Elsie rolled her eyes and turned away. No one else answered, but as teachers are fond of doing, he continued talking anyway.
“Smashing book,” he continued. “Features black-hearts, of course.”
I wanted to walk away, but everyone else beat me to it, and I found myself stuck standing in front of Mr. Drackle alone. I smiled and tried to listen politely.
“Did you know, Maren, that blaeberries are believed to improve night vision?”
I shook my head. “In World War II, the Royal Air Force pilots were required to eat a half pint of blaeberry jam every two days in preparation for night missions.”
Jo appeared at my elbow. “Sorry, Mr. Drackle, but I need to steal Maren. We’ve partnered up, and I think I’ve found our phyllite rock.”
“Well done. You know phyllite is commonly found at the base of cliffs, while slate makes up the scree on the sides . . .”
I kept smiling as Jo dragged me backward. Mr. Drackle didn’t stop talking even while he strode in the opposite direction to find new listeners.
“Thanks,” I said. “I couldn’t get away.”
“I noticed.” She flashed her famous upside-down grin.
“Did you really find phyllite?” I said.
“No, but we’d better. I need an A to keep up my average.”
I got a strange whirring feeling in my brain, and I stopped walking.
“What is it?” Jo asked.
“I just had this crazy sensation . . . like I’ve been here before.”
“Like in a dream?” she asked.
“I guess so,” I said, trying to sort myself back into the present.
Maybe I had the weird feeling because Mr. Drackle had said “scree,” and I was standing by a bog like I had with Rielly in my dream. If it was a dream. Why do I have to have such detailed dreams? I was sure a normal girl could easily tell when she was dreaming and when she wasn’t.
Jo continued her search while I scanned the valley. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was walking, and I tripped over a small pile of rubble.
Jo turned back at the noise.
“Sorry,” I said. “I just ran into some rocks.”
“Are they the kind we need?”
“Oh, good question. Let me check.”
She came over, and together we uprooted the plants around the little mound so we could see it better. Once the brush was cleared, it looked like the rocks were set on top of each other to purposefully make a pyramid. I froze. Is it possible?
I started throwing the rocks, digging to get to the bottom.
“Hey!” Jo said. “You’re tossing rocks before you’re even looking at them.”
I stood up. My dismantling had revealed a large knot of rope.
“What is that?” Jo said. She grabbed the knot and tugged. The rope popped out of the dirt and led away from us, leaving a small trench behind. We could now see that it ran all the way into the wet bog and disappeared.
“Hey, Stuart!” Jo called. “Come here!”
Before I knew it, the entire class had gathered around us. Mr. Drackle was directing as the strongest boys heaved on the rope, trying to drag whatever it held out of the bog. I knew exactly what they’d find.
“It’s a barrel!” Stuart said, when it was finally dragged to dry ground and could be inspected. “What do you think is in it?”
People started throwing out guesses. “Gold,” someone said. “Mud.” “Body parts.”
“Butter.” The word popped out of my mouth before I could stop it. Everyone stared at me.
“Butter?” Elsie said. “What the—”
“Ah, yes!” Mr. Drackle interrupted. “Bog butter! She’s right. It could very well be. In ancient times, the Highlanders used to store their butter in the bogs, an early form of refrigeration. We might have a true historical discovery here, class! No one touch it. I’m going to call the news station.” He pulled out his cell phone. “Fantastic find, Ms. Hamilton.”
It had actually happened. I had been with Gavin to his village. I had been to the bog with Rielly. Images of curly-haired angels and bloody demons and a dead girl flooded into my head. I couldn’t deal with talking to the media.
“It wasn’t me,” I blurted out. “Jo found it.”
“Splendid!” he said. “I’m sure they’ll want to interview her!”
He put his finger in his ear, as if his own excitement was causing him to lose his hearing, and walked away chattering into his phone.
“Why’d you say I found it when it was you?” Jo whispered to me.
“I just want you to get your good grade,” I said. “I don’t care.”
She gave me a tight hug. “You’re a crackin’ good friend! You really are!”
I knew “crackin” was a synonym for “super,” but all I could think about when I heard the word was the girl from Culloden falling to her death.
I didn’t know yet that there were worse things than cracking your head open. Much worse.
CHAPTER 14
When I got home from school, I burst into my room, anxious to find the flower garland I’d left on the armchair. I nearly dropped my books in surprise. Gavin was sitting on my bed.
“Crap, you scared me!” I said, my entire body warming at the sight of him again. He glowed with gorgeousness.
I conjured every ounce of restraint I had to stop from jumping onto his lap. He was real. Our trip, his village, the secret place at the top of the world, flying back home . . . it had all happened. He was live, in the flesh, sitting on my crocheted bedspread, waiting for me.
“Wait, how did you get in here?” I tried to sound casual to cover my elation.
“You left the window open.” His tone was serious. I wondered if he was going to chide me for neglecting my safety.
“Did you see my grandparents?” I asked, to remind him I didn’t live alone. I also wasn’t sure if they would care I had a boy in my room, but I didn’t want them to tell me I couldn’t, either.
“They’re not here,” he said. “But don’t worry. I can’t stay long. I only came to say good-bye.” For the first time, I noticed he wasn’t smiling.
“Good-bye?”
He must have seen my face fall, because his own darkened with pain. He waved his hand, as if trying to physically change the mood in the room. “It’s good news, really. The Warrior party successfully chased the demons out of the area. There’s no more threat to Aviemore, or to you.” He attempted a half smile. “You’re rid of me.”
Doubt cast a shadow over me. Our first reunion after an entirely magical day was supposed to be passionate, or at the very least more familiar. I knew I hadn’t imagined the trip, but was I completely delirious imagining he liked me?
“Don’t you mean you’re rid of me?” I challenged, trying to stir up some emotion in him. “No more babysitting, right?”
“I was relieved of Guardian duty, yes.” He chose his words carefully. “Restored to Warrior Patrol. I’m still assigned to Aviemore, just not to you in particular.”