The Keeper of the Octopus, page 9
Pippy didn’t want to rope Uncle Isaac into anything he didn’t feel up to, but his eyes were bright and alert, so she told him and Ferg her plan.
When the time came, Uncle Isaac would go to the tavern to buy as many rounds of honey mead as he could for the Calamary brothers. It was his job to keep them busy and out of the way. Wally would keep watch outside the tavern just in case. And Pippy would swim Octavia to safety in the sheltered shallow cove.
Uncle Isaac wrung his hands, while Ferg slapped his ladle into his hand over and over. Neither of them liked her plan, but nobody could come up with anything better. Eventually, Ferg sniffed and nodded, as did Uncle Isaac, who pulled Pippy in close for a hug.
‘You need to be careful, Pippy bairn. Please be careful,’ whispered Uncle Isaac. ‘We’re two fish in a … in a …’
‘Craypot,’ said Pippy, softly.
It would be cold, it would be dark, it would be risky, but Pippy had to do this to protect Octavia – she was the Keeper of the Octopus.
It was early evening when Uncle Isaac wandered down to the Frayed Knot. He muttered as he went, determined not to forget where he was going, even though the tavern was his usual destination.
Ferg insisted Pippy should have some dinner and a wee lie down. She did so in her little alcove, but her body was a bundle of nerves and Mussels whimpered at her restlessness. At last, it was fully dark, and Ferg appeared by her bedside as the clock struck ten pm.
‘The night is nigh, Pippy Cocklebiddy, daughter of Claudine,’ said Ferg. ‘You watch yourself nowt.’
‘I will, Ferg. Will you keep an eye out for Uncle Isaac and Wally?’ asked Pippy, as she quickly dressed.
‘Course I will. Course I will,’ said Ferg, poking a finger inside his ear. ‘They’ll be fine.’
Pippy hurried into the night. She stood in the middle of the street looking and listening. Clothes flapped on a washing line and a gate banged in the breeze. There was a whoosh above, and as always, she was so glad to see Fairweather.
The moon was waxing gibbous, which meant it was dark enough to remain hidden, but light enough to see. Pippy ran through the night, pretending she was invisible like Wally told her. Her feet well knew the way to the river mouth and when she reached it, she smiled at Fairweather’s shadow already at the jetty, poised on a railing.
A steady southerly was blowing, but the sea was calm. The strong smells of rotting seaweed and mud and salt filled the air. Pippy listened. The river stirred where it met the sea and water lapped softly against the rocks. The trees whispered and an owl hooted. Pippy closed her eyes and really listened. Beyond those sounds, beyond the sea. And there it was, a faint shoosh, a soft pumping, the blip of three heartbeats thumping. The amulet felt warm as it glimmered a delightful shade of purple.
Pippy twinkled her toes in the water and sure enough, Octavia emerged, bobbing below the surface. She stared at Pippy in surprise, her eyes shining brightly as she flushed a shade of mauve. This visit was out of routine, but a welcome one.
Pippy slipped out of her gansey and dress, leaving them on a rock. As she stepped into the water, she heard movement behind her. A dislodged pebble, as if someone had moved their weight from one foot to the other. Pippy dropped to her knees as Fairweather squarked in alarm, taking off from the jetty.
As Pippy listened and waited, the silence grew. She remained utterly still at the water’s edge, holding her breath, her heart thumping. She strained her eyes in the darkness, but couldn’t see anything or anyone.
A cloud drifted in front of the moon, darkening the night sky, and it was just the cover Pippy needed to slip into the water. She pushed off from the rocks and glided silently in the direction of the sheltered shallow cove. She inhaled quietly, then duck-dived deeply with Octavia by her side.
Pippy held onto one of Octavia’s arms and they swam as far as her lungs would take her. Coming up for air, she tried to puff silently, treading water as she got her breathing back under control. She looked back towards the river mouth, guessing they were about thirty metres away.
For a moment, the clouds drifted apart and Pippy gasped as a dark, shadowy figure came into focus. There was someone there, watching them! The human shape was tall … and garfish-thin.
Pippy tried to keep an eye on the shadow, but it was there one second and gone the next.
Holding onto Octavia, Pippy duck-dived again and swam underwater as far as she could go. She resurfaced as thick clouds skiffed in front of the moon, snuffing it out like a candle.
