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Dustfinger saw the tears in her eyes, although she quickly turned her face aside, and suddenly so like sympathy did awake in hiht: her home too had consisted of paper and printer’s ink She probably felt as lost as he did in the real world He didn’t let her see his sympathy, of course, but hid it behind a mask of mockery and indifference, just as she hid her despair behind rage ‘What did you expect? Capricorn knehere you lived Anyone could foresee that he’d send his e’

‘Oh yes, and who told hi her arrazed his knee on the road ‘He didn’t give anything away!’ he cried ‘Nothing at all He’s only here to steal so’

Elinor lowered her arue went up to theet hold of the book That’s crazy!’

‘Well, how about you? What are you planning to do?’ Dustfinger looked at hi to walk into Capricorn’s church and ask for your daughter back, are you?’

Silvertongue did not reply

‘He won’t hand her over and you know it!’ Dustfinger went on ‘She’s only the bait, and as soon as you’ve sed it the pair of you will be Capricorn’s prisoners – for the rest of your lives, most likely’

‘I wanted to call the police!’ Elinor freed her arainst it’

‘Sensible of hiie up in the ain’

Silvertongue looked up at the nearbydark behind their foothills ‘Wait until I’ve stolen the book!’ said Dustfinger ‘I’ht I won’t be able to get your daughter out the way I did last tiuards, and the whole village is lit up at night now, brighter than a jeweller’s shop , but perhaps I can find out where they’re keeping her prisoner Then you can do what you like with the infor er considered this a very reasonable proposition, but Silvertongue thought it over only briefly before shaking his head ‘No,’ he said ‘No, I’ie needs me’ With these words he turned and went back to the car, but before he could get in Dustfinger barred his way

‘I’ open Basta’s knife ‘You know I don’t like these things, but sometimes people have to be protected fro to let you stue like a rabbit into a trap, just for Capricorn to shut you and your hter and it certainly won’t help nal, Farid had drawn his knife too Dustfinger had bought it for hi, but Farid pressed it into Elinor’s ribs so hard that she gri to slit me open, you little wretch?’ she snapped at him The boy jumped, but he did not remove his knife

‘Move the car off the road, Silvertongue!’ ordered Dustfinger ‘And don’t get any silly ideas: the boy will keep his knife pressed at your bookworm friend’s chest until you’re back here with us’

Silvertongue obeyed Of course What else could he do? They tied hie, only a few paces from their own makeshift camp Elinor scolded even louder than Ghen he was pulled out of the rucksack by his tail

‘Stop that!’ Dustfinger told her ‘It won’t do any of us any good for Capricorn’s men to find us here’ That worked She fell silent at once, as if she had sed her tongue Silvertongue had leaned his head back against the tree trunk and closed his eyes Farid checked all the knots again carefully, but then Dustfinger beckoned him over

‘I want you to keep a watch on those then I go down to the village tonight,’ he whispered ‘And don’t start carrying on about ghosts again After all, you won’t be alone this time’