The Frost Child by Eoin McNamee Page B

in under the stern of the last ship.
    "They won't see us here."
    "That's why they put all the time back," Cati said. "They wouldn't be able to sail their ships--it's like water that is too shallow. The Wayfarer could do it, but they're far too big."
    "The real question is, where are they going?" Owen said. They looked at each other.
    "The Workhouse!"
    "Not just the Workhouse. Our whole world! They sent the storm on ahead to clear the way," Owen said.
    "They're invading!"
    "Yes, but why now?" Owen said. "Why like this?"
    "The king," Cati said, her voice shaking. "You killed their king."
    "You think that this ... this armada is for me?" Owen looked incredulous.
    "Maybe not all for you. They always wanted to crush the world, to destroy heat and light. There are so many of them, Owen. There have never been so many. What will we do?"
    71
    Owen put his arm around her shoulders.
    "We'll find a way to stop them, Cati."
    "How do you know for sure?"
    "I can ... I can feel it." Owen turned to look at her. Her face was pale and when he touched her hand, it was freezing. Any time she was close to the Harsh, it affected her. His gaze swept over the ghastly fleet. He tried not to let Cati see what he was thinking: there were too many of them, far too many.
    Cati's voice broke the silence. "If they are heading for our world ..."
    Sudden realization dawned on Owen. He grabbed the tiller. "We need to get there ahead of them! We need to wake the Resisters!"
    Owen eased the Wayfarer from the side of the ship and sailed away from the fleet. The fleet seemed to stretch off into the distance, each ship with three or four towering ironbound masts, from which sails were stretched. Cold, glassy lanterns hung on the decks and from the masts. The ships appeared to be made from timber, but a timber that was frosted and cold, and ice hung from the rigging. Cati had to turn her eyes away from the ghastly captains who stood at the wheels.
    When they were almost out of sight, Owen reset the Mortmain so that they were now on a course for the Workhouse.
    "I'm not sure how to set the time," Owen said. "I could turn it back so that we arrive just after we set out, but I don't want to miss. If I get it wrong, then we could
    72
    arrive in three weeks' time instead. We have to rely on the Wayfarer to do it for us."
    "Can she do it?" Cati said dubiously. As if in answer the boat leapt forward; Cati staggered back and sat down suddenly on the deck. Owen grinned.
    "You shouldn't doubt her. All right, Wayfarer , let's get back to the Workhouse!" He leaned forward and the Wayfarer's sails billowed until they filled the sky. Owen could feel the frame of the boat tense as she picked up speed.
    73
    Chapter 8
    Rosie made a forlorn sight as she trudged down the snowy road. She was even dirtier and more disheveled than she had been when she emerged from the tunnel. Her clothes were torn and stained and provided scant protection against the biting cold. A mile from Johnston's she passed a little shop on the side of the road. She stole a look through the window. The shop was low-ceilinged and cozy and beyond it through a doorway she could see a blazing fire with armchairs to either side. She stood at the little door for several minutes, uncertainty tearing at her. The inhabitants might be friendly, but could she take a chance? Owen and Cati and Dr. Diamond had never mentioned such a place. In the end she decided she couldn't risk an encounter with a stranger. She sighed and walked on, not knowing that Owen's mother, the one waking person in this world who would have known about Hadima and the Harsh and would 74 have welcomed her, sat at the kitchen table, unable to sleep.
    On Rosie walked, and this time she came to a gate where she could see down a slope toward a river running through a line of trees. Just beyond the river, a dark shape loomed. She squinted, trying to see more clearly. Her heart leapt. Owen and Cati had told her that the Workhouse stood beside a river! Climbing