Septimus Heap, Book One_ Magyk - Angie Sage [98]
Until something scratched at the door.
Everyone froze.
Outside on the door something was scratching its claws down the door.
Scritch…scratch…scritch.
Maxie whined.
The Shield Bug stood up and unsheathed its sword. This time Jenna did not stop it. The bug hovered on her shoulder, poised to jump.
“Go see if it’s a friend, Bert,” said Aunt Zelda calmly. The duck waddled over to the door, cocked its head to one side and listened, then gave one short meow.
“It’s a friend,” said Aunt Zelda. “Must be the Boggart. Don’t know why he’s scratching like that though.”
Aunt Zelda opened the door and screamed, “Boggart! Oh, Boggart!”
The Boggart lay bleeding on the doorstep.
Aunt Zelda knelt down by the Boggart, and everyone crowded around. “Boggart, Boggart, dear. What has happened?”
The Boggart said nothing. His eyes were closed, his fur dull and matted with blood. He slumped down onto the ground, having used his last ounce of strength to reach the cottage.
“Oh, Boggart…open your eyes, Boggart…” cried Aunt Zelda. There was no response. “Help me lift him, someone. Quick.”
Nicko jumped forward and helped Aunt Zelda sit the Boggart up, but he was a slippery, heavy creature, and everyone’s help was needed to get him inside. They carried the Boggart into the kitchen, trying not to notice the trail of blood that dripped onto the floor as they went, and they laid him on the kitchen table.
Aunt Zelda placed her hand on the Boggart’s chest.
“He’s still breathing,” she said, “but only just. And his heart is fluttering like a bird. It’s very weak.” She stifled a sob, then shook herself and snapped into action.
“Jenna, talk to him while I get the Physik chest. Keep talking to him and let him know we’re here. Don’t let him slip away. Nicko, get some hot water from the pot.”
Boy 412 went to help Aunt Zelda with the Physik chest, while Jenna held the Boggart’s damp and muddy paws and talked to him in a low voice, hoping that she sounded calmer than she felt.
“Boggart, it’s all right, Boggart. You’ll be better soon. You will. Can you hear me, Boggart? Boggart? Squeeze my hand if you can hear me.”
A very faint movement of the Boggart’s webbed fingers brushed against Jenna’s hand.
“That’s it, Boggart. We’re still here. You’ll be all right. You will…”
Aunt Zelda and Boy 412 came back with a large wooden chest, which they set down on the floor. Nicko put a bowl of hot water on the table.
“Right,” said Aunt Zelda. “Thank you, everyone. Now I’d like you to leave me and Boggart to get on with this. Go and keep Bert and Maxie company.”
But they were unwilling to leave the Boggart.
“Go on,” Aunt Zelda insisted.
Jenna reluctantly let go of the Boggart’s floppy paw, then she followed Nicko and Boy 412 out of the kitchen. The door was closed firmly behind them.
Jenna, Nicko and Boy 412 sat glumly on the floor by the fire. Nicko cuddled up to Maxie. Jenna and Boy 412 just stared at the fire, deep in their own thoughts.
Boy 412 was thinking about his Magyk ring. If he gave the ring to Aunt Zelda, he thought, maybe it would cure the Boggart. But if he did give her the ring, she would want to know where he had found it. And something told Boy 412 that if she knew where he had found it, she would be mad. Really mad. And maybe send him away. Anyway, it was stealing, wasn’t it? He had stolen the ring. It wasn’t his. But it might save the Boggart…
The more Boy 412 thought about it, the more he knew what he had to do. He had to let Aunt Zelda have the dragon ring.
“Aunt Zelda said to leave her alone,” said Jenna as Boy 412 got up and walked toward the closed kitchen door.
Boy 412 took no notice.
“Don’t,” snapped Jenna. She jumped up to stop him, but at that moment the kitchen door opened.
Aunt Zelda came out. Her face was white and drawn, and she had blood all over her apron.
“Boggart’s been shot,” she said.
33
WATCH AND WAIT
The bullet was lying