I have thought a lot about names recently, because Mum and Dad keep making lists of names for the baby. If it’s a boy, they want to name him Albert, after my grandfather. If it’s a girl, they want to name her Ida, after my great aunt. I suggested Cyrus for a boy and Grace for a girl, but they weren’t sure about either of those. Names are hard. It took me ages to name the chickens.

The bird is pretty small. I think it might be a girl. I shall give it a girl’s name.

“I shall call you Tan,” I tell the bird. “Do you like that?”

She looks concerned.

“Oh, don’t worry,” I say. “It’s not a name I suggested for the baby, so there’s no chance you’ll both have it.”

Tan makes a tiny chirrup at this. She seems happy with her name. I realise I haven’t told her about the baby. Or anyone else, really. There’s been no one to tell. I’ve had to keep my worries and hopes all to myself.

Chapter 9

9

AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL

Despite how tired I am, I manage to stay up for the whole watch that night. Somehow, having Tan there keeps me awake. I do doze off a couple of times, but when I wake I always remember to check on the lantern.

Twice during the night, I have to fill the oil reserve with the pump and wind the wheel to keep the lenses turning. It’s only when the sun rises that I sit in Dad’s chair and finally fall properly asleep.

I dream I am snoozing in my own bed with Tan beside me on my pillow.

For some reason in my dream the room is on fire. Soon the whole cottage is burning. Flames leap around me until Mum and Dad appear. They are ghostly figures, floating in the grey smoke as if they are underwater.

Dad shakes me, trying to wake me from my slumber, but I’m so tired I can’t get out of bed. “Deryn!” Dad cries. “Wake up! You’re on fire!”

“You’re burning!” Mum adds, flapping her arms in the air like wings as she tries to put out the flames.

Mum and Dad make several loud CAWING noises, like seagulls, and Dad sweeps the lamp from the bedside table with a CRASH!

I wake in the keeper’s office.

It is midday and the CAWS are coming from the seagulls outside the window.

But something is burning … for real! I can smell it!

Part of Tan’s nest is on fire. She has knocked over the oil lamp. The last dribble of burning oil must have flooded on to her blanket and set it alight.