‘Wait, so your – your favouritedessert?’ I repeat dumbly.
‘Yep. It changes every year. This year is desserts,’ he says with a shrug.
While this does not fundamentally make any sense, I decide to take it and run with it. It’s all I have.
‘Right. Thank you. Thank you!’ I successfully resist leaping on him to give him a grateful hug, then grab Elliot’s hand to pivot away and drag him back inside the tent.
I find Hennie red in the face screaming at the top of her lungs near the front of the stage and just manage to shout over her, ‘Red alert!’
‘What? What is it?’ She blinks at us both as if she’s broken from a trance.
‘I think we found out how to get into Ransom,’ I tell her, stumbling over my own words in the rush to get them out. ‘We can still make it.’
Her eyes bulge before they briefly drop down to my hand. Which happens to still be entwined with Elliot’s. When did that happen??
‘Oh, sorry.’ I let go, avoiding his eyes. ‘I think I’m used to the drumstick being there, like a habit sort of thing.’
What? What am I saying??
Hennie’s eyes flick to Elliot, but she just nods. ‘Shit, well let’s go!’
She turns to look for Owen and Josh to regale the news, but there’s no sign of them in the crowd.
‘Boys!’ she screams.
Two heads pop up above the rest of the crowd, shiny with sweat and adorned with wide smiles.
‘Get over here!’
Josh’s reaction to the news that we could potentially get into Ransom does not disappoint. After screaming with glee, he proceeds to wrap his arms around me and swing me around with dizzying speed.
I wheeze some words out likepleaseandoh GodandI’m going to diebetween my laughs, tapping him desperately to stop. He eventually does, but he certainly does not calm.
‘It is a miraculous, jubilant day!’ Josh cheers, slapping Owen on the shoulder. ‘I knew we’d get in there one day. Maybe I’ll start practicing gratitude after this.’
‘Let’s see if we actually do get in first,’ Elliot warns. ‘Nothing is guaranteed.’
‘Oh,we are,’ Josh says, putting his face very close to Elliot’s. ‘It’sourday.’
Elliot frowns in response. ‘Okay,’ he says, his voice slightly fearful.
‘It makes sense with the clue,’ I add. ‘They let people in every hour on the hour, so I guess we just have to make sure we get in at five.’
‘What time is it?’ Hennie asks, her eyes frantic.
Elliot holds up his phone screen. Her mouth falls open in horror.
The time reads 4.49.
‘Eleven minutes?’ I say in disbelief. We all look at each other for a moment.
‘It’s do-able,’ Josh says quickly, eyeing Owen.
‘Do-able,’ he agrees.
After a beat, Josh is suddenly galloping towards the fireplace with Owen on his heels.
‘Come on, slackers!’ Josh croons as he throws his body into the fireplace, jolting me into action. I pivot on my heel and run after them, Hennie close behind me as I follow Owen into the mouth of the fireplace. A squeal from Josh erupts from within, it sounds like he may have slipped over on his way out.
