Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper

Author:Susan Cooper
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

• Chapter Nine •

Barney, left behind, flattened his nose against the window of Jane’s bedroom. He saw Simon and Jane glance up and wave, but Great-Uncle Merry was marching along without looking to right or left, a tall thin figure vanishing into the dark. Barney smiled to himself. He knew that determined stride very well.

He peered after them until he could see nothing in the darkness but the lights of the village dancing in the black rippled water, among the ghostly boats. From the Witherses’ yacht, there was no light at all. He turned away from the window, sighing a little at the frustration of being left out. To comfort himself he took a firmer hold on the telescope case which Simon had solemnly handed over to him when they came up to say good-by. At once he felt better. He was a knight entrusted with a sacred mission, he had been wounded in battle but had to guard his secret just the same . . . he bent each leg gently in turn, and winced at the burning tightness of the skin over his knees. The enemy were all round, hunting the secret which he held in his charge, but none of them would be able to get near. . . .

“Now then, back ’ee come to bed,” Mrs. Palk said behind him, unexpectedly. Barney swung round. She was standing massive in the doorway, with the light from the landing streaming round her, watching him. Barney’s fingers instinctively curled tighter round the cool metal case, and he came towards her, padding softly on his bare feet. Mrs. Palk backed out on to the landing to let him through the door. As he passed close to her she reached out her hand curiously.

“What’s that ’ee got there?”

Barney jerked the case out of her reach, and then quickly forced a laugh. “Oh,” he said as casually as he could, “it’s a telescope of the captain’s I borrowed. It’s jolly good. You can see all the ships going past out in the bay. I thought I might be able to watch the others go down to the harbour with it, but it’s not much good in the dark.”

“Oh ah.” Mrs. Palk seemed to lose interest. “Fancy that, I never seen the captain use any telescope. Still, there be all sorts of strange things in this house, more than I shall ever know about, I’ll be bound.”

“Well, good night, Mrs. Palk,” Barney said, making for his own room.

“Good night, midear,” Mrs. Palk said. “Just give me a shout if ’ee want anything. I reckon I’ll be going to bed myself soon, my days of waitin’ up for fishermen are over.” She disappeared downstairs, and the landing light went out.

Barney switched on the lamp at the side of his bed and quietly closed the door. He felt unprotected, and rather excited still, without Great-Uncle Merry in the house. He thought of pushing a chair against the door, but changed his mind when he remembered that Simon would fall over it when he came back.

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