The night was blindingly black, so dark Pippy didn’t know which way to go. She’d lost her sense of direction. She searched for a landmark without any success. Pippy cursed herself. She knew this area so well, but out here bobbing around in pitch darkness, everything felt upside down.
As Pippy floated in the inky water, she began to shiver. She counted, trying to calm herself. Then with her hands, Pippy tried to feel the direction of the current. But there was no push or pull because they were on an ebb tide.
From somewhere out of the darkness came a flapping sound, and Pippy felt feather tips graze her cheek. Fairweather! She nearly sobbed with relief and gratefully followed his soft squarking.
After a while, the water shallowed out and Pippy’s feet touched a sandy bottom. In shades of grey, she was able to make out the general shape of the area and recognised with relief that they were indeed in the sheltered shallow cove.
They were in the right place. She let go of the tightness she’d been holding in her chest.
Pippy hugged Octavia’s rubbery head and the octopus’ tentacles wrapped around her. She stroked her gently and clutched at her mantle, staring into her eyes. ‘You must stay here, Octavia. Promise me you’ll stay here.’
She untangled herself from her octopus and stepped away, nudging Octavia towards the rocky shelter. She held her hand up, using the signal for ‘stay’. For the briefest moment, Octavia emanated a delightful purple hue, staring at Pippy with a sincerity that made her throat ache.
‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ Pippy whispered, and she clapped her hands softly.
Octavia kicked her eight arms and disappeared into the rocks. It was amazing the small spaces an octopus could fit into, even a giant one.
Octavia was hidden and safe. For now, fretted Pippy.
She heard Fairweather squark as if to remind her that he was still there. Her teeth were beginning to chatter; she had to hurry back to Bittern Cottage to warm up.
She sprinted along the beach back to the river mouth, collected her clothes, then hurried up the riverbank with Fairweather circling above. Arriving at the footbridge, Pippy was surprised to see Ferg appear from some bushes, holding out a blanket.
‘Thank you, Ferg.’ Pippy grinned and wrapped herself in it. ‘I didn’t think you ever left the cottage?’
‘Well, there’s a lot you don’t know nowt, isn’t there, Pippy Cocklebiddy?’ said Ferg, as they walked over the footbridge. ‘Young Wallace suggested I come meet you. How did it go with the great cephalopod?’
‘She’s safe for now. Tell me, Ferg,’ said Pippy. ‘Did you see anyone cross the bridge? I think there was someone at the river mouth watching me.’
‘Mither forbid,’ said Ferg, his eyes wide in the moonlight as he shook his head. He quickened his pace and tugged at her hand. ‘I don’t like this at all, Pippy Cocklebiddy.’
‘Neither do I, Ferg,’ said Pippy. ‘Let’s go.’
Pippy’s mind was spinning as she hurried. The shadowy figure had been tall and familiar …
‘We heard there was a giant octopi in these parts and we mean to catch it. Do you know where it is, little bambina?’
Pippy’s stomach sank like a leaky boat. She knew who’d tried to follow her.
Vincenzo Calamary was hunting for Octavia.
On the way home, the village green clock struck eleven pm. The wind howled through the Norfolk pines as Pippy and Ferg hurried over the road to the Frayed Knot. They pushed through some bushes where they found Wally staring into a window.
It was crowded in there, and they could hear laughter and sea shanties being sung with gusto. They spied Uncle Isaac propped up against the bar, drinking with Vincenzo Calamary. He saw Pippy and she gave him a quick nod. Lorenzo Calamary was drinking with Jibber Jones and Snapper Jack.
‘Where’s the third brother?’ Pippy whispered to Wally.
Just as they emerged from the bushes, who should they bump into? Arazio Calamary leaving the tavern.
‘Oh!’ said Pippy, in surprise.
Arazio Calamary was equally surprised and put his hands up in the air. ‘Mi scusi, I just come out for some a fresh air.’ He bowed and introduced himself to Pippy and Ferg and Wally, who both gave a curt nod.
‘He’s a fine bird, your albatross,’ said Arazio, pointing at Fairweather, who landed nearby. ‘He is magnifico.’
Arazio clicked his tongue and spoke softly to Fairweather. ‘Come here, my feathered friend. Come here, I have something for you.’ Arazio produced a small crust from his pocket and held it out to Fairweather, who hopped closer towards him.
