High Spirits

By Rob Keeley

Winner in Young Adult category of the Georgina Hawtrey-Woore Award (formerly the Independent Author Book Awards)
“Millions of people will die in the war, Ellie.  And it’s our job to make sure it happens.  That’s why our work isn’t easy.”
It’s been two years since Ellie last spoke to Edward.  She thinks she’s left the spirit world behind.  But the spirits won’t take no for an answer... When Ellie’s Mum returns to Inchwood Manor, Ellie finds herself going too... and is transported back to the 1930s, discovering a plot to impersonate the King of England.
With the Second World War coming, and the first evil spirits starting to escape into the mortal world, Ellie is fighting alongside some unexpected allies...
Rob Keeley is back with High Spirits, the fourth instalment in his multi-award-listed Spirits series.  The series allows young people to learn more about other times, as well as the time in which they live.     
High Spirits sees the series come of age and picks up with the central character, Ellie in her teenage years as she begins to realise the true nature of her abilities as one who talks to ghosts – and to discover her destiny.  It sees her time-travel to the 1930s, as she discovers evil spirits and Nazi sympathisers working together in a way that will change the course of history.  She then discovers the impact that such a change would have.  It’s a compelling ghostly thriller, which also allows some parallels to be drawn with the present day.  It builds the ongoing story arc to a climax, which will be resolved in the fifth and final book of the series.  
High Spirits works both as a stand-alone novel and as one of a series.  It will appeal to girls and boys of upper primary and lower secondary age – and to parents and teachers reading the book aloud.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
• Release date: Mar 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781800469396

Rob Keeley

Rob Keeley is an award-winning author of children’s novels, short stories and picture books, including the Spirits series. Other credits include the award-listed stage play Mr. Everyone, and Chain Gang and Newsjack for BBC Radio. He holds author workshops in schools and libraries, and teaches Creative Writing to children and adults.

Book preview

Sixteen

Chapter One

I’m not going!

Clara ran out of the library and into Inchwood Manor’s entrance hall. Her footsteps clattered along the black-and-white checked floor tiles.

Clara! Two further sets of footsteps followed her. Clara, listen to me!

Clara turned and faced her father. Elizabeth, her elder sister, stood by his side.

Clara’s fists clenched.

"For the last time, Father, I am not going to Germany!"

You’ll do as you’re told! Her father took a deep breath. You won’t be alone. You’ll have Elizabeth to look after you.

Honestly, Clara, you’ll love it there, Elizabeth said. I was in Bavaria two years, it’s got everything. Mountains, fresh air, friendly people. The country’s so clean, and so well run. There’s no one out of work there, and everyone’s happy. We won’t be going ‘til the New Year. There’s plenty of time to get ready…

I am not going to Bavaria! A sulky look spread across Clara’s face. I’ve seen it in the newsreels. It’s all beer cellars and men in leather shorts.

Your mother attended finishing school there, their father said. So did Elizabeth. And so will you. You’ll learn music, and the language. Might turn you into a lady, at last.

Without another word, Clara went and kicked the umbrella-stand over. A selection of umbrellas flew across the tiles. Her father’s face reddened.

Go to your room! At once!

I won’t! Clara yelled. I’m going to find Tom! He’ll listen to me.

Tom will do as he’s told, too! her father told her. If he wishes to join the shooting-party this weekend.

Clara said nothing. She was already halfway towards the morning room.

Elizabeth tried to calm things by picking up the mess. She set the umbrella-stand upright.

Don’t worry, Father, I’ll have a word with her. Tell her about the fun we had in Munich. She’ll soon come round.

I cannot understand her. Her father took out a large silk handkerchief and mopped his brow. Do you know, Elizabeth, when I was out in India, those chaps believed in reincarnation. If I didn’t know better, I should swear Clara was your Uncle Edward, back from the dead.

Clara turned the corner of the passage and entered the morning room.

It was a very bright autumn day, and the sunlight was streaming in. She could only just see her big brother Tom, sitting in a leather armchair in the window. He had his back to her.

Tom, you’ve got to come and do something about Father! He wants me to spend the next two years of my life in a country run by that ghastly little man with the moustache! His followers go on all those silly marches and burn books! Tom, tell him…

She stopped. Tom wasn’t moving.

Tom, what’s wrong?

She took a few steps into the room. For the first time, she noticed that Tom was rather strangely dressed. He was wearing some kind of dark blue uniform, with a peaked cap to match, instead of one of his usual light grey suits. Around his shoulders was a brown coat with a fur collar. Slowly, he raised his hand, as if in greeting. But still he didn’t look round.

