Black Tide by Caroline Clough Page B

things that hadhappened to him and his family. Tash looked at him sympathetically. He took a deep breath and changed the subject. “Did the men say where these places were?”
    “They did mention a fort. Could it be another place like this? They said that there was a lot of stuff there that needed moving.”
    “Er, well, in Scotland there are some towns that have ‘fort’ as part of their name, such as Fort Augustus, Fort William and… Actually, they’re the only two I can think of.”
    “Fort William?” said Tash. “That sounds right, a man’s name. It was a man’s name!”
    “Fort William? You think it’s Fort William? That’s at the end of the Caledonian Canal. It’s where Ben Nevis is. I know that ’cause my dad used to go climbing on Ben Nevis. He said he’d take me one day when I was big enough. There’s a famous climbers’ café there where my dad used to have his coffee and buns before setting off. He used to text me from it.”
    Toby was excited having heard where his dad and Sylvie might be. Suddenly it seemed possible that he could go there and find them. Then, just as suddenly, he felt deflated.
    “Sounds like the raiders have got some sort of warehouse or depot there. But how can I be sure that’s where Dad and Sylvie are?” he asked Tash. “All we know is that they have been taken to see the General. We don’t know if he’s at Fort William or at this New Caledonia – wherever that is. It could be near Fort William or somewhere else entirely!”
    “We don’t have much choice, do we?” observed Tash. “At least if we go to Fort William we might find out more about New Caledonia. First, though, I think we need to sleep on it,” she continued, in her bossy, mothering sort of voice. “We’re too tired to think straight just now.”
    “Yeah, you’re right, but I know where I’m going as soon as I’ve had a sleep. Me and the Lucky Lady are heading for Fort William. You haven’t got a map have you?” he asked, trying to hide an enormous yawn. He didn’t like the idea of leaving his dad and Sylvie another night yet he knew he was too exhausted to take on the General and his henchmen.
    “Get some sleep, Toby,” replied Tash. “We’ll talk in the morning.”
    He lay down on the settee, finding the Henry cushion once more to cuddle. He lay awake for a while trying to work out the best way to get out of the fort, past the dogs, and past the raiders to reach the Lucky Lady . Once on Lady he knew he would be ok.
    “You’ll look after me, won’t you Lady ?” he murmured, as he fell into a deep sleep.
     
    Down in the cave it was hard to tell the time of day. When Toby awoke he snatched up his watch to see if he’d overslept, but the hands were pointing at twelve and three.
    Three o’clock in the morning! Better get going. With any luck the raiders will still be distracted by the dogs or, even better, they might’ve secured the fort and gone to bed. Just need to get across the beach to the harbour. Surely there’s nothing around there to interest the dogs?
    He wondered if he could slip out without waking Tash but then thought that wasn’t very fair of him. She had looked after him and proved to be a friend after all. She had even found out critical information for him. He felt a little annoyed that she, rather than he, had learned about Fort William.
    “Tash,” he gently shook her. “Tash, wake up. I’m leaving. I wanted to say goodbye and thank you for your help.”
    She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Toby? You can’t go on your own. I’d better show you the way.”
    “No, I’m good, honest,” Toby said, reluctantly. He would have liked to have her company for a little longer; it could be a long time before he talked to anyone else. He was no good at goodbyes and all that emotional stuff. “You sure you want to stay here and wait for your mother and father?” he asked her, as he pulled on a dusty jacket that Tash had given him.
    “Yes, I want to stay. My mother