DEEP WATERS

CHAPTER 13 - Pooling

“Beautiful,” said Sergeant Olt. “They’ve really got the hang of it now.”
He and Corporal Lavall watched with pride as the first year elves moved in unison up the mountain-side, at full speed, almost invisible, just a shimmering blur as they touched down and took off again.
“Speed looks good too,” said the corporal. “What’s the time at the halfway mark?”
“400 metres in 25.6 seconds. That’s excellent. They’ll get to the top in under a minute!”
The sergeant headed up to the broad ledge the first years were aiming for. They could tell he was pleased with them, and they started cheering. They’d cracked it at last.
“Well done,” said the sergeant. “That was very good. In fact, it was perfect. Sit down and get your breath back. Kiefer, put your head between your knees if you feel dizzy.”
“What was the time, Sergeant?” asked Gran.
“53.8,” he smiled. “Faster than any of you could have done alone, even you, Gran. That’s because you were relying on one another, and thinking as one.”

Corporal Lavall congratulated them too, but before they could start getting too pleased with themselves, Sergeant Olt announced that they would start straight away on something new.
“Thinking as one, in a big group, is just the start. You’ve learned to use it to move fast and accurately. Next year, when you’ve learned to throw and fight, you’ll use it for other things. I think I can mention battle tactics to you lot, without alarming anyone,” he added with a smile.
There was a rustle of excitement at that, but he shook his head.
“You’ll have to wait for that. What I want you to learn next, is pooling. That’s what we call it when you take unison work and focus it more strongly, channel it more precisely, in a very small group, usually just a pair. It’s perhaps most useful when you need to move around fast. Take a look over the edge of this cliff.”
They all moved closer to the edge and peered over. It was a rocky slope, much steeper than the path they’d come up by.
“See that boulder, the round, flat one? Anyone think he could jump to it?”
“Not a chance,” said Alnus. “That’s got to be fifty metres down!”
“Never jump down what you couldn’t jump up,” said Ross.
“That’s what you’re told, as youngsters,” agreed the sergeant. “But you’re soldiers now. It can be done. A jump like that, which you couldn’t do alone, is called a dive. Anyone want to try it?”
No-one volunteered. The sergeant wasn’t surprised.
“Shall we do a demo, Corporal?” he said.
“To the first boulder? Right you are.”

They stepped to the edge, stood still concentrating for a moment, then leaped together. The first years gasped in horror, they were sure they’d be killed. But they landed firmly on the boulder, and jumped cheerfully back up, as well.
“It’s not really that far,” said the corporal. “You’ll be able to do more than that once you’ve got it. But it’s scarey at first, no question. I was terrified out of my wits the first time I did it.”
“Show you things you didn’t know existed?” said Will, shaking his head in wonder. “I’ll say. I’d never have thought such a jump was possible.”
“You’ve got twice the resources, you see,” Sergeant Olt explained. “Concentration - courage - confidence. That’s what you have to remember. Concentrate on the target. Have the courage to go for it. Have confidence in your partner. It should be a bit easier for you and Ace,” he added.
“I suppose that means you want us to go first,” said Ace.
“Only down,” said the sergeant. “You can come back up by the path.”
“If we’re still alive,” muttered Ace. “Ugh, it’s an awful long way.”
“No-one’s ever been killed,” the sergeant promised him. There’d been plenty of broken bones, in previous years, but he didn’t mention that.
“Goodbye,” said Gran. “It was nice knowing you.”
“That’s enough of that!” said the sergeant sharply. “Let them concentrate.”

They stood side by side on the edge, thinking effortlessly to each other.
You ready?
Almost…you concentrating? Count us down, Ace.
Breathe together, think together, three, two, one, jump!
The speed was incredible, the boulder was rushing towards them. They gave all their concentration to landing on target, and their feet hit the rock at such a speed they had to cling on to each other for balance. But they’d done it, and everyone was clapping as they scrambled back up the path.
“That was cool,” said Ace. “Like flying. Have a go, it’s good.”
No-one looked convinced.
“But you’re twins!” said Wayne. “You’ve been thinking as one since you were born. Just because you can do it doesn’t mean anyone else can.”
“I’m not forcing anyone,” said the sergeant.
He moved aside a little, and started chatting to Corporal Lavall. He knew that once they’d had a chance to talk about it, others would dare. They all had working partners, but some of the pairs had known each other a lot longer than others. It would be the pairs who’d been friends all their lives who’d try it first.
“Who d’you reckon?” he whispered to the corporal.
“Lauro and Pioppo?”
“Could be…they came together, didn’t they? Or maybe Kes and Vin…oh, just a minute, Saul, something’s up. Excuse me…”
Corporal Lavall could see that someone was sending an urgent message to the sergeant, and turned politely away. But all of them heard his gasp of horror, and turned to look.

Sergeant Olt turned to face them all.
“I want everyone to keep very calm,” he said sternly. “Show me your best discipline. All your fairies have been injured. Bird attack. Some of them are seriously hurt, and we are all needed at the hospital at once. Now keep calm, I said!” he shouted, as they all started talking at once. “Listen, and think. Your goblins are over two miles away - do we need any of them?”
“Yes,” said Will, and so did Zoza.
“No others? You’re sure? OK, Corporal, get Signals onto Sergeant Camilo as urgent, and ask him to send Hogweed and - which one, Zoza? Ratzo? - right, and Ratzo, back to camp immediately. Now get into formation, fast, and go down the mountain as perfectly as you came up it, then carry on across camp to the hospital.”
They’d finished lining up before he’d finished speaking, and on his word the whole company shifted at lightning speed.


When they shuddered to a halt, they stared open-mouthed with horror at the scene before them. Everyone on camp had rushed to help, and the Commander herself had taken charge. The second years had been in class, and they were helping the fairies across from the southern forest. Lots of them were being carried, others were stumbling along in a pitiful stream, arms and legs slashed by sharp beaks, clothes ripped, wings torn and broken.
They all wanted to rush off and help, but Sergeant Olt wouldn’t let them.
“Wait till you’re called for,” he told them. “There’s plenty of help. The surgeons need you to stay where they can find you.”
It made sense, and they stood still, but it was very hard. There were so many people around, they couldn’t see who was being brought in.
“No-one’s dead, are they, Sergeant?” asked Kiefer.
“I don’t think so,” said the sergeant, doing his best to sound reassuring. “But they’ll be in a bad way. Even the least injured will be suffering from shock.”

The youngest surgeon, Lieutenant Polesie, came running out, looking frantic, with blood on her hands, and called out three names. Those elves rushed off with her.
“I could do the running in and out,” said Fran hesitantly. “Then she could stay with the casualties. I’m not likely to be needed.”
“Good, Fran,” said the sergeant, and when the surgeon came back, calling more names, he sent Fran too.
“Oh, hurry up,” whispered Ace, desperately. This was awful, just standing waiting. He knew it was just as bad for everyone else, but he wanted to dive in and get cracking.
“Have you seen them yet?” said Will.
“Not a thing! We don’t even know if they’ve been found! If they were over the forest, they could have fallen into trees, or anywhere!”
“Keep calm,” said Will. “Just you keep calm, d’you hear me? Watch what’s happening. The Commander knows exactly what she’s doing. Look, there’s Bella. She’s not too bad, she’s walking. See, they’re taking her in the door on that side.”

Another great rush of casualties arrived then. Some of the rescuers were running, and they caught glimpses of stretchers. Voices were loud and urgent. They saw General Herdalen with blood on his face, and Captain Dolfawr urgently waving some young goblins with stretchers in at the front door. Then Fran came tearing out.
“Kiefer, Will and Lauro!” he shouted.
Will glanced at Ace, and their eyes met in an agony of worry. That meant Clover was in a bad way. Then Will raced off inside. Sergeant Svir was there, badly cut herself but refusing any help until all her fairies and imps were safe. She was the one who knew who to send for. Will went where they showed him. Major Gourdon was leaning over someone.
“Hello, Major,” said Will quietly. “Hello, Clover, love. I don’t know if you can hear me, but if you can, don’t you worry. We’ll soon have you nice and comfy.”

