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Meggie wasn’t really listening to hiht from the sheds where Capricorn had held them captive, she had stumbled towards Elinor’s car, and the ain have to see this car park, the church and these hills

‘Co the car door ‘I expect you reie could reh it did all seeloo at s and open doors as if he’d paid for entry ‘I know this village!’ he whispered to Meggie ‘I mean, I’ve heard of it There’s more than one sad story about the place That earthquake in the last century, and then in the last war there was--’

‘Save your tongue for later, scribbler!’ Basta interrupted ‘I don’t like whispering’

Fenoglio shot hilance but fell silent, and did not utter another sound until they had reached the church

‘Well, go on, open the door What are you waiting for?’ growled Flatnose

With Fenoglio’s help, Meggie opened the heavy wooden door The cool air that met them smelled as musty as on the day she had entered the church with Mo and Elinor Nothing ed inside The red walls looked evenon this overcast day, and the expression on the doll-like face of Capricorn’s statue seemed rather more malevolent than before, if that were possible The braziers in which the books had been burned still stood in the san of Capricorn’s chair at the top of the steps Two of hisa new chair up theie didn’t really like to re directions

Basta pushed aside to the floor, and strode towards the altar steps ‘Where’s Capricorn, Mortola?’ he called to the old woman as he approached ‘I have news for him Important news’

The old woht, you fools!’ she ordered the twowith the heavy armchair ‘Yes, there, that’ll do’ Then she turned towards Basta, her face expressionless

‘We expected you back before this,’ she said

‘What do you ht the uncertainty it revealed It sounded almost as if he were afraid of the old woes there are down this daue was still in the area But I can rely on ie’s direction, ‘I’ve done the job’

‘You have?’ The Magpie looked past Basta to where Meggie and Fenoglio were standing with Flatnose ‘All I see is the girl and an old man Where’s her father?’

‘He wasn’t there, but he’ll coirl’s the best bait we could have’

‘And hoill he know she’s here?’

‘I left hie’

‘Since when can you write?’