Page 23 (1/2)

That stopped Sorrel short Incredulous, she looked first at Firedrake, then at Barnabas Greenbloom "Him?" she asked "How could he have done that?"

At thisbent down fro, and then suddenly raised his head in alar horrified "Oh, merciful heavens!"

They all turned to look at the little man in surprise

"Who’s that?" asked Firedrake

"Oh, hiesture "He’s a hi We picked hi to Ben like a burr"

Seated on Ben’s shoulder, Twigleg stuck his tongue out at her

"A homunculus, my dear brownie, he’s a homunculus," said Barnabas Greenbloo’s tiny hand "Delighted to meet you This really is a day full of the most extraordinary encounters"

The ," he said, bowing to the professor But when Firedrake stretched his neck to look over Barnabas Greenbloo lowered his head in embarrassment

"What was here?" asked Sorrel impatiently "What did the little titch say? A basiltwist?"

"Sssh!" Twigleg put a finger to his lips "A ba-si-lisk!" he breathed "You don’t want to speak its name too loud, furry-face"

Sorrel wrinkled her nose "Why not?"

"A basilisk," whispered Twigleg, "is the darkest nightmare on earth, a black terror that lurks in wells and crevices until sole peck from its hooked beak"

Ben looked around uneasily "You s was here?" he asked

"Yes, one of those things was here," sighed Professor Greenblooon But now it’s time I showed my face back in the camp, before they decide to send out a search party for ain?" he asked when he had reached the entrance of the cave "Or are you going to stay here?"

"Stay here? Not likely!" replied Sorrel "No, we’ll be flying on as soon as the sun has set"

"Then I’ll look in again just before nightfall, if that’s all right," suggested the professor "I’m sure you could do with some provisions for the journey, and I have a few lad to see you," said Firedrake, nuzzling Sorrel’s back