Nanny Bet speaks calmly. ‘We’re waiting for them to call out to you.’
‘How do you know they’ll do it?’
She folds her arms. ‘Because they want you for their own, and they know I won’t let them take you if I can help it.’ Her chin is raised defiantly, her dark eyes watching me as alert as the crows that I know are watching both of us.
‘Thank you for this,’ I say.
I want to say more, but my phone beeps. Another message from Meg. I turn it off without looking.
‘Now, when it starts I want you to turn from the light and focus entirely on what I’m saying, OK?’
My mouth dries, anticipation bubbling in my stomach.
‘Until then, take deep breaths. Try to calm yourself, Michael. They’ll call you soon.’
And they do.
It begins as always with the pain in my head. Crows call from the trees.
‘It’s starting.’
Nanny Bet rolls her shoulders back. ‘Yes, I feel it too. Are you ready?’
The air around us brightens.
‘Yes.’
Static electricity fills the garden. The scent of earth and iron steams from the grass.
‘Look at me, Michael.’ Nanny Bet’s voice pulls me back. ‘Remember to breathe.’
I focus on Nanny Bet’s eyes. So like Dad’s. How have I never noticed that before? I follow the rhythm of her breaths. In and out. In and out.
The light intensifies, wing-beats crash against me and scalding pains rake my scalp.
I cry out.
‘Focus, Michael, focus.’ Nanny Bet’s brow furrows in pain.
The light is so bright I have to blink. In that brief second, the sound of the vision envelops me. I hear Dad shouting.
‘Murderer!’
Nanny Bet grips my hands. ‘Stay with me, Michael! Don’t let go.’
I want to turn towards the sound. To give in. To let the vision take over. But Nanny Bet keeps me anchored.
There’s a voice – an English voice. The soldier is shouting at Dad. ‘Back away!’
The strength of the vision drowns out Nanny Bet.
I turn as Dad calls out, ‘Brigid.’
Nanny Bet digs her nails into my hand and the pain rips me away from the sounds of the past.
She’s gripping me tight. ‘Focus on—’
Her words are cut off by an explosion of light that knocks us both off our chairs. My ears are filled with the scream of crows and a child crying out in pain.
