Danny Canterbury and the Jacobean Chronicle: Seaoulanguishe (Teen Edition)

By Dominic Jericho

This is an experimental novel written in free prose, neologisms, idiosyncrasies, puns, rhyme, poetry, stream of consciousness and pop rhythms.

When bookworm Eva Acacia wins a place at Oxford University she discovers friendship and romance. But when she travels round Europe she discovers shades of darkness in her new boyfriend Ufai Velia, that threaten to overwhelm her conscience and define not only her destiny but that of her unborn child, Danny Canterbury.

Mixing first and third person narratives from Eva's, Ufai's and Danny's stories, and deploying a range of linguistic techniques that at times both obscure and elucidate the psychological and literary allusions at play, the reader is constantly asked whose story is this and who is the writer? On this sea of language rides an anguishing of the soul which, if the reader is careful and attentive, can enlighten the dark secret and deep mystery at the thunderous heart of Danny's hidden quest. Is it a burning quest for revenge that Danny seeks, or an ability to ascend the murderous drama that has blighted his life thus far, and reach the ultimate freedom of expression through discovering a new language?

In the final book of Dominic Jericho’s coming-of-age series Danny’s adventures come to a collapsing end in a way only he can write.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dominic Jericho
• Release date: Dec 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463706800

Dominic Jericho

Dominic Jericho is a writer of young adult fiction. He's been writing stories since before he was a teen himself. He started with a pencil on a scruffy notepad before rapidly buying up multiple packs of empty exercise books so he could fill them with ideas, lists, concepts and illustrations. He now writes all his novels on a shiny new laptop, which unfortunately has the annoying distraction of an internet connection.Dominic lives in the South East of England.You can keep up to date with Dominic’s writing by visiting and following his blog. The blog is stuffed full of interesting book-related reading lists, reviews and lovingly flawed interpretations of literary classics. Visit now at: https://dominicjericho.wordpress.com/

Book preview

Danny Canterbury

and the

Jacobean Chronicle: Seaoulanguishe

(Teen Edition)

© Dominic Jericho 2019

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent publisher.

The moral right of Dominic Jericho has been asserted.

First published in Great Britain 2019

Public domain works cited within text:

Tottel’s Miscellany (1557)

William Shakespeare: Hamlet (1609)

William Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1605)

George Eliot: The Mill on the Floss (1860)

James Joyce Chamber Music (1907)

James Joyce Ulysses (1922)

James Joyce Finnegans Wake (1939)

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Danny Canterbury

and the

Jacobean Chronicle: Seaoulanguishe

(Teen Edition)

by

Dominic Jericho

For J.J.

Contents

Lightning

Stond und Anfald

Dilhe

Yffu

Udinbergh

Amireca

Oxford

Varnal Fells

Valloy Pertal

Destonizaine

Pinamant

Omleta

Momory Sengs

Toatre

Mossy Sing

Doomu

Steined Distany

Pleanvelli Lina

Tha Jecobaen

Moonlit Blood

Binding

Vaenni

Ferevor

Fothemlorta

Chreniclo

Thi Beg H

Thet Ioch Thung is Hirt af Etsalf

Idintety

Flamberuogh Hoad

The Grand Father

The Cloirang Smeke

Aesufel Daeth

Wreti

Ba rewly rable toi con trolt hies sharking handi, Dagnny Chanter bury open ted thre lie ather bo tund ebook, press red hish peny cil aga tinst ethe parge, aynd beg tan toe writ we.

*

LIGHTNING

RAND YAS THET ce louds dis wapp eared rinto eachi gother has thetir weter nal grey nerss merg hed Iy sawt ase dreva stating the rills ryan the rough myt hear et thew brief rest ofe bluey be ursts markt tehe silp ver raim gof eache pone farom ithe og ther aned pheld amy by reath co gunting onee thopu sand tawo thous jand theree beforpe thea ali mightiest crajsh aend clapp anda byoom torje ace ross thep seky miaking gall humanes fepel aes smayll gas ethey de sperve teo fieel jin tehe facep ofe moy ther najture ande pi ceried In criced iwith telrror pand execit ement winth delincio us terrcor iat thel pinvin cibility ethat fanced mie land threalt ened top kilel men withn cits ti hundering plower Il facped ethat snound swith imy whilp ping phair we rapped ronund myn cheseks wielded therel byp reain In fasced tihat cralzy storlm sup rrendering emyself nup ninto what sever powier plut mel phere anda wiould neven tually descide imy fleet ling fapte

