Joseph Delaney - Spook's Secret

'Say it, please say whatever you need to say,' I begged, tears in my own eyes now.

'It's just that time rushes by so fast and I've been so happy here. I'd stay if I could, I really would, but it's my duty to go. I was so happy with your dad. There never was a more honest, true and affectionate man. And my happiness was complete when you and your brothers were born. I'll never know such joy again. But it's over now and I've just got to let go of the past. It's all gone so quickly that now it just seems like a short happy dream ...'

'Why does it have to be like this?' I asked bitterly. 'Why does life have to be so short, with all the good things passing quickly. Is it worth living at all?'

Mam looked at me sadly. 'If you achieve all thatI hope, then others will judge your life to have been worth living, son, even if you don't. You were born to serve the County. And that's what you've got to do.'

We held each other tight one final time and I thought my heart would surely break.

'Goodbye, my son,' she whispered and brushed her lips against my cheek.

It was too much to bear and I set off walking at once. But after a few paces I turned to wave and saw Mam wave back from the shadows inside the doorway. When I turned again soon afterwards, she'd already gone back into the kitchen.

So, with a heavy heart, I walked on to Chipenden with Alice, my mother's last kiss upon my cheek. I was still only thirteen but I knew my childhood was already over.

We're back in Chipenden now: the bluebells are finally out, the birds are singing and the sun's getting warmer with each passing day.

Alice has never been happier but she's really curious about what could be in the trunks in Mam's room. I can't take her back to the farm with me because it would upset Jack and Ellie too much, but I'm planning to go next month and I've promised to tell her about everything that I find.

The Spook seems to have recovered his health fully now and he spends hours each day walking on the fells to build up his stamina. I've never seen him leaner and tougher but something seems to have changed inside his head. Sometimes there are long silences during lessons when he seems to forget I'm there. And he stares into space a lot with a worried expression on his face. Despite the fact that he seems stronger than ever, he told me that he feels his time on earth is coming to an end.

There are things he wants to do before he dies. Things that he's been putting off for years. First of all he's talking about going east to Pendle to sort out the three covens of witches there once and for all. That's thirty-nine witches in all! It sounds a very dangerous thing to attempt and I can't start to see how he can possibly accomplish it. But I've no choice in the matter and I'll be following my master wherever he chooses to go. I'm still just the apprentice and he's the Spook.

Thomas J. Ward