Chapter Eighty-One
Eighty-One
Strings
When I wake a few hours later and am tiptoeing to the loo so as not to disturb any light sleepers, I see Goodithea resting in her chair, her eyes slightly open, as usual. Except this time, she’s not actually asleep.
‘He’s for you,’ Goodithea says, in her clear, high voice.
‘Pardon?’ I say, wondering if she could be sleep talking.
‘And you are for him. I knew. As soon as I saw you together, I knew, you see, because of the strings.’
I stare at her. She’s not sleep talking, she’s wide awake. Her blue eyes are fully open now, bright in a sea of wrinkles.
‘The strings tie you together,’ she says. ‘I see them. So does Radigon.’
I can’t take another step. I can’t talk. All I can do is hold her gaze, until she closes her eyes, lays her head on the wing of her chair and rests.
*
When we wake in the morning, the worst of the storm is over.
I look over at Caleb, rubbing sleep out of his eyes.
‘The wind’s dropped,’ he says, quietly.
I nod. ‘Life returns to normal again.’
Which is what we’ve all been wanting, been waiting all night for, so… why do I feel sad?
We’re walking back home, Ted tucked into my own jacket now, looking in silence at the huge waves crashing on the beach, when we see a small figure with a gleaming red surfboard walking towards the water.
I’d recognise that board anywhere. Joshua.