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Meggie glanced at Mo, but he just stood there looking at her

‘Capricorn can’t bind books like your father,’ Dustfinger went on ‘In fact, he’s notpeople But he’s a master of that art It’s his whole life I doubt if he himself has any idea what it’s like to be so paralysed by fear that you feel snificant But he knows just how to arouse that fear and spread it, in people’s homes and their beds, in their heads and their hearts His men spread fear abroad like the Black Death, they push it under doors and through letterboxes, they paint it on walls and stable doors until it infects everything around it of its own accord, silent and stinking like a plague’ Dustfinger was very close to Meggie now ‘Capricorn has many men,’ he said softly ‘Most have been with him since they were children, and if Capricorn were to order one of them to cut off your nose or one of your ears he’d do it without batting an eyelid They like to dress in black like rooks – only their leader wears a white shirt under his black jacket – and should you ever meet any of them then make yourself small, very small, and hope they don’t notice you Understand?’

Meggie nodded Her heart was pounding so hard that she could scarcely breathe

‘I can see why your father has never told you about Capricorn,’ said Dustfinger, looking at Mo ‘If I had children I’d rather tell them about nice people too’

‘I know the world’s not just full of nice people!’ Meggie couldn’t keep her voice froer, and more than a touch of fear

‘Oh yes? How do you know that?’ There it was again, that mysterious smile, sad and supercilious at the sa to do with a real villain?’

‘I’ve read about thehed aloud ‘Yes, of course that al!’ he said His ie and looked her in the face ‘All the saet,’ he said quietly

Mo was stowing Dustfinger’s bags in the back of the van

‘I hope there’s nothing in there that ot in the back seat behind Meggie ‘With your trade I wouldn’t be surprised’

Before Meggie could ask what trade that was, Dustfinger opened his rucksack and carefully lifted out an ani sleepily ‘Since we obviously have quite a long journey ahead of us,’ he told Mo, ‘I’d like to introduce sohter’

The creature was almost the size of a rabbit, but er’s chest like a fur collar It dug its slender claws into his sleeve while inspecting Meggie with its glea beady black eyes, and when it yawned it bared teeth as sharp as needles

‘This is Gwin,’ said Dustfinger ‘You can tickle him behind the ears if you like He’s very sleepy at the moment, so he won’t bite’

‘Does he usually?’ asked Meggie

‘Yes,’ said Mo, getting back behind the wheel ‘If I were you I’d keep ie couldn’t keep her hands off any ani like that, right?’ she asked

‘Soer put his hand in his trouser pocket and gave Gwin a piece of dry bread Meggie stroked his little head as he chewed – and her fingertips found so beside his ears Surprised, she took her hand away ‘Do er winked at her and let Gwin climb back into the rucksack ‘This one does,’ he said

Bewildered, Meggie watched hi Gwin’s little horns ‘Mo, did you know that er stuck them on that sharp-toothed little devil of his For his perforie looked enquiringly, first at Mo, then at Dustfinger, but Mo just started the engine and Dustfinger, who sees, took off his boots and stretched out on Mo’s bed in the van with a deep sigh ‘Don’t give ue,’ he said before he closed his eyes ‘I have my own secrets, you know And for those I need darkness’

Theyto work out what he could possibly have an snoring behind them ‘What does this Capricorn want from you?’ She lowered her voice before she spoke the naht remove some of the menace fro his eyes off the road