Ruth had taken over and was already ordering us around. But that was her usual. And if it got this challenge done, that was okay with me.
Within a heart-stopping minute, we had every bird stopped and under control.
But not for long. Now, every puzzle piece had to come out, setting each bird off again.
Yolanda and I eyed each other from across the room and nodded. We grabbed the puzzle pieces Ruth had asked for.
Harrington waited by his piece.
Two birds were now in flight.
This piece of wood was heavy. Much heavier than I’d expected.
I lugged the solid chunk of wood across the room.
Wait. Stop.
A bird swooped past, sending a sharp breeze over my face and prickling every nerve in my body.
Run.
Yolanda made it to the middle of the room first, Ruth waiting there to take the puzzle piece.
Panting, I stepped carefully towards Ruth. Was this thing going to jump from my arms or what? I set it down on the floor and bent to push it the rest of the way. Frowning in concentration, Ruth took my piece and turned it to and fro before deciding how it fitted with her piece. She began sliding it towards the other. My puzzle piece slid to hers, crashing violently into place at the last moment with a loud clatter.
A grin spread over Ruth’s face.
A bird was swinging our way.
“Down!” I screamed at her, then scrambled to lie flat as a bird headed straight for us.
Ruth threw herself to the ground. From the floor, Ruth pointed to two more pieces. “Those!”
Harrington was already standing by one of the pieces. I was closest to the other. Ducking a bird again, I ran to the other piece.
“Okay. Now!” Harrington yelled.
I moved my piece out.
Four birds were now in swing.
I weaved through the swinging birds.
Watch the birds.
Why did the monks even design this challenge?
Stop. You’re losing focus. They don’t give us anything too hard, remember? Another few minutes and this will be done. Another challenge over.
“No, I want Harrington’s piece first.” Ruth waved at me to stop.
Yolanda’s scream echoed across the room. “Evie!”
I whirled around just as two birds were set to cross paths—straight through me. I went to drop to the ground. In the same moment, Ruth was beside me, knocking into me, sending my puzzle piece flying from my hands. The tip of a bird’s wind sliced into my back.
I hit the floor backwards, my head slamming hard into the marble.
The room spun.
Silver flashes of enormous birds.
Yells and shouts.
Then darkness.
45. Gray
I JUMPED IN A CAB AND instructed the driver to take me to a cheap hotel. I needed to get away from the airport, but I had no idea where to go. I couldn’t even actually stay at a hotel—cheap or not—because they’d want ID. And I didn’t want to identify myself.
I’d thought I’d be staying with Constance, but that plan had gone pear shaped. She’d been strange on the phone, like she couldn’t get rid of me quick enough.
What her problem was, I couldn’t guess. But I couldn’t waste head space thinking about it. Maybe I’d go faster without her.
The Australian police were sure to know I’d flown to London by now. If they put out a warrant for my arrest, then travel was going to get hard. I couldn’t stay anywhere under my own name. It was summer in Europe—I could sleep outdoors. Or find hostels for the homeless and nameless.
I bought a map at a newsagency and studied it, trying to figure how to get from London to Greece in the fastest time. With my thumb, I traced a route from London to Dover on the coast, then onto Calais, France.
I caught a series of trains to Dover. It wasn’t as far as I’d thought it would be. England wasn’t Australia—no huge distances to cover.
The weather stayed fine as I caught a P&O ferry from Dover to Calais. I’d had to use my passport for the ride. If the police were tracking me, I’d just made it too easy for them.
I stood out in the open, willing the boat to go faster.
An hour and a half later, the Calais docks were in sight.
“You’ve got the right idea,” said a man who’d stepped next to me, an elderly English guy with a deeply furrowed brow. “Enjoying the sunshine while it lasts.”
I went to answer, then stopped myself short. Better not to talk and cement my accent in anyone’s mind. Giving him a polite nod, I looked out to the channel.
Undeterred, he repeated himself to a nearby woman, who was clutching the hands of her two small daughters. “Nice weather, what? Good to be outside in this weather, enjoying it while you can.”