She surveyed the inky surface of the lake and briefly wondered if she should dive after the ghost-children before dismissing that idea entirely. It had been impossible to see anything down there and besides, the Merrow was too powerful. If Cat went after her in a fight she wouldn’t win.

She was beginning to despair when finally, after what seemed like hours, the surface broke and before her was the Merrow. She cradled Shane against her side with one arm and Cat saw how pale he was. She was too far away to see if he was breathing. Behind her floated the ghost-girl who stared at Cat with wide, pleading eyes.

‘So, little one,’ said the Merrow, her voice like velvet rubbing against sandpaper. ‘My children tell me you want to strike a bargain. Come on then, tell me. What is it you can offer me?’

Chapter Fifteen

Spirits and Stone

When Cat and Shane were small, before they got too old for such things, one of their favourite games to play was ‘Pirate Astronauts from Jupiter’. The rules tended to change each day, but no matter what the situation, Cat would always insist on being the captain. Whenever Shane complained that Cat was being unfair, she would simply remind him that captains needed to be decisive.

‘What if we get attacked by the Fifth Martian Interplanetary Fleet again, Lieutenant? We need someone willing to make some hard choices – this ship won’t save itself!’

In the end, Shane always agreed with her. Once upon a time he had trusted Cat to be his captain and, as she stood knee-deep in the flooded field about to risk everything on a bargain with a real-life sea creature, she was determined to prove herself worthy of that trust again.

‘Well?’ said the Merrow, ‘Spit it out, child. What is this bargain you speak of?’

Now they were face to face, Cat could see how large and imposing the Merrow really was. She was easily over six feet tall with long, corded muscles in her arms and shoulders. Her hands were large and strong, and Cat had no doubt they could easily choke the life out of her. She hoped she was doing the right thing.

She took a breath and summoned her inner captain.

‘I couldn’t help but notice that you’re a long way from the sea,’ she said.

The Merrow narrowed her red eyes to slits. ‘What of it?’

‘It’s just that … well, you can’t be happy here, now can you? There are no waves, no salt air. It must be very lonely.’

‘And what would a girl like you know of loneliness?’ spat the Merrow, her grip on Shane tightening. Cat hesitated. She would have to tread carefully if she was going to get the Merrow on her side.

‘I know more than you might think,’ Cat said. ‘I know what it’s like to feel abandoned, to worry you might never see your friends or your family again.’