Free Red Rocks by Rachael King Page B

father’s room. He got in bed beside him and Dad moved over to let him in.
    ‘Scared of the storm?’ His father’s voice was thick with sleep.
    ‘Yeah,’ said Jake, and he almost felt safe again, with his father sleeping beside him. But still he could not sleep. He listened to the stormmoving further and further away, and every night noise sounded like someone trying to get into the house. And now there was one thing he knew for sure. He knew what it was that Cara was looking for. She had come for her skin. Was this why she had befriended his father? Had she sensed her skin was near? And was it possible his father was falling in love with her? He knew now what he had to do.

12
    A s soon as it started to get light outside, Jake got out of bed while his father snored. He hardly ever got up before his dad. The storm had completely gone and the sky outside was streaked with pink and gold. Jake moved quietly into his room. He took his backpack and opened the wardrobe, expecting to be hit by the horrible odour again, but only when he brought the sealskin right up to his face did he smell it.It was milder than the night before, but had the same musky, dirty essence.
    He stuffed it into his bag, but it was too big and stuck out the top. He went into the kitchen and got a rubbish bag from the drawer, which he used to cover it, to protect it from the weather, but also to hide it. His hands shook as he pulled the plastic over the backpack. What if he couldn’t get there in time? What if Cara was outside waiting for him?
    ‘What are you up to?’
    Jake spun around to see his father standing in the doorway, rubbing his eyes and yawning. ‘You’re up early. Do you want some breakfast?’
    ‘I had some already,’ lied Jake. ‘It’s a nice day. Can I go and see Jessie?’
    ‘If you want.’ Dad walked to Jake’s window and looked out. ‘It’s so calm out there now. You’d never know there’d been a storm.’ He turned. ‘Wrap up warm, though. It’s cold at this time of the morning. I should know.’
    Jake nodded and grabbed his coat. He triednot to look at his bag in the corner of the room, in case Dad saw what he was looking at and asked questions. He waited for his father to leave the room, but he just stood there, yawning and scratching his thickening beard.
    ‘Well,’ said Dad. ‘I’m off for a shower. Can’t seem to wake up this morning. I’ve got a lot of work on today, since yesterday was a write-off. You okay with that?’
    ‘Yes, fine.’ Jake started tapping his toes and willing his father to go, which he did. As soon as Jake heard the shower start up, he picked up the bag and threw it on his back, making for the front door.
    ‘What’s in the bag?’
    Jake spun around. His dad was advancing down the hall towards him, a towel wrapped around his waist.
    ‘Nothing,’ said Jake. ‘Just a jacket. And my lunch.’
    ‘But you’re wearing your jacket. What are you up to? I thought you were behaving strangely.’
    Jake didn’t know what to say. He turned away, his heart beating faster. Dad stopped a metre away, scrutinising him. ‘Jake …’ There was a stern warning in his voice.
    Jake opened the front door, but to his surprise and horror, his dad lunged forward and grabbed the bag, wrestling it off Jake’s back.
    ‘Hey!’ said Jake as he lost his balance and fell onto his backside. He struggled to his feet, disoriented by the scuffle, but his father was intent on the bag and unapologetic.
    Dad held the bag up to his face and sniffed. ‘It pongs. What is it?’ He started to pull the plastic bag off the backpack and Jake tried unsuccessfully to stop him. His father was just too strong and batted him away as if he were an annoying insect. In the struggle, Jake came away with nothing but empty plastic wafting in his face.
    Dad just stood there, staring at the open bag with the sealskin sticking out the top of it. The shower was still running down the hall, and steamstarted to roll out of the