Part 19 (1/2)

'I feel like that, too,' she said. 'But I can't do anything about it until I've got my friend out of the zoo.'

'Ah, yes. Your friend. You were going to tell me about your friend.'

Tess relaxed and began to tell the story of her meeting with Kevin and the adventure which had brought them to the Arctic Circle to battle against the krools. It was wonderful to be able to relive her experiences once more, with someone who understood and seemed to appreciate them. She told him everything, right up to Kevin's return and his capture by the zoo authorities, and then she fell silent. Martin was silent, too, and Tess had the impression that he wasn't sure whether.to believe her or not. In any event, it was clear that he wasn't going to admit that he was impressed. Outside a few birds were beginning their evening song, and on the street below the game of soccer was still going on. As the two Switchers sat there, each engrossed in his or her own thoughts, Martin's mother appeared in the doorway, looking anxious and eager to please.

'A cup of tea?' she said.

Martin nodded without a word, and his mother smiled in acknowledgement. 'Everything all right?'

Again the boy nodded. His mother departed, as though she had been dismissed. Tess was shocked. She turned to Martin, meaning to remark on the nature of his behaviour, but he was smiling so sweetly that she was disarmed.

'How did you find out about me?' he asked.

Tess told him about Algernon and her journey through the city in response to his call.

'What do you want with those stone boxes, anyway?' she asked.

Martin rubbed his chin and looked heavenward, musing. Then he said, 'Let's just say that I have a certain interest in archaeology, shall we?'

'But why?'

'Why not? There are probably hundreds of ancient structures beneath the city that have never been excavated. I'd like to know where some of them are, that's all.'

Tess wasn't entirely happy with the explanation, but she didn't feel she could push it any further. Besides, there were more important matters to be sorted out.

'Well, what about it?' she said.

'What about what?'

'About the phoenix. Will you help me to get him out?'

'How do you propose to do it?'

'I'm not sure, yet. Maybe we could come up with a plan together? I'm sure we could get some help from the rats if we needed to.'

'Hmm.' Martin hitched himself up in the bed and rearranged his pillows. 'The rats are fairly busy at the moment. Besides, I'm bored with all that squirrel and bunny stuff. I've grown out of it, you know?'

'Who said anything about squirrels and bunnies?' said Tess. 'I was a pine marten yesterday and it was brilliant! In any case, I can't see how squirrels and bunnies are going to help get Kevin out.'

'No. You know what I mean, though. It's all a bit tame, isn't it?' Martin was looking into s.p.a.ce as he spoke, as though seeing something in his mind's eye that Tess had no conception of. She was about to ask him what he meant when his mother appeared again at the door with a tray of tea things. She had moved so softly that Tess hadn't heard her approach, and she hoped that she hadn't overheard anything she shouldn't.

Martin made no move to help his mother with the tray, so Tess got up and cleared a s.p.a.ce on the table. She was shocked again by the drained, bloodless look on the woman's face and by the way her hands and arms trembled as though the effort of carrying the tray upstairs had been too much for her.

'Everybody happy?' she said.

'Yes, thanks,' said Tess.

'You can pour, I suppose?'

'Of course I can,' said Tess.

Martin's mother turned to leave, but before she did so, Tess thought she caught an expression of grat.i.tude on her face.

'Why is she so pale?' she asked Martin, after a safe length of time had pa.s.sed.

Martin shrugged, and a queer little smirk crossed his mouth. 'The doctor says she's anaemic. He doesn't know why.'

'Why don't you help her? You could have made that tea yourself, you know.'

Again Martin shrugged. 'Mothers,' he said. 'You know what they're like. They don't want you to grow up because then they have to let you go.'

Tess felt an intense irritation towards the slovenly boy, lying in bed waiting to be spoon-fed. She wanted to tell him to pour his own tea or go without it, but her nerve failed her. If she got on the wrong side of him he might refuse to help her, and she didn't believe that she could liberate Kevin on her own. Suppressing her anger, she filled two cups and handed one across. Martin took it without thanking her.

'Do you want to watch a video?' he asked. 'My mother will go and get one if you do.'

Tess noticed for the first time that there was a TV and video recorder in the corner of the room beside the window, placed so that Martin could watch from the bed.

'No, thanks,' she said, struggling now with her still-rising anger. 'And if I did want to watch one I'd get it myself.'

Infuriatingly, Martin giggled. Tess sipped her tea and looked at her feet. However weak he was, she needed him. She would have to get help from him even if she had to beg for it.

'Will you help me?' she asked.

'I might.' He thought for a moment, then seemed to come to a decision. 'I'll tell you what. I'll consider helping you to get your friend out on one condition.'

'What's that?'

'Well. You've told me about your adventures, and what you've learnt to do with your powers. I'd like you to know what I've learnt as well. How does that sound?'

'Sounds great.'

'Good. Only I'd prefer to show you than tell you. Does that make any sense?'

'I suppose it does.'

'Right. Come here tonight, then, and we can do the rounds together, OK?'

'This evening?'

'Tonight would be better. When dear mother is asleep. Say, one o'clock?'

Tess groaned inwardly. Another sleepless night. Another night of worry about leaving the house and getting back in time. But it had to be worth it.