The Starspun Web by Sinéad O'Hart

Author:Sinéad O'Hart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2019-11-11T16:00:00+00:00

“So this is a lot to take in, all at once,” Thomas said. “You’re a de Sousa?”

“It can’t be that much of a surprise,” Tess replied. “I mean, look at us.”

Thomas did and he straightaway saw what Tess meant. “I suppose we are a little bit alike,” he admitted.

Tess snorted. “Alike? We could be identical twins. If boys and girls could be identical twins, I mean. We even have the same glasses.”

Thomas leaned closer, peering at her. “Ah. Yes.” Then he sat back. “They look better on me, though,” he said in an undertone, and Tess gave him a halfhearted kick.

“What’s more, whoever lived in my house—Mr. Cleat’s house, I mean—before him was a de Sousa too,” she said. “I don’t know who exactly. There’s lots I don’t know yet.”

“That makes sense,” Thomas said. “In the worlds my parents knew of, this house was always owned by a de Sousa. It’s like a fixed point, they said.”

“Like a pin driven through several sheets of paper. Sticking the worlds together.”

Thomas nodded thoughtfully. “Something like that, I suppose.”

Tess chewed on her lip for a moment. “I just wish I knew why he brought me here. Or there. You know what I mean.”

“Probably not for anything good,” Thomas said. “But he might have done you a favor. I bet he’d kick himself if he knew.”

“What’s that?” Tess gave a curious frown.

“My parents always said there had to be a reason why our family is at the heart of all this, in all the worlds they knew of. They always felt we had the potential to travel between realities, just waiting to be uncovered, and I’m pretty sure it’s something to do with the house. Maybe our natural ability is strongest here. Who knows?”

Tess frowned. “But I used to be able to do it by myself, as a baby.” She paused, looking at him. “At least, that’s what Miss Ackerbee believed. I forgot how as I got older and more attached to Violet.”

Thomas blinked. He didn’t speak for a moment or two. “Well then, you’ve got a gift my parents would’ve marveled at.” He took a long breath before continuing. “They used to hope that one day one of us would do what you’ve just done. I wish they’d been here to see this. To meet you.”

Tess smiled. “Me too.”

Thomas’s chin wobbled. “Anyway. They’re not.”

“So who looks after you?” Tess said. “You don’t live out here, do you?”

Thomas brightened. “More or less. Do you want to see?” He sprang up from the ground and extended a hand to help Tess to her feet. “Come on,” he said. “Up here.”

He hurried to the ladder at the back of the chapel and Tess followed him as he climbed to the workroom. His sleeping mat and blankets were on the floor, his radio burbled softly into the empty air and the Oscillometer hissed. Moose poked his head out of Thomas’s pocket and looked around, his nose trembling. Thomas pushed a crumb of cheese into his pocket and Moose nibbled on it, content.

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