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10 The Pugs and a
Prophecy
It
was growing later and still there was no
sign of Little Walter. Iggy turned to Mac who was quietly waiting for orders.
‘Before the dark, let us go down to
the sea,’ Iggy said.
Without a word, Mac followed him and
they went out.
‘Look at that sky,’ said Mac, ‘it’s
a true pink.’
Iggy looked up and murmured, ‘Pink
can turn to red—blood red.’
Mac shuddered then tossed his head.
‘What do you expect tonight?’
‘I expect,’ said Iggy calmly, ‘to be
frightened half out of my wits.’ Then, unexpectedly, he chuckled. ‘But I don’t
expect to lose anyone.’
When they reached the sand, Iggy
paused and looked about. ‘Let us stroll until Charles comes to us,’ he said and
Mac trotted with him along the water’s edge. The sky glowed and the gulls
wheeled and peace seemed very near. It was a temptation, Mac admitted to
himself, to forget the spirits and the grieving ghost girl and get on with
their lives in the present.
‘Are you ready?’ said a voice at
their feet. Charles had scuttled up quietly.
‘What do you expect of us?’ said
Iggy.
‘Finish what you’ve begun,’ answered
Charles.
‘What have we begun?’
‘To fulfill the prophecy, of
course.’
‘What prophecy?’
Charles chuckled, ‘You mean Uncle
Thomas hasn’t told you?’
‘Uncle Thomas,’ said Iggy honestly,
‘has told us precious little.’
‘I suppose he both wants this done
and is afraid of it,’ said the crab doing a little dance with the waves.
‘He’s not the only one,’ said Iggy
dryly. Then he added, ‘Charles, I won’t have anything happen to the boy. We
can’t even find him right now.’
‘He’s well enough,’ said Charles
shifting a bit. ‘He’s exploring his territory.’
Iggy moved suddenly. He trotted into
the tiny waves and stood in the crab’s way. Charles moved and began to dance
again. Ignatius moved with him and gently but firmly put a paw on one of his
claws. Charles stopped and looked up. The pink sky became edged with a dark
purple. There was a distant rumble of thunder.
‘Ignatius Oliver, do you threaten
me?’ asked Charles quietly.
‘I tell you,’ said Iggy firmly, ‘I
will not have the boy hurt.’
‘Don’t be stupid,’ grumbled Charles.
‘That’s not an answer,’ said Mac
from the sideline.
‘Do you think,’ asked Charles, ‘that
even a magical crab has all the answers?’
‘Then give me your promise to
protect Little Walter if you can.’
‘That,’ said Charles, ‘you have
without the asking.’ He turned away smartly and continued his dance with the
waves, crooning,
The little
ones will have their say;
And
treasure lost will have its day.
Look
to the waves to yield the gold;
And
turn the night to answers old.
‘What’s that?’ asked Mac.
‘A prophecy of my own devising,’
answered Charles still humming to himself. Then he added, ‘Remember Lucy is
with us all.’
‘How could I forget?’ asked Iggy
without expecting an answer.
Charles began to move away. There
was, the pugs knew, no more to be said, but they stood together and watched
him. Just before he disappeared beneath the waves, he raised a claw in salute.
‘I wish I had a brother,’ he called
out. Then he was gone.
CHAPTER 11 RATTLE AND THE GIRL RETURN
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