“Hey,” Mitch says to Rose. “You made an ice storm.”

Rose looks up and laughs. “I did, didn’t I?”

Then Mitch scoops up some the ice, opens a vial, and lets a few drops of golden liquid fall onto it. “Dandelion juice,” she says as she pats it into a ball, “infused with a dash of unicorn pee.” Then she tosses it toward Rose. It flies through the air, but just before it smacks Rose in the face it dissolves into sunshine.

Rose grins into the golden light. It’s not a Harriet smile, it’s a proper smile, and it’s so big it makes her freckles stretch across her cheeks. Then Mitch laughs and shoots across the ice, pulling Rose into her arms.

Chapter 51

Rose and Mitch are so wrapped up in each other they don’t notice what is happening around us.

The ice is breaking up. Maybe Mitch’s ice spell has stopped working, or perhaps it was Rose’s rage. Whatever the reason, the cracks are getting wider and chunks are floating away.

Crowky must be worried that he won’t reach us because now he’s half running, half flying toward us, leaping between ice floes. His wings stretch wide as he jumps and lands in front of us with a thud. Like us, he’s exhausted. He takes great shuddering breaths, all the time clinging to the Box.

But the sight of me gives him his energy back. He’s so close to getting what he wants. He puts the Box on the ice and smiles, knowing that the writing will appear at any moment. “What’s in the box, Arthur?” he says.

It’s as if the Box has heard his words. Immediately the letters start to form, dazzlingly bright against the cardboard. One look at Rose makes me realize that I actually want my name to appear. She’s slumped against Mitch, too tired to move. I force myself to get to my feet and Win does the same.

I hear a crack behind me followed by Rose shouting, “Arthur!”

The chunk of ice we’re standing on has split in two. Mitch and Rose are drifting away from us. They’ll be fine, I tell myself. Mitch can push Rose to the ship. But I’m not so sure about me and Win. We’re stuck with Crowky and the Box, and the message is almost complete.

What’s in the box? glows, and then I see a sweeping A followed by an R. The rest of my name appears with frightening speed. I can’t stop this now. I’m sorry, Grandad, I think as Crowky’s twig fingers pull back the lid. “Take me to Home, Arthur,” he yells.

I grab hold of Win’s arm, and he must feel my fear because he shouts, “Leave my friend alone!”