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We rode like that for a long tion wheels and our clothes were caked with dust, until the midday sun had wheeled across the sky and dipped behind the trees, which rose up like the walls of a great green canyon on either side of us I scanned the forest constantly, afraid that at any s would burst out and attack us But for hours we didn’t see anyone--not a wight, not even another traveler It was as if we’d arrived in an abandoned country

Now and then the caravan would stop and we’d all hold our breath, ready to flee or fight, sure ere about to be discovered We’d send Millard out to investigate, and he would creep down fro their legs or reshoeing a horse, and then we’d startabout ould happen if ere discovered The Gypsies seemed road-weary and harmless We’d pass as normal and appeal to their pity We’re just orphans with no home, we’d say Please, could you spare a ive us dinner and escort us to the train station

It wasn’t long before ons pulled abruptly off the road and shuddered to a stop in a se on He wore a flat cap on his head, a caterpillar rim expression that pulled down the corners of his rine inside her coat while Eon and did her best impression of a pathetic orphan "Sir, we throw ourselves at your mercy! Our house was hit by a bomb, you see, and our parents are dead, and we’re terribly lost …"

"Shut your gob!" the man boomed "Get down from there, all of you!" It was a command, not a request, e knife balanced in his hand

We looked at one another, unsure what to do Should we fight hiive away our secret in the process--or play norer and wait to see what he does? Then dozens e around us in a wide circle,knives of their own We were surrounded, our options drarizzled and sharp-eyed, dressed in dark, heavy-knit clothes built to hide layers of road dust The wo hair held back by scarves Children gathered behind and between them I tried to square what little I knew about Gypsies with the faces before me Were they about to rumpy?

I looked to Emma for a cue She stood with her hands pressed to her chest, not held out like she was about to ht them, I decided, then neither was I

I got down froon like the h did the same, and then the others--all but Millard, who had slipped away, unseen, presu

The an to fire questions at us "Who are you? Where do you come from? Where are your elders?"

"We come from the west," Emma said calmly "An island off the coast We’re orphans, as I already explained Our houses were smashed by bombs in an air raid, and ere forced to flee We rowed all the way to the mainland and nearly drowned" She atte," she sniffled "We’ve been lost in the woods for days with no food to eat and no clothes but the ones we have on We saw your wagons passing but were too frightened to show ourselves We only wanted to ride as far as the town …"

The"Why were you forced to flee your island after your house was bo the coast?"

Enoch spoke up "No choice We were being chased"

Eave him a sharp look that said: Let me do this

"Chased by who?" asked the leader

"Bad uns," added Horace "Dressed like soldiers, although they aren’t, really"