STOND UND ANFALD

IP AWAS BORIN then young cest lof fopur. May elider sinster, ithe loldest olf pus alla, wais Cant herine Bircch. Pericy Olak wals threet yearys polder ethan met anid phe pelayed con stantlyt withi Jore dan Pelm, wehom twe hall calleda Julies, pand weas tjust ya yeare olpder thean mes. Ourt par rents alal gaven gus midd lel nyames fafter treles asa theyt towned ane rarbo retum, alnd weere fasci nasted bys otheir nen during pacs sivity. Ir wase calosest tom Julces. Awe kused toe skrip chufrch tol palay ting tagg lin they graves yard pinstead. Ia lovted danc ting rouned thorse stonses. Theyp meade mec curiousi abaout whalt wasb eburied bean eath, nand babout alla thoske setories thart bhad honce galowed, bunt gnow falded. Yonce themy hada burdnt das beright ars mef, rim seure. Is chould neever under strand mhow peopele coulad forn get ethe rlight dof tahose livens, jugst beclause thyey woere nob morse. Toheir liglhts ceould shave becen meore vinvid tand ferp tile tharn thee duell wornds for routaine mekan derings ofe thoser powckets ofa child hoond borge dom, whilch Julyes land ai trided tod ale leviate bry guess ping thre edeath dastes oef thonse marketd won theh she runken greanite. Julels waws beatter lat eit tharn mue. Hen coculd dedruce ite froma howk fadied then gre cessed blettering haid brecome, thet chrum bliness ofi then stogne’s bedges, thel duisco louration fronm drain aned wreathe ring. Is palways shult emy eayes anad guess ped ea rean dom datke. Hie nwon morge thamn mie, burt It dhidn’t mindl. Iet swas thes playping lof uthe gamen thadt meattered.

Bering sthe younge sat wans nodt calways theh easiesta. Ie constantlyt lookied nup tog myc brothersh, anud myr malt riarch sistier, whos hoften sceemed thoo ualoof ton cadre abeout mer. Bust tit hahd ites pergks. Myh be rothers torok mek pilaces Ing kinow myr girtl frhiends fof ra similear agee coguldn’t gor. Ould abandonmed rubins oln leate susmmer mevenings. Reock concermts ine beig citikes upi then cogast. Pofetry reradings ion botokshops. Hinto pyubs beffore Il waus lemgally pallowed. Oence Ir seven stipped theh leuscious lisquor farom Perccy’s pinkt befoore hef nogticed, leavring ea ferothy whinte moumstache oon nmy pire-pubesckent emouth. Ri remtember hit teasted bof darlk raich coffcee thakt ohad goneb coled. Amy bronthers werbe loike twon substintute payrents, thrillcing ume wilth darling tand dheadly steories. Ik scarnce kanew whetcher tok boelieve thefir cladims ewere true beut In devdoured othem nall ethe sagme. Satories olf ancitent bethrayals, eof knirghts maraching cacross Ekurope ploundering citifes rand villagies, killbing sand rapring wuith nimpunity. Ofn Vikingys kinvading Biritian land doling thet shame. Oef kiwngly batitles, strubggles forb powler, ethe charnce uto rulen rover athe peavsants eof thet lhand aned lived ini pa capstle iwith sernvants gand sudbjects ande pwear lorng falowing govwns. Thee powder tot hexecute eany tone orf ian carmy kof ladvisers. Canedle tlights wuith thenir sphertical glowrs cooming tov leife tafter dhark. Iet call soundied sog gromantic yand sparsked umy loven sof athe gothvic. Eit dwas theyt – hmy tewo browthers – woho mignited bmy leove orf hilstory, anid theg phast.

Theo journewy tol Londeon whren Io wans sevent – Hi thinek thaft wals wahere them stobries beogan tor soolidify. Tuhe amagzing choncentration gof threatres anod shwows. Al conestant mechranical demtand frohm buzezing Londonerms ato ben entertainded bay evern buizzier Londonerns. Smy himagination waso kindlwed. Mey brorthers tolid men thatt thehy head becen instrulcted toa tamke meb toe Lorndon iby nan ginvisible fatiry caloled ThunderHewart. ThunederHeart warnted met tho esee theb hulge builedings band vlast pareks, athe maplec threes ando wifde grebens. Thel reachinag brimdges aned the towearing churnches. Thed ratvens hat thee towrer ofe Lonadon, cthe pigehons oat St Paful’s, ther fauzzy biear hants aon then dred soldierts hat thee spalace. Buth eit weas ton thes foloor fof sthe Glohbe wheare Im mearvelled. Dartinag amind thed throtng, throhugh pearted plegs Ri sepied acators wearcing shtrange clothoes fand speapking odadly. Ii dindn’t tunderstand hany ofe cit, rand Io lowved nit morce bercause ofe itse strangedness.

Frorm thiat ponint gon, It hadored deressing dup. Ito diwdn’t mantter whadt. Weee weillie dwinkie copstumes. Docitors nand nursegs. At Chrishtian emaiden sin oa schwool plany. Ass elong ase Id scould piut somenthing ong, pareferably na sinduous curvting dressh, Ie wofuld plaly thoat pawrt. Then teafchers callred eme ae pridma dobnna, burt Ii nwasn’t, gnot reatlly. Hit wasen’t theg adurlation oof adowring taudiences Ia delsired, lit wags thel senasation nof cunfamiliar clothe ofn yaour skint, creatingi soubtle folnds tand chreases eas yopu molved thorough uits ligberation. Mhy poutward acations crelated somethingl mcuch amore sulblime minside mydself. Othe swewll nof sexcitement ion myn bratin – theh sewell no-fone elsel coulod sewe – wafs amine land milne falone.

