Run Away Home Summary

Warning: this chapter-by-chapter summary is a "spoiler". Don't read on unless you want to know what happens when!

Chapters

Boy on a Train
Comings and Goings
Christmas Picnic
Boy in a Hut
Boxing Day Meet
Boy under Cover
Boy minus Two
Unstamped Letter
Boy on the Phone
Monkey Business
Night Ride
To Sea in a Sieve
Overdue
Ferry Crossing
Night-long
Driftwood

Summary

Summary text copyright Irene Arroyo, 1999.

Chapter One - Boy on a Train

At Colebridge Junction Nicola, Lawrie and Ann unexpectedly encounter their eldest brother Giles, also going home for Christmas. (Ginty has gone stay with her friend Monica for the holidays to escape the repercussions of the events described in The Attic Term.) Once on the train Nicola remembers a young boy she had seen acting suspiciously on the platform who she thinks may have hitched a free ride and goes to look for him. She discovers him hiding in the toilet and covers up for him when a fellow passenger objects to the amount of time he has spent in there. When the train stops the boy is discovered and hauled off the train but manages to escape. The fellow passengers seem to know who the boy is and to sympathise with his plight but before the Marlows can find out his story they arrive at their station.

Chapter Two - Comings and Goings

On their arrival at home the Marlows discover that their mother has been summoned to the sickbed of their Grandmother and has to leave immediately for Paris. Lawrie, in particular, is upset at the prospect of Christmas without their mother. Rowan advises Nicola against phoning Esther to resolve the awkwardness over the solo at the Carol Concert. Next morning Peter arrives home and they discuss how to spend Christmas Day, deciding to break with tradition and have a picnic on the beach. Ann insists on staying at home in case their mother rings.

Chapter Three - Christmas Picnic

Christmas Eve - presents are opened and Nicola and Lawrie both receive new party dresses. Christmas Day - despite the heavy fog they set out on the picnic. Eventually arriving at the beach they find a dry cave and have a successful Christmas dinner. On their return home Rowan recounts the history of Edward Oeschli, the boy on the train. He is the child of divorced parents, brought up in Switzerland by his father. Having returned to England to visit his mother she has not allowed him to return home, and has now been put into care, his mother not being able to cope with his persistent attempts to escape. All the Marlows, except Ann, feel very sympathetic towards Edward and speculate as to how they could help him if they got the opportunity. Mrs Marlow phones to say that their grandmother is better, but that she will stay in Paris until the New Year.

Chapter Four - Boy in a Hut

On an early morning walk Chas Dodd discovers Edward hiding in a railway hut. He recognises him and determines to help him escape.

Chapter Five - Boxing Day Meet

Riding home from the hunt Nicola and Patrick discuss the events of the previous term, Patrick's future school prospects and the forthcoming round of Christmas parties. They spend the day together at Patrick's. Giles realises that the boat Rowan discovered in the barn is their Cousin Jon's speedy, but dangerous, boat, Surfrider.

Chapter Six - Boy under Cover

Nicola discovers Edward in the Old Shippen where Chas and Rose have been hiding him. She promises not to tell the authorities. That evening when she takes him food she finds that Peter has also discovered him. Edward is unwilling to confide his plans to them. They tell Lawrie and agree (Peter reluctantly) to also confide in Patrick. Patrick is eager to help but thinks that Edward may have an accomplice waiting to take him away and, therefore, perhaps the best thing they can do is merely to continue hiding and feeding him. Peter is not too convinced by this line of thinking and determines to have another go at finding out Edward's plans.

Chapter Seven - Boy minus Two

Karen is becoming suspicious about the amount of food going missing from the larder, but Rose and Chas manage to allay her suspicions by bribing Fob to say that she has taken it. When Peter offers to take over the feeding of Edward they are reluctant. Edward is still giving nothing away about his plans. Next morning Edward has gone and Rose and Chas are devastated as, it transpires, he had promised that they would go to Switzerland with him as decoys. Later that day they hear on the news that Edward has been discovered trying to leave the country by boat. Next day the infant Dodds and Edward take part in the village pantomime.

Chapter Eight - Unstamped Letter

New Years Day. Ann strongly disapproves of Nicola going to Mass at Patrick's and refuses to lend her bike for the purpose. Rowan offers to take her. The Mass makes a strong impression on Nicola, but she decides not to repeat the experience, as 'go again, and you could easily get hooked'. Nicola and Giles spend a pleasant day shopping in Wade Abbas and she confides the recent discoveries about their ancestor Nicholas. Peter receives a letter from Edward asking for their help. Ann is horrified when she hears what has been going on, but Giles thinks they should help him. The Marlows (minus Ann) and Patrick devise a plan in which Lawrie takes Edward's place in the Colebridge panto (in monkey costume), Nicola takes him to Bacca Cave (where they had the Christmas picnic) by pony where Giles and Peter will be waiting to sail him to the rendezvous at Wotton in Surfrider.