There wasn’t a trace in his voice of the shock and horror he must be feeling, seeing his friend in that state, the major thought.
“Thank goodness it’s you,” he murmured. “I was afraid we might lose this one, but now she stands a chance. Mend the arteries first, Will, then the veins. Don’t worry about skin until the circulation’s repaired.”
“Got you,” said Will. “I can handle this if you want to help anyone else.”
He patted Will’s shoulder encouragingly, and stepped across to help Kiefer, who was bravely trying to keep calm to help Jenny, but didn’t know how to tackle wounds as deep as this.

Will started work, methodically repairing every rip and tear deep in the flesh, and glancing at Clover’s face now and then. She was still unconscious, far beyond pain.
This must have hurt, thought Will, and started wondering why it had happened, and how. Then he recalled himself sternly to the task in hand. He had to concentrate. The deep, dangerous wound near the heart was mended, but what was all this mess in the shoulder?
“Major,” he called quietly, “I need you when you’ve got a minute.”
The surgeon was at his side in a few moments.
“The muscle’s torn right away from the collar-bone,” said Will. “Where exactly should it join?”
He showed him, then took Clover’s temperature and felt her pulse. He was frowning. But more casualties were arriving behind him.
“Don’t rush, Will,” he said. “But work hard, work fast. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Will was only vaguely aware of all the talking going on around him. He was concentrating too hard.

“Are you sure, Commander?” Sergeant Svir was saying.”All sixty-two accounted for?”
“Yes, Arda. We’re certain. They’ve been counted twice, everyone’s safe home. Now who else needs urgent help? Dan?”
“Dan will need her friend Hogweed,” said Sergeant Svir. “Has anyone sent for the goblins?”
“Hogweed’s here, ma’am,” said Fran. “Shall I get him?”
“Yes please, Fran.”
Fran tore off, and Hogweed came in, looking bewildered.
“Lieutenant!” called the major. “Help Hogweed with Dan, please.”


The Commander ran outside to speak to the rest of the elves.
“Everyone’s been found,” she told them. “All the serious injuries are being dealt with. The rest have bad cuts and scratches, but they’re conscious. They’ve had a nasty time, and they need to talk it over. Go in calmly, to the side ward, and help them. Comfort them, mend their cuts, and get them to talk about it.”
They hurried off, glad to be doing something at last.
“Where’s Arda?” said Sergeant Olt.
“Finally agreed to sit down,” smiled the Commander. “You can’t talk, you’d have been just as bad if your elves had been injured.”
“I know,” said the sergeant. “And I’d be blaming myself for letting it happen.”
“Go and cheer her up,” said the Commander, understanding.


Rose just stumbled into Ace’s arms and burst into tears. He held her tight, reassuringly, and let her cry, then gently got her to sit down and calmly ripped a sheet so she could dry her face.
“Have a breathe,” he said kindly. “You’ve had a horrible time, I can see. But it’s over now.”
“Ace, where’s Clover?” she asked desperately. “Why won’t they let me go to her?”
“She’s in good hands,” said Ace. “The best. Will’s with her. She must have been badly hurt, but she’ll be OK soon. Will can fix anything, you know that.”
“I thought they were going to kill her!” sobbed Rose. “It all happened so fast! It was a flock of starlings, and Sergeant Svir gave the order to swerve, but someone lost her head and swerved the wrong way. That pulled a whole column in half, and they swooped into the gap and went for us, all you could see was wings, and beaks, biting, biting, biting. And Clover was surrounded, I couldn’t get to her, but Dan was so brave, Ace. D’you know what she did? She flew up and dived down, head first, into all those beaks that were going for Clover. Her face was nothing but blood, but I’m sure she saved Clover’s life. Another few seconds and they’d have had her heart out.”

Get a grip! Ace told himself fiercely. Think what they’ve been through! You can’t be sick, you can’t.
“I’m sorry, Ace,” said Rose. “I know you don’t like blood.”
“Forget that,” said Ace firmly. “You have to talk about it or you’ll have a nightmare. What happened next?”
“People were falling,” shuddered Rose. “Some just dropped out of the sky. I was losing height, and had to land. But the birds didn’t come down. As soon as everyone had fallen, or flown down away from them, they formed up again, and suddenly flew off as fast as they’d come. It was chaos, for a bit, people were stuck in trees, crying with pain, shouting for their friends, and trying to help each other. I was rushing about, trying to find Dan and Clover, but then people started arriving to help us. I didn’t want to go, not till I’d found them. I’m afraid I made a bit of a fuss about it, but that friend of yours in the second year made me come back, what’s his name?”
“Cat, d’you mean?”
“Yes, that’s him. He just looked at me as if he was a bit shocked, and said, ‘You’re in Ace’s team, aren’t you?’. That was all, but it made me stop and think I wasn’t being very brave, so I managed to calm down a bit, and he brought me all the way here, and that’s it, really.”
She took a couple of deep, shuddering breaths, and tried to smile. But her eyes were very worried.
“I think you’ve all been brilliant,” said Ace. “But you need a drink…hang on, someone’s brought jugs of coffee. Sit still, and I’ll get you some.”

When she’d drunk her coffee, Ace fixed a gash on her arm, and shook his head dubiously over one of her wings.
“That’s had a bite taken out of it, that has. Does it hurt?”
“No…wings are like hair, or fingernails. They don’t hurt. But I can’t see it…”
She twisted her head round, trying to see the damage.
“I’d wait for Will or Clover if I were you,” said Ace. “I don’t think I’d do as good a job.”
“Oh yes, that can wait,” said Rose. “Let’s go and find Bella and Stella.”
They found them at the other end of the ward, close together, and Wayne and Betch were with them. The three fairies immediately started talking over it again.
“Anything from Will?” said Wayne quietly.
“No,” said Ace. “It’s been over an hour now. He’d have told me by now if she was healed. So he must still be working.”
They looked at each other, trying not to think what sort of injuries could keep Will working for over an hour.
“Dan’s bad too,” said Ace. “I wish we knew what was going on in there.”
But then he pulled himself together. There wasn’t anything he could do to help Will and Clover, but there was more to be done in here.
“Stay with them, Wayne,” he said quietly. “Come on, Betch. Some of the teams have a lot more fairies than elves. Let’s see what else we can do.”


Will imagined the last bit of creamy skin over the last tiny cut, and sat back, breathing hard. All the visible damage had gone, but he was still worried. Clover’s skin felt clammy and cold. Major Gourdon came back, and once again took her temperature and her pulse.
“Temperature’s still dropping. The pulse is weaker. We’re losing her, Will. The shock’s been too great.”
“No! No, she can’t die! No way…look, if the pulse is slow, can’t we boost it? Surely we can sustain the heart-beat?”
“For a while, maybe…but it could take hours. And you’re nearly done in already. You’d have to see right into the heart, and concentrate so perfectly that the beats you imagined matched what was there, and then, force it to increase, so slowly and carefully.”
“Like a human life-support machine. If we used human technology properly,” Will blazed, “this hospital would have one!”
“I know, Will, I know. But for now…how much longer can you keep going? It could take all night!”
“I can keep going until I drop,” said Will. “But I don’t know how long that will be. Is there any water?”
He drank a big cupful, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Pooling,” he said. “Would it work for this?”
“Yes…it works for anything, if you can do it. Can you do it?”
“You bet we can do it,” said Will. “We’re twins. Send for Ace, sir, please. Together we can save her.”