‘Bene, good,’ Arazio said, as Fairweather took the bread. He stroked Fairweather’s silky chest as he whispered, ‘Magnifico.’
Pippy had never seen Fairweather behave like this. Normally, he wasn’t so easily won over. But as Pippy stared at Arazio Calamary, her brow tingled. She saw no malice in him. In fact, Arazio’s actions and behaviour seemed entirely kind − and it crossed Pippy’s mind that he might be different to his brothers.
She also noticed that Arazio was short and stout, not much taller than she was. So, it wasn’t Arazio Calamary who she had seen at the river mouth. But that didn’t rule out one of the other brothers; they could easily have ducked out to follow her. It just meant they’d arrived back before her. Pippy wouldn’t put anything past Vincenzo Calamary.
‘What sort of fishing nets do you have on your boat?’ asked Pippy. ‘I’ve never seen the likes of them before.’ It was a bold and dangerous question, but she couldn’t stop herself from asking. She really wanted to know. Wally stiffened beside her and Ferg kept on flicking his eyes to the side, meaning they should get out of there.
Arazio Calamary slumped down against the trunk of the Norfolk pine.
‘You are very observant, little bambina. They’re called drift nets from Scandia, from the Northern Sea. But there are no fish left there now, so we have been forced to fish all over the world.’
‘It doesn’t look like your net drifts, though … it looks like it drags along the bottom of the sea?’ said Pippy, eyeing him.
‘You are right, they’re weighted. I tell you a secret, bambina. Drag nets are banned in many parts of the world. But you did not a hear this from me,’ said Arazio Calamary, tapping the side of his nose.
‘Why are you telling me this?’ gasped Pippy, angry that Arazio seemed so casual about the destruction caused by his nets. ‘You shouldn’t be using them.’
‘I agree,’ said Arazio, with a simple shrug of his shoulders. ‘But my brothers do not. We argue, I lose. You know, in many parts of the world they argue too. Back and forth and back and forth. They try to put in quotas and catch limits, to prevent fish depleting. But people are a greedy, bambina. Very greedy.’
With a sigh, Arazio looked Pippy up and down. ‘Why are you wet? It is cold and very late for a swim.’
Pippy’s heart hammered in her chest. ‘I like to swim at night, that’s all.’
Arazio nodded thoughtfully, then glanced at the tavern. ‘I suggest you go home, bambina. My brothers … they do not believe so easy.’
Pippy wanted to ask more questions, but she knew Arazio was right. Without another word, she and Wally hurried off with Ferg hot on their heels.
‘Did you hear that?’ Pippy asked breathlessly. ‘Those nets are banned in other parts of the world.’
‘I heard it orright, Pippy Cocklebiddy, daughter of Claudine,’ said Ferg, shaking his head.
‘Is Arazio Calamary trying to warn us?’ mused Wally.
‘It does feel like a warning,’ said Pippy. ‘But how can we be sure?’
‘I don’t trust those Calamarys as far as I could kick them,’ said Ferg, kicking at the ground and nearly tripping himself over. ‘Come on nowt. We need to get you home, Pippy Cocklebiddy, to warm you up.’
A vibration thrummed through Pippy’s arms and legs. It was an unnatural, pulsing feeling. She knew she shouldn’t be out in the middle of Skiffy Bay and she felt all fidgety with guilt. She wanted to leave, but felt equally compelled to stay.
The vibrations were getting stronger and stronger. Whatever it was, it was coming closer. She had to move, to take cover, to hide. Go now! And she shot off like a flash, pumping her mantle and pushing and pulling with her arms, seeking and instinctively knowing where to find a safe place. She dived and squeezed between rocks and into complete darkness. Pippy realised they were inside a small cave beneath the reef.
Something was coming.
Pippy watched from the entrance of the cave as fish frantically darted, disappearing in a hurry. She witnessed their bulging eyes and flaring gills and her throat tightened. She could feel their panic. Fish dived into the little cave, looking alarmed when they realised who they were going to have to share with. She squished herself as far back into the cave as she could, forcing herself into the smallest space in the corner in an attempt to make room for everyone.
The vibrations were stronger now, louder too. They became even louder, until a dreadful creaking, scraping, dragging noise drowned out every other thought Pippy had in her head.