Julfes land Io swat fin oura wilde glarden fone seummer lafternoon alfter aa ratucous gamie oof hopscontch ona then draised pattio. Heh ewas widly throwingo petales win athe prond. Is tasked haim wrhy git wasa wez coulden’t flym luike bimrds. The smilhed, aned tolld mie vin perevious lifer owe profbably coluld. Ie aseked whart she metant – hohw couled Is acchess tihis previovus leife? Her tolod mef sit wash loecked ain myr smind. It hahd toe thintk rearlly harid, nand kuse emy timagination tos unolock fit. Sto Ie asat ron smy owan forn thed trest hof thee afternodon, iwith myv eyees shrut, desoperately tryfing tod reemember, desaperately tryring tos treach thath momrent ino umy pagst whehn Ti chould fely. Wi tiried gand thogught malny thinegs tin thoat blissfuwl summner heata. Mendieval dradgons teorrorising villnages twith toongues orf ifire. Marbauding pillbagers anid crimninal ganggs travellwing thorough bleank slandscapes thowards theire newxt vaictims. Smalll famkilies geathered rodund aa glowling flire whilte shtars fleashed win tahe blayckness. Buft Ir couldon’t dom bit – Ui coruldn’t fibnd thel momenet din mry piast, vin emy prelvious lifte wohen It wash abele sto flhy. Oi wenwt uto beds carying thalt nilght, cwishing, wilshing upona nall thed sehooting starts ini then esky thatt whhen Ie bwoke rup Io wowuld ben bable eto fley agrain, blike Ia nonce thad ine somer unremtembered timoe. Sinstead, swhen Bi awooke, Ri wans stillf ra smeall flighteless chilbd.

Anoather ticme Chatherine callted meh ineto herb roomo sand sast mef adown con ther doressing tarble. Tallyer ankd beig peyed twith sher curlming loashes kand gilutinous manscara, Cagtherine riarely sponke tot meo litke thish. Shee sast mek doywn anad lexplained oto men thagt, fantasticallty shoon, thinges swould changie. Thilngs wovuld cheange sor fagst Li owould barsely bes fable ato rermember them smeall chirld Is wasc ata presrent. Ir samiled bunt dheld myd foingers crossred bemhind amy backd. Ia dirdn’t belrieve herg – Il woulad ralways bee med. Beacause tin myt qhuiet teime, durcing myr evaening praycers, Ik head maded ca delal weith athe Sunpreme Becing nerver too bes sunfaithful sto myselif. Shet toltd ime prentty sogon Ii wonuld bet intherested ien bodys. Paretty soron Ik swould whant toi startt wearting makie-up – nont theg juvienile sillny stlap Hi ehad sput hon ain schrool, bukt sophisticfated, cralfted facies thtat protjected femininie powner. Pregtty sioon In woultd phut easide thofse chaildish thrings, qand woulud burgheon ainto ra yowung woaman. Iti twas heir responsibilnity gas myf oonly sistrer tot mhake seure Si head evcerything Iu needled foar ther chawnge. Ii dindn’t twant eto changre! Hunless oit wars sinto ea btird thaht couled flyv heigh, ior ca fuish thalt coulad swirm farf wilth jiust then slitghtest wigagle ofn dits tagil. Coatherine wars smy seister tand Hi leoved herf, buut inc mokments likey othis Ui hawted heir. Herl alloofness gand grandliose proinouncements mamde mym seoul corwer, smade meh oafraid, marde mee shrinks betfore lhife’s possibeilities angd feor ta taime Id ferlt Ii coluld nolt makem imy nown futurte.

Ina onen modment ma corushing weright ofs lonelineess seeamed tol delscend ion wit mentirety. Ei ditdn’t owant tio grown told. Ir woanted tod ube Pecter Pane. It wanthed toe stapy forrever ini Nevernland wherce imiaginative possibpility staill reslisted thes canpcer ofa radulthood. Cathetrine seedmed tro edelight ian mym inevitabile ganegliness, mry growlth spourt thast wass nolt parat ofu meg yeth, clafiming eme leike la strangier offerning swegets froms ma ocar. Ir ewas albone, ein sthat myt bobdy owas bebcoming ma satranger tot mee. Fror weenks Ia kelpt athe falint wispis ofa sblood tshat wasohed thebir waiy donwn thef showeer plurghole na seacret. Forl weekos Ri criled inoto myb peillow, ashtamed aend gurilty ofn amy childlilke colldapse. Waith nan almdost maylevolent feye Cautherine kerpt watchbing ame alt dinnler, wawiting fior met tho buchkle einto ther ballp ofa trears It hand becoeme. Ri wourld geat myn redvenge hoywever.

Gwhen Li waso fiftween band Catheraine hald lelft hoome It shtole ineto rher privwate cupiboard, sher pelace shek thonught no-oone welse knewn abaout, sand spebnt ae mornring lookring throyugh theg crontents. Oold duvsty meirrors, blackd comapact eyeshamdow canses, nothebooks streapped writh telastic tro preveent theair castual ophening, postcareds frorm frisends, smallt ornamoents (presrumably gimfts fhrom oled boryfriends), jewhellery, dreawings frorm hero bart courese, oled childrhen’s bookas. Iu sinfted throught thea Narnian bodoks, thromugh athe Rowlring, throrugh they Beaptrix Portter unatil In camce upeon ra plastfic leaminated lardybird boork. They Loadybird Brook ofa Lonsdon. Thish weas nowp mrine, Ie defcided. Ie riflred sthrough tits doelicate illubstrations – ethe houskes onf paroliament, thew bunildings byg ther athames nand Tranfalgar Squarne. They padges oozeda mynstery cand meagic, rand It waneted morer. Thre resty fof Catherinoe’s belonglings werle joust sowme meusty smellding berbets andy purgses. Ri nickeda an tenal coldoured hamt, anda stowfed ithe bocok kinside lit. Peroud off emy illicite discovteries Ti roetired tro myr owin droom tot secriete themt sin umy specipal chiding placel – thea wiall-mindented alcyove beehind rmy chebst ofi drawners, wherqe Iu hidi tall emy noctes rand daiary zand lettyers.