By evening, most of the fairies had gone to their barracks to sleep it off, and the helpers had gone back to their duties. Dan was still in hospital, awake now, and talking quietly to Hogweed. Her face was itching where Hogweed had fixed the gashes. She wasn’t sure he’d done a brilliant job, and thought she might end up with a scar, but she didn’t mind that. She was feeling calm. She hadn’t lost her head, she’d thought what to do and done it, so she wasn’t suffering too much in her mind. She didn’t want to go to sleep, though. Not until she knew that Clover was going to live.
“They’ve moved everyone away from the room where she is,” Hogweed told her, “so nothing breaks Will’s concentration. And Ace is with him, helping him, somehow.”
“Who’s looking after Rose?”
“Rose has gone to bed now, but as soon as Ace was needed, Fran came to look after Rose for him.”
That’s nice, thought Dan, drowsily. Bad things like this show you what people are really like. Like you, Hogweed, coming all that way back to help me. Thank you.
I’d have come from the other side of the world for you, Dan, thought Hogweed, then realised what he’d done, at the same moment Dan did.
They nearly yelled with delight.
“We did it! We can do messaging! What’s happened to us?”
“You do ask hard questions, Dan. All I know is, when they told me and Ratzo to race back to camp, I was worried. But I was proud too; proud to be needed.”
“Yes, I see,” said Dan. “You realised you matter. You’re an important part of the whole. And I…was part of something I couldn’t feel separate from. I had to join in.”
“I think you’re thinking too hard,” smiled Hogweed. He was glowing inside, happy and confident. “If you won’t sleep, at least rest.”


Moving very slowly, Major Gourdon brought a lamp into the room where Clover was. It was nearly midnight, and Ace and Will had been standing by her bed now for eight hours. With infinite care, he felt again for Clover’s pulse.
“Stronger,” he murmured. “Improvement.”
Will’s eyes flickered a little, in glad acknowledgment.
“Good. Going strong,” he whispered. “Coffee?”
Major Gourdon slipped out and brought coffee for them both. They drank it slowly, messily, not moving their eyes or breaking their concentration, but knowing it would help them keep going longer. He sat down quietly, out of their sight, to watch. He’d never seen anything like this before.
What surgeons you two would make, he thought. But I imagine you’ve got harder and higher paths to climb than that.


At three o’clock Commander Biagioni came back to the hospital. She’d spoken to every fairy and imp as they went to their barracks, listening to their stories, praising, reassuring and encouraging. They all told the same tale. A stupid error, the suddenness of the attack, the way they’d gone for Clover especially, and Dan’s courage. When she’d heard all that, the Commander had sent for the nearest squadron to track the starling flock, but she was afraid it might be too late now to find them.
She looked in on everyone who was still in hospital, Sizzle and the other imps, Crocus, Jenny, Margherita, Lilje and Dan. Everyone who’d tried to fight back, by the sound of it. General Stalden was sitting by Crocus’ bed, watching carefully, though Crocus was asleep.
“How is she, Nella?”
“They think she’s all right, but they want her watching. I said I’d do it. None of the elves knows Crocus really well. Droz did his best, but it was messy. I’m to watch for any sign of bruising, they’re afraid of internal bleeding.”
“Don’t worry too much. After a good night’s sleep, she’ll be strong enough to take laudanum, if necessary.”
She smiled at General Stalden, and went on her way. They were all sleeping soundly. Kiefer, worn out, had fallen asleep on the floor beside Jenny’s bed. The Commander smiled and tucked a pillow under his head.

When she saw Dan was still awake, she stopped to talk.
“I’ve heard your name mentioned a lot this evening, Dan,” she said. “Along with words like awesome courage, fast thinking, and incredible bravery. How are you feeling?”
“Worried about Clover, ma’am,” said Dan. “But for myself, fine, thank you. Just a bit itchy.”
“Itchy? That probably means something’s not quite lined up…let me have a closer look…yes, I see. Look, Hogweed, you healed a bite here, didn’t you? It’s very good, but now it’s calmed down a bit, we could get that even better. Can you smooth out that little ridge, so Dan won’t have a scar?”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Hogweed. “Sorry, Dan, I was rushing too much.”
He looked very carefully, and in the quietness he managed much better.
“Well done,” said the Commander. “And now, how about fixing those scars on her arms?”
“Oh, but…” Hogweed began, then his voice tailed away.
Dan looked up, and met the Commander’s gaze, saw her eyes full of compassion…and challenge.
She’s right, thought Dan. I’m me. I don’t have to prove a thing.
She smiled at Hogweed, then said, “Yes, please. I don’t need them any more.”
The Commander smiled too.
“I’m very proud of you, Dan,” she said. “The Fighter Squadron needs fairies like you.”


She left Dan looking very joyful, and crept towards the room where Clover was. She looked in, watching thoughtfully. The major, waiting patiently. The tiny figure in the bed, so white and still. Ace and Will, lost to everything but what they were doing. The light behind them cast sharp shadows on the wall, and the thing that struck you was how alike they were. Identical silhouettes, utterly still, totally focused.
She turned as she heard footsteps behind her.
“Hello, Gran,” she smiled. “You still up, too?”
“Here in case you need me,” he murmured. “Or in case they do.”
He shook his head in amazement.
“Never seen anything like it, even for twins. How is she?”
“Don’t know. But I have a feeling it’s going to be all right. They thought they’d got her, but they hadn’t.”
“Ah,” said General Herdalen. “I did wonder. You think so, too?”
“Yes. If it wasn’t for Dan and those two, what would have been the outcome of all this? Clover Moseley would be dead.”
“One down, six to go?”
“Exactly. And how clever. Who could blame Special Brigade for a bird attack? I wasn’t sure, until I heard what Rose had to say. ‘One of them,’ she said, ‘had intelligent, evil eyes. As if it wasn’t really a bird at all.’ I don’t think she realised, she was just saying what she saw, but that sounds like some clever transforming to me.”
“It does indeed. Any plans?”
“Double the guard. Orders to report any unusual patterns of animal movement. Wider-ranging patrols. I’ll get on to it in the morning.”
“Get a couple of hours sleep, Gia, why don’t you?”
“Hardly seems worth it. Nearly morning, now.”
“Yes, it’s worth it. You need your wits about you. Mecsek will know of this attack. He probably ordered it.”
“You think he’ll be in touch tomorrow? Full of concern, but really gloating?”
“I’m sure of it. And testing you, to see how much you’ve guessed. You take some rest. I’ll stay here until it’s over, one way or the other.”


It was five o’clock in the morning when Will finally collapsed, just keeled over and fell to the floor. Major Gourdon went straight to Clover’s side. Was it enough? Could she hold her own now? He felt for her pulse, and his own heart throbbed with relief. It was strong, it was steady. What was more, her skin was warm to the touch, and she was sleeping naturally.
General Herdalen came into the room, and picked Will up.
“Will she live?” he asked anxiously, then smiled as he saw the surgeon’s joyful face. “I can see she will. Wonderful. You got beds ready for these two? Where?”
“Next door to the left.”
“Come on, Ace,” said the general. “Can you move?”

Ace nodded slowly, and stumbled a little. Then he smiled down at Clover, and touched her face, before following the general out of the door. It was hard, just moving. All the floors seemed to be sloping, or something. General Herdalen laid Will on a bed, pulled his boots off and covered him up.
“Is he all right?” said Ace.
“Fast asleep,” said the general. “Come on, lie down.”
“Nice,” said Ace. “We won, didn’t we? They didn’t get her. Clever plan, though, wasn’t it? Didn’t know they were that clever.”
“Stop talking. Just go to sleep,” smiled the general.
“Mmm. Sleep for a week. D’you know what, sir?”
“What?”
“I could see what Will was thinking. Blood. All that time, blood. And d’you know what, I’ve got used to it. It’s not so bad really, that stuff. I don’t think it’ll ever make me be sick again.”
“What? The sight of blood makes you feel sick? And you did that? You brave little…well, I’m impressed.”
“Not so much of the ‘little’,” said Ace. “I’m not little. I’m just not very big. If you think I’m little, wait till you see Phil. Little, indeed…”
“Ace,” said the general. “Shut up. That’s an order.”
“OK, Gran. If you say so.”

