The Black North by Nigel McDowell Page A

edges, keep them as damp as dishcloths!’
    Oona saw a system near by being pumped, water from the lough sucked up and splashing out into a small reservoir, the surface steaming in the climbing heat. Buckets went in and the men lugged them away.
    â€˜Faster!’ the man called. ‘Quickly, fellas!’
    This Innislone man wasn’t like any Oona had seen in Drumbroken: he was all muscle and agitation, wide chest working fast to fill him with breath, all of him sharp-edged, hair and clothes singed short, blades all along his belt going from the long to the small, from smoothest to serrated. Both his arms were tattooed with fish scales.
    â€˜We won’t give in!’ he was hollering. ‘Remember, fellas: this is the town that won’t be drowned!’ He saw Oona doing so much watching, then kneeled down as though in deference, laid two huge hands on her shoulders and demanded with sudden anger, ‘What the hell do you think you’re at, coming here now? You think we’ve time to fish wee girls out of the lough? Where are you from, anyway? Everyone’s supposed to be going South, I’ve been spreading that word as far as I can! Are you Drumbroken?’
    Oona nodded, then saw around the man’s wrist a braid of blackened churnstaff, and then said, ‘You’re Billy O’Riley.’
    â€˜I’m Lough-Master here,’ said Billy, nodding once. ‘But give me the talk from Drumbroken – did all get out? Are all on the way South? What about the O’Riley family, did they escape? My niece, Bridget, she’s about your age – is she safe?’
    Oona said nothing.
    And suddenly Merrigutt was back on Oona’s shoulder to say, ‘Never mind all that now – we’ve ourselves to worry about! I’ve had a quick look from above and this place doesn’t have long, Lough-Master!’
    â€˜And why-come you’re here?’ said Billy O’Riley. He stood. Stood back, letting his arms fold tightly across his chest. ‘Why now? Coming here so late with your North magic, why not earlier? Why not when them Invaders were crossing the Divide? What good is it now, your tricks, with them all at our door?’
    â€˜I don’t answer questions,’ said Merrigutt. ‘You won’t be interrogating me like one of your docile wives. I haven’t come here to make things right and save you. I’m here because this girl is here, and that’s the height of it!’
    Oona watched Billy O’Riley. She saw his fingers flex, fists being thought of
.
    â€˜We’re going into the North,’ said Oona. ‘Into the Black.’
    Those who’d been moving so swiftly around them were stilled. Like the tension that follows the dropping of a pot in a crowded room, Oona was at the centre of their shocked attention.
    Some moments, and then slowly the Innislone men resumed whatever rushing or hurrying they’d been in the middle of, most shaking their head at the young girl and her ridiculous words.
    â€˜Then you’re as much for the fire as the rest of us,’ said Billy O’Riley. Then an explosion and shouts from someone of, ‘Look out!’
    More fire came streaking through the air and Oona ran as a whole house was made splinters on impact. Ran to nowhere – no escape.
    â€˜They’re doing this on purpose,’ Oona told Merrigutt. ‘The Invaders could’ve had this place burned down ages ago but they’re playing. Like they’re trying to torture the people here.’
    â€˜Or kill time,’ said Merrigutt. ‘Keeping the men of Innislone busy while the Invaders move their armies further South. And the people here are falling for it. Fools.’
    Oona looked back – O’Riley the Lough-Master hadn’t budged. He was as solid in his standing, shouting to his men, ‘Bring more water! Put out that fire! We can’t let any more flames take hold! We won’t be defeated