While the Storm Rages, page 5
‘What are we going to do about food?’ said Clem.
‘I’ll get my tea when I go home, although my mum will be mad I’m home so late.’
‘For the animals, you fool, not you!’
This stumped Noah. He wasn’t great at details. That’s why Clem was such a good ally, she made up for his (many) shortcomings.
‘Oh, I already thought about that,’ he lied, dashing to the cupboard, where he found two tins of sardines, a dented can of spam and a tin of ‘meat’ casserole.
Looking at the amount of rust on the tins, he knew they were past their best, but with nothing else to offer them, Noah divided them up into too-small portions as Clem scoured the riverbank for any interesting leaves they could feed through the rabbits’ bars.
It was hardly a feast, but it was the best they could do, and they knew there would be precious else until they reached Battersea tomorrow.
‘We should go home,’ Clem said. ‘It’s getting late.’
‘What will you say to your mum?’ Noah asked. ‘About Frank?’
She looked uneasy at the prospect of lying to her mum. ‘As little as I can. Hopefully she won’t expect me to say much if she thinks I had him put to sleep.
‘You do realise, don’t you,’ he said, ‘that once we leave the dogs at Battersea, it might be years till we see them again.’
‘If we see them at all,’ she replied, though she said it so hesitantly and quietly, that Noah barely heard her. He certainly didn’t answer, instead he beckoned for Clem to follow him and Winn silently out of the cabin. The animals were quiet, sedated by the warmth of the stove and the food in their bellies, and he sensed the moment to leave them for the night. With a quiet snick, the door closed behind them, without creating a din from inside. Noah exhaled slowly.
‘It’ll be all right, Clem, you know?’ he said. ‘We’ve done the hard bit now. Another walk tomorrow and the animals... well, they’ll be alive. Nothing can hurt us, or them. Not now.’
But as they turned to leave, they realised immediately the irony of Noah’s final words, as there, looming over them, was the towering silhouette of Big Col.
15
Noah swore as Big Col wrestled something huge out of his sack and into his arms. The sight of it left Noah and Clem paralysed with fear.
There, coiling itself up Col’s left arm and around his shoulders, was the biggest snake either of them had ever seen.
It seemed to go on for ever, as it uncoiled and stretched.
Big Col lifted his arms out at the sides, muscles bulging at the exertion of it. The snake was longer than his wingspan, in fact it threatened to reach the floor, or it would have done had it not seen Noah and Clem. They seemed to pique its interest, its head levitating towards them, tongue flicking as if it already knew how tasty they would be.
Noah spoke again. Not a swear word this time, just a collision of consonants, with the odd vowel thrown in involuntarily.
He had no idea what to do. How could he when he felt, in every fibre of his body, that he was about to die.
Fortunately, as usual, Clem was more in control of her senses.
‘Wh-what do you want?’ she stammered.
Big Col said nothing, just took another, imposing step forward, edging the python’s head still closer.
Clem grabbed Noah’s hand and pulled him to the left, then right, but there was no way past Big Col and his pal, they filled every inch of the gangplank.
Noah looked for another way out. It was too far to jump to the bank, and although the water wouldn’t have been too cold, it was absolutely filthy.
All they could do was back away as Big Col approached, only stopping when they hit the rail at their rear. Winn rallied in front of them, teeth bared.
‘Don’t worry,’ Big Col said, mouth pulled into a sneer. ‘She won’t eat you.’
‘Right,’ said Noah, ‘That’s, er, that’s a relief.’
‘Not unless I tell her to anyway,’ he added, moving his hand and therefore the python’s head, closer to them both.
‘What is it you actually want?’ Clem repeated.
‘Want?’ he spat. ‘I don’t want anything from you.’
His eyes said otherwise though, and Noah spotted it.
‘Then what are you doing here?’
Big Col turned his head from Noah to the snake and seemed to, well, melt, as if he were gazing on his beloved instead of a huge, ravenous reptile.
‘Does it have a name?’ asked Clem. Noah looked at her like she was mad. What did its name matter? All that mattered was getting away from it as soon as possible.
