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‘Quiet!’ breathed Elinor, pulling her into her bedroo as she locked the door

‘Don’t!’ Meggie dragged Elinor’s hand away, and tried to turn the key She wanted to shout that she must help her father, but Elinor put a hand over her led, hitting and kicking Elinor was strong, ie

‘There are too ie tried to bite her fingers ‘About four or five, big strong ie over to the wall by the bed ‘I’ve told myself a hundred tiht to buy a revolver!’ sheher ear to the wall

‘Of course it’s here!’ The voice carried through the ithout Meggie’s having to strain to hear it, rasping like a cat’s tongue ‘Shall we fetch your little daughter froarden to show us just where? Or would you rather find it for us yourself?’

Meggie tried to pull Elinor’s hand away frooodness’ sake!’ Elinor hissed in her ear ‘You’ll only put hihter! What do you know about ie sobbed aloud, and Elinor’s fingers were instantly back over her face ‘I tried to call the police,’ she whispered in Meggie’s ear ‘But the lines are all down’

‘Oh, we know all we need to know’ The other voice again ‘So where’s the book?’

‘I’ll give it to you!’ Mo’s voice sounded weary ‘But I’ with you, because I want that book back as soon as Capricorn has finished with it’

Going with theie tried ie did her best to push her away, but Elinor siers to Meggie’s lips onceyou anyway,’ said a second voice It had a broad, coarse accent ‘You’ve no idea how Capricorn longs to hear your voice He’s got great faith in your abilities, Capricorn has’

‘That’s right – the replacement Capricorn found for you ain ‘Look at Cockerell there’ Meggie heard feet scraping on the floor ‘He’s li, and Flatnose’s face has seen better days Not that he was ever , Basta, we haven’t got for ever How about it – do we take the kid as well?’ Another voice That one sounded as if the speaker’s nose were being pinched

‘No!’ Mo snapped at hiive you the book!’

One of the ive it to us all right, but don’t worry We weren’t told to bring her A child would just slow us down, and Capricorn’s been waiting for you long enough already So where’s that book?’

Meggie pressed her ear against the wall so hard that it hurt She heard footsteps, and then a sound like so pushed aside Elinor, beside her, held her breath

‘Not a bad hiding-place!’ said the cat-like voice ‘Wrap it up, Cockerell, and take good care of it After you, Silvertongue Let’s go’

They left the library Meggie tried desperately to wriggle out of Elinor’s ar, and then stepsfainter and fainter After that, all was still Quite suddenly, Elinor let go of her Meggie rushed to the door, unlocked it, sobbing, and ran down the corridor to the library It was deserted No Mo The books stood ranged tidily on their shelves, except in one place where there was a wide, dark gap Meggie thought she saw a hinged flap, well hidden, standing open a behind her ‘They really were after just that one book’ But Meggie pushed her aside and ran along the corridor

‘Meggie!’ Elinor called after her ‘Wait!’