Julius and the Soulcatcher by Tim Hehir Page B

village. Darkness was descending and the forest sounds were gradually changing—distant whoops and squawks were being replaced by chattering insects and the occasional low growl.
    Above them, stars appeared in the navy-blue sky.
    ‘Seeing as ’ow you’re in charge, gov,’ said Emily. ‘’ave you arranged lodgings for the night? Cos I ain’t sleeping out ’ere where no wild fing can eat me.’
    ‘I think we should introduce ourselves to the clergyman,’ said Julius. ‘We can ask if we sleep in his hut.’
    ‘And ’ave you ordered supper, cos I ain’t ’arf starving.’
    Julius stomach growled. ‘We’ll find something,’ he said.
    The light quickly faded as they made their way along the riverbank back to the village. It was almost dark when they got there. Across the river an orange glow showed where Darwin and Skinner had their camp.
    A faint light shone from one of the huts built over the water.
    ‘That’s the clergyman’s,’ whispered Julius. ‘It’s the only one without any soulcatchers growing out of it.’
    A stifled yell rang out.
    Julius ducked.
    ‘Over there,’ said Emily. She pointed to a hut where soulcatchers were bursting through the roof.
    She made to go towards it but Julius held her back. Emily twisted out of his grip and faced him.
    ‘Look, ’iggins,’ she hissed. ‘If we ain’t gonna ’elp no one then wot’s the point of us being ’ere. You said yourself, the pocketwatch took us ’ere cos there was somefing we ’ad to do.’
    ‘And if we get ourselves maimed or killed we won’t be much good to anyone,’ Julius said back.
    ‘You fink I don’t know that,’ hissed Emily. ‘I’ve survived all my bleeding life on the streets. You don’t do that by being stupid.’
    ‘I know. I’m sorry. It’s just, we have to be careful.’
    ‘Follow me, ’iggins and watch me being careful,’ said Emily. ‘You can take notes if you like.’
    Julius sighed and followed her up the ladder. At the top Emily peeped round the open doorway.
    ‘I can’t see naffing,’ she whispered.
    ‘Here,’ said Julius. He spun the pocketwatch and tapped it. Blue light shone out. Emily’s eyes opened wide in horror and pity.
    ‘What is it?’ he whispered.
    Emily just stared.
    Julius looked through the doorway. He recoiled, almost falling over the rail around the hut’s veranda. Orchids were spread everywhere like ivy—along the floor, up the walls, across the ceiling. In the far corner was a human face almost hidden by the flowers. It was caught in a scream, the skin like dried leather. Stems grew from its gaping mouth, nostrils and eye sockets and spread across the room.
    ‘It’s a soulcatcher,’ said Julius. ‘Like the painting in Mr Darwin’s diary. So it was real.’
    But it was not the screaming face or the orchids issuing from it that held Julius and Emily’s horrified attention. It was the little girl asleep in the entwining flowers. She wore a ragged dress made from a man’s shirt with the sleeves cut off. It was made to fit her with safety pins at the waist and shoulders.
    Julius stepped through the doorway. The carpet of soulcatchers rippled like a field of wheat in a breeze.It felt like a warning. Julius stepped back, bumping into Emily.
    ‘It’s got the nippa,’ whispered Emily. ‘It’s killing ’er.’
    Julius held out an arm to stop her.
    Emily glared at him. ‘Let go of—’
    ‘Wait,’ said Julius. ‘Use your eyes. It’s not killing her.’
    Emily looked closer at the sleeping child. The tendrils were stroking her skin as if soothing her.
    ‘It’s the child’s mother,’ whispered Julius. ‘She sitting on her lap. See? You can make out the woman’s body beneath the orchids. See her foot there, and her hand.’
    ‘But her ma’s dead,’ said Emily.
    ‘I know. She’s been mummified,’ said Julius. ‘It looks like the soulcatchers are growing out of her, feeding off her and sucking her dry.’
    The child twitched and raised her arm as if fending