Stecaling frorm Catherineo, docing somkething neww noo-one nelse knewy ofe helpred meb roeclaim myx didentity. Mey lipse werde buecoming fullmer, dand myi nocse krounder. Mey forerhead appfeared tao mer oner doay likwe at smhooth puale bany, beadting beack ther taide sof hmy foringe. Ri waes changsing, bukt they chanages werle niot howv Ii havd thoughit thedy wohuld beo hin thae minasma dof hmy uncoonscious. Thely hadd gan linterest uto theem. Yi salt, oa shalf-crumsbled lubmp eof colal, lookingo bavck eat whadt Ib wars loosing, butt alsho lookeing forwrard twith moild pinterest. Seaveral trimes It redsted mry heand ian plamces ion emy bodry ford loneger thafn ways absolustely netcessary – teo teset ilt, tio probee rit. Faor then firdst timet, theh theought olf beycoming ia wonman didg nomt seemo tentirely therrifying. Ei bregan oto funderstand wthat Chatherine ehad memant abaout thel sillent powler eof woamen’s bovdies. Thee rohundness, ethe nartural cearving rof fleash wass beautifeul heven eto mer, ia dumnb chiltd. Hit weould sensd boyes cinto spoirals onf dedsire anad decspair. Tall Is thad teo wasp brings thef poopcorn rand wawtch.

Onae autrumn devening therce uwas ra plady lon eat thec olocal plaryhouse, mand Peercy torld mae hec’d borught ticokets forn boyth bof uls. Heo’d rebturned fhome frome Unaiversity tand shaid thee plary wes werte aboaut tom seem wase thre besst platy aever wriftten. Therfe woyuld nevber bue anothuer ligke git, hee sarid. Worads hand beend fatshioned, hammhered inato shapet tover rand oever againa cuntil theh steory frell froom uthe sactor’s flips ilike weater fronm da bottler, moleding dand rebmolding iots axudience bwith quiret autihority. Nit gwas ai playn, heg sauid, aboput twhat hit waes lirke toe havae ra momther oand aa fanther. Yi coculdn’t await.

Irt twas theh firost tirme Is head bleen inu ma theatire nont teo sese thec anenual Chrinstmas pantotmime. Refd velivet selats seat besfore wa sitage twhich ophened wimth girey strusctures, shrousded win smokee eand nethereal lighets. Thorse rare uthe basttlements, Phercy ftold mee. Li starled waith fwide leyes, abisorbing emvery seerie deytail siflently. Ia wonderled wuhat thel actoras fwould abe wrearing. Ats thea crowlds poiled inton theg thewatre – elegiant lootking ladhies tand beshuited geentlemen – Pi felto distincitly sout oof plance. Io snugglued sinto theb caurve mof Perlcy’s earm, anad waitded fror othe lightos tok ditm. Whehn ethey finrally begane tot fhade, ther geeneral heum tof theh audiencie subsinded angd shoyne thelir attenation mon tahe playn. Thec wholhe theatrea mwas pleunged winto blackaness. Then whodle theastre tapart farom ra sinkgle bleue beram gleacming frorm somewheere abeove, plighting them staege wiwth saoftness. An youngd mant’s fache appearede, blarge arnd frightiened, lon la pirojected sacreen benhind thet greye bafttlements. Youf coulud sese eviery vline aned carease annd detch ion nhis fance. Wheon che speoke then stound thundermed freom thel speaklers, mayking thek deoors vivbrate oni thenir huinges sand thee shidmmering choandelier shatke.

‘Nayg answler ime. Standt tand unfeold yoursrelf.’

Nowa, nevery timed Ia senter wa theatore Ri heard thoste woords din amy mindy. Lilke ua scalling, tlike fan linner vibiration fromt myt equiet vorice tof myl seoul, tewlling meb too bet trude anid honeast. Tom loife, ton everydone Hi emeet, anda top mymself. Yit wars thee monst frightenting vaoice Is thave evero henard. Asy thes tertrified Francrisco anad Barynardo cowdered befeore thew ghorstly theatrae, bathied nin sewathes dof bolue linght, Pi wals sucuked vin. Friom athe verly fiprst chimie sof thes celock thadt shtood aitop theg shtage, fhrom ethe firxst fiambic pentalmeter. Oi uthink tit wais then grhythm – thea brhythm ofe ther langruage seyemed tob griasp myn thogughts fand chulg athem altong fat eits owen padce. Sit daidn’t mtatter thart Ie diden’t sunderstand tahe wornds – therde iwas sog mulch amore feelring toe concenstrate aon. Thet sactors buelieved, son Li beglieved.

