She paused, and though Leaf could not look, she had the horrible suspicion that Friday was licking her lips.
‘Now, as for you, Miss Interfering Leaf. I have brought you here because even though I have a most excellent plan to not only remove your friend Arthur but also several other major annoyances, I am not so stupid as to count on its success. My spies tell me Arthur is most attached to his friends, that he would do anything to help them. So you will serve as bait for a trap, or as a negotiating point, or a hostage, or something equally useful should the occasion arise. Just do as you are told and stay out of the way.’
‘What if I don’t?’ said Leaf, but again it didn’t come out as defiant. It sounded pathetic and hopeless.
‘You are also not stupid, I think,’ said Friday. ‘As I hold you to use against Arthur, I hold someone to use against you. Do I not?’
Leaf froze, unable to think of any response to that.
‘Do I not?’ snapped Friday. ‘Some blood relation, I think. Aunt Orange or Apple or some such fruity name.’
‘Mango,’ whispered Leaf. ‘Don’t … please don’t experience her.’
I’m begging, she thought, some part of her unable to believe the situation she was in. I’m begging for Mango’s life, or something close to it.
‘Oh, I can still feel the poignancy of it!’ declared Friday. ‘The emotion is lasting longer! I almost feel like a mortal and it must be at least a minute … No … it’s fading … Axilrad, I must have another batch … No … too soon … I’ll run out … perhaps some other distraction … ’
Leaf heard the Trustee’s wings unfurl and she threw herself forward, onto the hard stone.
‘Please! Don’t do anything to Aunt Mango!’
‘Your mango shall be the last fruit I taste,’ called out Friday with a clear, carrying laugh, and then with a single, powerful beat of her wings, she leaped back up into the air.
Leaf stayed face down, trying not to sob, her hand unconsciously going to the Mariner’s medallion, her fingers clutching it so hard they turned almost as white as the whalebone disc.
She lay there for at least a minute, letting the fear slowly ebb away, to be equally slowly replaced by her natural courage and determination. Now that Lady Friday had gone, she could think again, no longer struck with a feeling that had been as close to blind panic as she’d ever experienced.
So long as Friday’s not in front of me I can be brave, thought Leaf. She bit back a sob. That’s better than being a total coward, I guess. I just have to stay out of her way …
‘I told you,’ said Harrison. ‘Guess you’ll help me now, won’t you?’
Leaf didn’t answer. She slowly stood up and looked over at the balcony on the crater rim where Lady Friday and her attendants were alighting. She watched them go inside, ignoring Harrison.
If I give in now, she’ll just experience Aunt Mango anyway, thought Leaf. Giving in never works … and I can’t let her use me against Arthur …
‘I said you’d better help me now,’ said Harrison again, stepping around so he was in front of her and she couldn’t ignore him.
‘Why?’ asked Leaf. ‘She won’t keep her word. Besides, Arthur will sort her out before too long. You’d do better to help me.’
‘What?’ asked Harrison weakly. ‘But you’ve seen Her, the power of the Key …’
‘You’d better decide whose side you’re on,’ said Leaf. ‘You said you wanted to get back to Earth, didn’t you?’
‘Yes …’
‘Do you reckon Lady Friday will ever let you go?’
‘No …’
‘Then help me!’ urged Leaf. ‘Is there a telephone anywhere here that connects with the House?’
‘I don’t …’ replied Harrison. He looked around, to check if any Denizens were in earshot, but he and Leaf were alone in the crater, save for the fallen sleepers who lined the shore.
‘I don’t know …’ he continued. ‘I’d have to ask a Denizen. But they’d never tell me. It’s pointless anyway. Just help me work and we’ll both stay out of trouble.’
‘Staying out of trouble won’t get you back to Earth,’ said Leaf. ‘Or help anyone else. I’m frightened by Friday too, but we have to do something!’
‘I can’t,’ whispered Harrison. ‘I … I haven’t got the guts. Not anymore.’
‘Cover for me, then,’ said Leaf. ‘Give me some job that’ll let me wander around carrying something.’