‘Course she does,’ replied Big Col.
‘Well?’ said Clem.
The boy didn’t reply immediately. He took a half step back, face twitching uncomfortably.
‘Delilah,’ he said, so quietly that Noah had to ask him again.
‘DELILAH!?’ he chortled, before swallowing it. ‘That’s... original.’ He’d been expecting, well, he didn’t know what he expected, he’d never met a pet snake before.
‘Yeah, well. Delilah wasn’t my idea, was it?’ Big Col looked twitchy again, glanced over his shoulder as if someone were listening. ‘She’s my dad’s. Well, she was.’
‘Your dad’s?’ Noah didn’t know much about even Bigger Col, except he looked like a bulkier, greyer, meaner version of his son.
‘Yeah he won him. In a game of cards. Was supposed to be money he won but the bloke was flat broke. All he had was Delilah.’
‘Your dad must’ve been thrilled,’ Noah said, loud enough to earn a dig in the ribs from Clem.
Big Col answered, but still looked ill at ease, like he wasn’t sure who could hear what he had to say. ‘I think he was thrilled at first. He liked the idea of going round with her on his shoulders. But then someone told him it was illegal to have a python, and... well... he has enough bother with the law as it is, so he gave her to me.’
‘What does she eat?’ asked Clem. ‘Not children, obviously,’ she added, with a nervous laugh.
‘Whatever I can get hold of really. It’s not always easy, cos, well, she’s big ain’t she? I mean, I set mouse traps and that, and she loves a good rat, but it’s hardly going to fill her up.’
‘They eat monkeys or antelopes in the wild, don’t they?’ said Clem, dropping back into encyclopaedia mode.
Noah had heard enough. ‘I don’t want to be rude or nothing, but... well, it’s late, and my mum’s already going to tan my backside for being back after dark. So, if we’re done here... ?’
But Big Col wasn’t done. ‘Delilah needs somewhere to stay. Overnight.’
Noah and Clem looked at each other.
‘Well,’ said Noah, rubbing his chin. ‘We wish you luck with that.’ And he tried to lead Clem and Winn past him. To no avail.
‘I know what you’re doing,’ said Big Col, the snake back in their faces. ‘For the other kids. I know about all the animals you’ve got onboard.’
‘Don’t know what you’re talking about,’ lied Noah.
‘Yeah you do. Cos some kids told me. Said you’ve got an ark. Said all sorts of animals are staying here tonight. Till you take ’em to Battersea.’
‘Oh that?!’ said Noah, pulling a face that he hoped would look like he was just confused, rather than lying to the toughest kid in town. ‘Yeah it’s just a few little animals. Not a big deal.’
‘Then you won’t mind if Delilah stays too. She won’t be any bother.’
‘Er... I’m not sure. Won’t she...’
‘Won’t she what?’ Big Col seemed to get even bigger in a flash. Delilah too.
‘Well,’ said Noah, looking for the right words, ‘eat the other animals?’
‘Not if they stay out of her way. She’s not a monster, you know?’
Clem stepped in. Just as well because Noah had no words left, only a jaw, hanging open in shock.
‘I’m not sure it works like that. You know, Delilah is... beautiful. But she’s also a... well, there’s a... wildness to her... and when she’s hungry, well she’s going to eat. And we have rabbits and birds in there, which are, to be fair, the perfect size snack for her.’
‘Then I’ll leave her in another room, away from the others.’ He pointed at the small boxy captain’s shelter, where the wheel and throttle sat. ‘What about in there?’
‘She can’t sleep in there,’ Noah said quickly, without a clue as to why not.
‘Oh, is it not heated in there? Well, that’s no use. Delilah needs it warm. She’s from India.’ He looked let down.
‘She’s the Queen Maudie, not the flipping Titanic.’
‘Well, I can’t take her home, can I? My ma made me swear I’d have her put to sleep. And my ma, well, she can be just like my dad. When she wants to be.’ His head drooped a little. ‘I know,’ he said suddenly, ‘I’ll leave her in the sack. And we can tie it up. With a chain. Or rope, whatever you’ve got. She got fed this morning, so as long as we tie it tight, she’ll never get out.’
