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“At the time our vieas not aware of our interest in your brother and only made note of the discussion because the trio struck him as out of place in the Ship and Kettle Since then he has been told to be aware and report I have also requested someone keep a watch on Mr Pettifer Discreetly

“I a rather ible trail”’

She held out the note

‘He never signs his notes, though one could never ood news, isn’t it? In a way? At least you know he has recently been in London Have you ever heard of this Pettifer?’

‘No Nor do I particularly wish to Da your pardon’

‘For heaven’s sake, Edge I learned to curse before you did’

‘So, Sam At least you have moderated a little’

‘So have you A little There is, perhaps, hope for you yet’

She smiled The sky was as clear a blue outside theas the Egyptian sky in winter Her eyes had that colour in therey He wanted very much to trust that this current would take hier

‘Shall we visit Mr Pettifer?’ She laid her hand palm up on the bed, more a question than a request, and he took it He wanted to ask again if he was truly forgiven, but he still had enough sense to keep quiet

‘Good Nohat does one wear to visit a World of Wonders on Piccadilly?’

Chapter Thirteen

‘You must turn back Gabriel’s ship!’ Leila cried, but Khonsu shook his head

‘It cannot be done His drea net a the reeds’

—Temple of the River God,

Desert Boy Book Two

Mr Pettifer was not quite what Sam had expected

Or rather, not quite what the advertisement outside the halls of Mr Pettifer’s World of Wonders depicted Unlike the ion by the throat in one hand and a diamond the size of a small child in the other, Mr Pettifer stood only a couple of inches over five feet, with soft brown hair and even softer brown eyes filled with childlike wonder that enhanced rather than detracted from his impact