Isle of the Dead

14 – Ava

Lief squinted at the gleaming shape. Almost instantly he realised that it was not some strange vision floating in mid-air, but a huge metal sign. The sign was attached to the roof of a small building that was so brown, low and rounded that it looked as if it had grown out of the rock.

Ava’s shop, he thought, his hand moving to the bag of Peppermint Fancies in his jacket pocket.

He knew he should be amazed to find Ava’s shop—any shop—here, in this wild and lonely place.

Yet he was not amazed. And slowly he admitted to himself what in his heart he had known all along.

Tom would not have sent that message and the gift for Ava unless he had been sure that Lief, Barda and Jasmine would pass this way. He had been certain that the companions’ goal was the Isle of the Dead. He knew his sister could help them.

… she sees more than most, and can tell you many things of use… She also has boats for hire…

Their eyes narrowed against the bright light of the island, the companions moved forward, barely noticing that their feet were now on the ground and that they were moving at normal walking pace.

The point narrowed more and more. At last they reached a place where the road curved to return to the main line of the coast. Ahead was a ragged arrow of rock pointing to the two islands.

Ava’s dwelling, topped by its glaring sign, was perched almost at the tip of the arrow. The companions left the road and began to trudge towards the building, their heads bent against the wind.

‘A very strange place for a shop,’ said Barda, shading his eyes as he scanned the rock and the sea beyond.

‘It is likely that this place was not so deserted, once,’ Lief said. ‘The coast road is very broad—and why would anyone make such a road, if there was no-one to travel on it?’

‘Besides, Ava’s sign is like Tom’s,’ Jasmine pointed out. ‘It can be read the same way from both sides, so it can be seen from the sea as well as from the road. She may have had customers who came to her in ships.’

‘If she did, she has them no longer,’ Barda said gruffly. ‘There are no ships in these seas now.’

Lief glanced at him. There had been an odd tone in his voice.

Barda had turned away from the ocean and was frowning down at his feet. A muscle twitched beside his mouth, and his fists were clenched.

Lief felt a sudden chill. He looked quickly out to sea. But there was nothing to be seen. The only dark spot on the white-flecked surface was a flabby mat of seaweed floating near the shining Isle.

If Barda had seen something else—a ship with a broken mast and slowly dipping oars, for example—it was no longer visible.

Or it was not there at all, Lief told himself firmly. It is natural that memories of The Lady Luck should haunt us. But we must not fall into the trap of believing that the ghost ship is truly dogging our footsteps. That way lies madness.

Sea spray was cold on his face. The waves seemed very loud. He looked ahead and with a slight start saw that they had nearly reached the end of the point.

Across the sea, the scarlet island glimmered and the high, shining peak of the Isle of the Dead flashed in the sun. And now Lief could see that the two islands were linked by a ragged bridge of rock—a natural arch spanning churning white water.

But closer, much closer, was the glaring sign. Ava’s shop was directly ahead.

Brown and hunched, built of rounded stones mottled with sea moss, the building was larger than it had appeared from a distance.

The front looked like a modest cottage, with a central door and shuttered windows. The back was higher, with bare, windowless walls.

The boat shed, Lief thought. Again his hand crept to his jacket pocket, as if the bag of Peppermint Fancies hidden there was a talisman.

If the diamond dragon answered his call, it might carry him and his companions directly to the Isle of the Dead. But they could not depend upon it. The dragon might not come at all. It might come, but be unwilling to carry them. They needed a boat.

Slowly the companions approached the shop. Its low roof was thatched with dried seaweed. Wind whistled about its walls, rattled the shutters that covered its windows and tore the smoke rising from its chimney into tatters of swirling grey.

A small notice was fixed to the door.

‘Ava is a witch!’ hissed Jasmine.

‘More likely just a fraud who is as crafty in business as her brother,’ muttered Barda. He pointed to the last line of the notice. ‘As I recall, Tom promises a free gift for every customer also.’

‘He does,’ Lief whispered. ‘But he only gives it if you remember to ask. I wonder if his sister is the same?’

‘Enter, friends, if you are of good will!’

They all jumped violently as the husky voice called from within the shop. With a nervous glance at his companions, Lief pushed the door open.

Inside it was warm, and very dim, for the only light came from a glowing fire. The air was heavy with the scents of herbs and smoke.

Peering through the gloom, Lief noticed first that the walls of the room they had entered were lined with shelves that stretched from floor to ceiling. Every shelf was crammed with jars, bottles, tins and boxes.

Then he saw, crouched in a sagging chair beside the fire, a figure shrouded in a hooded cloak made entirely of the black and white feathers of sea birds.

‘You have found Ava,’ the figure whispered. ‘What is your wish?’

Lief took a breath, but could not speak.

‘A love potion?’ Ava murmured. ‘No. I can see there is no need for that. A cure, then? No… not yet a while.’ She tittered unpleasantly.

Barda cleared his throat. ‘We would like to hire a boat, if you please, good lady,’ he said loudly.

Ava raised her head.

