THIRTY
It was getting dark outside. Rain was setting in from the west. The lights in the bars and restaurants were glowing along the Quay.
Jack and Gwen ran through the rain along the boarded walk.
‘Tosh?’ Jack called.
‘I’ve lost him... hang on...’
‘Tosh!’
‘OK! I’ve got him again. He’s doubled back. He’s heading around towards Harry Ramsden’s.’
Gwen had already switched that way. Jack followed her. The boards were wet and skiddy under their soles.
James got as far as the Graving Docks, running out into the sleeting wind. The sky was a black cliff, an empty gulf of night rushing down.
The shades were there, whispers of smoke on the dockside, flanking him.
‘James!’ Jack yelled as he ran up.
‘Don’t touch him! Don’t hurt him!’ Gwen shouted. She could see the grey shapes quite clearly.
One rushed at James.
‘You bastards! No!’ Gwen howled.
James saw it coming.
Frantic, he turned in towards it. There was a crack, and the shade hurtled away, flopping and writhing convulsively on the dock walk. Thorny limbs thrashed.
Mr Dine saw Mr Lowe go down. He knew the First Senior would be on his feet again in a moment. Mr Lowe would be angry and keen to accomplish his duty without hesitation. His pride had been dented. He would be ruthless, perhaps even teach the Principal a lesson in respect.
Mr Dine would not allow that. He stepped forwards. His investment blew off him like steam. He walked up to the Principal.
Jack and Gwen were ten yards away, sprinting to reach James.
James looked at the lean, blond man in the black suit standing before him in the evening rain. The man had the tiny trace of a sympathetic smile on his face.
‘Time to go,’ he said.
‘This is where I live,’ said James. ‘This is the world I know. Please.’
‘It is time to go,’ said Mr Dine.
He held up his hand. Just a slight gesture.
There was a crack of bone, sharp above the sound of the wind and rain.
James folded up and fell.
Gwen screamed. Jack held onto her.
She sank to her knees, sobbing wildly.
Jack approached Mr Dine. He looked down at James’s crumpled body. Mr Lowe melted into view behind Mr Dine.
‘Are you taking him now?’ Jack asked.
‘We have taken him,’ said Mr Dine. He glanced at the body. ‘The Principal has no further use for this,’ he said.
‘What will I—’ Jack began to say, but when he looked up, Mr Dine and Mr Lowe had disappeared.
Jack knelt down, and gathered James’s body up in his arms.