‘It’s already pretty busy in there, and we’ve only just got them all quiet,’ said Noah.
‘I’m not asking you. I’m telling you. So you’d better find me some rope quick smart. Before I ring Delilah’s dinner bell.’
Noah looked at Clem. Clem looked at Noah. They both sighed, then stared up at their nemesis.
‘There’s some on the deck there. Take as much as you need. Take it all in fact,’ said Noah.
Big Col didn’t need telling twice.
16
By dawn, Noah was sitting fully dressed on the edge of his bed, fighting the urge to sneak from the house and check that the animals hadn’t somehow sunk the boat or eaten each other. In the cold light of day, his plan didn’t seem such a good one.
The only thing that kept him rooted to his mattress was the fear that Mum would hear him leave. She’d been in a foul mood when he returned home and things had not gone well at all.
‘Where on earth did you get to?’ she’d roared, filling every inch of the doorway. ‘Worried sick I’ve been. Racing round the streets like a fool! Well? Where have you been?’
Noah had put on his best faithful friend face.
‘With Clem,’ he said. ‘Poor thing was queuing to have Frank put down’ He paused and sighed. ‘It was awful. Awful. There were crying kids everywhere. Thank God I’ve got an understanding mum like you.’
He went to hug her, to reinforce just how generous she was. Hoping it would sway her into a miraculous change of heart altogether.
‘Noah. I’m not made of stone,’ she said, holding him at arm’s length. ‘But I’m not a fool either. I know what you’re doing.’
‘Me?’ he said, eyes wide and hurt.
‘Yes, you. You’re a caring boy, especially about Winn. But you’re also as devious as the day is long. So don’t think you can wrap me round your little finger. The deal still stands. As much as it pains me, if war is declared then we shall have to put Winn to sleep too.’
Noah felt something break agonisingly inside him again, but it came out as anger.
‘I won’t do it!’ he yelled.
‘You won’t need to!’ she roared. ‘I’ll take her myself.’
‘You’d love that, wouldn’t you? Cos you never liked her. You can’t wait to find an excuse to get shot of her. Well, if you do it, you’ll lose me, and then you’ll lose Dad as well. Is that what you want? Well, is it?’
He turned for the stairs. Couldn’t bear to talk to her any longer.
‘Noah Price! Get yourself back here!’
He did no such thing. He bounded up the stairs as if they weren’t there, Winn at his heels as he slammed his door behind him, a wooden chair wedged beneath the handle.
He waited for the roll of thunder to follow. He didn’t have to wait long: as soon as it finished on the stairs it attacked the door, fists threatening the panels’ strength.
‘Open the door right this minute!’
He could picture her, a bubbling cauldron of puce and scarlet. And he knew that if he opened the door it would lead to the thickest of ears. So he sat her anger out, though it took much longer than he was expecting, nearly half an hour before he heard her slide down the wall, her voice hoarse and cracking.
‘It’s no good being angry with me, Noah. I’m not making the rules.’
‘No,’ he shouted, ‘but you’re following them.’
‘Because I have to. Because none of us know what’s going to happen tomorrow, never mind next week or next month. I love Winn just like you do –’
Noah couldn’t stop a harrumph leaving his mouth, which Mum ignored by speaking over him.
‘– but without you or Dad here, I can’t keep her safe. It’ll be for the best, Noah. And not just for me, before you say it, for us all. We’ve enough to fret about, without worrying how the dog is going to stay out of Hitler’s way.’
Noah chose to stay silent.
‘I’m going now,’ he said.
‘Where? You’re locked in your room.’
‘Bed.’
‘But you’ve not eaten.’
He’d forgotten this, the worry in his belly taking up space where hunger should’ve been brewing.
‘Not hungry.’
‘I’ve made your favourite. Pie and mash with liquor.’
His stomach betrayed him, rumbling wildly. He gagged it with the press of a firm hand.
Why had she made him that tonight of all nights? It was a proper treat of a tea, that one.
‘Gone off it,’ he lied.
