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3

Going South

‘Beyond the Wild Wood co that doesn’t matter, either to you or to , nor you either, if you’ve got any sense at all’

Kenneth Grahaer ie had picked her precarious way along the top of that wall hundreds of tiain, eyes tightly closed so that she could get a clearer view of the tiger she’d i in the bamboo at the foot of the wall, his eyes yellow as aht and her left

Only Dustfinger was there now, but no other sight could have ie’s heart beat faster He appeared so suddenly that Mo almost ran hi, with his arms folded over his chest His coat was probably still daht’s rain, but his hair was dry now – a ruffled, sandy mop above his scarred face

Mo swore under his breath, switched off the engine and got out of the van

Sainst the wall ‘Where are you going in such a hurry, Silvertongue? Didn’t we have a date?’ he asked ‘You stood me up like this once before, remember?’

‘You knohy I’m in a hurry,’ replied Mo ‘For the sa by the open door of the van, looking tense, as if he couldn’t wait for Dustfinger to get out of the way But Dustfinger pretended not to notice Mo’s i?’ he enquired ‘It took me four years to find you last time, and if luck hadn’t been on your side Capricorn’s ie she stared back icily

Mo was silent for a while ‘Capricorn is in the north,’ he answered at last ‘So we’re going south Or has he taken up residence soht’s rain shone in the potholes ‘No, no,’ he said ‘No, he’s still in the north Or so I hear, and since you’ve obviouslyhio south myself as fast as I can Heaven knows I don’t want to be the one to give Capricorn’s ive s he picked up from where they stood by the wall looked as if they’d been all round the world a dozen ti but his rucksack with hiht, no, let’s not take him! But she had only to look at her father to know that his ansould be different

‘Oh, co to tell Capricorn’sthere like a stray dog And hard as Meggie tried to see so sinister about hiht All the sao with them Her face showed that very clearly, but neither of the two men took any notice of her

‘Believe me, I couldn’t keep the fact that I’ve seen you froer continued ‘And anyway …’ he hesitated before co his sentence, ‘you still owe ie saw his hand closing more firmly round the open door of the van ‘If you want to look at it like that,’ he said, ‘yes, I suppose I do still owe you’

The relief was plain to see on Dustfinger’s scarred face He quickly hoisted his rucksack over his shoulders and cagie, as Mowith us then I want to knoe’re running away Who is this an in the tone she knew only too well: Meggie, don’t be so silly, it ie

She opened the van door and juie, for heaven’s sake! Get back in! We have to leave!’