The Ghosts of Blackbottle Rock Page 12
Sue grinned knowingly at Charlie and reached out her hand. He hesitated for a moment, then grasped it, and she pulled him closer and turned it into a hug.
‘Well done, Charlie.’
Looking over Sue’s shoulder while he was still in her warm embrace, Charlie thought he saw Dad dab at the corner of his eye with his handkerchief. Maybe he had something in it…
seventeen
The car was all packed and ready to go. It was early Saturday morning, and the gentle light of the rising sun bathed the river and the green hills all around it. The pastel-coloured houses lining the Fowey side gleamed softly, and one window, catching the sun at just the right angle, reflected back a light so bright and dazzling that Charlie couldn’t look at it. A black cormorant skimmed low and fast over the river towards the sea, and a crab boat making an early start followed at its own sedate pace. At first, the only sounds he could hear were the cries of the gulls and the symphony of clinking masts of the many boats anchored in the river. Then, ringing around the valley, came the chimes of the Fowey church clock marking the hour. This was followed by another familiar sound – the distant throb of a boat’s engine. Charlie soon picked out the familiar orange and white Polruan ferry making its first return trip of the day from Fowey, leaving ripples expanding in its wake across the mirror-like surface.
‘That’s them!’ Charlie ran to the railings at the top of the steps. But as the ferry drew closer, instead of seeing his friends looking out for him from the side of the boat as he had expected, he spotted Wei-Li, Mohan and two other passengers leaning over at the stern with their backs to him, gazing into the water. Even the ferryman kept glancing back over his shoulder as he steered. When the ferry was within twenty metres of the quay, Charlie was joined by Dad and Sue, and it was his father who spotted it.
‘Dolphin!’
‘Are you sure?’ Sue asked.
Then Charlie saw it for himself – a triangular shark-like fin, cutting effortlessly through the water as the creature kept pace with the chugging vessel. He could make out its dark, sinuous shape just below the surface – and it was huge. Probably half as long as the boat itself. It twisted and turned playfully, easily darting from one side of the ferry to the other. Wei-Li was trailing a hand in the water and calling softly to the magnificent creature. Charlie broke into a smile. Knowing her, she was probably communicating with it.
The boat’s engine note changed as the ferryman momentarily put it into reverse, bringing the boat to a halt by the steps. But no one disembarked. They were all still watching, as if mesmerised by the grace and beauty of the dolphin frolicking in the water: twisting, diving, occasionally breaking the surface and blowing like a whale. The ferryman and the few locals who were up and about were also captivated, so Charlie knew this must be a special moment even for a community like this one whose life revolved around the river and sea. Sue was taking pictures on her mobile. She had a nice, warm smile, Charlie noticed.
And then, after a few minutes of fun, the dolphin dived deeply and this time didn’t reappear. The show was over, and Wei-Li and Mohan hopped off the ferry, which set off back to Fowey. Charlie thought for a moment that Wei-Li was wearing her Tai Chi costume, but then he saw it was more like a traditional Chinese outfit: a baggy-sleeved, shiny, silken dress with matching trousers in a rich, vivid blue with an elegant pink cherry blossom pattern. She had her gleaming black hair done up in some fancy way, with a little red flower fastened into it. He had to force himself not to stare. But although Charlie didn’t possess Wei-Li’s psychic powers, he somehow knew she had put on her special clothes today just for him…
‘So,’ said Dad, ‘I finally get to meet the famous FPI!’
Mohan stepped forward and handed him a little card. ‘We are at your service, sir, should you ever experience any strange events.’
‘I’m afraid the strangest event I believe in is the way Charlie’s bedroom can look as if it’s been ransacked by burglars two hours after it’s been tidied up.’
Charlie blushed, stealing a glance at Wei-Li.
‘I wonder how long it will take him to let the whole story out,’ mused Sue, looking back at the Beachcomber gift shop.
‘Maybe it will never all come out…’ Charlie couldn’t help commenting.
‘But the parts that really matter will,’ said Wei-Li.
Dad frowned. ‘You are a mysterious bunch! Why do I get the impression I’m an outsider?’
‘Because you’re a non-believer,’ Charlie replied in a spooky voice.
‘So you really are officially ghost hunters?” Sue asked Wei-Li.
‘Ghost helpers. Mostly they are just confused, not even aware that they’ve died, and only in need of a little assistance to be released.’
‘Or they’re just recordings,’ Mohan added. ‘The ferry’s coming back. We have to go. Goodbye, Charlie.’ He offered his hand and there was a rather awkward, formal handshake.
