The Ways

A found paper of the realm's smallest citizens: the map the children keep of the routes the grown ones swear do not exist. Recovered from under a loose board in Drudgeford, in the careful hand of Wren, age nine, archivist of the under-realm — annotated over years by many small hands.

(Presented as found: a much-folded map, kept current. The annotations are the paper.)

THE WAYS. Being every road the grown ones say is Not There. Copied true. If you are grown and reading this, it is Not There, and neither are you. — W.

DRUDGEFORD · the Yard Way

Over Snipe's wall, through the wash-house yard, under the drying-lines, out by the loose plank behind the Boot & Barrel. Saves the whole of Sump Lane.

• The danger: Snipe's dog. (Does not bite. Tells.)
• The grown one who denies it: everyone. "There is no way through the yards" — said by every soul who has used it since they were nine.
• The rule: go on a Tuesday. It is wash-day; the lines are full; you are hidden by the sheets.
• W.'s note: "Mrs Grutch knows. Mrs Grutch has always known. Mrs Grutch left her initials in the plank a long time ago, which I have found, and will not tell her I have found, because a Way is a Way."

SALTGATE · the Wall Way

Along the top of the harbour wall to the tide-rocks, across the rocks at low water to the Anchorage steps. Cuts out the whole quay.

• The danger: the seventh bell. (Be off the rocks before it, or the tide has you.) And the drop.
• The grown one who denies it: the Harbour-Master. "No child goes on that wall." — Cleat, who went on that wall.
• The rule: count the bells yourself. Do not trust a grown one to call you off in time. They forget.
• Sprat's note: "Home before the seventh. Always. I have never once been caught by the tide and I never will — and if you are new and reading this, that is not a boast. It is the whole of it."

THE DROWNINGS · the Stilt Way

Stilt-top to stilt-top where the houses stand close; or by boat under the drowned chapel and out the far side. The water is the road; the Ways are the dry bits above it.

• The danger: the rotten stilt. (There is always one. It changes.) Ignore the chapel bell; it rings wrong.
• The grown one who denies it: Ma Skeel. "You do NOT go over the roofs." — Ma Skeel, who went over the roofs. Everyone in the Drownings has gone over the roofs.
• The rule: test every stilt before your weight. Trust the count, not your eye (see Bogmoor).
• Dib's note (Dab holds the pencil): "The third stilt from the chapel is the one that goes. It has always been the one that goes. When it stops going we will cut it a new mark."

BOGMOOR · the Bog Way

Across the green bog by the stepping-stones to the dry hummock; or through the hollow of the Muckle hedge and out by the far gate. Saves the whole Nettlewick road.

• The danger: the sunk stone (the greenest is the treacherousest); and Uncle Jeb, who guards the hedge-gap believing it a smuggling route. It is not. It is a children's route — which is worse, for it cannot be taxed.
• The grown one who denies it: Pa Muckle. "There is no way across the green." There is. Sorrel knows every stone — including the three that have sunk.
• The rule: name each stone before you tread it. Go single-file. The biggest goes last, to catch the smallest.
• Sorrel's note: "Do not let Mr Clack follow you. He will go in to the waist. He HAS gone in to the waist. It is not kind to laugh but we did."

MURKMINSTER · the Under Way

Down the tenement stairs, through the coal-cellars that run under the offices, out by the grating behind the Chancery. The capital's children go under the capital.

• The danger: the dark; and the Committee, who would survey it, and thereby end it.
• The grown one who denies it: the Committee — officially, on a plate: "There are no cellars." There are cellars. The plate is wrong. The plate is always wrong.
• The rule: carry a rush-light and a length of string tied off at the entrance, and do not let go of the string. The string is the only true map, and the string does not lie.
• A Crang child's note, once, very small: "Mind the wardrobe."

That is all the Ways I have. There are more — every town has one, and every child finds it, and every grown one forgets they found it. That is how a Way stays a Way: the grown ones deny it, so that it will still be there when their own children need it. It is the kindest lie in the realm, and we keep the other end of it, and say nothing.

Add your Way below. Do not sign it where a grown one can read. — W., archivist, under the board.