It was four days before Clover woke up, which worried the surgeon very much, until the rest of the Moseleys assured him that with Clover, four weeks would be the time to start worrying. When she did wake up, everyone was surprised how well she seemed. She couldn’t remember very clearly what had happened, and when they told her, she was far more impressed by everyone’s efforts to help her than worried about the attack.
Ace and Will were keeping quiet, letting the others do the talking, just hanging back near the door. But Clover sat up in bed and looked straight at them.
“You saved my life, you and Dan,” she said. “No jokes. No wind-ups. Just - thank you.”
“Keep talking, Clover,” said Will. “I was afraid I’d never hear your voice again.”
Ace made a big effort.
“If we’d lost you, who would I have to argue with?”
Clover smiled at him, and Major Gourdon came in then, to ask Clover if she wanted to get up.
“Not really. Do I need to?”
“Dear me, no. Not until you feel up to it.”
Ace and Will smiled a bit, and slipped out. They leaned on the wall outside, breathing hard.
“Wow, it was worse in there,” said Ace.
“Terrible,” said Will bleakly.
“What’re you going to do now?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Work on the computer for a bit, I think.”
“OK. See you later.”


Ace went off to the training ground and put in an hour’s work on the logs and ropes, hoping that the hard exercise would help. But it didn’t. He couldn’t feel the sheer joy of rushing about, it seemed a bit pointless. It was just as bad for Will, working on the motherboard for the computer. His thoughts felt ragged, they were all over the place. He laid silicon and aluminium the wrong way round, for the second time, and swore. They’d saved Clover’s life, he knew that. But at what cost to themselves?


After a couple more days, Major Gourdon had got Clover’s measure. He sent Sergeant Svir to see her, and half an hour later she was up, washed and dressed, just in time to start the day’s work. The sergeant took them off into the forest, where she’d laid out an intriguing trail of clues for them to practise logic and detection. She didn’t want to take them flying on Clover’s first day back. Sergeant Camilo took the goblins down to the fjord. They were going to build boats, and they were very excited about it.

“What are we doing, Sergeant?” asked Gran.
“An hour on the training course, for exercise. Then up the mountain to carry on where we left off. Diving.”
Ace and Will felt miserable when they heard that. They knew it would come, but that didn’t make it any better. Sergeant Olt noticed how listless they were. They weren’t smiling. They weren’t even that close together. When Will fell off the tightrope, he knew something was wrong. Even Zoza could do this now, and Will had been good at it for ages.
“What on earth’s the matter? You can do this! Are you ill, or something?”
“No, Sergeant,” said Will. “I’m sorry.”
“What’s wrong? Something is.”
“It’s too hard to explain,” muttered Will.
“I see. Look, we don’t want any accidents. You’re not going diving if something’s wrong. I don’t suppose you’ve done much training recently. You and Ace can stay here and work on the equipment.”
There was no doubt about it. There was relief in Will’s eyes when he heard that. Sergeant Olt knew what they’d done. The whole camp knew. It seemed to him that they hadn’t quite recovered from their efforts.
I hope they’ll have the sense to tell someone, if they can’t sort it out for themselves, he thought.


Ace and Will sat in the trees, out of sight of anyone who might go past and wonder why they weren’t working.
“Any better?” said Ace.
“No. Worse, if anything. How about you?”
“Yeah, worse. You could stick it out if you thought it was wearing off, but if it’s getting worse, there’s no hope.”
“No. We’ll go crazy. How long d’you think it’ll take?”
“The way I feel, a couple of weeks and we’ll be gibbering wrecks. I suppose they kick you out if you go crazy?”
“They’d try to heal you. But who could? We’ve pushed our luck too far this time, Ace.”
“Dead right.”
“Oh, don’t say that!”
“Oh yeah, that’s you, isn’t it? What can we do?”
“I don’t know. D’you want to try splitting up again?”
“That didn’t work. Just made everything feel even more weird.”
“I know one thing. We have to tell someone. While we still can. Even if there’s nothing anyone can do, at least they’ll know.”
“But who? We can’t tell Gran, not when he never got a chance to get this far. Ket was dead before he even joined the army.”
“He might understand, though,” sighed Will. “Oh help, this is awful.”

Ace blinked a bit, and shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.
“Tell you what, let’s go and find Major Gourdon. At least he’ll understand why. He was there, with us, the whole time.”
“OK. It’s better than hurting Gran. I’m afraid, though.”
“I know. Afraid of losing control.”
“You too?”
“I don’t know, Will. That’s just the problem, isn’t it?”
“Are you angry?”
“You know I am, because you are too.”
“There’s a thin line between love and hate.”
“Isn’t there, just. D’you hate me yet?”
“No, Ace. No way.”
Ace met his eyes, but he couldn’t say a word.
“Come on,” said Will. “Let’s get it over and done with.”


They walked over to the hospital, and went inside. It seemed so quiet today, after last week’s emergency. There didn’t seem to be anyone about. But they heard a clink of glass, and tapped on a door.
“Just a minute,” called Lieutenant Polesie.
She came out into the corridor, wiping her hands.
“Good morning, ma’am,” said Ace. “We were just wondering if we could have a word with Major Gourdon. We’d really like to talk to him.”
“He’s asleep,” she told them. “He was on duty last night, so if it’s medical, tell me. Come on in.”
They didn’t want to. They hardly knew her. But they had to tell someone, and maybe a stranger would be easier to talk to.
“We’re not asking for help,” said Will. “We know no-one can help us. But we thought we ought to tell someone before it’s too late.” His voice was very sad, as he tried to find the words. “We can’t get ourselves back. We’ve gone too far, too far into each other’s minds. And now, it’s all blurred.”
“We can’t think straight,” said Ace. “Everything’s tangled up. We were two people, thinking as one. And now it’s like we’re one person, thinking as two. Totally confused.”
He rubbed his eyes, and sighed in despair.
“We know we’ll go insane. We nearly are. It won’t be long, now. It’s no use expecting anyone to understand. But our friends will wonder what happened, so please will you tell them? Tell them it was worth it. To save Clover, I mean.”
“I’m sure it won’t be as bad as all that!” exclaimed the lieutenant. “You’ve obviously overdone it a bit, but it’ll wear off. You probably need some fresh air and exercise. What are you supposed to be doing now?”
“Training course,” said Ace.
“That sounds just the thing. Blow the cobwebs away!”
“Thank you, ma’am,” said Will. “We’ll get off, then.”


They wandered off, not sure where they were going.
“She didn’t believe us. But when it happens, she’ll remember what we said.”
“I hope so,” said Ace. “Do we want to see the others? Say goodbye?”
“Oh, no!” cried Will. “No, not that!”
He could feel how horrible it would be, to talk to their friends, knowing it might be the last time they ever made sense.
“Ach, stop it, Will! I can’t go that deep, you’re drowning me! Think about something else, something, anything!”
“I’m trying…”
He stopped moving, and leaned his hands on the wall of the conference room.
“Wood…touch the wood, Ace. Look at the pattern. Feel it. Feels nice.”
He was breathing hard, as if he’d been running.
“Rough,” said Ace. “Still got its bark on. What is it? Pine?”
“I think so. Lots of pine, here. Steady, Ace. Just breathe. Is that better?”
“For a while. Will, d’you think it would help if we went off the mountain?”
Ace’s thoughts jumped from crossing the perimeter, to detention, to the phone, to David, in a couple of seconds.
“Whoa, slow down! David…it’s not so scrambled, when you think of him. Why’s that?”
“That’s…no conflict. We must both feel exactly the same about David.”
“Right. That’s a help. When it gets too bad, think about him.”
“Right. Oh, I’d really like to talk to him. If only we could just slip down to the valley!”
“There’s no way you’d let Gran down by doing that, Ace. Never.
And neither would I.”
“It doesn’t have to be like that. Without permission, that’s the rule. What if we had permission?”
“Who would we have to ask?”
“General Cherapont.”
“It’s worth a try,” said Will. “No harm asking.”


