Chapter 19: Fish And Drift Have A Secret To Keep

“I still don’t know how you managed to find this place, Fish,” Anna said as she looked around the neat, white cave, “but I’m glad you did. Your dad would have been proud. He often talked about making one of these but never got around to it.” Her voice drifted off as she remembered all that had happened.

Fish squeezed her and went back to cleaning their catch. It had been months since Ava and the tsunami had fought. The town had almost completely been destroyed and there was still lots to do to rebuild it. New houses were being built and people were slowly returning to the shores. Anna was doing her best to help.

After a great deal of discussion, and some arguing and foot stamping, Anna and Fish had agreed not to move to the coast. The decision was made easier by Fish discovering an abandoned igloo out near their old winter settlement. Together they had made it into their home. It meant they could live out in the wild halfway between the Cave of Wonders and the town which needed their help. The igloo was so cosy, they were even thinking about staying where they were all year round.

Anna packed a bag. She filled it with warm clothes and dried food ready for the journey to the coast. Rebuilding the town was taking time and money. Thanks to the diamonds from the Cave of Wonders, Anna could help a great deal. They kept its location secret but the money it raised was doing a lot of good.

“Now, will you be safe?” Fish wanted to know. She placed a length of twine and some hooks into Anna’s bag. “In case you need to fish,” she explained. “You never know when a snowman will kidnap you.”

Anna laughed. It was a lovely sound. As beautiful as the tsunami’s song but as warm as home. “I should be saying that to you. But,” she added, seeing Fish’s face, “I know you’re safe. Besides, nobody has seen a snowman in months.”

It was true. Many things had vanished in the time since the town had been flattened. Viktor had never been found. The Colder Brothers hadn’t been sighted. Drift was, of course, on the run. And everything from the mountain to the sea was as quiet and still as midnight. People were even beginning to say there was no such thing as talking snowmen or a lady of the sea. It was a peculiar sort of time. One in which a people-only type of normality was returning to the snow-trapped north.

Fish sighed. “No,” she said. “No snowmen. Just lots and lots of snow.” She fastened the straps on Anna’s bag and, with a lot of effort, lifted it and handed it to her mum.

“We can move south, if you’d like,” Anna said, a twinkle in her eye. She knew the answer of course.

“Never,” said Fish. “Never never NEVER. Go on. You’ll get ahead of the blizzard if you leave now.”

“You’re so grown up, little minnow” said Anna, climbing out of tiny entrance which shielded them from the worst of the wind. “Dad would have been so proud of you. I’ll be back in two days. You’ve enough here to keep you but if you do go hunting, be careful.”

“You can trust me,” Fish said.

Anna touched her daughter’s face and smiled. “So proud,” she said.

Fish watched until her mum was a black dot on the horizon and then ducked back inside. “All clear,” she said. Drift’s head formed in the side of the wall. “Can I have my dose back again?” he said.

Fish placed the carrot stump just below the two sparkling diamonds he still used for eyes. “There, now hurry up. One of the Blizzard Twins is on the way over. And boy does he look mean. I’m sure he’ll cause trouble. We need to get started.”

Drift pulled himself together, relaxing until the walls of the igloo had shifted back into his familiar old body again. “Ooof,” he said, patting his stomach and giving it a shake. “It’s good to let it all hang out.”

“You need a bit of exercise, old man,” said Fish, prodding him. She drew her blanket across her shoulders and tied a bag onto her back. It had everything she might need. It wasn’t only her mum she’d been helping to get ready. She strapped on her snow shoes and tried a few quick stamps to test them. “Perfect,” she said.

“Climb on,” said Drift.

“No thanks,” said Fish. “I want to walk. And don’t even think about stuffing me under your armpit. You’re spending far too much time indoors these days and you’re starting to smell.” Drift gave an indignant snort.

“You’re just so slow. No wonder we end up in so many scrapes,” he said.

“Well we won’t this time,” Fish replied. “Although I did hear Sleet is back again too. But I’m sure we can avoid him. Unless he’s teaming up with the Blizzards.”

The pair began to walk, Fish padding gently as she went and Drift plunging deep into the snow.

“Fish,” Drift said.

“Yes?”

“I keep thinking. About Ava, I mean.” Drift put an arm across Fish’s shoulder.

“In what way?” she said.

“I don’t know really. Thinking. She was a strange one, wasn’t she?”

“Yes, Drift. I suppose she was.”

“I wonder if we’ll ever meet her other son.”

“Oh, I think he’s always close by,” Fish said.

“Well I hope he doesn’t cause any trouble. Because whatever happens, Fish and Drift will be there to crack the case!”

Fish laughed.

“I miss her,” Drift said. “Ava, I mean.”

“So do I, Drift. So do I.”

Together they walked until the edge of space began to stain the clear blue sky and the strange green lights hovered above the distant mountains. And sometime after that they slept – a snowman, and his friend, always on the run.

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Illustration © Carl Pugh