Lief’s heart jolted. The face framed by the hood of the feathered cloak was powdered chalky white, even to the thin lips. Dull brown hair hung limply about the hollow cheeks. The eyes were covered by a tightly wound band of black silk.

Then, for the first time, Lief noticed the white stick leaning on one arm of the chair.

Ava, whose symbol was the eye, was blind!

… she sees more than most…

I have no boats for hire,’ Ava said softly.

‘The sign on your door says you do!’ Jasmine exclaimed.

The woman shrugged. ‘I have only one boat now,’ she said. ‘I do not care to lend it to strangers.’

Her thin white lips curved slightly at the corners. For a fleeting moment Lief saw an eerie resemblance to Tom.

‘Your brother told us of you, Ava,’ he said quickly, before Barda or Jasmine could say anything more.

‘Brother?’ The figure in the chair grew very still.

‘Your brother Tom is—a friend of ours,’ Lief said, feeling in his pocket for the Peppermint Fancies. ‘He told us that you could help us—if you were willing. He sent you a gift.’

Cautiously he moved towards the chair, holding out the bag of sweets. Ava seemed to have relaxed a little. Her nose twitched, but she did not stir.

Lief placed the gift in her lap and stepped smartly back. He held his breath as hands warm in thick black woollen gloves crept from beneath the feathered cloak and clasped the bag firmly.

‘Peppermint Fancies,’ the woman sighed. ‘Ah, Tom always remembers his little sister’s favourite. Clever Tom! But then, he was always the cleverest of us all, even in the old days. Or so it was said.’

She tilted her head slightly.

‘It is not like Tom to admit our relationship,’ she said. ‘Tom values his privacy, as do I. He must have a special reason for helping you. What might that be, I wonder?’

Again her lips curved into that slightly mocking smile. Again Lief felt a stab of recognition.

But this time… this time it was different. This time the smile reminded him not only of Tom the shopkeeper, but of someone else as well.

He caught his breath as memories flooded through him.

It is a matter of business…

Due to circumstances beyond his control… your present doings are more Tom’s affair than he might wish… Perhaps it was always fated to come to this…

Tom always saw himself as the cleverest of us all… of us all…

‘Of course!’ he exclaimed aloud.

He had seen the resemblance—the thin, wide mouth, the lean face, the long limbs, the mocking smile—seen it with his own eyes! But at the time he had not made the connection. He had not realised…

Barda and Jasmine were staring at him. Ava’s smile was fading.

Lief wet his lips. ‘I think Tom felt he had no choice but to help us, Ava,’ he said. ‘He felt he owed it to us. Somehow he learned that we had fallen foul of his brother—and yours. The man we know as Laughing Jack.’

Jasmine and Barda gasped. Ava’s shoulders stiffened beneath the feathered cloak.

‘That man is no brother of mine,’ she rasped.

‘I think he is,’ Lief said. ‘The likeness is—’

‘Jack, Tom and I are of the same blood, that is true,’ Ava broke in harshly. ‘As children at home on the Plains we were very alike to look upon, it is said, and our minds could link as though we were three parts of a whole. But when we grew old enough, we went our separate ways to seek our fortunes. Tom went not so far. I went very far, to the sea where I had always longed to be, though I could not see it with the eyes of the body…’

Her voice trailed off.

‘And Jack?’ Lief prompted softly.

‘Jack went… furthest of all.’ Ava’s white lips were trembling. She made an obvious effort to firm them, and went on rapidly.

‘Long ago Jack made choices that parted him from me—and from Tom—forever. That is why I say he is no longer our brother. Now and then fragments of his thoughts still whisper like evil ghosts in the dark corners of our minds. He is still part of us. But he is our enemy.’

‘He is our enemy, too, Ava,’ Lief said softly. ‘And the greater Enemy he calls his master is trying to destroy our land. Please help us! Lend us your boat!’

‘And if I do, where will you take it?’ Ava asked. She waited for Lief’s answer, her head on one side, her mouth a straight, hard line.

It is a test, Lief thought. She has seen or guessed where we want to go. She is waiting to see if we will lie to her.

‘We must go to the Isle of the Dead,’ he said firmly.

‘So, you have decided to trust me.’ Ava murmured. She sank back in her chair, folding her hands beneath her cloak. The Peppermint Fancies slipped from her lap and fell to the ground, but she did not seem to care or notice.

‘Very well,’ she said. ‘Then hear what I say. No boat can land on the Isle of the Dead. The sea churns around its rocks like milk boiling in a cauldron. To reach the Isle, you must go first to the scarlet island, and cross by the rock bridge.’

‘It sounds almost too easy,’ Barda said.

Ava raised her head. The silk band that bound her eyes gleamed in the firelight.

‘The journey to the Isle may be easy,’ she said slowly. ‘But the Isle itself is another matter. I can tell you nothing of it—except that no-one who has set foot upon it has ever returned. If you value your lives you will forget it, and go on your way.’

A cold knot tightened in Lief’s stomach as she smiled.