It was Clover who realised first that they were missing. They hadn’t turned up for History that afternoon, and they hadn’t been on the Concourse, this evening. When they didn’t turn up in the mess, either, even when there was beer, she began to worry, and started asking around if anyone had seen them.
“Not since this morning,” Fran told her.
“Something’s wrong,” said Clover. “I don’t know what. I can feel it in my bones. I’m going outside, where it’s quiet, to try to message Will.”
A few minutes later, Fran came out, with the rest of their team.
“Anything?”
“Just a noise, like Ace’s old radio when it wasn’t tuned in properly. They can’t have gone off the mountain again, can they?”
“I don’t believe they’d do that,” said Fran. “I think we ought to try and find them. In case they need help.”
They split up, and searched the whole camp, moving in from the perimeter. They could all message now, and their messages grew more and more worried as they found no trace of them.
“What shall we do?” asked Fran, as they met up again. “Do you think we ought to tell someone?”
“We can’t do that!” exclaimed Hogweed. “We might get them into trouble!”
“Then we’ll have to do some detection work,” said Clover firmly. “Come on. Let’s go back to the hut.”


In the officers’ mess, Sergeant Olt was worried too. Sergeant Grybow had just been to complain to him that Ace and Will had skipped class, and he realised he hadn’t seen either of them since this morning. He placated her as best he could, and she stamped off again. But he left his drink untouched, and sat there, frowning. But Sergeant Grybow had been talking very loudly. General Herdalen had overheard her, and realised he hadn’t seen Ace or Will for days.
Not since that night in the hospital, he thought. They’re avoiding me. Interesting…
He went to speak to Sergeant Olt.
“Are they ill?”
“I’m not sure, General,” said Sergeant Olt. “But there’s something the matter. When I asked Will was was wrong, he said it was too hard to explain. But he didn’t say nothing was wrong.”
“When was this?”
“This morning. I let them off diving. They didn’t look up to it. Left them on the training ground, instead.”
“On their own? Right. Have you seen them since?”
“No, I haven’t. Do you want me to go and look for them, sir?”
“No, you must be worn out if you’ve been teaching first years diving. How did they get on?”
“Surprisingly, better without Ace and Will there. It was so easy for them, it may have intimidated the others.”
“They have tried it, then…how often?”
“Only once. The day of the accident.”
“I see. Just ask around a bit, will you, Luke? See if anyone’s seen them. I’ll try to message them.”

General Herdalen heard the same noise Clover had done. But unlike Clover, he’d heard that noise before. Only once, ages ago; and that had been someone who’d been delerious with a fever.
Sergeant Olt came back with Lieutenant Polesie.
“Yes, I saw them this morning,” she said. “They’re not ill. They came with a silly story about going insane. I daresay they’ve overdone it a bit, but honestly!”
“Just a minute,” glared General Herdalen.
General Cherapont was just going past.
“Tilleul, can you spare us a moment? I’m a little concerned about Ace and Will Moseley. They spoke to the surgeon here, this morning, and I’d like you to hear what she’s got to say. Get it right, won’t you?” he told her softly. “Or you’ll be bandaging septic toes for goblins in the Polish swamps next week.”
“I really don’t see what all the fuss is about,” she said crossly. “They said they knew no-one could help them, but they had to tell someone before it was too late, because they were going insane.They’d gone too far, they said, into each other’s minds, and they couldn’t get themselves back.”
“Oh dear,” said General Cherapont. “It does sound as if they’ve done a bit too much.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” said General Herdalen. “You were there, in the hospital, that night,” he said to the lieutenant. “How do you think they did that?”
“Well, it’s just pooling, isn’t it?”
“Pooling - for what, fourteen hours? They’re first years! They’d only heard of it that morning! How do you suppose they managed it?”
She stared, wondering what he was getting at.
“They’re twins, of course, you abysmal nincompoop. And locked inside each other’s minds - you bet they’ll go insane. We’ve got to find them. Now you get back to your hospital and search the records. Back to the dawn of time if you have to. Find out if this has ever happened before, and what the cure was.”
“Yes, sir,” she whispered, and dashed off, her mouth dry.

“Is it really so serious, Gran?” asked General Cherapont. “You have expert knowledge, obviously, but they seemed all right when I saw them.”
“You saw them, Tilleul?” said General Herdalen gently. “What time was that?”
“Oh, about ten o’clock this morning. They came to ask permission to cross the perimeter.”
“Did they, now,” smiled General Herdalen. “And did you give it them?”
“I don’t know what you take me for,” bristled General Cherapont. “I never said I was an intellectual, but I’m not stupid. Let those two off the mountain? With Special Brigade after them? Of course not.”
General Herdalen grinned with relief.
“But you know, Gran, they may have gone anyway. They’ve done it before.”
“No,” said Sergeant Olt stoutly. “They won’t have done that. I don’t believe it.”
“Neither do I,” smiled General Herdalen. “Leave it to me. I’ll find them.”


Clover and the others had searched the hut, but all they’d detected was that Ace and Will hadn’t been there. There wasn’t as much as a fingerprint in the fine later of dust. Still searching for clues, they moved on to the barracks.
“It’s been burgled!” exclaimed Rose.
“No, it always looks like this,” said Betch. “Actually, it’s a bit tidier than usual. We had a bit of a blitz a couple of weeks ago.”
“Is anything missing?” said Clover. “Or anything here that wasn’t, earlier?”
Wayne looked around Ace and Will’s bunk.
“Ace’s comb,” he said. “They came back here, then. But why would Ace not take his comb? It’s always in his pocket!”
“Because he couldn’t think why he was bothering to carry it around,” said a voice behind them.
It was General Herdalen. He looked at their worried faces, and asked quietly,
“Where are they, Clover?”
“We don’t know, sir. Truly we don’t. We’ve looked everywhere.”
“Do you think they might have gone off camp? Has either of them said anything to make you think they have? If so, I implore you to tell me.”
“Not a thing, sir,” said Fran. “If there was anything, we’d tell you.”
“If they have,” said Clover, “there’d only be one reason. To talk to David.”
“Where do they keep the phone?” asked the general.
The elves looked at each other anxiously, biting their lips.
“It’s not a trap!” exclaimed the general. “I don’t give a toss about the anti-technology law. Just look if it’s there!”

Wayne knelt down and pulled up a floorboard. There was an awful silence for a moment, then he lifted out the phone, well-wrapped to keep it dry.
The general smiled.
“I knew they wouldn’t. They’re still on camp, then, and we’ll find them.”
“What is it, sir?” asked Clover. “Why are they acting so strangely? Is this something to do with what they did for me?”
“Yes, Clover, I’m afraid it is. You’re all learning pooling - to share your resources so you can achieve something you couldn’t achieve alone - and that’s what they were doing, to keep you alive, until your own body could recover from the shock, and take over. It was easy for them, of course. Too easy. They kept going for too long. No-one had ever seen such a thing before. No-one knew what would happen. But when they tried to stop, they couldn’t. They couldn’t separate. So now they can hear each other’s thoughts - all the time - and feel each other’s feelings. As well as their own. So they won’t know which are their own. They’re losing their own identities.”
“That’s horrible!” whispered Clover.
“No-one could handle that!” said Peter. “They’ll go crazy!”
“Keep calm,” said the general, “and think. Feeling like that, what would they do? They knew what was happening to them - they went to the hospital, to tell someone. Then they went to ask permission to go off camp - and they didn’t get it. So they came back here, confused, tormented, restless - what did they do next?”

