Somebody Stop Ivy Pocket Read Online Free PDF

were very clear. The stone offers visions of what was, what is, and what will be. It was clear from Rebecca’s lavender dress that the vision took place on the night of the ball. And I was certain that Rebecca had not been chased through any such forest before she had worn the necklace and perished.
    Which only left one possibility. The stone was showing me a glimpse of Rebecca after she put it on. Therefore, that haunting forest must be a place in Prospa. But Miss Frost had told me that only Rebecca’s soul passed into her world. And that she was dead. Gone. Hadn’t I seen her wither toa husk before my eyes? Yet she looked very much alive in the vision.
    Miss Frost had lied. And if that was true, what else had she kept from me? But no, I would not think of that tomato-headed scoundrel for the moment. Rebecca was all that mattered. Finding a way to help her. To reach her.
    So lost was I in my thoughts that I ran straight into a lanky fellow walking the other way. We collided in glorious fashion. I reeled back. He staggered sideways, his sandwich fumbling in his hands before dropping to the ground.
    ‘Watch where you’re going!’ he snapped.
    ‘I haven’t the time,’ I told him quite reasonably. ‘Much too busy trying to save the day.’ I shrugged. ‘Besides, I think we can both agree the fault lies with you.’
    ‘With me ? You just about knocked me over.’ The young man pointed at his sandwich in a most judgemental fashion. ‘I’ve lost my lunch thanks to you!’
    Which was a scandalous accusation. I was on the very brink of telling the unpleasant gentleman to prepare for a firm thrashing when my eyes were drawn to the small hooded figure zipping along the crowded footpath behind him. The figure was remarkably short and wore a brown cloak. My blood seemed to stir from its slumber, rapidly picking up speed and tearing through my veins. It was a Lock!
    Which is why I set off at speed.
    ‘Hey, come back here!’ the young man hollered behind me. ‘You owe me two shillings!’
    The little villain was a good twenty feet away from me now. He had passed under the shade of the shop awnings which formed a dim tunnel stretching almost to the end of the street. The villain was zigzagging between the other pedestrians with great skill and, owing to his size, vanished from view on several occasions.
    The path was swarming with pedestrians and I feared that he would disappear completely before I could catch him. And catch him I must. The Locks worked for Miss Always – and they were sure to know where Rebecca was being held. I would do whatever it took to get the truth out of that murderous little scoundrel!
    Drastic action was required.
    I darted off the footpath and on to the road – an empty apple cart in my sights. With audacity that would make a five-star general weep, I jumped at the cart. Leapt on to the wheel. Pushed off and flew towards the shop awning above my head. Clutching the edge of the blind with my left hand, I hoisted myself up. Got to my feet and started running.
    As it turns out, navigating a series of shop awnings is a rather difficult business. They hang from above the shopfronts at a sharp angle, which makes dashing across them most challenging. But I was equal to the task.

    Keeping to the base of the awnings, I quickly found my footing and was soon bolting along. The thick canvas had a certain spring and I was able to leap from the Atlantic Shoes Co. to Provincial Home Investments then across to Harding Progressive Tailors. As I jumped on to the last awning (a cigar manufacturer) I prayed that I had been fast enough to overtake the diabolical Lock walking beneath me.
    Being partly dead has supreme advantages in a situation such as this – falling and breaking my neck wasn’t a concern. So I dropped to the canvas, gripped the edge of the blind, and flipped over. I arched through the air like a trapeze artist with a death wish and hurtled towards the footpath. My landing was terribly graceful.