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Basta’s thumb stroked the blade of his knife ‘If I do, then what?’

Desperately, Meggie searched for the right words … what should she say? Oh, what? ‘Because … because Capricorn would die too,’ she ed ‘Yes That’s it You’d all die, you and Flatnose and Capricorn If you kill this old man you’ll all die, because he made you up’

Basta’s lips twisted in a scornful sie even thought she saw a hint of fear in his eyes

Fenoglio cast her a relieved glance

Basta stepped back, examined the blade of his knife closely as if he had discovered a mark on it, and then rubbed it clean on the hem of his black jacket ‘I don’t believe a word of it!’ he said ‘But this is such a weird story, I think Capricornthe shiny blade a last polish before snapping the knife shut and putting it back in his belt, ‘on’t take only the book and the girl, we’ll take you too, old lio draw in a sharp breath She herself was so scared she wasn’t sure if her heart was beating at all Take theht, oh please, no!

‘Take us ahere?’ asked Fenoglio

‘Ask the girl here!’ Basta pointed ie ‘She and her father have had the honour of being our guests already Bed and board thrown in’

‘But this is nonsense!’ cried Fenoglio ‘I thought it was the book you wanted’

‘Then you thought wrong We didn’t even know there was supposed to be another copy No, ere just sent to bring Silvertongue back Capricorn doesn’t like his guests to leave without saying goodbye, and Silvertongue’s a very special guest, isn’t that right, sweetheart?’ Basta winked at Meggie ‘But he isn’t here, and I have better things to do than hang around waiting for hi after her of his own accord’ Basta went up to Meggie and pushed her hair back behind her ears ‘She makes pretty bait, wouldn’t you say?’ he asked ‘Oh yes, old man, take it from me: if we have this little creature we’ll have her father too He’ll coie struck his hand aside, treain!’ Basta whispered in her ear

Meggie was glad that Flatnose ca downstairs at this moment He appeared in the kitchen doorway, breathless and with several books under his arin with this single upright stroke followed by the three up-and-down lines Just the way you drew it’ He put a stained piece of paper down beside the books The letters I and N were clumsily traced on it, and looked as if the hand that set them down had found the task very difficult

Basta spread the books out on the table and pushed theood,’ he said, pushing two off the table so that they landed on the floor, with crues ‘Nor are these’ Two more landed on the floor, and finally Basta swept the rest off the table too ‘Are you quite sure there isn’t another one beginning like that?’ he asked Flatnose angrily

‘Yes, I’ Because I do assure you, you’ll be the one to pay for it, not me!’

Flatnose cast a worried look over the books at his feet

‘Oh, and another little change of plan: we’re taking hilio ‘So he can tell the boss his a they are too, believe you me And just in case he’s hidden a book somewhere – well, we’ll have plenty of tiet back You keep your eye on the old irl’