Clover was trying hard, trying to think, trying not to cry. She turned away and leaned against the bunk, staring at it sadly.
“Look at the state of these beds, Rose,” she gulped. “They haven’t been made for months.”
She smoothed a pillow, tenderly, and plucked off a single black hair, and smiled, marvelling at the length of it.
“One of Will’s.”
Wayne shook his head.
“Can’t be. That’s Ace’s bed.”
“Wait a minute,” said Dan. “They lay down, tried to rest. Probably not been sleeping well. But they went in the wrong beds. That sounds like the strange thoughts are louder than the familiar ones.”
“Go on,” said the general. “So they can’t sleep - so Ace would try to think what to do…”
“…but it would be louder in Will’s head,” said Fran, “so he’d decide. So they’d go and do whatever Will would do when he’s unhappy.”
“Make something,” said all the Moseleys, even Hogweed.
“But where?” said Rose. “They’re not in the hut.”
“General Széchenyi’s computer!” said Wayne. “Will’s been making it in her own office!”
“And she’s off camp,” said General Herdalen. “They could stay there for days. Well done, all of you.”
They all looked relieved, but the general knew that finding them was going to be the least of their worries.
“I can’t take you all,” he said. “That would overwhelm them. I’ll take Rose and Clover. They’ve known them longest.”


Outside the door to General Széchenyi’s office, General Herdalen spoke quietly to Rose and Clover.
“Brace yourselves,” he said. “I don’t know what we’ll find.”
He stepped cautiously inside, and his heart skipped a beat. Will was lying motionless on the floor, and Ace was sitting against the wall, with a happy smile on his face.
“Bother,” he said, when he saw them.
The general stared at him, breathing hard, and went to Will’s side.
“He’s asleep,” said Ace. “And when he wakes up, I’m going to sleep, then he can have a bit of peace, too. Obvious, really. Don’t know why we didn’t think of it sooner. You can’t think anything when you’re asleep, can you?”
“You can’t live like that for ever,” smiled the general, letting out a great sigh.
“It’s better than going crazy, believe me. Oh, the relief, when he dozed off! You wouldn’t believe it. How he can think that stuff all the time and not be crazy already, beats me.”
“And you think your thoughts were any easier for him to bear?”
“Mine are normal!”
“That’s what he thinks, too. Opposites, remember?”
“Remembering’s a bit tricky at the moment, sir,” Ace frowned. “Hi, Rose. Hi, Clover. Am I supposed to be somewhere?”
“No, Ace,” said Rose. “We were worried, that’s all. We didn’t know where you were.”
“Ach, don’t worry,” said Ace. “But will you look after the team, Clover?”
“Me?”
“Yeah, sure. You’re a good leader. You always lead the air force, don’t you?”
“Well, yes, but…”
“There you go, then. Takes one to know one. Wait a minute…that’s Will, isn’t it? Bother. What do I say? I can’t remember.”
“You say, ‘Right, here’s the plan’,” said Clover softly. “Have you got one yet?”
“Not yet. But I’m working on it.”
The fairies clapped their hands with delight.
“Very good, Ace! That’s what you always say!”
“Trouble is, ’tisn’t actually true. Haven’t got a clue.”
“Don’t worry,” said the general. “We’ll find the cure. I’ll go and see if there’s any news from the hospital. Stay with them,” he warned Rose and Clover. “They mustn’t be left alone.”
What’s he afraid of? Rose thought to Clover. They don’t seem to be in any danger.
I think I’m beginning to understand, Clover thought back.


General Herdalen was gone for a long time, but when he came back, he was smiling.
“That dozy lieutenant’s redeemed herself with this,” he said. “It’s not going to be easy. In fact, it could get a bit ugly. But we’ll have them back to normal by the morning.”
“By the morning!” said Clover. “You mean it’s going to take all night!”
“Yes, I do,” said the general sternly. “You’re going to have to stay awake all night. And then carry on in the morning, and lead your team.”
Clover looked horrified, and the general realised he could help her, too.
“Just get this into your head. If you’d been fitter, it wouldn’t have taken so long to heal you. And none of us would be here now. We’d all be in our beds. Isn’t it about time you put a bit of effort in, you little slacker?”
“Oh,” said Clover.
There was a battle going on inside her, you could tell. But as she looked at the state Ace and Will had got themselves in, for her, her soft face took on a tougher look as she steeled herself to what she had to do.
“That’s better,” said the general. “You looked like a soldier then. Ace has dozed off too, has he? I’m not surprised, they must be worn out. But we’ll have to wake them. They need to hear this.”

Will groaned wretchedly when they woke him.
“How did you find us?” he said. “I wish you hadn’t. I’ve got work to do. Got to get this finished before it’s too late.”
He rubbed his eyes, and picked up the motherboard, and his circuit diagram.
“Leave that, Will,” said the general. “There’s no hurry.”
He tapped a file he was carrying, and clouds of dust flew off it.
“This is the answer. Wake Ace up too, Rose.”
“No!” said Will. “Oh don’t, please. You don’t understand.”
Ace was just as cross as Will when he woke up. The look of resentment they gave each other made a shiver go down Clover’s spine.
“Look at me!” the general shouted at them. “Sit still, and look at me. Don’t dare to look away. Concentrate on me, and on what I’m saying, both of you.”
“Keep on talking, sir,” said Ace. “That’s not too bad.”
“No,” said Will. “Same as David.”

“Good,” said the general. He’d been banking on that, that their loyalty to him personally was the same, and wouldn’t confuse them. “Just keep concentrating. We’ve had to go back to 1785 to find the answer. It’s happened before, and there is a cure. Just listen to this.”
He opened the file and started reading to them.
“April 12, 1785, he read. “A curious event worthy of record. On the occasion of the Queen’s recent visit to Bergen, the officers were summoned there to meet her, leaving the young recruits alone at the Fjaerland Camp overnight. A terrible storm arose, and the roof of the Great Hall became unsafe, threatening to fall and destroy the treasures within. After some unsuccessful attempts at repair, two elves declared they could maintain its position throughout the night, until either the storm abated or their officers returned. This they proceeded to do, with great success, and their fortitude was much admired. Over the following days, however, their spirits and behaviour deteriorated with alarming speed. They became morose and withdrawn, and would not speak of what was troubling them. They became displeased with the other’s company, amazing all who knew them, for they were twins, and most affectionately disposed.”
“Didn’t they talk posh in those days?” said Ace. “What were their names?”
“It doesn’t say, unfortunately,” said the general. “You can just see them, though, can’t you? A couple of nutters who would think nothing of standing out in a storm all night, holding a roof on.”
“Stop it, Ace, you’re making me dizzy,” said Will. “Carry on, sir, please.”
“When the case was brought to my attention,” he read, “it became apparent to me that they were suffering great mental distress. They berated each other constantly, and from what was said, I formed the impression that they could sense each the other’s thoughts, and that the experience was not, to them, a pleasant one.”
“I bet it wasn’t,” said Ace.
“They were confined to my care, but neither bleeding, nor leeches, nor hot poultices to the brain produced the slightest relief. Their mental strength not now being sufficient to enable them to work or study, arrangements were made to convey them to a place of safety, where they might live under protection, with other afflicted souls.”
“Send them to the loony-bin, you mean,” said Ace.
“Their exhaustion being now so profound, however, that sleep overcame them, they awoke somewhat refreshed, and were alarmed at the arrangements being made on their behalf. Sundry persons suffered cuts and bruises as they attempted to leave the camp.”
“Decked the guards and did a runner,” said Ace. “I don’t blame them. What happened next?”
“I could tell you if you stopped interrupting. No wonder you keep getting chucked out of History. Just listen, will you?”
“Sorry, sir.”
“They were detained before achieving their objective, and brought before the Commander of the army, who was greatly troubled at the case, for these were elves of great promise - just listen to this bit, Ace – whose conduct had never before given cause for concern. In view of that, he said, that though they were beyond our aid, yet there was one who might assist them in their plight, if his mercy would extend to such a blessing.”
“Oh!” said Clover, and the general smiled at her.
“They were told they would be taken to the Great Tree, and this prospect was most displeasing to one of them, yet his objections were overcome. What sweet message he gave to their troubled minds I cannot tell, yet the restoration he wrought was most profound, and achieved without recourse to medical skill or human wisdom. In other words,” said the general, “science isn’t everything. There are older helps, which we’re a bit quick to forget these days. We have to get you to the Tree.”

