In Darkling Wood by Emma Carroll Read Free Book Online Page B

crosses got wiped off and I was meant to warn her about trespassing.
    ‘Get down!’ I hiss to Flo. ‘She mustn’t see you!’
    We crouch behind a clump of bracken. Fingers crossed it’s enough to hide Flo’s coat. The speakers come into view now. Nell is with a man who’s wearing one of those fluorescent jackets, and as she points at the trees, he scribbles things down in a notebook. I hold my breath. They’re standing near to the fairyring. Another step and they’ll be inside it, and for a split second I think about warning them, though of what, exactly?
    I bite my lip. My heart keeps thudding, not from nerves now but something else.
    I sense Flo watching me.
    ‘What?’ I mouth.
    She gives me a tiny smile. ‘You feel it too, don’t you? You know there’s magic in these woods.’
    I’m not sure what I’m feeling, but as I look at Nell and the man my fists seem to clench up tight.
    ‘I knew I could count on you, Alice,’ Flo whispers.
    I don’t know what to think, but it seems we’re friends now, which is a start, at least.

10
    ‘How was school today?’ Nell asks at supper.
    I’m relieved that’s all she’s asking. It would’ve been worse – much worse – if she’d caught Flo and me hiding in the woods.
    ‘Did you make any friends?’
    ‘Not really.’
    ‘Why was that, dear?’
    I hesitate. But she’s in a good mood so I tell her.
    ‘People in my class seem to know about the woods.’
    ‘And?’
    I fiddle with my fork. ‘It’s like they’re judging me because of it.’
    ‘The eco-warrior bunch, eh?’
    Her cheerfulness is down to that man in the fluorescent jacket, who apparently is a tree surgeon she hopes will do the job. I think of what Flo said about home, and how peaceful it felt out there under thetrees this afternoon. Maybe there is magic in Darkling Wood – not fairies, but something . Perhaps it isn’t right to destroy the whole wood. There might be some other way.
    ‘What’s the matter?’ says Nell. ‘You’re scowling.’
    ‘Just thinking,’ I say and turn away to get plates down off the dresser.
    The microwave pings. As Nell opens the door to take out a plastic container of bubbling white gloop, my stomach heaves. I can’t face much more of her cooking.
    After forcing down supper, my next challenge is tonight’s homework, which is maths and some verbs to learn for French. Nell’s shut herself in the library so I spread my books out over the kitchen table. Tucked in my old school planner I find the card I made for Theo. It’s looking tatty; the edges are curling and there’s a sweet wrapper stuck to the back. A decent sister would’ve sent it by now. It’s no good to anyone stuffed inside my bag.
    I can’t concentrate on homework tonight, so, putting it to one side, I get my borrowed school uniform out to wash. Except the washing machine’s so old I can’t make it work, so I fill the sink with hot water and do everything by hand. Borage watches fromhis bed. Just as I’m draping things around the stove to dry, the phone rings.
    ‘Don’t touch,’ I warn him as I run to answer it.
    Nell gets there first like she’s expecting a call.
    ‘It’s your mother,’ she says, handing me the phone.
    ‘Hi sweetie, how was today?’
    Mum sounds cheerful. I’m so glad to hear her that my eyes go misty.
    ‘It was all right,’ I say. ‘What about Theo?’
    ‘Have you got to wear the uniform? What colour is it? Don’t tell me it’s dark green – we had to wear that at my old school and it was …’
    ‘MUM!’
    She stops.
    ‘How is he? Is the infection clearing up? When can I see him? When can I come home?’
    There’s a pause.
    ‘I’ve done him a card,’ I say.
    Mum sighs. ‘You are sweet. I’m sure you can visit him soon.’
    ‘And Dad? Does he know how Theo is?’
    ‘I’ve spoken to him now, yes.’
    ‘Is he coming to the hospital?’
    ‘I don’t know. Apparently the baby’s teething so …’ She trails off.
    Excuses. More excuses.
    ‘So,’