Free Heart of Danger by Fleur Beale Page B

Danyat beside me, steadfast. ‘Go on. Please.’
    Silvern said, ‘You know, it could all be tied up. Think about it – they planned the pandemic so that Taris would get the blame. Stealing one of our children is exactly the crap thing they’d try next.’
    ‘But why? It doesn’t make sense!’ I heard the wail in my voice and tried to breathe deep again.
    ‘It might make horrible sense,’ Marba said, ‘if the mastermind behind the pandemic wants to punish Taris.’
    But I was staring at Oban. ‘What? Say it, Oban! What are you thinking?’
    It was plain he didn’t want to speak and his words came slowly. ‘I think that the mastermind might have worked out that you lot were communicating by using your minds. Maybe he – or she – has similar abilities. Whoever it is might see Hera – and all of you – as a threat.’
    Danyat broke the silence. ‘You have defeated them once already. Very publicly and very humiliatingly. If this idea is right, then you must be wary. All of you.’
    Rynd said, ‘We’re probably not in danger while they’re concentrating on Hera.’
    ‘But Marba, you’d better keep your eyes open,’ Brex said. ‘You might be a target before the rest of us are.’
    ‘We all need to be vigilant,’ Marba said. ‘Any further thoughts anyone? Okay then. Be careful and be online same time tomorrow.’
    I wished they were with me. Silvern, as always when danger threatened, was energised. Her mind didn’t seize up as mine was doing. I longed for her ability to dive into danger, to confront it and to find a way through it.
    Danyat and Oban got to their feet and pulled me up. Danyat hugged me. ‘Take your mind off the panic button, Juno. Keep a clear head, my dear granddaughter. Do it for your sister.’
    Yes. I would have to. ‘I’ll try.’ How weak that sounded. ‘I will. I promise you. No more panicking.’ I squeezed my eyes shut and pictured stillness in my mind. When I opened my eyes, Oban and Danyat were watching me. I smiled at them. ‘Let’s have breakfast. I’m hungry.’
    We didn’t talk of the danger, and instead spoke of everyday things and of how soon Dad and the grandparents would be with us. Before we left the house with Hera I stilled my mind again, searching for a sharpening of the sense of danger that had encircled us for days now. If it was closer, I got no hint of it.
    Ivor arrived, gave me my morning kiss and we set off to school, Danyat and Hera ahead of us.
    ‘So,’ Ivor asked, ‘did your faraway friends come up with any miracle answers?’
    I couldn’t believe it. ‘You’re angry with me!’
    I almost heard him shrug. ‘Not much use denying it.’ But then he sounded angry with himself. ‘Sorry. I guess I got mad because you put them first.’
    I felt a gap yawning between us. I wanted him to understand, to accept that this was how things had to be right now. But all I said was, ‘I didn’t put them first – I put my sister’s life first.’
    He didn’t reply, and his goodbye when we got to school was curt. I wouldn’t think about it, not yet, not while there was still danger in the air, but it was as hard to keep Ivor out of my mind as it was to not give in to the panic.
    Ginevra took one look at my face when I sat down beside her in the physics lab. ‘Boyfriend trouble?’
    I was startled. ‘How did you know?’
    ‘You’re upset and trying not to be. I can sense the steel in your mind.’ She lowered her voice. ‘Look, if it helps – we all know that Ivor can be a bit moody. He’ll be fine by lunchtime.’
    I didn’t know if that helped or not. Just what did moody mean? I was used to Silvern’s moods – but she never hid what she felt. I always knew where I was with her, knew we could yell at each other and stay friends. Not that there was any choice on Taris – you had to get along or else you’d have nobody. But Ivor loved me – that had to mean something. But what if it meant I should put him first above everything else? The thought