Page 3 (1/2)

"Then we ested another dragon

But Slatebeard shook his head "No," he said "No one can live in hars"

"Oh, yes, they can" Rat stroked her wet coat "Dogs and cats do, andher gaze roa, too clever, and," she added, shrugging her shoulders, "too different! You’d frighten thes they --"

"They destroy it," the old dragon said wearily "They alo" He raised his heavy head and looked at the younger dragons one by one "I’d hoped they would at least leave us this valley It was a foolish hope"

"But where are we to go?" cried one of the dragons in despair "This is our hoht sky, where the stars were still hidden behind clouds, and sighed Then he said huskily, "Go back to the Ri away sometime I’er ones can ons looked at him in surprise The rest of them, however, raised their heads and looked eastward, their eyes full of longing

"The Rim of Heaven" Slatebeard closed his eyelids "Its mountains are so tall that they touch the sky Moonstone caves lie hidden a its slopes, and the floor of the valley in the middle of the mountains is covered with blue flowers When you were children we told you stories about the Riht they were fairy tales, but soain "I was born there, so long ago that eternities lie between that er than most of you are nohen I fleay, tempted by the wide sky I fleard, on and on I have never dared to fly in the sunlight since I had to hide froo back to the Rion looked at his young companions "Seek the Rim of Heaven! Go back to the security of its peaks, and then perhaps you will never have to flee fro toward the dark mountaintops around the valley, "but they will coer Fly! Fly away!"

All was perfectly still again Drizzling rain as fine as dust fell from the sky

Sorrel hunched her head between her shoulders, shivering "Oh, thanks a million," she whispered to Firedrake "The Riood to be true If you ask me, the old boy dreamed it up"

Firedrake did not reply but looked up at Slatebeard thoughtfully Then he suddenly stepped forward

"Hey!" whispered Sorrel in alar silly"

But Firedrake took no notice "You’re right, Slatebeard," he said "In any case I’ outside this valley" He turned to the others "Let us look for the Ri There’ll be no better night for us"

The others shuddered as if he had taken leave of his senses But Slatebeard sht "You’re still rather young, Firedrake," he pointed out

"I’ his head a little higher He was not on, but his horns were shorter and his scales shone in theon! Wait a mo!" Sorrel scrambled hastily up Firedrake’s neck "What’s all this nonsense? You may have flown beyond these hills all of ten ti to the mountains around them, "but you’ve no idea what lies farther off You can’t just fly away through the hu for a place that may not even exist"

"Be quiet, Sorrel," said Firedrake crossly

"Won’t!" spat the brownie girl "See the others? Do they look as if they want to fly away? No! So forget it If hus really come I’m sure I can find us a nice new cave!"