Part 12 (2/2)

There are no strange beasts.

Miss Geeves is not, herself, a monster.

It is all a creation of their minds. This new, strange land we find ourselves in is playing tricks upon their sanity.

I hope, in time, the men will forget they ever imagined the forest to be full of monsters. I hope that they will soon call off their search and leave the wild forests for good.

And I hope also, whatever the actual circ.u.mstances of Tessa's escape, that she now finds herself in a happy place.

Regards, Isaac Livingston 'I saw them,' I said, as you put the book down on your lap.

'What do you mean, Tess?' you asked, your voice quiet and thin as tissue.

'I saw the creatures,' I repeated. 'Thomas Walter was not mad. I saw them too, and I have a feeling a really strong feeling that they have something to do with Cat disappearing.'

I only knew this to be true as I said it.

I had a flash, even as my mouth was opening, of a girl, tall and freckled just like you, running through the bushland, her face white and twisted with fear. I heard her heavy shoes crunching through the leaves and twigs. I heard her laboured breathing. And then I heard more footsteps, racing behind her, gaining on her more and more with every step. Almost reaching her, almost catching her ...

And then the memory faded.

'Do you remember, Tess?' you asked. 'Do you remember Cat?'

'I think so,' I said.

You nodded slowly. 'And you say you've seen these ... oh, Tess, look, I'm trying hard to stay calm but what you're telling me is ... What are are you telling me, exactly?' you telling me, exactly?'

'I think that Tessa Geeves I don't know how to explain this, Connolly, but I know know Tessa Geeves is me. When I woke up after my accident, I knew my name was Tessa. I didn't know how, but I Tessa Geeves is me. When I woke up after my accident, I knew my name was Tessa. I didn't know how, but I knew knew. Now, in the same way, I know my name is Tessa Geeves Geeves, and that the girl in this book is me. I know it seems impossible, but '

'It is is impossible,' you interrupted. 'But you really do believe it, don't you?' impossible,' you interrupted. 'But you really do believe it, don't you?'

'I do. I also believe these creatures are real. Because I've seen them. And I've seen Cat.'

'Do you remember ... did she seem safe?' you asked, and I saw veins begin to press hard against the thin skin on your temples.

I remembered again: the running, the fear.

I shook my head. 'No, Connolly. I'm sorry. I don't think she was safe.'

Tears sprang up in your eyes. 'Do you think with your memories we can find her?'

'I can try,' I said and then, thinking of Rhiannah and her bushwalks, 'I think I know where to start.'

Your eyes drifted to the clock on Rhiannah's bedside table. 'Oh, no,' you whispered. You turned to me. 'I have to go now,' you said, getting up unsteadily. 'I have to get back to the office. Vinnie is, well, you know what he's like, but he's in an especially bad mood at the moment. I don't think he's sleeping and so everything I do seems to be wrong. I can't be late back. But you'll call me, won't you, Tess? You'll let me know if you remember anything more about Cat. Anything at all.'

'I'll call you,' I said. I stood up too, and wrapped my arms around you. 'I'm going to figure this out,' I said.

'Thank you,' you replied, kissing me on the cheek.

'Thank you,' I whispered. 'For believing me.'

'I trust you, Tess,' you said. 'So I believe you, even though it's really really hard.' hard.'

As you walked out of my bedroom door, you turned around and asked me one last thing, 'Tess, will you call yourself Tessa Geeves now?'

I shook my head. 'No, Connolly,' I replied. 'I want to stay being Tessa Connolly, if that's okay with you.'

You smiled. 'I'm so glad.'

You hugged me once more, and then you walked away, leaving me alone and wondering what to do next. Something was wrong with me. Something magical. Something terrible. I had been a girl in 1851, and I was a girl now. And I had stripes.

I thought of Rhiannah and Harriet and Sara and what I had seen. I knew knew now they had jumped that wall. I sensed now that something big and wondrous was happening and it involved all of us. But my instincts told me that Rhiannah and Harriet and Sara were a different kind of being from what I was. They now they had jumped that wall. I sensed now that something big and wondrous was happening and it involved all of us. But my instincts told me that Rhiannah and Harriet and Sara were a different kind of being from what I was. They didn't didn't have stripes like mine, and their scent was ... wrong. Bad. Were they the enemy? have stripes like mine, and their scent was ... wrong. Bad. Were they the enemy?

Where were they going on those bushwalks? Did it have something to do with Cat? Had they they been involved in what happened to her? Even though Rhiannah was her friend? Had Rhiannah betrayed her? been involved in what happened to her? Even though Rhiannah was her friend? Had Rhiannah betrayed her?

I couldn't think about it. The idea filled me with a terror so huge that my entire body seemed crammed with it, pus.h.i.+ng all other thoughts and feelings aside.

But I needed needed to think. I needed to remember. I needed to decide what to do next. to think. I needed to remember. I needed to decide what to do next.

And I needed help.

I couldn't go to Rhiannah or Harriet or Sara.

I needed to go to the one person here at Cascade Falls that you said I could trust; the one person you said would look out for me; the person who had been your friend and confidante for so many years.

I needed to go to Ms Hindmarsh.

I arrived outside Ms Hindmarsh's office with my head buzzing and swarming with words and sentences and ways to make her believe me; ways to make her help help me. I held a curled hand up, ready to knock, when the door was wrenched open, and Mr Beagle launched himself out so quickly he nearly collided with my fist. me. I held a curled hand up, ready to knock, when the door was wrenched open, and Mr Beagle launched himself out so quickly he nearly collided with my fist.

When he saw me, he jerked backwards and uttered a little yelp, his hand flying to his chest. I couldn't help smiling. Mr Beagle had seemed quite fierce, that first day when I met him on the school steps and he gave Laurel and Erin a dressing down for their naughty behaviour. Now, I liked him. He was still a bit grumpy he always seemed like he hadn't had enough sleep but he was a good teacher. He was smart and interesting, and pa.s.sionate about history, and we got along very well. He did make a funny noise when he was startled, though.

'Ah! Tessa! You frightened me!' he said, smiling and looking nervously past me down the hallway.

'Sorry, Mr Beagle,' I said. 'I just came to see Ms Hindmarsh.'

'She's not here,' he said quickly. I heard his heart accelerate. I noticed tiny pearls of sweat on his forehead.

I noticed also that the grey circles beneath his eyes the ones that seemed almost permanently stamped on his biscuit-coloured skin were even more p.r.o.nounced today. He looked as though he hadn't slept for a year.

'Oh, okay,' I replied. I was about to turn around and walk away, when something struck me. 'If she's not here, then what are you doing in her office?' I asked, feeling a rush of boldness. And suspicion. Maybe it was his anxious, guilty face, or the loyalty I felt to Ms Hindmarsh for being your friend, but I suddenly felt something was not quite right here.

'Well, I really don't think that's any of your concern, do you, Tessa?' he said, and I noticed for the first time that he held a book in his hand. I just made out the words 'Van Diemen Industries' on its spine before he tucked it hastily under his arm.

'Sorry, Mr Beagle,' I replied, because it seemed like the only thing I could could say without getting into trouble. I couldn't afford to get into trouble and end up in detention. I had too much to do. say without getting into trouble. I couldn't afford to get into trouble and end up in detention. I had too much to do.

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