Charlie turned to Wei-Li, and her unfathomable dark eyes held his for a heart-melting moment. Then she ran up and threw her slender arms around him, kissing him gently on the cheek.
‘I hope we can stay in touch.’
There was a fragrance. Charlie didn’t know much about things like that – could have been perfume, shampoo or under-arm deodorant for all he cared. He just knew it was the scent of heaven, and that he would never forget it.
‘Yes. I’d like that.’
‘Told you she fancied him,’ Charlie heard Dad remark to Sue in a theatrical stage whisper. He felt his cheeks flushing, but he didn’t care about that either.
Finally and reluctantly, Charlie made for the car. They had solved the Blackbottle mystery. The spirits were at peace – and maybe not just those of the Blackbottle Disaster, he thought as he glanced at Sue.
It was over. Time for a new beginning.
The engine of the fully laden old car complained as it laboured up Fore Street and out of Polruan.
‘…And I’m sorry if it wasn’t your cup of tea, Chas,’ Dad was saying. ‘I promise you can choose next year’s holiday destination. Any ideas, mate?’
Sue twisted round, looking for Charlie’s reaction. She was smiling. She understood.
Then he turned too, a last look back down the hill. In the gap between the cottages he could see the orange ferry chugging through the sparkling blue waters of the river, carrying Mohan and Wei-Li back to Fowey.
‘Yep. I know exactly where.’
JUVENILE FICTION, NON-FICTION, PARENTING
Our Street Books are for children of all ages, delivering a potent mix of fantastic, rip-roaring adventure and fantasy stories to excite the imagination; spiritual fiction to help the mind and the heart; humorous stories to make the funny bone grow; historical tales to evolve interest; and all manner of subjects that stretch imagination, grab attention, inform, inspire and keep the pages turning. Our subjects include Non-fiction and Fiction, Fantasy and Science Fiction, Religious, Spiritual, Historical, Adventure, Social Issues, Humour, Folk Tales and more.
If you have enjoyed this book, why not tell other readers by posting a review on your preferred book site. Recent bestsellers from Our Street Books are:
Relax Kids: Aladdin’s Magic Carpet
Marneta Viegas
Let Snow White, the Wizard of Oz and other fairytale characters show you and your child how to meditate and relax. Meditations for young children aged 5 and up.
Paperback: 978-1-78279-869-9 Hardcover: 978-1-90381-666-0
Wonderful Earth
An interactive book for hours of fun learning
Mick Inkpen, Nick Butterworth
An interactive Creation story: Lift the flap, turn the wheel, look in the mirror, and more.
Hardcover: 978-1-84694-314-0
Boring Bible: Super Son Series 1
Andy Robb
Find out about angels, sin and the Super Son of God.
Paperback: 978-1-84694-386-7
Jonah and the Last Great Dragon
Legend of the Heart E
aters
M.E. Holley
When legendary creatures invade our world, only dragon-fire can destroy them; and Jonah alone can control the Great
Dragon.
Paperback: 978-1-78099-541-0 ebook: 978-1-78099-542-7
Little Prayers Series: Classic Children’s Prayers
Alan and Linda Parry
Traditional prayers told by your child’s favourite creatures.
Hardcover: 978-1-84694-449-9
Magnificent Me, Magnificent You The Grand Canyon
Dawattie Basdeo, Angela Cutler
A treasure filled story of discovery with a range of inspiring fun exercises, activities, songs and games for children aged 6 to 11.
Paperback: 978-1-78279-819-4
Q is for Question
An ABC of Philosophy
Tiffany Poirier
An illustrated non-fiction philosophy book to help children aged 8 to 11 discover, debate and articulate thought-provoking, open-ended questions about existence, free will and happiness.
Hardcover: 978-1-84694-183-2
Relax Kids: How to be Happy
52 positive activities for children
Marneta Viegas
Fun activities to bring the family together.
Paperback: 978-1-78279-162-1
Rise of the Shadow Stealers
The Firebird Chronicles
Daniel Ingram-Brown
Memories are going missing. Can Fletcher and Scoop unearth their own lost history and save the Storyteller’s treasure from the shadows?
Paperback: 978-1-78099-694-3 ebook: 978-1-78099-693-6
Readers of ebooks can buy or view any of these bestsellers by clicking on the live link in the title. Most titles are published in paperback and as an ebook. Paperbacks are available in traditional bookshops. Both print and ebook formats are available online.
Find more titles and sign up to our readers’ newsletter at http://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/children-and-young-adult
Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHPChildren and Twitter at https://twitter.com/JHPChildren