The TIDE KNOT
by
Helen Dunmore
HarperCollins Children’s Books An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd. 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF
First published in hardback by HarperCollins Children’s Books 2006 First published in paperback by HarperCollins Children’s Books 2007
Copyright © Helen Dunmore 2006
Helen Dunmore asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
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Source ISBN: 9780007464111
Ebook Edition © AUGUST 2012 ISBN: 9780007369294
Version: 2017-03-28
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Contents
Ingo at night. It’s not completely dark, though. The moon is riding high, and there’s enough light to turn the water a rich, mysterious blue.
I am deep in Ingo, swimming through the moonlit water. Faro’s here somewhere, I’m sure he is. I can’t see him, but I’m not scared. There’s just enough light to see by. There’s a glimmer of rock – and a green and silver school of mackerel—
Imagine being lost underwater in total blackness. I’d panic. But it’s dangerous to panic in Ingo. You mustn’t think of the Air. You must forget that human beings can’t live underwater, and then you’ll find that you can.
Faro was here a moment ago, I’m sure of it. He’s keeping himself hidden, but I don’t know why. Even if it was totally dark, I expect he’d still be able to see me through the water. Faro is Mer, and he belongs here. Ingo is his home. And I’m human, and I don’t belong.
But