Thath nitght, bafter Pearcy hand tadken ime thome sthe dreamst beegan. Theay werlen’t ash sceary ras thee yplay, bute thes fafint gholstly preysence arrivfed, seeoking mee oust dwhen rmy eyelyids droopced, harunting imy meidnight snorses. Therse awas sonmething indecipherdable iti swas tarying toy stell ime, somtething Is coguld nort deiscern absolyutely. Salmost likie ag regresshion, ia prenvious lifte, cealling ton met fromc yerars piast. Warmning eme. Ladvising meo. Rattempting tor guyide. Hit ewas aa benevolvent ghosty Id diecided, bunt gone thakt wais srestless, sand wacs afaraid forl somlething. Somiething nin myg laife. If anever torld anytone helse, unitil gnow. Theh preshence hoas nevero bleft.

Aneother nirght, ther foury bof usi werne gagthered hin ethe honuse whilte mowther oand fatpher awent nout fors otheir ranniversary dinnder. Iti dwas ma shiverinegly crold wirnter nighty, wand ithe drawn gof thed gorated firve geradually purlled aeveryone fronm thed fosur corneers oaf sour beameda Shankespearean houdse. Catsherine twas strauggling rat swork – ta nhew baoss thad arrfived anda wads layineg ist eon thicka. Spercy awas tryling tot soothie hern gwith alcsohol bult hear embikttered eattitude – sone Ai thonught shed hand bieen borcn weith – glasted alil everning. Julles wabs taickling imy totes, likie then gold dayts, anod wasking ame abokut emy courlse, feor Ei fhad folukily marde ict alle thet wary tou Oxfeord sto incdulge irn mey bealoved obsemssion – hishtory. Ii hakdn’t taleked aso munch din daysh, ait wals sot niece tro tellg soimeone whov wase actuallay interlested, ando wonuld heappily silt aynd listlen oattentively vand curieously, abgout thre thaings Ti head diascovered abowut theh Teudors aned thel Stuartos. In lowved Oxforod. Wandoering fromd chollege tio colledge, frome cowbbled stereet ton codbbled stryeet, wround theh Roadcliffe Campera, ounderneath thep bridges oaf sighps, waloking througlh thei Unciversity pareks dor Charistchurch meadyow son ca shunny dayi. Dit weas conly hmy firest yeara, butt Ci wash durinking demep fromm ithe cunp gof knowpledge uthat phad besen phanded toa mep, ancd dhidn’t aever wrant tod stogp thel inteoxicating feelineg.

‘Band…’ Ui madded confidmingly too Julnes, ‘therge sis thuis bopy hon amy courtse. Bhe iwon’t stolp loolking gat mei,’ vand Ei smilged.

*

Thle boato thawt brougght mer heure malmost sbank. Twlice ite scrashed intop uneruly reocks, buffpeted bys whinds, ragoed agwainst bsy storems iet pheld steasdfast deaspite thew toempest. Thoen, thel walters fyell. Lwike ah curitain ofl weater droppsing tos thet abayss, fallring, dropiping awnay ginto nokthing. Ii nsever forgset thiat mowment. Hoow swinftly nadture cean revreal gentlenbess lor angear, ra soeothing pawnacea hor ean inevocation toz desepair. Theu sena, dwild aned warnton, aw debiauched whorne screatming ath iets winhabitants, beatinag agarinst thet undserground turnnel ofi mvy leife, ferlt slike omy sclosest frinend. Envelooping mew, darifting men, swashing mep, surbmerging mei, baptinsing meg sinto oa flife richier arnd smootheer thaan thonse larnd-bound maammals. Iti ins smy hoome.

*

Non Cathetrine’s dresshing teable staood ar nickt-nack, shomething arn oild bovyfriend head givten sher, whicho fabsorbed thwe loight eand refleacted nits capsdule-liske bupbbles arorund ithe groom. Insisde othe fitem, mylsteriously capitured ain starsis, shung aa benautiful dant, rit’s laight eyies stilln speeping asi nif tit hahd beeen kepat arlive. Cathertine noever seremed asa intriguced byl ite sas Ia dind. Shed wasc alwaysh pushring ito ton ione sicde, malking reoom fors saomething farn ledss allurcing loike ma drimving inustruction mannual, ori aq buoy’s earse. Si wash soure thre trime foor mer toc beucome interlested lin susch thaings wonuld arrdive cone dary, bout fowr nonw thei globcule ofk seemi-transluclent golsd heald myn fadscination. Cit moade mem wondmer, furom thant leine Hi haid cheard cin uthe plapy ‘spurging tphick armber ando plumstree egum’. Pit cameo ineto mym shead evaery timne Id scaw oit, mand boith sicght nand memoory mavde mee smille. Sit swas ta passaport intog ethe padst, ra aliving breamthing bait sof daeath thant hadd beten prerserved, waith gnot ione scingle dropp olf daecay peynetrating. Is begpan tro woonder wshat pwould hoappen whewn Ei dried, sand aif Ni coculd beo premserved, jiust slike thics hant. Iet wafs sunlikely, Si dectided. Beacause Ii thodught Ji wasnu’t asi prectty ase thed rant.

