Free Button Hill by Michael Bradford Page B

saved me from Cobb twice already.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, he told you?”
    â€œHe can talk. We just never understood him before. I have an idea how we can get back to Dayside. And be rid of Cobb once and for all. But we’re going to need the captain’s help.” Dekker leaned on Riley’s shoulder again as they crept out the back door. The oversized toy soldiers were searching the garden. The thought that he was now literally heartless made Dekker sick with fear. He had no idea how that would work in Dayside. But a small insistent voice inside his head forced him to keep moving. Don’t think about it. Just get Riley home. “I don’t think we can get to the train station directly. There are too many soldiers, and we’re not fast enough. Or at least, I’m not fast enough.”
    Riley pointed to the edge of the field. “See those trees and that dip on the other side of the yard? Maybe we could try going that way.”
    â€œThat’ll give us some cover too. Nice one.”
    Riley grinned up at him. They moved out of the yard and crept along the fence. “So how are we going to get out of here?”
    Dekker pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and passed it to her. “Look at what I found in the basement. It’s from a book that has all the train schedules in it.” He pointed to two spots on the page. “This is the passenger manifest for the midnight train. It lists Cobb, Harper, you and me as passengers. That means we’re all supposed to get onto that train somehow. Now look down here at the bottom of the page. This is the entry for the dawn train. It lists you as a passenger, and the station agent told me it has the power to take people home.”
    Riley wrinkled her brow. “What about you?” she asked.
    â€œI haven’t figured that out yet.” Dekker started to say more but stopped when he heard a rustling in the trees ahead. They crouched in the tall grass that lined the fence. “What is it? Can you see anything? Everything looks black and white to me.”
    Riley leaned forward, trying to peer between the nearest trees. Suddenly, she jumped to her feet and ran forward.
    â€œRiley, come back!” Dekker said, struggling to his feet. He heard more rustling from the bushes and then Riley’s laughter.
    â€œEasy now,” came Captain Tom’s voice from the trees. A moment later, Riley emerged with the dog trotting beside her, his black tail wagging. His ears flattened against his head when he saw Dekker. “What happened, lad?” he said, sniffing the air. “You smell awful.”
    Dekker shivered. “Harper turned on me, and Cobb got my heart. I think I’m dead.”
    Captain Tom shook his head. “She must have believed he was her only chance for escape, poor lass.”
    â€œPoor lass? I thought we were helping each other. I thought she liked me. But she was just using me to get what she wanted.”
    â€œThere now. When she realizes she’ll get little satisfaction from Cobb, she’ll feel all the worse for what she’s done.”
    Captain Tom padded closer to Dekker and licked his hand. Dekker felt immediately warmer where the dog had touched him. “No,” said Captain Tom, “I know what completely dead tastes like. You’re only nearly dead. But you’ve got to find your heart soon, or you’ll be too far gone to get back to Dayside.” He licked Dekker again and flopped down beside him. “This may look undignified for a sea captain, but if I warm you up, you may last a bit longer. Sit down here with me. I’ll try not to notice that you smell like rotten fish, and you tell me your plan.”

    After getting his instructions, Captain Tom loped away toward the house. Riley shouldered her backpack and helped Dekker to his feet. Dekker leaned on her more heavily as they neared the train station, and Riley staggered along the fence as best