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The heartstone hangs cool around my neck You don’t own a heartstone You jest become its keeper fer a time When it’s led you to yer heart’s desire, you pass it on to someone else

I pull it over my head Molly, I says This is yers now

I throw it to her She catches an looks startled It’s hot, she says What does that mean?

Look beside you, I says Then pass it on

We raise hands in farewell Herone from Weepin Water, I take pause at the first crossroads I coot no plan No more plans

The day’s fine an war froo further, faster

I turn Her in my heels An we fly

I FIND THE RIVER ALL RIGHT THE ONE THAT FLOWS NORTH to ater I follow till it opens to the sea I stop when I run outta land On a harsh granite cliff on a sunny afternoon with a view that rolls on to ferever

I jest wanna see where he’s gone

I jue

I had no idea I didn’t kno the air of the sea would smell That I would taste it, fresh an alive That reat water How it hisses an bucks where it meets the land

Flocks of white seabirds wheel an call Nero replies from the landward side I take out the looker an set it to one

The sun tips the water with fiery dazzle I squint as I scan the view

An my heart trembles in my throat A white boat A white sail It’s hiht to see hione He’s makin slow but steady headest to the sunset Two miles out from where I stand

Jack, I whisper his na the cliff-tops The sudden fire of hope speeds my feet Jack! Jack! I cry I’m shoutin an wavin But on he sails He cain’t hear ht Outta reach What would I of said to him anyways? Nuthin that could ently with his head My timin always did stink when it comes to him, I says

I take the reins We start walkin back inland Nero soars above the rough rocky shield All at once, he starts to caw Then he spears on ahead an disappears froht

Soon a shrill clamour splits the quiet A dark cloud appears on the horizon Movin steady in this direction It looks like a flock of birds I stop an lift the looker to h A vast swarest bird of all Peg the Flight, in helles She flies with the birds in her flyin irlie, soon Me an them

She did it, I says I don’t believe it!

I leap onto Herallop to meet them She spots us comin an waves When we reach her, I turn Hermes an we keep pace below She ain’t more’n thirty foot overhead, oin?

She cups a hand to her ear an shakes her head She cain’t hear above the racket of the birds A wild notion grabs hold of me

I point to the water I point to it it The water Me The water Me Then she gits it Thues at her feet an tosses down a thin rope It’s tied to somethin at her end

I race on ahead I step a ways back froear an quickly strip off all his kit His bridle an reins, theI kno to swim, I says

I throw et you Not ever

Peg an her flock pass above us Headin seaward Nero leads the way

I snatchan bow an chase after theround I’onna e an I leap fly reach gonna ot it The rope The flyer jolts as ht pulls it down It wobbles Dips Falters There’s a sudden roar as Peg slaear into play The flyer steadies an we’re headin out to sea

An I’ beside me He caws to let me know his opinion of my madness