Guys, thanks so much for your reviews: Lisette, Random Inspired, Tane, Bibby, Lady of the Mirror, Miss Milli, Riiko, Conception and Duchessa! In this chapter, I used a quote from one of my favourite novels: Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck. Go read it if you haven't already. It's a book you read a thousand times, and each time you discover something new :)

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VII

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Other Fish

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So blue.

So clean and clear, the morning, the calmness after the storm. Like nothing had ever happened. But something had happened.

Kitty had made a decision, and so had the old man. "If you go look for the boy, I'll come with you and see my son", he told her. "We go together", she agreed.

Nathaniel had left while she had been still asleep. She suspected he'd wander around the island, and felt she shouldn't disturb him at it. He was there, talking and walking and breathing, that was a fact, but she wasn't so crazy as trying to understand how and why. It would be alright eventually. And now she just needed one person:

And she would find him, sure as hell she would.

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So I was stranded on Calm Blue.

You should have seen the sunrise.

After the night of horror I bathed in the soft light, mesmerized by the colours.

The shore was rocky and on the cliffs high above me I could catch a glimpse on some bare trees. Now I was finally here there was no point wasting any more time, so I got up and walked along the beach.

I passed the torn remainders of a tent on my way. One could only hope that the camper had left in time. The beach ended in a narrow tarred street, which led to a small house. Behind it, somewhere in the blue distance, I could make out a village and a leaving bus. One way to go.

Something told me that the house held answers, soI entered the silence. Nothing audible but the unnerving ticking of a clock and the sound of the breakers.

"Hello", I called. Teacups on the table, a yellow jacket hung over a chair. I called again as I made my way through the tiny kitchen and living room and cautiously opened the last door.

The old woman just looked at me.

"Hello" I said lamely. She just nodded. Not unfriendly, just accepting. There was no surprise in her face, which in return surprised me. I had never seen her before, yet she seemed to know my face. Now she knitted her thin eyebrows.

"...do you know Kitty?" I asked.

She nodded again and smiled. It was a worried smile.

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The bus stopped near the port, and Kitty got up. "Don't you want to come, too, Sir?", she asked the old man that still sat in his seat. For the first time since she knew him he smiled at her. It was a pleasant smile, lit up his old and wrinkled face.

"No, I'll go see my son's grave." He laid his hand on hers and squeezed it gently. "Thank you. I hope you'll find your friend." She smiled and climbed out of the bus, waving after it.

Now, on with it. Kitty had no idea where Bartimaeus could possibly be. He hadn't told her where his master lived, but...hadn't he mentioned that he could stay where he liked most of the time anyway? Instinct led her on.

The hut.

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Great. My timing was just great. ((Nothing new there, I know.)) I could've kicked myself.

When I left the house, hope had left me. Was I never to see Kitty again? And now it seemed the old lady had told her I was in danger. Me! Hello? I could look after myself. Kitty on the other hand...who knew what perverted old man she had in her company now?

I had to get back, and soon. So back to the boat.

I swore and kicked up the wet sand on the beach. Of course: today the weather was so calm and sunny, I could probably fly back easily. But then I thought of my fisherman-friend who'd probably kill me if on top of stealing his only boat in the dead of the night I also left it lying on some beach. Flying wasn't an option today.

At least the motor still worked. Woohey.

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The allotment was deserted. "Nobody there" Kitty realized as she stood in front of the little hut. No Bartimaeus. Where else could she look? If only she had the address of his master...

Discouraged, she turned around and left the gardens.

It was a beautiful day. The autumn sun felt warm on her face. Kitty closed her eyes, stood still in the middle of the road and breathed deeply.

She imagined Bartimaeus by her side. "Hey" he'd say and smile his lopsided smile that could mean everything and nothing (but she liked to think it meant everything) "are you tired already? Dude, if everyone gave up so fast, the walls of Prague would still be standing" he'd say. Kitty grinned. "Look who's talking" she murmured.

"Hey."

She opened her eyes with a start. In front of her stood the fisherman with his little scooter, but he didn't look very content.

"Good morning" Kitty said. "I...er...have the money for the new lock...if you..." He waved with his hand. "Did he at least find you?" he asked.

"Eh?"

