Midnight's Choice by Kate Thompson Page B

because whatever you are on your fifteenth birthday is what you’ll stay. You need to have time to think about it.’
    Martin shook his head. ‘Not me,’ he said. ‘I already know what I’m going to be. I mightn’t even wait until my fifteenth birthday.’
    It was the acceptance that Tess had been waiting for, but she was careful not to show her satisfaction.
    â€˜I feel like that, too,’ she said. ‘But I can’t do anything about it until I’ve got my friend out of the zoo.’
    â€˜Ah, yes. Your friend. You were going to tell me about your friend.’
    Tess relaxed and began to tell the story of her meeting with Kevin and the adventure which had brought them to the Arctic Circle to battle against the krools. It was wonderful to be able to relive her experiences once more, with someone who understood and seemed to appreciate them. She told him everything, right up to Kevin’s return and his capture by the zoo authorities, and then she fell silent. Martin was silent, too, and Tess had the impression that he wasn’t sure whether.to believe her or not. In any event, it was clear that he wasn’t going to admit that he was impressed. Outside a few birds were beginning their evening song, and on the street below the game of soccer was still going on. As the two Switchers sat there, each engrossed in his or her own thoughts, Martin’s mother appeared in the doorway, looking anxious and eager to please.
    â€˜A cup of tea?’ she said.
    Martin nodded without a word, and his mother smiled in acknowledgement. ‘Everything all right?’
    Again the boy nodded. His mother departed, as though she had been dismissed. Tess was shocked. She turned to Martin, meaning to remark on the nature of his behaviour, but he was smiling so sweetly that she was disarmed.
    â€˜How did you find out about me?’ he asked.
    Tess told him about Algernon and her journey through the city in response to his call.
    â€˜What do you want with those stone boxes, anyway?’ she asked.
    Martin rubbed his chin and looked heavenward, musing. Then he said, ‘Let’s just say that I have a certain interest in archaeology, shall we?’
    â€˜But why?’
    â€˜Why not? There are probably hundreds of ancient structures beneath the city that have never been excavated. I’d like to know where some of them are, that’s all.’
    Tess wasn’t entirely happy with the explanation, but she didn’t feel she could push it any further. Besides, there were more important matters to be sorted out.
    â€˜Well, what about it?’ she said.
    â€˜What about what?’
    â€˜About the phoenix. Will you help me to get him out?’
    â€˜How do you propose to do it?’
    â€˜I’m not sure, yet. Maybe we could come up with a plan together? I’m sure we could get some help from the rats if we needed to.’
    â€˜Hmm.’ Martin hitched himself up in the bed and rearranged his pillows. ‘The rats are fairly busy at the moment. Besides, I’m bored with all that squirrel and bunny stuff. I’ve grown out of it, you know?’
    â€˜Who said anything about squirrels and bunnies?’ said Tess. ‘I was a pine marten yesterday and it was brilliant! In any case, I can’t see how squirrels and bunnies are going to help get Kevin out.’
    â€˜No. You know what I mean, though. It’s all a bit tame, isn’t it?’ Martin was looking into space as he spoke, as though seeing something in his mind’s eye that Tess had no conception of. She was about to ask him what he meant when his mother appeared again at the door with a tray of tea things. She had moved so softly that Tess hadn’t heard her approach, and she hoped that she hadn’t overheard anything she shouldn’t.
    Martin made no move to help his mother with the tray, so Tess got up and cleared a space on the table. She was shocked again by the drained,