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W hile Jenna, Septimus and Beetle slept dreahtUllr listened to the sounds of the Forest, a s to the Castle The ferryh fee for the trip but even so he was beginning to regret it - the tide was running fast against the wind, and as they reached theinto his boat with every wave it hit

His passengers were beginning to regret it too

"We should have waited till ly and her stoo in the opposite direction

"Don&039;t worry, Luce," replied Sily "I&039;ve knoorse" He hadn&039;t, but noas not the tiht

Lucy said nothing ht if she did speak she would probably be sick, and she didn&039;t want Siirl had to keep up appearances even in a rotten little rowboat Lucy closed her eyes tight and sat concentrating on her thoughts She could not get out of her head the expression of horror on Simon&039;s face as they had walked into the Observatory that afternoon "Luce," he had whispered in a panic "Get straight back down those steps and get Thunder Now!"

Lucy didn&039;t like Si her what to do - and he didn&039;t usually dare - but this she kneas different She had fled back down the steep, slippery slate steps, past the horrible old Magog chamber, and by the time Simon had joined her, Thunder was saddled once o She had asked Simon as the problem, but all he would say was, "I did a See"

They were nearing the other side of the river now and the water was a little calhtened

If what Si to set foot in that awful Observatory again - was true, then she was very pleased indeed, but she wished they weren&039;t going back to the Castle She wouldfor the Port Lucy liked the Port; it wasinto her mother and father there, either

However, the o back to the Castle was Siotten the events that had led up to hio Lucy did not know exactly what had happened but she had heard all kinds of terrible things - most of which she did not believe but some, she kneere true Her brother, Rupert, had told her he had seen Si a Thunderflash at Septimus, Nicko and Jenna - and Lucy knew that Rupert did not tell fibs And there were other stories too: that Simon had tried to do so DomDaniel&039;s bones and had very nearly succeeded, and that Marcia had let it be known that if Siain she would put him in the lock-up forever

Lucy looked at her beautiful ring - o Mills&039;s warehouse clearance sale - and sighed Why couldn&039;t she and Simon be normal? All she wanted was for the for sos would do Why couldn&039;t she take Simon to see her mother and father and have him and Rupert be friends? Why? It wasn&039;t fair It just wasn&039;t

The boat pulled in to the night ferry quay, just below Sally Mullin&039;s Tea and Ale House The ferryman, Micky Mullin, as one of Sally&039;sof relief and bid his soaked passengers good night He watched them walk unsteadily toward the South Gate - which, if you knehere to look, had a sht - and wondered what they were up to Even though Simon had taken care to pull down his hood well over his face, Micky had noticed the distinctive Heap features Simon, now that he was in his early twenties, looked re version of his father, Silas Micky decided to go see his aunt the next ood barley cake, too

As they walked along the deserted streets, keeping out of the worst of the wind, Lucy was still unusually silent

"You okay, Luce?" asked Simon

"I eren&039;t back here," Lucy replied "I&039;m scared they&039;ll find you and lock you away forever"

Si for theh

She so wished she had not seen it tucked under a rock beside the path leading up to the Observatory entrance, but the envelope was stamped with the words DELIVERED BY THE PORT PACKET

POST COMPANY, and she had thought it sounded exciting Lucy no the contents of the wretched letter by heart, but she listened once again as Si

The letter ritten on official Manuscriptorium notepaper and it said: Dear Sione

You one too I have Slooth Sluuth Sleuth and it is MINE

now It likes being with me

If you come to find it I will make sure so paper, nized as I have a very good job here Much better than the one I had with you

I aain Not in a milloin million years Ha ha

Your ex faitful faithfil faithful servant,

Merrin Meredith/Daniel Hunter/Septi aith this," said Si the letter back into his pocket "He&039;s teamed up with two other wasters - dunno who Daniel Hunter is but I always knew that precious little Septiood - and now he thinks he can scarehim keep Sleuth

He&039;ll soon find out just horong he is"