Miss Ellerby and the Ferryman

Chapter Six-3

The words poured from Isabel’s lips without pause to consider. ‘I will find it,’ she said. ‘I promise it.’ She did not fully understand why she had made such a profound promise, and to a stranger, but it felt right to say it.

Something gathered in the air as she spoke; a sense of pressure, or expectation. The Ferryman’s eyes narrowed. ‘Ye ‘ave committed yerself,’ he said softly. ‘An’ there is no goin’ back on it now. I only hope ye may not come t’ regret it.’

Isabel merely curtseyed by way of answer, but as she rose she found both her hands taken, and lightly squeezed, and then kissed. She looked up into the Ferryman’s face in surprise, and found him gazing at her with warm regard.

‘Ye are fair unusual,’ he said. ‘Did I ever meet such a vast heart as ye seem t’ possess? I think not.’

Isabel coloured, and looked away. ‘You do me too much honour, sir,’ she said gravely. ‘Anybody must feel for you, and act as I have acted.’

He shook his head, still holding her hands in his own. ‘Tis t’ yer credit that ye can believe that, but there’s not so much as a flicker o’ truth in it. That ye must know. Few would even listen t’ my tale — I ‘ave told ye as much already. Fewer still would feel fer me, and no one else, I think, would ‘ave promised t’ help.’

‘When I have carried out my promise,’ said Isabel, ‘then you may thank me, but do not do so too soon! For I am not at all sure of my power to perform it.’

He nodded. ‘That’s wise enough, but I do thank ye. Fer carin’.’ He released her hands and swept her a bow. ‘I’ll be seein’ ye when ye’re ready t’ return.’

‘Will you be far away?’

He shrugged. ‘Who knows? Duty calls, an’ I answer.’

Tafferty growled impatiently and swatted Isabel’s legs with her lashing tail. ‘Time waits for no one, least of all thee!’

Isabel nodded, curtseyed to the Ferryman and hastened after her companion. She looked back, once, to see the Ferryman already aboard his boat and the craft rising rapidly into the sky; borne, apparently, on waves of white mist.

‘I hope you know the way to Sophy’s house,’ Isabel called after Tafferty. ‘For I am all turned about. I do not know this part of the town at all.’

Tafferty’s tail lashed. ‘Thou must trust thy companion in all things,’ she said crossly. ‘That’s the first lesson I must teach thee.’ She paused, bounded a few more steps away, and then added, ‘Twas a fine piece o’ foolery, that.’

‘How could I have done otherwise?’ Isabel protested. ‘I could not consent to leave anyone in such an intolerable situation!’

Tafferty’s tail whipped with irritation. ‘Cease thy protestin’, an’ keep up.’

Isabel subsided, and hurried after. Tafferty’s pace was not designed to cater to her convenience, and she risked being left behind if she lingered too long to look about herself. Her companion — the catterdandy, as the Ferryman had called her — navigated the twisting streets without an instant’s hesitation, and so Isabel trusted and followed along.