"Your demon friend...was whining endlessly about how he so needed to see you and then" he snorted "then he goes and steals my boat."

"He...what?" Kitty tried to understand the last part but still dwelled on what he had said before...he so needed to see you...was that really Bartimaeus, she thought skeptically.

The fisherman interpreted her face as a reaction to his excitement. "Yes, he stole it" he repeated. "When you find him, tell him that if doesn't bring it back, I'll..."he huffed. "Dunno...I'll set you on him or something."

Kitty nodded. "S'alright. I tell him. Don't worry, I'm sure he just er...borrowed it." In her head everything was spinning round. Needed to see her...

And she needed to see him.

"I'll go find him" she said and turned around.

"You may take my scooter" the man said. "Looks like I got a free day anyway, thanks to your friend."

Kitty smiled apologetically and gratefully took the keys he offered. "Thank you, you'll have them back this evening. And the boat. Promise." With that she mounted the scooter and off she went.

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I had almost reached the mainland, when the motor announced his oncoming death by sputtering loudly and making various unhealthy noises. Then it was very silent, apart from the rushing of the sea.

Why me?

That the shore wasn't all that far away made me even less willing to leave the boat here. This was insulting. Hopeless, I buried my face in my hands. No idea for how long I just sat there, unmoving. Thoughts drifting. Kitty...damn you. Where the hell are you?

A croak made me look up. While the sea gulls drew circles in the air high above me, an audicious crow had taken seat on the edge of the boat and looked at me with its head cocked.

"What do you want?" I snapped.

Look at you, it seemed to say.

"So, what? I'm a noble djinn. No need to make fun of me just because I seem to be out of luck."

Is she worth all this?

I sighed. "Look" I said, "Not that you'd understand, but I'll tell you something: They say of an amputee that he remembers his leg. I remember Kitty. I am not whole without her, I am not alive without her. Even when we were fighting I was whole. At the time, I didn't realize how important it was, but I do now."

I imagined the crow to raise an eyebrow.

"Don't look like this!" I continued. "I am not an idiot. I know that if I should win her I'll have many horrible times. But I also know that if I fail I'll never be whole. As a stupid crow, you will wonder, 'why her? Look among your own kind if you want to be happy. There are better fish in the sea!' But you have no idea. Let me tell you that to me not only are there no better fish, there are no other fish in the sea at all. The sea is lonely without this fish."

The crow still looked at me. Stupid critter.

Then what are you waiting for?

I stamped a foot. I didn't have to put up with such arrogance. "Get lost!" I yelled at it.

With a snide caw it took off and flew towards the near shore.

Damn it, I thought. Damn you, stupid motor. I pushed magic into it, but as usual, magic and mechanics didn't work together. I pulled the starter hard, then with feeling, then hard again. Real hard. With a frustrated battle cry I stamped my foot and pulled again and again, like a madman.

And that was when I lost my balance, and fell into the sea.

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Now that Kitty knew that he had taken the boat, it was clear where Bartimaeus was. On his way to see her. Which meant, he'd be on Calm Blue, while she wasted her time searching him on the mainland. She could have kicked herself, or even better him, for clearly all this was his fault alone. Who else would be so daft and steal a boat to–

Suddenly a nameless fear gripped Kitty's heart. He had taken the boat in the middle of the night, but surely he hadn't been so stupid and sailed out in the storm? Because that would mean...

She willed the scooter to go faster.

He couldn't be dead.

This boy was in danger, she heard her grannie say. Kitty gritted her teeth. There was the road on top of the dunes, now the bridge wasn't that far away. She accelerated. The wind tore at her hair and made the scooter lurch.

– and then, a crow came out of nowhere and bounced right into her, and Kitty lost balance. With a cry, she tumbled down the dune, rolled over and over, and finally came to a halt on the beach.

Swearing, Kitty tried to stand up and looked around for the scooter. Her gaze fell on something on the sea. Not so far away, a boat. Someone in the boat. Screaming and cursing, the wind carried the sound to the beach.

Could it be...

The boat bobbed up and down on the water. Swayed dangerously. Kitty ran towards the water, the nearer she came the clearer it was.

It was him. She had found him, finally.

And then her heart sank as she saw him fall.

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Now this story comes to an end. The next will be the final chapter, so look out ;) Until then!