A Map of Days (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #4) - Ransom Riggs Page 0,30

furrowed. “I need to see the place where it happened.”

* * *

• • •

I led them through knee-high grass to the edge of the woods, then plunged into the gloomy pine forest. I showed them how to navigate the spiny underbrush so they didn’t get cut on saw-toothed palmettoes or tangled in thickets of vine, and how to identify and avoid the patches where snakes made their nests. As we made our way, I retold the story of what happened that fateful evening—the night that had split my life into Before and After. The panicked call I’d gotten from Abe while I was at work. My delay in getting here because I’d had to wait to catch a ride with a friend—a delay that may have either cost my grandfather his life, or saved mine. How I’d found the house a wreck, then noticed my grandfather’s still-lit flashlight in the grass, shining into the woods. Fording into the black trees, just like we were doing now, and then—

A rustle in the brush sent everyone leaping into the air.

“It’s just a raccoon!” I said. “Don’t worry, if there were any hollows around right now, I’d feel it.”

We circled a patch of brush that seemed familiar, but I couldn’t be sure I’d found the exact spot where my grandfather died. The woods in Florida grew quickly, and since I’d been here last it had squirmed and shifted into an unfamiliar new configuration. I guess I couldn’t have found it blindfolded, after all. It had been too many months.

I stepped into a sunny clearing where the vines were low and the brush seemed to have been tamped down. “It was around here. I think.”

We gathered in a loose circle and observed a spontaneous moment of silence. Then, one by one, my friends took turns saying goodbye to him.

“You were a great man, Abraham Portman,” said Millard. “Peculiarkind could use more like you. We miss you dearly.”

“It isn’t fair, what happened to you,” said Bronwyn. “I wish we could have protected you like you used to protect us.”

“Thank you for sending Jacob,” said Olive. “We would all be dead without him.”

“Let’s not go overboard,” said Enoch, and then because he had spoken, it was his turn. He twisted his shoe in the dirt for a long moment, then said, “Why’d you have to do something stupid, like get yourself killed?” He laughed dryly. “I’m sorry if I was ever an ass to you. If it changes anything, I wish you weren’t dead.” And then he turned his face away and said quietly, “Goodbye, old friend.”

Olive touched her heart. “Enoch, that was nice.”

“Okay, settle down.” Enoch shook his head, embarrassed, and started walking back. “I’ll be at the house.”

Bronwyn and Olive looked to Emma, who hadn’t spoken yet.

“I’d like a moment alone, please,” she said.

The girls looked a little disappointed, and then everyone but me went after Enoch.

Emma glanced at me. I raised my eyebrows.

Me too?

She looked a bit sheepish.

“If you don’t mind.”

“Of course. I’ll just be over here. In case you need anything.”

She nodded. I walked about thirty paces, leaned against a tree, and waited. Emma stood at the spot for several minutes. I tried not to stare at her, but the more time passed, the more I caught myself watching the back of her head to see if it was bobbing, and her shoulders to see if they were shaking.

My eyes drifted to a vulture circling overhead. I looked down a moment later when I heard a noise in the brush.

Bronwyn was racing toward me. I startled so badly that I almost fell over.

“Jacob! Emma! You have to come quick!”

Emma saw and ran over to us.

“What happened?” I said.

“We found something,” said Bronwyn. “In the house.”

The look on her face made me think it was something awful. A dead body. But her voice was full of excitement.

* * *

• • •

They were standing in the room Abe had used as his office. The old Persian carpet that stretched nearly wall to wall had been rolled up and pushed to one side, revealing pale, worn floorboards beneath.

Emma and I were panting from running.

“Bronwyn says . . . you found something,” Emma said.

“I wanted to test a theory,” said Millard. “So while you two were dallying in the woods, I asked Olive to take a walk around the house.”

Olive took a couple of steps, her lead shoes making a heavy thud with each footfall.

“Imagine my surprise when I had her walk through this room. Olive,