City of Time by Eoin McNamee Read Free Book Online Page A

stared at Owen and Cati, grim-faced. “We're in big trouble, ain't we?”
    Mary White knew that it had to be now. She had gone out to her garden that morning. Usually it was her favorite place at this time of year, full of ripe fruit and autumn reds and browns. But now all was gray and withered. Normally she kept the radio on for company, and this morning she caught snatches of it coming through the window. They were talking about un explained crop failures, deaths of livestock.
    It is happening quickly
, she thought. Her contribution would be small and would cost her dear, but she had to move now.
    She checked the front of the shop. Johnston's truck was no longer there. He probably had plenty of spies around during the day to let him know if she ventured out, but she didn't care if they saw her. All she had to do was get to Owen's house. It didn't matter what happened on the way back. She put on her coat and grabbed a walking stick from the stand in the hall. Then she took a deep breath and stepped out into the road.
    It was quiet. The road was never busy. Mary put herhand up to her hair, to make sure the ornate hairpin was still there, and started to walk. She could feel her heart beating in her chest. The world seemed more alive than she had ever known it, and more under threat.
You just do your part
, she said to herself,
and let others worry about the rest of it
.
    It was only a few minutes to Owen's house, but it seemed to take forever. And the garden gate squealed so loudly.
Fit to wake the dead
, Mary thought, then shuddered at the idea. She followed the overgrown garden path around the corner of the house and slipped in through the kitchen door. She heard a gentle humming sound from the living room and followed it.
    Owen's mother was standing at the table arranging a vase of flowers. The room was untidy and dusty. There were dirty dishes on the floor and one of the curtains hung limply from a broken rail. But Owen's mother did not seem to notice. In contrast, the flower display was beautiful and delicate.
    “Hello, Martha,” Mary said gently.
    Owen's mother turned round, smiling when she saw the old woman. “Mary, it's good to see you!” she said. “Come into the kitchen. I'll make you some tea.” She looked worried then. “I'm not sure if there is any tea. But anyway. You look great.”
    “So do you,” Mary said, though Martha looked pale and in need of makeup and a hairbrush. When Owen called at the shop, Mary always asked after his mother and his silence told her that things were not well. As shewatched, Martha moved her hands in front of her face distractedly, almost as if invisible cobwebs were hanging in her face and tickling her.
    “Come over here and sit down,” Mary said, taking Martha by the hand. She led her to the sofa, where she had to clear old magazines and clothes from the cushions first. “Tell me, what do you remember?”
    Owen's mother's eyes met hers. “Remember?” she asked. “What do you mean? I … do I …? I was married once. Mary, do you remember him? We got married in … Where did we get married?”
    Mary sighed. There was a lot to do. Martha's mind had been frozen all the way through. But she had to be brought back and it would take all the strength Mary possessed, that and more perhaps. With a surprisingly strong grip, she took hold of both of Martha's hands and started to talk.
    After a few minutes Martha began to shake her head, trying to break the old woman's grip, but it was no good. Tears streamed down her face and then she began to wail.

O wen, Wesley, and Cati moved upriver swiftly and silently. They didn't see any more signs of what was happening to time. They didn't need to. Owen thought that the sight of the skeletal whale would stay with him forever.
    When they reached the Skyward they found Dr. Diamond surrounded by dusty volumes piled high on the floor. The walls were covered in maps. Some of the books were ancient, with strange astronomical symbols. Others