Hollowpox The Hunt for Morrigan Crow - Jessica Townsend Page 0,149

attitude problem?’

‘Yeah. Is she okay?’

‘She threatened to eat Dr Lutwyche, so yes, I think she’s fine.’

Morrigan was almost too afraid to ask her next question. ‘And – and the border, did they – Prime Minister Steed didn’t open the border?’

‘No, he didn’t,’ said Miss Cheery, and Morrigan felt cool relief instantly wash over her. Wintersea hadn’t come through. Which meant Squall couldn’t come through. He’d kept his word. Miss Cheery cast a baffled sideways look at Roshni, and said in a slow, halting way, ‘Well, there was … no need, in the end. Was there?’

They both watched Morrigan, as if waiting for her to pick up the cue and tell them what had happened, but she looked away, pretending not to notice.

‘Have you seen my clothes?’ She was wearing a pair of hospital-issued flannel pyjamas – not ideal for the trip home. Taking stock of the items surrounding her, she could see a small forest of Get Well Soon cards, two boxes of sweets, several posies and one enormous, luxurious bouquet of peonies and roses in a vase (the little card attached to them bore Dame Chanda’s handwriting). But no clothes except for her cloak, hung over the back of a chair. ‘And do I still have shoes, or—’

‘Whoa, whoa.’ Miss Cheery put a hand on Morrigan’s shoulder, guiding her back to the pillow. ‘The doctor said once you’re awake, you’ll need to stay at least another night for observation.’

‘But I don’t want—’

‘One more night! It won’t kill you.’

Morrigan slumped against the pillows with a sigh. She just wanted to go home. This hard, narrow hospital cot could never compare to the nest of blankets Room 85 would make for her.

‘Where’s Jupiter?’

Miss Cheery hesitated. ‘He was here. He’s been here just about every minute since you arrived, but … well. Roshni says Nurse Tim kicked him out last night and told him he could only come back once you’d woken up.’

Morrigan could feel their eyes on her as the silence stretched. Finally, Miss Cheery asked in a careful voice, ‘What happened in Courage Square?’

‘I don’t—’ she began, then stopped. ‘I can’t really … I can’t tell you.’

Miss Cheery’s face flickered through several emotions very quickly, but Morrigan caught each one – confusion, then hurt, then worry, then a reluctant sort of acceptance. But all she said was, ‘Of course, you don’t have to talk about anything until you’re ready. It must have been really frightening.’

‘It’s not that, it’s just …’ She paused. How to say, I can’t tell you how I destroyed the Hollowpox because you’ll quickly realise I didn’t do it on my own and that will lead to more questions that I won’t be able to answer without admitting I acted in league with Nevermoor’s greatest enemy and a man widely regarded as the evillest who ever lived … without really saying it? In its fatigued state, her brain came up with nothing.

Best to take the path of least resistance. She nodded, ducking her head and hoping she looked distressed rather than guilty. ‘Yeah. It was really frightening. I’m just not ready to talk about it yet.’

‘Take all the time you need,’ her conductor said gently. ‘I won’t let anyone pressure you. Not even the Elders. Promise.’

‘Thanks,’ said Morrigan, relieved to have bought herself some time to come up with a story more palatable than the truth. She cast around for a change of subject. ‘How is Sofia?’

Miss Cheery’s face fell. ‘Sofia is, well – she’s still asleep.’

Morrigan frowned. ‘Still? But you said it’s been two days.’

‘Two days?’

‘Since we – since I destroyed the Hollowpox.’

The two young women glanced at each other, looking troubled.

‘Morrigan,’ said Miss Cheery. ‘Are you saying … do you think the Wunimals were all cured?’

‘They must have been. The Wunimals in Courage Square were all right,’ she said, sitting up straight. ‘I saw them. They woke up. They seemed—’

‘Most of them were fully recovered,’ Miss Cheery agreed. ‘But not all. Dr Bramble said the Hollowpox had progressed to different stages in each of them. Some haven’t woken up.’

‘And the ones in the hospital? The ones who were already in quarantine, are they still …’ Morrigan couldn’t bring herself to say it. Still hollow.

‘We honestly don’t know,’ said Roshni. ‘Nobody’s told us anything yet.’

Miss Cheery gave Morrigan a quick squeeze and said, ‘919 popped in this morning. They’re anxious to see you, especially Hawthorne and Cadence. Should I let them know you’re—’

‘FINALLY AWAKE, ARE WE?’

‘Never mind, then,’ she finished, as Hawthorne’s voice reverberated across the