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While the others talked, I turnedto sense the hollows They weren’t running anyetting closer or farther away, but were probably sniffing around nearby I took this as a good sign; if they knehere ere, they’d be coone cold All we had to do was keep our heads down for a while, and then we could follow the pigeon to Miss Wren

We huddled on the bathroo to bo alcohol in thethe cut on an to hum some tune I knew but couldn’t quite name, and Esme played with her duck in the tub, and ever so slowly, the Feeling began to di bathroom became a world unto itself; a cocoon far away fronored for long Antiaircraft guns rattled Shrapnel skittered like claws across the roof The bombs drew closer until their reports were followed by lower,Olive hugged herself Horace put his fingers in his ears The blind boys led deep into the folds of Bronwyn’s coat and the pigeon trembled in Melina’s lap

"What sort of madness have you led us into?" Melina said

"I warned you," Emma replied

The water in Esirl clutched her rubber duck and began to cry Her sobs filled the little roo to whisper, "You’re safe, Esme, you’re safe in here," between ers out of his ears and tried to distract Es its jaws, a bird flying--but she hardly noticed Then, the last person I’d expect to care about irl feel better scooted over to the tub

"Look here," Enoch said, "I have a little man who’d like to ride on your duck, and he’d just about fit, too" Froure, three inches tall, the last of those he’d made on Cairnholm Ess and sit hie of the tub Then, with a press of Enoch’s thuainst the clay loith delight as the claythe lip of the tub

"Go on," said Enoch "Show her what you can do"

The clay erated bow Eshed and clapped her hands, and when a bo the clay hed harder

A sudden chill rolled up the back ofcaroaned and doubled over where I sat The others sawThey were co very quickly

Of course they were: Enoch had used his power, and I hadn’t even thought to stop hiered towaves I tried to shout--Go, run! Run out the back!--but couldn’t force the words Emma put her hands on my shoulders "Collect yourself, love, we need you!"

Then so through the house "They’re here!" I finally es had said it for me

Everyone scrambled to their feet and squeezed into the hall in a panicked knot Only Sa Emma and I had to pry Bronay froed her toward the door

"Yes, we can!" said Eht--they aren’t the ones the hollows are after!"

I knew that was true, but I also knew the holloould tear apart anything in their path, including a couple of nor a fist-shaped hole