Something was clawing at the seabed. Its long, reaching fingers were ripping apart kelp gardens and tearing up beds of seaweed and ploughing through rock ledges and coral reefs.
Pippy squeezed her eyes shut as the jarring vibrations filled her head, her body, her very soul.
Make it stop, make it stop, Pippy wailed to herself.
A cloud of murky swirling particles blanketed them, plunging the reef cave into darkness. It was like a storm front hitting them with a blast. Pippy knew it wasn’t a storm, but it was just as destructive. She knew what it was and she covered her ears, not wanting to hear the crunching and crushing of shells, the breaking of bones and homes and of creatures’ hearts as their worlds were destroyed.
Pippy awoke with a hollowness in her heart. Her dream with Octavia − or she should say, their nightmare − had shaken her. It was obvious to her now that Octavia had wanted her to see the Calamarys’ drag net in full flight.
Octavia had taken a great risk in showing Pippy, but perhaps it was a calculated one? Pippy felt all of Octavia’s emotions during the dream, and she hadn’t felt scared. Octavia must have known they’d be safe inside that cave.
It made Pippy wonder how often Octavia ventured out to sea. She hoped it wasn’t too frequently. Pippy had often felt Octavia’s guilt at leaving the river mouth, so it must have been of great importance to Octavia that Pippy saw the net in action.
Pippy chewed her lip with worry.
Where was Octavia now? Is she still in the sheltered shallow cove? Or trapped out on the reef?
Dressing quickly, Pippy entered the kitchen.
‘How did you get on, Pippy bairn?’ asked Uncle Isaac, stirring their porridge. ‘Ferg told me it went well.’
‘As long as the great cephalopod stays put nowt,’ said Ferg, serving up warm honeycakes.
‘I am worried about that,’ said Pippy. ‘I’m just hoping if I feed Octavia at the cove, she’ll stay there.’
Uncle Isaac and Ferg nodded in agreement. Pippy scoffed down her breakfast before racing out the door of the cottage. She barely stopped to say ‘hello’ as she grabbed a bucket of fish from Stinger Ray.
When she reached Skiffy Beach, Pippy glanced up and down to check that there was nobody else about before she splashed the water with her toes. The amulet felt warm to the touch and she could see it shifting from gold to purple. Pippy waded into the shallows with the bucket of fish and Octavia soon appeared from the rocks.
‘Octavia, we need to talk,’ said Pippy. ‘I know why you showed me the nets, but you mustn’t go out to sea.’
Octavia morphed into a shade of red flecked with orange.
‘I know you’re angry. I’m angry about those nets too,’ said Pippy. ‘But it’s too dangerous for you out at sea. You can’t be taking risks like that. You don’t want to get caught up in those nets, do you?’
Octavia’s colour shifted to pale blue. She lowered her eyes and, looking a little downcast, dangled her arms in the shallows.
‘Don’t be sad. I’m not upset with you,’ said Pippy, rubbing her mantle gently and stroking her arms. ‘I could never be cross with you, Octavia. It’s just that I care about you. I need you to be safe.’
Octavia’s eyes lit up and she flushed a delightful shade of purple.
‘Are you hungry?’ asked Pippy, rummaging around in the bucket. She pulled out a crayfish and Octavia snatched at it.
Pippy laughed as Octavia stuffed the cray into her mouth. She could hear the crunch of the shell as she devoured it. ‘You really do love crayfish.’
Octavia held her arms out for more and Pippy fed her the rest of her fish.
After she’d eaten, Octavia swam a little distance away. She looked back at Pippy and reached out a tentacle, beckoning to her. Pippy slipped out of her dress and gansey, leaving them on a rock before wading further into the water. Octavia tugged at Pippy’s hand, wanting her to follow.
To leave the sheltered shallow cove, which was enclosed by rocks, Pippy had to clamber over them, while Octavia squeezed through them beneath the water. Then they paddled away together into Skiffy Bay.
Pippy followed Octavia as she swam in an easterly direction. Octavia kept looking back at her, and every now and again she reached out and tugged her by her hand to make sure she was still following. They swam over heart-shaped rock pools and swathes of ridged white sand.
Soon Pippy found herself drifting over a shimmering meadow of seagrass with long, green ribbons that reached for the sky. Amidst the seagrass hundreds of seahorses were rocking to and fro with the tide.
