Doubleborn by Toby Forward Read Free Book Online Page A

tail.
    “You remember,” said Smedge, “when Tamrin used to bully me?”
    Tim stopped and cocked his head to one side.
    He woofed a hesitant, “I don’t think so.”
    “No?” smiled Smedge. “That’s a shame. Oh well. I’d better be off now.”
    “Stop,” woofed Tim. “You can’t leave me like this. I can’t change back.”
    “It’s odd, isn’t it, memory?” said Smedge. “You can’t remember how Tamrin bullied me. I can’t remember how to change you back. Never mind.”
    He walked away. Tim bounded alongside him.
    “I might,” he woofed. “I mean… You know?”
    “You do remember?”
    Tim sat down and looked up at Smedge. Smedge stroked his head.
    “Good boy,” he said. “There’s a good boy.”
    He picked up a stick and threw it. Without even thinking, Tim raced across the grass and brought it back. He dropped it at Smedge’s feet. He even enjoyed doing it at the same time as he hated Smedge. It was strange, being a dog.
    “What do you remember?” asked Smedge.
    “She locked you in a block of ice,” Tim woofed. “And left you there.”
    “Do you remember other things?”
    Tim remembered. He told Smedge.
    “Good boy. Now, will you come with me to Professor Frastfil and tell him?”
    Tim woofed a sad yes.
    Smedge put his hand into Tim’s armpit, lifted him up and he was a boy again.
    “Come with me,” he said.
    Tim followed him from the sunlit garden through the door into the shade. ||

T amrin got ready
    to swing the brass bell when she saw the small group of houses ahead on the road.
    They’d been, if not silent, then guarded in their speech since leaving the barn. Tamrin knew she had been lazy and she was uncomfortable. Perhaps there had been things in the barn they’d missed because she hadn’t bothered to look? Perhaps she could have taken more of a turn with the cart?
    “I’m sorry,” she said.
    Winny didn’t answer her.
    “I don’t do much with other people,” said Tamrin. “I’m not used to it. To helping. To doing what I’m told.”
    Winny nodded. The cart was heavy. She kept her breath for pushing.
    “Are we collecting?” asked Tamrin. “I’ll look properly this time.”
    They had passed several houses and reached one with a path up to the door. Winny turned in and put down the cart handles. The house was long and low. Two storeys, with old red tiles. Small windows and a wide door. Tamrin could smell smoke; a brick chimney, twice the height of the house, stood back and to the right.
    “Not here,” said Winny. “We’re delivering. Come on.”
    She took the handles again and pushed the cart round the side of the house. Set back a little, and joined to the chimney, was a second building, bigger than the first. Dusk had edged in, and the glow of a fire within the second building looked both inviting and dangerous.
    “Old iron,” shouted Winny. “Get your old iron.”
    A man appeared in the doorway, blocking the view of the fire. He was big, wide-shouldered, his face back-lit, obscured. He held out his arms. Winny ran to him and hugged him.
    “What have you brought me?” he asked.
    “Come and see.”
    They walked towards Tamrin, his arm over her shoulders.
    “This is strange old iron,” he said, looking at her.
    “This is Tam,” said Winny.
    “Hello, Tam.”
    He held out his hand for her to shake. She ignored it.
    “I’m Smith,” he said.
    “That’s not a name, it’s a job.”
    “So it is,” he agreed. “But it’s what you can call me. Are you hungry?”
    She was. She was also afraid now. It was too soon. Winny hadn’t told her they were there. And what about the tailor?
    “No, thanks,” she said. “I’m not staying. I’ve got to find someone. Thank you for the company,” she said to Winny. “I’ve got to go now.”
    Winny stepped forward, put her hand on Tamrin’s shoulder.
    “Please stay and eat. Stay for the night. We’ll pick up the trail tomorrow. I haven’t forgotten your tailor. I promise.”
    “Tailors, is it?” said