towards them.
‘Wow, who does that belong to?’ asked Meri. She laced her fingers with Kel’s.
Big Ben chuckled. ‘You.’
‘What?’
‘If you’re the last full-blooded Tean. That’s part of your inheritance.’
‘You’re kidding? I can’t believe it! I’ve no idea how to sail something like that. Does it come with a crew?’
‘Of volunteers.’ Ben gestured to the men who had come with him to the bridge and were now surrounding them on the launch, watching for pursuit. ‘These are your crew.’
They looked a capable set but Kel wasn’t keen on Meri sailing off into the unknown with anyone. ‘And where exactly are we going?’
Big Ben grimaced. ‘I suppose you’ll have to know eventually. Remember that I warned you not to, won’t you, Kel? The course is set for Atlantis.’
‘Now you are joking.’ Meri backed into Kel for support. ‘Atlantis was destroyed.’
‘Says who?’
‘Well, legend for one.’