There was silence for a moment. Then Ace screwed his face up as if he was in pain, and Will scrambled to his feet.
“You’re the one who’s insane!” he shouted at the general. “To the Tree? In this state? For pity’s sake, Gran, you know what that’ll mean.”
He looked down at Ace, and he was breathing hard.
“He’ll be able to…no. No way. It’s unthinkable. It’s too private.”
“Will, calm down!” said Clover. “Look what you’re doing to Ace!”
“What about what he’s doing to me? Yes, he can feel my fear. Damn you, Ace, get out of my mind, will you?”
Clover came closer, trying to get hold of him, but he pushed her away, hard, and she fell to the floor. His eyes blazed, and he flicked his penknife open. One glance at the blade, and it was longer and sharper, a nasty weapon.
“Just keep away, all of you,” he said. “Rose, get away from that door.”
He backed towards the door, watching them carefully, moving the knife to cover them all. Ace made a strange noise, almost a choked scream, and tried to get to his feet. Will glanced towards him, distressed for a moment, and the general seized his chance, and moved fast. Alert at once, Will slashed out, as the general grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm until he dropped the knife. Will struggled furiously, but he wasn’t anything like as strong as General Herdalen.

“The prospect was most displeasing to one of them,” the general quoted compassionately, “yet his objections were overcome.”
He turned Will round and hit him hard on the back of the neck, with the side of his hand.
“Didn’t mention how, did he? Bit cagey about that bit.”
He’d caught Will, he hadn’t let him fall.
“You OK, Ace? He’s out cold. Shall we go?”
“I’m not sure,” said Ace. “He really doesn’t want to. And I understand why, I really do. If I agree to this, I’d be letting him down.”
“Ace, that’s not sensible,” said Rose. “If it makes you better…”
“No, it’s a fair point,” said the general. “But there’s no other way. If you don’t take it, you know how it’ll end, don’t you?”
“Yes,” said Ace. “Yes, I do. Give him to me, sir.”
He held Will close to him, so their heads were on each other’s shoulders.
“There’d only be one way out,” said Ace softly. “The torment’s too much. We’d end up hating each other. But we wouldn’t let it get that far. Just stand like this…one last look…two knives, and it’d be over.”
Rose and Clover were clutching each other tightly, tears in their eyes, their faces frozen with pity and understanding.
“Don’t give up yet,” said the general. “Go to the Tree. And if Will isn’t glad you did, you can still do that.”
“You promise? You wouldn’t stop us?”
“I promise. I wouldn’t stop you.”
“That’s all right then,” said Ace. “I can’t carry him that far, though. Can you?”
“Oh, yes,” said the general. “He’s only…I mean, he’s not very big.”


Clover knew she would never forget this night as long as she lived. She walked across the deserted camp, she and Rose, following the general, who had Will in his arms and Ace by his side.
All our lives we’ve lived together, and I’ve never really understood them until tonight, she thought. I’ve been so lazy. Madge would be ashamed of me.
They reached the eastern guardhouse, and the guards jumped up when they saw the general, and opened the gate smartly.
“Thanks, lads,” he said calmly, and carried on into the forest.
A great silence pressed on their ears as they walked through the trees. But then Will moaned and came round. He shook his head in amazement, then realised where he was and started struggling. The general set him down and calmly tied Will’s hands behind his back. Will started swearing at the general, slightly shocking Clover, who hadn’t realised he knew so many bad words. But the general wasn’t the slightest bit put out, even when Will tried to kick him. He just grabbed Will by his hair and pushed him forwards.
“Walk,” he said.
Will glared at Ace.
“I can’t believe you let him do that.”
“Cool it,” said Ace. “Feel the peace. It’s nearly over, one way or another. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Peace?” said Will. “Yeah, maybe…you feel calm. But why should he bother, Ace? For us?”
“I know. But he did for those two back in 17 whatever-it-was.”
“They were good.”
“True. Yet I don’t suppose they felt they deserved such a thing, either. Who could? But, you know, it’s not about how good we are, but how good he is.”
“Deep, Ace. Very deep.”
“Isn’t it? Where d’you suppose I got that from? But all we can do, is ask.”
“Yes, all right. We can ask.”

Very gently, the general let go of Will’s hair. Will didn’t notice, and carried on talking to Ace. They were in the lead now, walking side by side.
“D’you remember the fights we had when we were in our teens?” said Ace. “When we wanted to be together, but started wanting to do different things?”
“Yeah,” said Will. “It wasn’t a good time. But Cory sorted us out. We should have guessed then, Ace, weren’t we daft?”
“I’ll say,” Ace smiled. “He told us, ‘Some twins spend their lives at each other’s throats. Some break each other’s hearts. Some only look at each other, and don’t see the world’.”
“ ‘Look out at the world, over each other’s shoulders, and always think of the other before yourself’,” said Will. “ ‘Then you’ll be all right’.”
The general looked at Rose and Clover, and put his finger to his lips. Then he imagined away the cord around Will’s wrists. He still didn’t notice. They’d both forgotten anyone else was there.
Even at that age, they listened, the general thought to himself. Astonishing. It’s their greatest strength, though they don’t realise it.
They were nearly there. Rose and Clover had stopped moving, overawed. It was so dark, and so quiet, it didn’t feel a bit like full moon. The general put his arms around them both, and gently ushered them to the edge of the glade, to watch.

Only gentle starlight shone in the glade that night. They saw Ace and Will stop, and gaze upwards at the Tree, then without looking down, put their arms round each other, and walk forward. Their grey shadows shimmered away, out of sight.
They can ask, thought Clover. We can ask. Oh, please help them, please.
How long they stayed there, Clover didn’t know. But gradually the sky beyond the forest changed from grey to pink and yellow, and General Herdalen smiled.
“It’s going to be all right,” he said. “Ace just messaged me, ‘All’s well’. Listen, I’ll have to go. It’s dawn, and I’ve got a lot to do today. Wait here, and when they’re ready, see they get to their beds. And tell them to report to me this afternoon, 1700 hours. Then get out there, Clover, and lead your team. You up for it?”
“You bet, sir,” said Clover firmly. “And thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
The general winked at them both, saluted the Tree, and jumped off through the forest.


“Oh, wow,” said Ace, sinking back onto the damp grass. “That was good. That was so good. Wasn’t it?”
“It was,” Will admitted. “What was that word Gran read out? It wasn’t healing, it was something else…”
“Restoration,” said Ace. “That’s bigger than healing, isn’t it? It feels like waking up from a dream, when you’ve been hibernating. All fresh, and ready to go, but different, somehow. New ideas whizzing around in your head.”
“Well, I can’t feel them,” said Will. “Your normal thoughts are too fast for me. I don’t want to think what you’d be like when you’re whizzing.”
“No, but you understand me even better now, don’t you? ’Cos I understand you better. We’ll be even closer than we were before.”
“Yes. It’s going to be good. I’m glad Gran made me come.”
“He promised that if you weren’t, he wouldn’t stop us. Taking the other way out.”
“Very strong,” said Will. “Not many people would have said that. But he knows there’s worse things than dying.”
“So what’s still on your mind?” said Ace. He knew something was.
“When did it stop?”
“As soon as we touched him. I didn’t hear a thing, so don’t worry.”
“That’s what I mean. He had some hard words to say to me, and you didn’t hear them. And I wish now, that you had. So I’m going to tell you anyway.”
“You don’t have to do that, Will! Are you sure?”
“Yes, I am. Give me a minute, this isn’t easy.”
He took a deep breath, and managed to get it out.
“He said, ‘Learn from your twin, Willow, and lose your pride. There is nothing he would keep from you. Will you do any less for him?’ “
“Thanks,” said Ace quietly. “That took some doing. Hey, come on. Don’t break your heart. He tells me off sometimes too, you know. Like when I go losing it with people. He only does it because he loves us.”
“Dead right,” said Will, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
Then he caught sight of Rose and Clover, waiting for them at the edge of the glade.
“How on earth…oh yeah, I remember. Ace, they’re still waiting for us, come on!”

