Devil's Rock - Chris Speyer [76]
Then, Zaki saw what Anusha had seen and it made the hair on the back of his neck creep – it was something he’d never noticed before, but then, why would he? It would never have meant anything to him before. The lettering on the boat’s bow said Curlew.
‘Your great-grandad built Curlew!’
‘No,’ corrected Zaki, ‘rebuilt. Look, don’t you see? They’re putting a cabin on her. She was an open fishing boat and they’re converting her to the way she is now.’
‘What’s so very interestin’?’ They turned to find Grandad standing in the doorway.
‘This boat . . .’ Zaki began.
‘What of it?’
‘Do you remember who the owner was?’
‘I wasn’t much more than a boy when that was taken.’
‘But do you remember the owner?’
‘P’rhaps.’
‘Grandad, it could be important.’
‘Matter of fact, I do ’cause it was unusual.’
‘How?’ asked Zaki.
‘Why?’ asked Anusha.
Grandad looked from one to the other.
‘’Cause it was a young woman. Unusual in them days.’
‘What was her name?’ demanded Zaki.
‘Her name? No, I can’t recall her name.’
‘Please try,’ begged Zaki.
‘Was it Rhiannon?’ asked Anusha.
‘Why’s it so important?’
‘It’s important because I think we’ve met her!’
‘No, boy. She’d be dead by now. Or if she isn’t, she’d be an old woman.’
‘She’s on this boat anchored up Frogmore Creek!’
Grandad took the photograph from Zaki, ran his hand gently over the frame, then carefully returned it to its place on top of the television.
‘Same boat p’rhaps – different owner.’
‘It was a fishing boat – right? An open boat, and your dad put a cabin on her.’
‘Oyster boat from Falmouth. Now, I’ve listened to enough nonsense. Time I was takin’ you two home.’ It was clear that for Grandad the subject was closed. Zaki wondered why he was so reluctant to talk about it. Had the girl talked to Grandad all those years ago? Told him her story? No, she wouldn’t have; she kept herself to herself. But perhaps he had sensed there was something strange about her.
‘What are you going to do about not sleeping? How are you going to stay awake?’ asked Anusha as they followed Grandad out to the car.
‘I don’t know. I suppose I’ll just stay awake as long as I can.’
‘Maybe you should have sort of catnaps – don’t go to sleep for too long.’
‘Once I’m asleep I tend to stay asleep.’
‘I could telephone you. Wake you up every half-hour.’
‘You’ll probably get my dad or Michael.’
‘Have you got an alarm?’
‘Yeah – I’ve got an alarm.’
‘If you want to talk to someone, just call me. I’ll have my mobile in my room. Doesn’t matter what time it is.’
They’d reached the old Volvo. Its doors creaked and complained as they opened them, and they needed to be slammed shut. Then they were off back to Kingsbridge.
g
Chapter 20
Zaki went straight upstairs to his room. He took the mask out of his rucksack and looked around for somewhere to hang it. Like all the rooms in the house, except Michael’s, the walls were bare. Michael had ignored their father’s fretting about the fresh plaster and covered his walls in posters.
There was a solitary picture hook on which hung a mirror. Zaki took down the mirror and leant it against the wall. He hung up the mask and sat on his bed for a moment looking at it.
The sound of Michael’s guitar came through the adjoining wall. The guitar stopped. After a pause there was the sound of a computer-generated drumbeat and the guitar began again over the top of the rhythm.
Zaki left his room and opened Michael’s door.
‘What you doing?’ He tried to sound cheery. It was the first time they had spoken since the moment Michael slammed the van door.
‘What’s it look like?’
‘Can I use the computer later?’
‘What for?’
‘I want to look up some stuff – that’s all.’
‘I’m going out later – so you can do what you like.’
Zaki hung in the doorway, hoping Michael would say something else. But he didn’t.
‘Is there anything to eat?’
‘There’s some pizza in the kitchen.’
‘You want any?’
‘I’ve had some.’
Zaki thought about asking whether their father had been home but decided not to. He waited a while longer but Michael remained hunched over his guitar,