“Over there,” I said. “In the forest.”

“And there’re signs, you say?”

“Uh-huh. Chalk signs, Una told me. If the rain hasn’t washed them off. Three lines like this—” I held up my hand— “means you have to go that way. There’s ones with wiggly lines when you’re nearby. That means water. And there’s one with a rectangle underneath too. That means shelter.”

“Did you get that, boys? We’re looking for chalk signs.” The mayor ran her tongue along the front of her teeth. “You’ve done well, Maggie. Now, you get off home.”

I picked at the skin on my thumb.

What was Una doing, right now, in the barn?

Was she filling up the Cleercan? Making a fire?

She wasn’t expecting the Parker brothers, that’s for sure.

“Did you hear what I said, Maggie? You can go now.”

“You’ll leave Una alone, though?” I said. “She hasn’t done anything wrong. She’s a good wanderer. It’s just her dad who’s dangerous.”

Grif sniggered. “A good wanderer,” he said, elbowing Lyle in the arm.

“Go home,” said the mayor. “Leave the rest to us. Come on, boys, let’s get through this hedge.”

I stepped back a few paces. The air was lighter after the rain. Easier to breathe. But it didn’t feel as good as I thought it would.

The mayor and the Parker brothers crashed through the hedge. Made the thin part even thinner, so I could see through it even from back here. They marched towards the forest, stamping down the brighter, fresher grass.

I ran my fingers over Grandad Cruise’s watch.

I’d done the right thing. Completely the right thing. The mayor was protecting Fennis Wick. Wanderers were bad, apart from Una. And they were going to leave Una alone.

There was a tiny wind-up knob on the side of the watch. It had little ridges all round the edge. I ran my fingernail over them.

Jed. What was he doing now? His first evening at camp.

Hope he was still with Lindi.

I walked under Lindi’s tree, between William Whittington and Georgina Millicent Cruise.

The dead relatives were silent. Not a word. Not a whisper.

Maybe chalk marks didn’t really last very long. Maybe they couldn’t have survived a downpour like that.

SUNDAY
7 SEPTEMBER

CHAPTER 21

Sunday. Una’s made-up birthday.

I pulled up the blackout. A dull, grey sky. The first in ages. Thin rain pattered the window. Goosebumps shivered up my arms. Autumn.

I told Una I’d go to the cemetery. Do the things you do when it’s your birthday.

I stood in front of the mirror. Tried to wiggle my ears. Hopeless.

An ache dug at my chest. Una would know it was me who turned her dad in. Would she even want to see me any more?

I picked up my shorts.

Too cold today.