A Raucous Time

  Chapter Seventeen

   

  ‘Call Crombie. Let’s turn ourselves in.’ Wren had started limping again.

  A vision of Crombie’s crocodile smile prompted Rhyllann to snort.

  'No way. You sit here. I’ll get us something to eat. You’ll come up with a plan. I know you can do it.’ he spoke positively. Adding ‘You’ve done the hard part!’

  They were at a crematorium on the outskirts of town. Rhyllann left Wren in the park like cemetery to jog back to a garage they’d passed earlier. His neck felt naked and exposed; in somebody else’s discarded clothes he felt less Rhyllannish. He’d shed a skin. It felt strange, a little frightening, but exhilarating too.

  The garage perched at the top of a steep hill. Rhyllann stocked up with sandwiches, snacks and drinks. On impulse, he pulled a map of the British Isles from a bargain bin, thinking it might come in handy. At least it was down hill from here. He paused to admire the view. The town lay behind him; in front, fields and woodlands. He let go a whoop as he recognised the landscape. Shouldering his bag, he sprinted back down the hill to Wren.

  ‘Sorry Annie – I’ve been wracking my brains – but I just can’t come up with anything. Apart from walking.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘We might get there for the autumn equinox!’

  Rhyllann handed over a sandwich, peeling another from its pouch for himself, dancing from foot to foot.

  ‘Don’t worry. I’ve got it. I am a genius.’

  Flopping on the grass next to Wren, he explained his plan between mouthfuls of ham and bread.

  Wren stared at him. ‘You think we can just walk into Denman aerodrome, and steal a plane? Are you mad? Did you keep your brains in your hair?’

  Rhyllann grinned: Just the reaction he’d expected. Not everyone could share his vision.

  ‘Yep. It’s a banging idea! I am a genius!’ And he set to work convincing Wren that gaining his blue wings on a cadets’ gliding course qualified him to pilot a plane into Cornwall.

  ‘At least if we crash, we’ll only be killing ourselves.’ He finished.

  ‘But you flew gliders.’ Wren protested.

  ‘Powered gliders. Hardly any difference.’

  ‘But you’ve never gone solo.’ A sore point with Rhyllann.

  ‘I won’t be solo. I’ll have you.’

  Wren fell silent. Probably thinking that they’d be caught before they even took off.

  The silence grew. ‘Say something!’ Rhyllann urged.

  Wren raised troubled eyes to him. ‘Will we have parachutes?’ He asked tentatively. Laughing outloud Rhyllann threw his arms round him, then jumped up to cartwheel around the crematorium.