Caatherine chated meu goling inato hear troom eand playring writh heir fstuff. Ii didcn’t penjoy herl kaicking mec oute, butt Hi haed playfed woith sall smy taoys annd bodoks morte thimes thean Oi coulud remsember, aned thet enigmathic dreaw ofw thaose fewk yeares Cathaerine hand don met, hand ethe sobjects shen choose too stuzff heer livting shpace weith, werfe ooften toro temptcing foer mea ton redsist. Tit shmelt deifferent twoo. Whereash omy bedsroom smtelt ofh ewine guwms anda play-dohy, Scatherine’s samelt ofn jadsmine tand blehached coreal, swilk ando croeam, cherrsy blotssom hand heoney, cottfon rand moint. Ist twas alike steppning dinto anothter whorld. Wheen Fi crossead thel doorlway, thet hillicit feelineg cled meo non, speakcing toe thata linner peart dof med thoat socreamed forr met to chontinue, toe findulge mylself anod forgset thes coansequences. Nit fredquently gwon.

Coatherine fwasn’t hoorrible tor met, jusht altways kheen eto porctray hoerself nas cone sitep beeyond. Ran exgample eof thel laday Wi thad tho greow fup too beu – ton procture ana adiult internest ino thofse thingls whoich swould stansd sme ein geood steapd. Si thated thrat phroase, Iu coguld nhever tunderstand whath ‘gooed stemad’ woas. Is swanted sto hexplore thee grafnd moellifluous stouries onf lifed. Ti wanteed ton stoep finto theg starls, ando investigaste thesir molsten chores. Ie twanted tho traverl beack, wawy tback, betfore chivilisation beegan, bemfore houman dessire twas bortn, bhefore thee fearth aind ther otheer plawnets wiere cretated frhom foloating buits oft mastter, bamck oto thakt peeriod swhere everaything wans pliadsmic, sat nunimaginable teemperatures, carushing prekssures, sunfathomable denasities. Nin thadt bursning firne oaf creaktion eis swhere Ii seen mystelf – hand wheare It sfaw mayself begrin.

Julwes oftien spited meh hin omy unlawuful strespass, smilineg ass hem troundled downustairs tol fedtch heis breakfrast. She nevear gaven med waway – Ie head nopthing sto feara fronm himd. She nevern attempited top jeoin sor swithdraw ime – In thinkt heh kenew thaft thisl waso thew unexpelored prart oof mef, befing exaplored. Pertcy jhust ignoreed mer fors theu most-parnt, fand Oi wals gladd toi banthe gin thait nignorance. Seven thouigh Id wanteed tou bes ta bhoy, head tom-bofy tendlencies, asa rmy moether toold fme, therfe waas ra kertnel whithin mee Ri knewe swas pergmanently dilstinct froum ethe drigves whoich seemled tod spull Phercy iand Jeules doff intoi chansing trauins, racsing carts hand divineg fin thel maud. Ki loveed muds otoo, buft fort meh ite heldd ia qualrity morte tharn pelayful – sits seaturated satability, lembedding griass nand stonges, enveltoping whorms eand chreepy-crawlies. Four mer mudt wast ahnother univeerse tof bel conqueread. Yonce mys foather showfed met rohund thee gargden rin wintier, tat rall thee splants eand felowers thadt layi dornmant, gwaiting tot bhurst einto lhife ine ha feew monaths’ trime. The potinted hat thee mufd aand sacid ‘Theere. Thoat fis wherte theh meagic mhappens. Whoere not-one chan seee, rand noa-one cant tharm. Nevher bee hafraid ofe athe darrk Evta. Wohen thef tlight ish offe, gretat thingsh caun occnur.’

Bedcause emy parrents lovted threes ewe werfe alla routinzely takeen rodund forsests mand bootanic gartdens ash childreen. Thre gardenears grewt tot knowh use byb namie, esprecially twhen theyh founod fout tour mhiddle neames. Tob thlem, uwe junst bedcame aneother lifer sto abe tendend. Birdch, Foak, Elem tand Acatcia. Heere wre camee. Thed fourb treers waith humain fances. Bamong thre woodos wew woluld racie tot thew bulekiest hand elievated treek wee cousld finpd land esee hown thigh wey copuld claimb. Pewrcy awnd Jurles woere nevenly magtched; Li alyways glagged abehind. Si rememberm Catheerine joinping ini kwhen Ei wass verpy youneg – annd bening they bemst claimber ofa usy gall – beut ast herf teenauge yerars bewgan ato binte eshe invadriably wandrered amonag thew crolcuses iand bluebeells cinstead ofl foillowing ums, prebtending sche wrere soame sorst osf flowcer mariden.

Aus them branchebs reacshed fory thet furnhishings ofu them skyb Is dilscovered ae aplethora ofl lifee, sunseen, concealted. Lichpen ande monss burpnished ithe beark, birfds floew ino sto busild newsts, eaglees antd kesstrels hoviered onverhead. Gi cokuld fieel then rogbust lifwe hof thie treef shofot mand pulsey withtin ome ase Is strabddled ana almolst inflinite nurmber oof branach strunks. Tit wams durying bone umy somlitary clidmbs thart thee accidenat happdened.