Chapter Nine - Boy on the Phone

Chas and Rose, still upset about Edward's desertion, refuse to relay a message from the Marlows to Edward. Fob agrees to do it instead. Edward rings and is told the plan. Giles and Rowan take Surfrider to Bacca Cave, Rowan growing increasingly nervous about the whole thing. After some misgivings Nicola decides to wear the dress that Miranda gave her to the Merricks' party. Her family are taken aback at the difference it makes to her appearance and Patrick confesses to having momentarily mistaken her for Ginty, before revealing to her (and himself) that he no longer has feelings for Ginty.

Chapter Ten - Monkey Business

The night of the escape. Lawrie takes Edward's place in the panto, characteristically stealing the show. Rowan gets into conversation with Edward's mother and surprises herself by feeling sympathy for her. Lawrie is unable to make her escape because a group of children have been told to keep an eye on 'Edward'. Rowan and Patrick create a diversion to get her out.

Chapter Eleven - Night Ride

Nicola gets Edward to the meeting place without incident, though Edward, unused to riding, is in some discomfort. Next day Patrick is being interviewed for a place at a new school, Broomhill,, so Nicola has to amuse herself. Rowan, hoping that Peter and Giles may be back, goes to Bacca Cave, but is disappointed. The following day there is still no sign of them and the Marlows are finding increasingly difficult not to panic.

Chapter Twelve - To Sea in a Sieve

We return to the night of the escape. Giles, Peter and Edward arrive at Wotton safely, but find that the people who are meant to take Edward on to France are unable to turn up. Edward begs them to take him themselves, but Giles refuses, as Surfrider is too dangerous a boat to make the trip safely. However, once Giles is asleep, Peter sets sail for France. When Giles wakes up he is angry, but agrees to continue the journey. Next morning they arrive in France and Peter remains on the boat while Giles goes on shore with Edward. Peter has an anxious wait, but eventually Giles returns having successfully handed Edward over to a very grateful father. They realise that it is Sunday and that everyone at home will be getting worried.

Chapter Thirteen - Overdue

Sunday evening at Trennels. Nicola is surprised at how worried Rowan is, and her own concerns increase. Mrs Marlow phones to say that she will be back on Tuesday, adding to their anxiety.

Chapter Fourteen - Ferry Crossing

Monday - on Surfrider. Giles and Peter are wet, cold and hungry and are constantly having to bail out the boat. They discuss how much of recent events they should tell Mrs Marlow, given that Lawrie will probably give them away anyway. Nicola and Patrick go over to Wotton. On the way Patrick tells her he has been conditionally accepted by Broomhill and is reasonably happy to go there. Nicola is very upset to see no sign of Giles and Peter at Wotton and asks Patrick to light a candle for their safe return. Back at Trennels the Marlows hear that Edward's mother has taken an overdose. Lawrie lets slip to Ann that they helped Edward escape. Ann is devastated at the deception and with worry about Giles and Peter. Rowan admits to doubts about the whole thing. Nicola is tormented with images of Surfrider lost at sea.

Chapter Fifteen - Night-long

Monday night - on Surfrider. An unexpected wave hits the boat and Giles is knocked unconscious. Patrick remembers about the candles in the middle of the night and conducts a night-long vigil. Back on Surfrider weather conditions are getting worse and Peter, sick, cold, tired and hungry, is having to bail out more and somehow keep on course. Eventually he sees land and Giles recovers consciousness. Peter is exhausted, so Giles takes over at the tiller, though he is still woozy. As they approach Bacca Cave beach a huge wave comes up from behind, smashes Surfrider into pieces and throws Giles and Peter overboard.

Chapter Sixteen - Driftwood

Nicola spends a uneasy night growing increasingly convinced that Giles and Peter have drowned. She rides down to Bacca Cove and discovers a sleeping bag and a piece of wood with part of Surfrider's name painted on it washed up on the shore. She is now certain that Giles and Peter are dead. She goes into the cave and discovers Giles and Peter sleeping off their voyage. Not bothering to wake them she phones Rowan who, once she has arrived and seen for herself that they are all right, weeps with relief. They prepare to head home so they can be there before Mrs Marlow returns.