‘Stay back,’ I call. But he ignores me.
The boy’s fists are clenched. A crow lands on the fence behind the soldier and caws.
Take a photo.
I grab my camera from my bag and switch it on.
‘Michael!’ Nanny Bet calls again.
I raise the camera.
The little boy turns and I gasp.
Dad?
He runs towards the soldier, and the crow on the fence raises its wings and screeches. The sound builds to an angry shriek and the smell of blood washes over me like a wave.
The camera slips from my hands.
As my body crumples, I hear the beat of wings. A voice whispers in my ear. ‘Rise.’
Chapter Five
The smell of smoke.
A crow caws.
I blink my eyes open.
I’m slumped on the garden chair at an awkward angle. Nanny Bet is standing over me holding a cup. ‘Michael, you OK?’
I don’t know.
‘I think so.’ I blink again. ‘What happened?’
She places a warm hand on my arm and I shiver. She frowns. ‘I don’t know. You called out something.’
I take a deep breath and cough.
‘I smell smoke.’
Her frown deepens. ‘Michael, love, there’s no smoke.’
‘I saw…’
She crouches beside me. ‘What?’
A loud caw pulls my attention to the fence. A crow pecks at the post it sits on, one eye trained on me.
‘I think I saw something.’
She follows my gaze. ‘There’s nothing there. Should I call your mummy?’
‘No.’ I force a smile. ‘I’m just tired, that’s all.’
‘You’re a bit pale,’ she says, setting the cup down on the table.
I push myself to my feet and then I gasp.
