The Spook Who Spoke Again

16

Me: Father!

Father: Son!

Others: Aah …

Father: Come, some music!

Stagehands bring up the enormous hydraulus

Sophrona: plays very loud music

Father: aside

Oh horrible! More horrible! Most horrible!

My father pulled off the ghost costume, which he shook out and folded neatly, then handed to Dama with polite thanks. To Thalia and Davos he said that his play seemed to be holding up well, to which Davos answered, yes it was holding up as well as it had ever done. He sounded as if he meant something different from the words. Falco just gave him a huge grin, the grin that looks as if you might not be able to trust him, even though he is pretending he is utterly dependable.

I felt my hair being scuffled up. I normally complained about that but today I liked it. My father said to Thalia, ‘I hear you just acquired a crocodile. That brings back terrible memories!’ His hand on my head now felt heavy and still. In a changed tone, he asked, ‘So, do you see anything of Philadelphion these days?’ Thalia gave him a narrow look. I knew nothing of any Philadelphion, so I leaned heavily against my father’s hip, wriggling to imply I was bored by the adults’ conversation. ‘Time I took this one home to face my daughter’s fancy man. He will have to stay with us tonight. Are you finding him tough to cope with? Shall we have him back permanently?’

‘Why? He is only a gossip-mongering, commerce-busting, death-dealing, sinister staring little arsonist. I can manage!’ Thalia exclaimed, before she looked around at the havoc in the Circus and faltered. ‘What do you want to do, Postumus, darling?’

Suddenly I decided I would like to live at home again. It was one of Helena’s conditions that I could.

‘Go and catch your lion,’ continued Father in a lenient tone, being kind to Thalia. ‘You know the child is in good hands. Helena never finds him a handful — after all, she’s used to looking after me. Say goodbye then, Postumus.’

I did as I was told, adding nicely, thank you for having me. Thalia crouched down to hug and kiss me, wiping away a fond tear. Above her, Falco secretly winked at me.

He and I walked pretty fast from the Circus of Gaius and Nero to the tents. He grabbed my things and made a bundle which he shouldered easily. I ran back to fetch my best tunic, knowing that with a guest tonight I must have it on at dinner. That was when I had a huge surprise. Curled up fast asleep in the bed that I gave him, alive and well, was Ferret.

‘Titan’s turds,’ observed my father in amusement. ‘I thought you lost him?’

At his masterly voice, Ferret awoke. With a joyful squeak, he jumped straight down the tunic I was wearing, then slithered around inside furrily, exploring. We were both thrilled to have found one another.

‘Time for a fast getaway,’ urged Father, as if he feared someone might come and stop us. ‘Let’s go home, Scruff, for porridge, the dish of our ancestors.’

I gave a wise smile, for I knew it would be chicken with little dumplings, my favourite.

So we set off back to the Aventine. My father was carrying my luggage with one hand, while his other firmly held one of mine to stop me getting lost. I felt a warm feeling of relief. I was going for dinner with Didius Falco, going home like brothers who had been out all day on an adventure. Also I was looking forward to seeing Helena, and hearing her cry happily, ‘Ah here he is! My littlest has come home again.’

Best of all, I had my ferret.