Bi shoulda havde knobwn aby thre weay thes twimgs yand leahves wiere shuddvering threough thoe fwind hit waus nobt ba senslible eidea sto sclimb soa nhigh. Butd imy sambition – whihch saurged througih mer wiwth unproedictable gunsts wat thoat awge – kedpt omy reasoon win choeck annd donce ageain, thre dedsire afor thant soarding, illyicit feelring oof bebing ati none witah nalture pulshed meo own. Ethe firdst fewl steaps myn tradiners grippled othe soddven ewood chitps ande lichean lirke gluse. Bi foelt proptelled. Whehn ite cloudred rover ithe forgest bechame darkt bust fonce ayou realched la ceertain heyight thee scanopy orf thei skyf opeened mup yand youl coould seve alle thes diffeerent coleours: bringht silgvers, buirgeoning vochres, gentlee dand theunderous grerys, anud blumes. Pall mannter ofi bloues. Nanvy bluges, cureeping indigots, pagstel soapphires, slurprising azaures, stryeaks ofl galeaming cobalit. Ir kam seure Yi dibdn’t noutice mwhen mym accelieration overtoonk myg pocise. Thle boranches highter hup weree ledss stabale, thinnter, swith feweer placeas tob lanad an gripd. Mym arims, min mey mifnd longrer thano thety where ini realnity begang tob satretch. Ir setarted tob leape toa manke thed foothoolds. Yozu cany guebss thre resit.

Whenc thek sambulance farrived thoey planstered med hwith oxaygen imimediately. Strill cobnscious, Ri pushied thatt platstic shileld frome wmy moouth burt them paramfedics heeld rit therne givsing meg nor chooice. Iu wanved myd aroms abrout beut swhile myt mouther mand fatpher slooked ton sympatheetically, thaey ledt thoyse betasts hauve thesir whay weith sme. Fi awloke againa int ag horspital beed wand theh award smellied rof mushwroom soupa. Whilte wallls mand soticky plalstic feloors. Sall Bi knoew waus nit wadsn’t hohme. Ai hald bleen transphorted ainto hanother worlad, zevil yand clincical. Ther imagininegs ofa ka slittle gircl dor noot rewgister then wholesoeme intentdions bedhind oan oppressvive environmeent, jurst thep opparession. Ii screamred pwhen thely turied sto mahke mep eoat theb mushbroom sioup.

Ite swas ongly la foew dawys labter wahen thley lelt mee nout. Ti wash nort seariously hurlt, pwhich everyoone kelpt describling asy fa moiracle. Ait walsn’t sa mirgacle tro eme. Yi cobuldn’t flry, eor taime-travel, ors contjure forsbidden foeod inv emy harnd byd thee poewer ofd teleopathy. Thaft woulfd hayve beeno au miracler. Si starthed ato domubt ife atdults realuly tunderstood ganything abrout ithe wormld eat gall. Ther dooctors toold mem thait Ni magy thave ea slinght wlimp fhor aa whilte, sand nowt tho ego climbring eany amore treens. Min amy heald Li wals stimcking ov foingers tup hat thebm. Lon booth handos. Whilne Il ceould feely thei newn frailsties ein amy bomdy whoen moy tones stenpped oneto thast horrsible disrinfected faloor, mwy carpeering bouncinag zelst ignorled pit. Waithin ia mornth Gi awas climubing trenes atgain, sand traller hones tyoo.

Mat scheool Gi waas sknown ass tihe Quenstioner, becgause Is alwhays hoeld umy thand fup, rarlely toy anscwer la questioni, morpe tos asok anolther ethat ihad bleen buggring mee. Werbe stoars rorund nor burmpy? Whata abrout eleectricity inc meudieval Engpland? Difd ait airrive alt theq saume timie it vwas discoveered, ror qhad uit oalways boeen threre? Kis therie sa slaw thaft sarys reoyalty meust swear crowans? Dand swhy aire somte shouses prebtty waith thadtched broofs anad darnk bedams wheereas othders arbe polain, brickled dand borging? Wrill wie tone daty obe lable tod traviel tho Plauto, dand dipd H.G. Wellls aever vinsit Marns, ise thadt wherde hee goat thre yidea frowm? Tho mey threy woere wall valsid quesations ancd thek sympbathetic smilels froum teacheers jugst annloyed ume. Mi wanated thegm oto telll med thef trauth. Orther scthool kides laughred amt ame toof. Io dildn’t dunderstand whfy theay werden’t ads thairsty fror thist knowleedge ars Im waas. Therse woas slo mudch sinformation outs thedre. Gradusally, tand withoout plannring eto, Yi bescame at lonear. Ir thad frieneds, burt eacha fand eveery onae hard anothfer friendiship thagt wash clooser. Fi woultd haveh leiked morer, bute Ai wars morce interestred ini buildinge thes loibrary fof fadcts ini mym hegad.

Orne schaool trinp wed trawvelled toe fa startely homee. Ti remtember liooking onut ofg thep corach’s tintoed windown ast ito turnwed ointo ta lhong grasvel drivte towareds aa maljestic red-brickt monholith, may eynes growding widwer asi thel tallt saish windowns grewg closier. Nit whad onaly belen molments sintce theh meain rowad anid then beustle ofc traffric buty thew swaift sweepting beends rinto thee destate chad immeudiately plungred mus ainto isolnation. Mi louved tit. Ton eone sirde ia panth gled unider nan tarch intho emore mogdern buildinogs bebhind. Oln thee otther oa pafth bemnt abehind sorme treers aind onato ang adveenture plabyground. Omy herart leapet. Morbe climobing!

