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‘It’s only all the leaves and stuff turning into mulch,’ he said ‘I wonder whether the Followers of the Carp have built houses up here, or found caves or so out’

‘Could be worse,’ said Suzy ‘Down in the Pit or in the Lower House Coal Cellar’

‘Or collecting salvage for Feverfew,’ said Arthur He was thinking of all the golden bones strewn outside the do that’

‘Who speaks of Feverfew?!’ boorowth -- a deep, powerful voice, trained to rise above the fiercest gale

Twenty–five

‘WHO SPEAKS OF FEVERFEW?’

Arthur and Suzy leapt to their feet and drew their weapons But there was no sign of the person who’d spoken The rain forest around them was quiet and still

‘No one ever looks up,’ continued the voice ‘Interesting, isn’t it?’

Arthur looked up, his sword at the ready There was a Denizen high up in the nearest tree, hanging on with the aid of hooked spurs in his boots and what looked like clawed gloves, though Arthur wasn’t entirely sure if they were gloves or actually the Denizen’s hands He earing a shirt and breeches of light tan splattered with patches of green e for the rain forest, particularly since the mould looked like it had spread across the Denizen’s skin as well

‘Now for the traditional questions,’ said the Denizen ‘And the traditional warning Answer correctly, or you will die where you stand Or, to tell a truth, die a bit later, because our arrohile tipped with Nothing-contaminated mud, are not very effective’

Arthur looked around as the Denizen spoke There were rustlings in the undergrowth around the Denizensup on them These ones had short bows Not crossbows, but the si kind

‘We’re friends,’ called out Arthur ‘We’re looking for the Followers of the Carp’

‘Can you just wait for the questions?’ asked the Denizen up the tree ‘Let’s do this properly, please’

‘Sure,’ said Arthur

Suzy yawned and sat back down

‘Denizens,’ she muttered to herself

‘Are you now or have you ever been a pirate?’ asked the Denizen

‘No,’ said Arthur

‘Do you serve the pirate Feverfew in any capacity?’

‘No,’ said Arthur

‘Do you believe in the Carp?’

‘Uh, I’m not sure what you mean I want to meet it --’ ‘Is that a ‘no’?’ asked the Denizen

Arthur took a sideways glance at the boielding Denizens, ere nocking arrows and drawing bowstrings back

‘We do believe in the Carp, don’t we, Suzy?’

‘Sure,’ said Suzy ‘I’ll believe whatever you want’

‘You must have faith in the Carp,’ said the Denizen This stateorously several ti that he had tons of faith in the Carp

‘Now, also for the record, state your naht for aBut if it isn’t, then …

‘This ’ere’s Lord Arthur, Master of the Lower House, Lord of the Far Reaches, Hero of the House, Eater of the Biscuit, and Rightful Heir of the whole lot,’ said Suzy, standing up again ‘And I’m Suzanna Monday’s Tierce, so you’d better act a bit more respectful, if you don’t mind’

‘Really?’ asked the Denizen in the tree ‘I htful Heir?’

‘Yes,’ said Arthur ‘I a to rescue us all from Feverfew’s dominion?’

‘What?’

‘Rescue us, like the Carp says you will’

‘Uh, I have to talk to the Carp first’

‘Howout between two of the trees, wherevisible as they moved out of cover

‘Seven hundred and seventy-nine, at last count,’ said the Denizen as he slid down the tree trunk, his boot-spikes shredding bark He landed and bowed in one smooth motion

‘Allow me to present myself I am Jebenezer, First Follower of the Carp, and formerly Second Mate of the Naiad, may her wooden bones rot in peace’

Before Arthur could answer, a fe, ‘I am the Second Follower of the Carp, and my name is Pennina!’

‘I am the Third Follower,’ shouted someone else, farther back ‘My name is Garam I have faith in the Carp!’

A cacophony of voices folloith Denizens shouting out their na as Followers, and various protestations of faith in the Carp, belief that the Rightful Heir would come, and other stuff that Arthur couldn’t hear properly over the din

As they shouted, the Denizens moved closer and closer More and rowth, till there was a great crowd advancing on Arthur

‘Uh, I think I’d like to see the Carp right now,’ said Arthur as he retreated back against a tree trunk Many of the Denizens had forgotten to put away their Nothing-poisoned arrows, and there were lots of ht at Arthur