Free Red Fever by Caroline Clough

was shocked at the ferocity of the man chasing the boy and at his dad’s apparent lack of concern for his safety.
    “Dad?” he asked. “Why didn’t you bring Lady into the harbour? I nearly didn’t make it.”
    “I couldn’t take Lady into the harbour. I couldn’t risk that man getting on board.”
    Toby stared angrily at his dad, even though he knew that he was right.
    “Toby, I wouldn’t have let him hurt you,” his dad insisted. “I didn’t know how deep the harbour was either. I didn’t want to go aground.”
    “So you left it to me to rescue the boy … Cheers, Dad.” Toby felt a hot and furious anger towards him. His father had been willing to gamble on his son’s life to protect his own and Sylvie’s.
    “Here, you’re in shock,” said his dad, offering Toby a large fleecy jacket. “Go to the cabin and keep warm. I’ll keep an eye on these two.” He motioned to the boy and dog, who were sitting in front of the wheelhouse. “We’ll be home soon.”
    Toby shrugged off the jacket and stormed out.

9. Jamie McTavish
    Sylvie’s bed was covered in Barbie dolls and scraps of fabric. She usually loved to make dresses and outfits for them, but she’d got them out and felt too poorly to make anything new.
    Toby put his hand to her forehead. She was burning up, and her rash still looked red and angry.
    “How are you feeling, Sylve?” asked Toby.
    “Not very well,” she snuffled, trying to sit up.
    “Shh, just you rest now,” said Toby.
    “I had a really long sleep,” said Sylvie. “I dreamt I heard a dog barking. Then I heard its claws scrat, scrat, scratting on the deck. It was horrible, Tobes.”
    “Ah, well, Sylvie, whilst you’ve been asleep, something has happened. We’ve a boy come aboard.”
    “A real boy?” she gasped.
    “Yep, a real boy and he has a real dog with him.”
    “A dog?” she croaked, dropping all her Barbies on the floor. “No, Toby, tell me it’s not true! Tell me you’re making it up, aren’t you?”
    “No, Sylvie,” he said gently. “I’m not. But you mustn’t be scared of this dog because she is just like Monty was. She’s a big friendly dog. You’ll see.”
    “A big dog?” Sylvie exclaimed. “I don’t want to see a big dog. I don’t like big dogs, Toby, you know I don’t!” Toby could she see was getting panicky. The little colour she’d had had drained from her face and her eyes were wide with fear.
    “It’s OK, honest. You’ll love this dog. She’s like a big fluffy teddy bear. But if you don’t want to meet her, that’s OK too. She won’t be coming in here, and we’ll be home soon, and then she’ll be gone.”
    “We’ll be home soon?” she asked. “Oh, I want to be at home. I want to see my chickens again, and Henry’s sick of being cooped up in his hutch. I want to feel better so we can go outside and play again. Are you going to come and play too, Toby?”
    “Yes, I’ll come and play. That’ll be great. Now let’s get all this Barbie stuff tidied up before Dad sees it. Y’know what a stickler he is for being tidy.” Actually, his dad was very tolerant of Sylvie’s messes; in fact, anything Sylviedid was OK with his dad.
    Toby tousled the top of Sylvie’s hair with his hand. He did love her. She reminded him of his mum, and though that was painful, it also felt like a bit of his mum was always with him.
    Toby pulled on several thick jumpers and a pair of woolly gloves. His hand had been getting sorer but he hadn’t had time to think about it. He winced as he pulled the glove over the stained and grubby hankie that was still acting as a dressing. He was so cold, even with all the layers on, but he went outside anyway. He wanted to speak to the boy.
    He found the boy and his dog exactly where he’d left them. They were sitting staring out to sea at the front of the prow. He sat down beside them.
    “Thanks for saving me and Belle. We wouldn’t have made it without you coming along at just the right moment. I was so