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The Dragon Boat was rapidly losing altitude Septi into a son Boat&039;s last ounce of strength Now her head hung low, her eyes were dull and her one good as tre with exhaustion

"Tell her it&039;s not far now I can see the river," Septi a constant streaon "Tell her if she can just keep going for a few round, Sep,"over the side of the boat They were skin of the sinking Quake Ooze "P&039;raps we ought to look for somewhere to crash-land"

"Like where?" snapped Septimus

"I dunno A flat bit I s&039;pose"

"A nice flat bit of Quake Ooze, you ht, Sep No need to get snappy"

Septimus&039;s eyes were fixed on the river "I justI just want to get her back safe Whoaaaaaa!" The boat gave a terrifying lurch

"Come on Come on," Septimus muttered under his breath "You can do it Yesyes, you can"

Nicko willed the dragon on He felt helpless, and feeling helpless on a boat was the worst thing in the world for Nicko

Suddenly the deck tilted down o to make it, Nik," Septimus said flatly

"Yeah, maybe not Can you crash-land her?"

"Can&039;t say I&039;ve tried recently This is scary"

"I know"

The Dragon Boat dropped again and Septih he had left his stori onwhat&039;s thatoh, that&039;s all we need"

A s toward theive up, does he?" said Nicko "And I don&039;t suppose he&039;s coshe&039;s fast"

No more than a few moments later the cloud was upon them, and a thick white mist had enveloped the boat

"Can you see hih the cloud

"Nowhere is he?" Septi nothing but i himself for the crack of a ThunderFlash or the splash of the Quake Ooze

Suddenly Jenna&039;s voice caon says she&039;s being lifted up She&039;s being carried by the cloud"

As Jenna spoke, Septi with every beat of the dragon&039;s wing disappeared, and the terrifying creakings and groanings that had accoon&039;s frantic attempts to stay airborne quieted The only sound they could hear was the faint whoosh of air as the Dragon Boat was carried along

"It&039;s not Simon, is it, Sep?" Nicko whispered, somewhat overawed by the cloud

"Noit&039;swell, I don&039;t knohat it is It&039;s weird," Septi?" said Nicko, spooked by the strange at or someone, but he could not think whator who

Septi of relief had been replaced by a sense of unease He did not like the control of the Dragon Boat being taken out of his hands Heloosely, uselessly, and had no effect on the boat now

Again Jenna&039;s voice drifted through theabout!" she yelled