Clara squinted. The sun was glaring, and she could hardly make him out. It was almost as if he wasn’t…

She moved nearer.

Tom? Why are you dressed like that? Why don’t you answer me?

Clara? A voice spoke. I’m here. What’s the matter?

Clara turned.

Tom was standing behind her, in the doorway of the morning room, dressed just as usual.

Clara looked back. The chair in the window was empty.

There was a moment of silence.

Then Clara screamed.

Chapter Two

Ellie was laughing.

She stood amidst the ruins of the Priory, in a small crowd of old ladies and families with bored-looking children.

In the centre were four monks, dressed in brown habits. The leader of them had just lowered his hood. Not only did he have a shaven head, but also two earrings and a tattooed neck. He was speaking into a microphone.

Fanks very much, ladies and gennelmen. And welcome once again to Meet the Monks. Now, we’d like to give you our own take on a traditional Gregorian chant, which we’ll present to you in the form of rap. Take it away, Brother Adam.

One of the other monks in the group made some adjustments to an amplifier. A heavy drumbeat filled the site.

Ellie covered her ears at the sound of a man rapping in Latin. She looked round to see horror on the faces of the old ladies. She was still giggling.

Meet the Monks hadn’t been one of Mum’s better events for Journeyback.

She supposed Mum had stopped caring, now.

Ellie’s ears were hurting, and she moved quickly away from the monks, towards the Visitors’ Centre. It would be quieter there, and cooler, and the refectory would still be open. This was one of the hottest Julys she’d known. She could murder a cold can of cola.

She checked her pockets for change. Just enough. She’d better be careful. She didn’t dare to ask Mum for money. The days when Mum could give treats and pocket money were over.

The Visitors’ Centre was a wooden building, rather like an army barracks. It was much prettier, though, with flowers in window boxes all the way along.

A tall, tanned, dark-haired boy in his late teens was watering the flowers. His black cotton polo-shirt and the watering can he was using both had the Journeyback logo. He stopped what he was doing when he saw Ellie.

Hey.

Hi, Luke.

Come for some peace and quiet? Luke shook his head. That monk is seriously weird. Aren’t they supposed to take vows of silence, or something?

Wish that one would, said Ellie.

She paused, rather shyly, in front of Luke. She was getting to the age now where she found herself doing things like that. Luke was older than her, and had been a schoolfriend of her brother Charlie… but she liked being around him. It was nice to have somebody young working for Journeyback.

Luke looked at his watch. I’m ten minutes overdue for a break. Coming to the refrectory? I’m buying. He searched his pockets. Hang on, I haven’t got… oh yeah, look. There’s a pound.

He showed his right hand empty, then reached behind Ellie’s head and produced a pound coin from her ear.

And I think there’s some more… yeah.

He repeated the trick with her other ear. His left hand came back holding two more pound coins and a 50p.

Ellie pulled a face at him, trying not to grin.

I’m not a kid any more, you know.

Then why are you laughing? Luke gave her a mischievous look. Come on, then.

Ellie stood watching him for a moment, as he moved into the Centre. Then she followed.

Mum wouldn’t be with Journeyback for much longer. It was just as well she had Luke’s mobile number. She still had the text he’d sent to wish her a Happy Birthday. Somehow, she’d wanted to keep it.

When they entered the refectory, it was almost closing time. A waitress was wiping the plastic-topped tables. Ellie was disappointed to see Charlie sitting at one of them. She’d quite liked the idea of a quiet cold drink with Luke.

Charlie was looking glum, as usual. He was supposed to be going to uni in September, but still had two weeks to go before he got his exam results. Apart from Mum’s job, the biggest family rows lately were about Charlie’s tuition fees. The previous evening, Ellie had overheard Mum on the phone to Dad.

No, Jon… no… well, thank you, Jon, but I’m more than capable of paying for any course Charlie might want to do. I don’t need your help. I don’t need your money, or the house, or… well, the difference between us, Jon, is that I earned what I’ve got!

Ellie thought Mum was being rather silly. Now Dad had money, there was no reason why they couldn’t accept his help.

Meanwhile, Charlie was spending his summer working in the Priory’s gift shop. That wasn’t right, either, thought Ellie. He’d done all the training, as a Journeyback guide. He should be taking people on tours by now, not putting their plastic rulers and jars of marmalade through the till. At least he was earning a few quid, to tide him over.

Hey, mate. Luke had bought colas for himself and Ellie, and sat down at Charlie’s table. Ellie sat beside Luke. Good day?

No, Charlie said. He had an almost-empty orangeade can in front of him, and was playing with