They helped each other up, turned and saluted the Tree, then raced off and hugged Rose and Clover wildly.
“Are you really all right now?” said Rose.
“What happened?” said Clover.
“It was beautiful,” said Will. “You know we told you he lets us see him as our own trees? Well, he let us hear him, in a voice we knew.”
“All’s safe, somewhere,” said Ace, joyously. “It was Cory. It was like Cory was telling us what the Tree wanted to say. But it was still him. And we got the chance to say thank you. Like Will said - beautiful.”
“You lucky things!” said Clover. “But goodness knows you deserve it, after what you’ve been through. Come on, we have to get you to bed.”
“No way, Clover! We’re OK, we can stay awake.”
“It’s General Herdalen’s orders,” said Clover.
“Oh, he won’t mind.”
“Ace Moseley,” said Clover firmly, “it’s not over until you’ve had a sleep and reported to the general. And until then, I’m the leader. You said so yourself. So you have to do as you’re told. Bed!”
“Yes, Clover,” sighed Ace.


Rose and Clover saw them to their barracks. They wouldn’t go inside, not when all the other elves were getting up, but they warned them sternly to go straight to sleep and not lie there talking all day.
“Elves!” said Clover, as they headed off to their own barracks for a wash. “The thing about elves going insane is, they haven’t got very far to go.”
“Clover!” said Rose. “That’s not funny! You mustn’t make any more jokes about them being insane.”
“ ’Course not,” said Clover. “Not when they’re listening, anyway.”


When Ace and Will woke up, they went straight for a swim. Ace noticed that Will washed his hair without being told to, but he didn’t say anything. They put clean clothes on, and combed their hair carefully.
“Do I look all right?” said Will.
“Dead smart,” said Ace approvingly. “What’s up? You nervous?”
“ ’Course I am. He’ll go mad. How many rules did I break yesterday?”
“Well, let’s see,” grinned Ace. “Skipping class, being in an officer’s room without permission, making illegal technology…then there was transforming a legal knife into an illegal weapon, assaulting a senior officer, and using disgraceful language. Oh, and decking a fairy when it wasn’t combat training.”
“Did I do that? Which one? Clover? Oh, good grief. I’ll have to apologise. This is worse than I thought. What’s that, seven counts? I’ll get detention for this.”
“Probably a month,” said Ace, struggling to keep his face straight. “You’ll die of thirst in there, this weather.”
“Oh, thank you, Ace. That’s really encouraging.”
“You ready? Come on.”
“I know. Get it over and done with.”


They went to the general’s office and knocked on the door.
“Come in!” he shouted.
“Reporting in, sir,” said Ace.
“Blast, is that the time already? Never mind. Let’s have a look at you.”
They stood up straight, with a calm, modest alertness that pleased the general very much.
“Excellent,” he said. “Thanks to the Tree, and that old surgeon who had the sense to write down what he’d seen. I can’t tell you how glad I am.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Ace. “Thank you so much for everything you did.”
“No problem. But look, there’s something I want to say. You could have told me straight away when this trouble started. I know why you didn’t, but you’ve got to stop thinking you’re hurting me by reminding me that you’re twins. You’re not. If anything, it’s a comfort. So another time, tell me right away, OK?”
“Yes sir,” said Ace. “If you’re sure that’s how you feel, ’course we will.”
“You’re very quiet, Will,” remarked the general.
Will couldn’t answer, he just looked at the floor.
“He thinks you’re going to give him detention,” said Ace helpfully.
“What! Don’t be daft!” said the general.
“I pulled a knife on you!” said Will. “How I could…I don’t know. But I’m really sorry, sir.”
“You weren’t yourself. Anyway, generals are not supposed to knock first years unconscious either, if it comes to that. But you can fix that cut you gave me, while you’re here.”
He pushed his sleeve up, and Will saw what he’d done. He shook his head in disbelief, then gave it all he’d got.
“Neat work,” said the general. “Didn’t feel a thing. I expect you’d like this back, wouldn’t you?”
“Oh, thank you,” said Will, as the general gave him his penknife back. “I’ve had that for years. But I don’t deserve it.”
“Stop worrying about it, Will. When I think about what happened yesterday, that’s not what I’m thinking of. I’m thinking of the way you wanted to go off camp - but you didn’t. I’m thinking of the courage it took to deal with what was happening. And the love, too…no matter how bad it got. You’ve got a lot to be pleased about.”
“You know what really impressed me, sir?” said Ace.
“Go on.”
“The way you knocked Will out. How did you do that, sir?”
“Now don’t you even think about trying that!” said the general. “I mean it, Ace. It’s very dangerous. You can kill people like that unless you know what you’re doing. Wait till Sergeant Olt starts combat training. If he lets you, of course.”
“If?” said Ace, alarmed. “You don’t think he might not, do you, sir?”
“Well…he might stretch a point.”
Ace looked so worried, it was all Will and the general could do to keep from laughing.

“Oh, I’d better get back to work,” he sighed. “Drat this office, I can’t find a thing. You can’t see a paper with Balkans Units on it, can you? I’ve got a meeting in a bit and I can’t find the figures I need.”
“Yeah, it’s behind you,” said Will, puzzled. “You must have pinned it to the wall so you wouldn’t lose it.”
The general turned round and grabbed it joyfully.
“It’s a bit of a tip in here, Gran,” said Will thoughtfully. “Why don’t you have a filing cabinet?”
“What’s one of those?”
They stared at each other, and explained.
“That’s a brilliant idea! And that’s a human thing, of course? You’re so lucky, coming from a city. Nothing like that in Herdalen. Very strong on waterfalls. Goats, too. But not too hot on office equipment.”
“D’you want us to sort it out for you?” said Ace. “Or is there loads of top-secret stuff we shouldn’t see?”
“I’d love you to sort it out. As for top-secret…I don’t know that there’s anything I’d mind you knowing about. I know I could trust you not to talk about anything you saw.”
“We’ll have a go, while you’re at your meeting,” said Will.
“Meeting! I’m going to be late! See you in a bit.”


“You knew he wouldn’t be mad, didn’t you, you wind-up merchant?”
Ace choked with laughter.
“ ’Course I did. But I wasn’t going to miss a chance like that, was I?”
“Huh. Well, he got you, you know.”
“He did? When?”
“Saying Sergeant Olt might stretch a point and let you do combat training. Honestly, Ace, he was killing himself! The thought of you, not…good grief, you’ll be first on his list.”
“Oh, good. He had me worried then.”
“He knows how you think,” smiled Will. “What’ve you got there? Germany 1? Put these with them. He reminds me a lot of you.”
“Does he? Why?”
“Well, the things he’s not afraid of saying. He’s not as bouncy, of course, but he’s suffered a lot, and he’s not a perishing sycamore, either. But he really cares about people. And of course, he’s a brilliant leader.”
“Nice. Which heap’s France 2? Thanks. I know he likes us, he was enjoying having a chat, better than doing his work. But you know, Will, why us? He must have met other twins before, it’s not that rare. D’you think we remind him…”
“Remind him of himself and Ket? Yes, I do. I expect Ket was a bit quieter. And a lot cleverer, of course. And much better-looking…”
He wasn’t surprised when Ace jumped him. He’d asked for it, saying that. And he wasn’t sorry, either. It was just what they both needed, a good scrap, to make everything feel normal again.