Nell wriggles in her grasp. “But I want to go with Arthur and Rose!”

“Well, you can’t. Crowky’s back, and that means he’s going to want his castle back too. We’ve got to protect the Crow’s Nest.”

“Not fair!” shouts Nell, twisting and turning, but Stella just tightens her grip.

“Stella’s right,” says Rose. “We think Crowky’s heading toward the End, but it could be a trick. You know what he’s like. And it’s not just the Crow’s Nest that needs protecting; it’s all of Roar.”

Her words stop Nell’s struggling and she stands next to Stella and the other Lost Girls.

“Good luck!” shouts Stella as the honey badgers push us deeper into the sea, then jump on board. “Make sure you get Crowky properly this time!”

The honey badgers grab the oars and I notice that they smell powerfully like a hamster’s cage. Then they start to row.

The Lost Girls wave and shout goodbye as we move out to sea. Some of them run into the water, calling out things like, “Give Crowky a smack from me!” and “Bring us back some snow!” but soon they are just silhouettes on the shore, the flames of their fire burning brightly behind them.

The badgers row in near silence, occasionally letting out a soft growl. Their oars dip in and out of the waves. A cool breeze runs off the sea. I turn away from the Lost Girls and look ahead to the Bowt.

It sits high in the water, groaning as it sways from side to side. It looks dark and shadowy and the shark’s mouth adds to the air of menace. I’m starting to feel uneasy, but I tell myself this sinister boat is just what we need to face Crowky . . . and it’s nothing compared to what could come out of the Box.

We pull up alongside the algae-covered planks of the hull. One of the badgers grabs hold of a rope ladder and holds it still while the other climbs up. I watch as its round bottom disappears over the side of the ship.

Now it’s our turn.

Rose puts her hand on one of the rungs, but she looks unsure. Her eyes go back to shore, where the fire is glowing and the Lost Girls are still playing. I understand why she’s hesitating. We don’t know what is waiting for us on deck, or at the End, or even in the Box. Climbing this ladder is the first step into the unknown.

“Rose,” I say, “before we left Home, Grandad told me that feeling scared is the start of the very best adventures.”

“Grandad also says that chips count as one of your five veggies a day,” she replies.

“That’s good advice,” I say, which makes her laugh. “After you, captain,” I add, and with a brave nod Rose starts to climb.

Chapter 26