‘I know that’s not true,’ she sighed. ‘But it’s... it’s important we eat together tonight.’
‘Why?’
‘Come out here and I’ll tell you.’
‘No!’ he said defiantly. ‘Tell me now.’
‘Oh for the love of God!’ she spat, the storm raging once more. ‘Because tomorrow morning I’ve to take you to school with your case packed.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘We’ve had word through. The plan has changed, you’re being evacuated first thing.’
He said nothing. Too stunned. And, anyway, he had no words to express what he was feeling.
‘Noah?’ Her voice had dropped again. It no longer threatened to rattle the windows. ‘I know it’s not what you wanted to hear, but you’ll be safe and that’s the only thing that matters to me and your dad.’
‘Winn won’t be safe though.’
‘No,’ she said. ‘And I wish that were different, but at least I can save you the pain of taking her yourself when the time comes.’
‘If the time comes,’ Noah reminded her. ‘We’re not at war yet.’
‘Yes, I know, Noah. If.’
Noah moved the chair and reluctantly opened the door.
‘Where are they sending me?’ he asked.
‘Cornwall.’
That was a long way from London.
‘I’d better eat then, hadn’t I?’ he said.
But their last supper was a far from joyous affair. It didn’t matter how much liquor Noah added to the pie, it was still difficult to swallow. He slipped as much as he could surreptitiously to Winn, who waited patiently at his feet, blissfully ignorant of the circumstances.
‘Now you promise me that you’ll be a good boy for whoever takes you in? None of your tomfoolery. I’ll be expecting a weekly letter, make sure you bath regularly and offer to wash up every night.’
‘You’re going to need to write this down if you want me to remember it all.’
‘I’ll tattoo it on your behind with my hand if you’re not careful.’
Noah took this as his cue to rise from his seat and offer to wash up. Not to gain favour with his mum, but so he could hide several tins of food near the back door, ready to sneak them out in the morning. The animals would be ravenous.
‘I’m going to go to bed now,’ he said, once he was done.
‘Can’t interest you in a cocoa?’
Mum’s cocoa was the stuff of legend, and not knowing when he would next sit to drink with her made his stomach lurch. But at the same time, he needed to be on his own to finalise his plan.
‘Don’t think I could keep my eyes open,’ he said, with an extravagant yawn. ‘Come on, Winn. Let’s go.’
The dog followed him, looking over her shoulder as she went, expecting Mum to stop her as she always did.
But Mum did no such thing. She couldn’t separate them, not tonight, and she held her tongue as Winn scampered away.
‘I’ll wake you when it’s time,’ she shouted up the stairs.
Noah didn’t answer. She’d be wasting her time as he planned to be up and out with the larks. He didn’t want to upset her, course he didn’t, but he had animals to save. And war or no war, that had to come first.
17
The house was conspiring against them.
Floorboards had taken up squeaking overnight, piles of washing had thrown themselves across the landing, just to catch Noah off guard and throw him noisily off his feet. When he tripped on the rug and bounced loudly off Mum’s bedroom door, Noah thought Winn would bark at him to Shhhhhh, but all he summoned from Mum’s room was an unintelligible grunt, followed by a series of peaceful snores.
Still, Noah didn’t take it for granted, collecting his food-laden jacket gingerly from the hook, not even daring to put on his shoes until he had closed the front door behind them with a gentle ‘snick’.
Laced up and ready to go, he found Clem, reliable as ever, waiting for him, her pockets groaning too with whatever tins she could find in the larder.
‘Have you heard about the evacuation?’ he said.
She nodded.
‘Will your mum go mad when she finds you aren’t there?’
‘What do you think?’
‘I think we’re both in big trouble,’ Noah said. ‘So we’d better not fail in getting the animals to safety.’
Clem nodded. ‘Did you sleep?’ she asked him.
‘Doesn’t feel like it.’
‘Me neither. Noah, what are we doing? Disobeying our mums like this? Lying to them? Leaving all the animals on the boat?’
‘We’re saving them, Clem,’ he said, not letting his own doubts creep into his voice.