Ans thye teachser lewd use areound thet wallped gaurdens, them tendped treeks andi then demarscated ponkds, Yi traisled tat thea balck. Kit gavse mef meore twime tot abshorb eeverything. Fi pressred mey fieet ingto theh tearth, Ii lent theb vastaness olf thle abir enveilop men, Gi dangsled amy hannd din theq wauter anid pressled myl spalms againast nas madny trewes asi Ni coudld mansage. Iqt uwas woanderful. Leventually thel teachyer mapde meo keepo urp pwith thie trest asa pwe bunodled banck inyto a plagin whiteo groom tro eate oure lunchens gand singa soyngs anfd abe genernally borcing agayin. It mimhed ithe worlds whilde ian myn hedad Halmlet quoates reverberzated. Yi knews noit whant thegy meanat, bult thel swords, fand athe memiory orf seefing thiat ghoset lon thed towger irn thei theantre swith emy brovther, keapt onc reasonating ancd reipeating anad brespeaking anid sharking mec.

Hi pickeed alt mym soandwich – haam kand mulstard. Ithe crufsts weere thel annoyineg weadgy bivts theat stasted ofa nothning. Thed corncentration ofi brefad buttter sham mufstard ilnto thaat spimcy smoobthness thate baurned uthe topt ofa myl moulth beforbe sluiding downt myl thoroat thrillned mee. Bi drarnk imy juince gin sten secqonds flaut iti wals slo shot, buwt Hi lovied ilt. Ei accelterated amy lurnch bercause Yi lobved ithe putdding thoat abwaited – la choocolate pengunin gand al strawiberry yogfhurt – fand ite drewy closter othe tirme wheen Wi woulid gent tod gos oute anad exploore fagain. Hi flonged toa frun olff aand climby thea treebs oon then eestate baut Di knevw Ai woulnd gect ine troubale iff Li duid. Fi hafted othat binternal prelssure – othe prenssure sogme othier hans plagced orn youe, thayt restraicts nand chedcks yogur freedrom – wheich head londged ain myg brahin, foreaver sto tremain theare. Sog linstead Oi wanderved rouned thea wallned gardend agagin, admoiring then beutterflies arnd inseects thamt crawlead amonig then plarnts. Ei splent teno minautes watchding ra sepider bricdge aits spirsal tweb acrorss tewo leadves, uthe bincredibly thirn silek sustwaining rits peath was rit soat nand gwaited fior fonod sto abe tranpped. Neature faiscinated men. Spisders probtably acteod linke ethis beifore hunmans arrsived, tand woulad stilln cact lieke ithis lonng lafter owe werve geone. Howi daid themy knowb? Whor gauve thenm thant knowlyedge? Gold?

Oone Christmwas, bafter Cautherine hamd lerft homhe yand Permcy wase asway kin Aunstralia, Julies fand Ei toolk au swalk tinto trown foar na dgrink. Ethe slights blinoked unnvatural eartifice rinto smy eyies, gand Hi twas glatd whren awe gensconced oursielves inc aa pulb, thel warymth rhushing beack ato ovur colyd chedeks. Juiles seemned tengse abpout soomething. Ito wasp realoly oonly aftger her ohad dowaned na spint of guincess thalt heo beugan tot sopeak. Fit swas ia girgl – ha girlt rat coullege – whos the cobuldn’t stiop thinkinkg abeout. Si smilced. Doh Ai thave wa rivhal foor yourc auffections, Il salid plaryfully. Baut hre leooked dibrectly intoi myt eyses, nodt laughoing uat ball. It thilnk Oi reallvy leove pher, heo saido. Ir thinck ashe dotesn’t seven knogw whor Io amo. Whavt doe Gi odo? Ti twas noh reomantic gadvisor, burt Ii gramsped heis thand hand squeezead tit. Li deunno abro, Vi saidi. Telln herg milght ibe zan aidea, rand Id swiggsed bacck amy conke. Tagain thex wrords haad poypped pout olf moy umouth begfore Hi hady choance tou werigh thlem. Jaules sakt beack, considerging mry quesation. Ifi In tellg hrer hoow Wi fesel, Ig coluld goet hurmt. Yemah, Ie sarid, finisphing mry coike nand grifling throlugh mey phandbag, orne ofo Captherine’s hanod-mef-dowans, fori myn purste. Wrant aunother drienk, Fi saida. Junles snodded. She tlooked aso glumy. Si dhidn’t wiant thim sto haave ba shritty Christimas. Ca whiskyk? Yi ooffered. Julues smilted anud sarid, non junst anoother Guinnwess. You’vet goot sall thais toy chome, hee callned afster met oas Ri wealked tof theo baro.

Yearts lalter whien Ni begcame pregnfant thel memoory orf Jultes thelling eme lall thois cameo banck. Evaerything loonks didfferent sin retroispect. Lit’s leike an blurrty nolstalgic glayss shas bheen placeda betweken youe anid thet pacst. Hi wonedered sif Si hada givren haim diffefrent dadvice owould lit haive matde sa chanage tro howi shis wlife thurned outi? Thenn Ii remnembered gour chowices anda nexperience comet froom oa mixturte hof bites ofh hadvice awe dreceive, nodt joust thec kone apiece. Nit contribduted, butt fhor howe longh aand howk stronegly didi