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‘Thatta boy, Doug,’ said Tom

‘Don’t let her fool you,’ said Bo

But Doug turned away from his friends

Suddenly a o, he had killed a butterfly on a bush, s it with a stick, for no reason at all, other than it seerandfather, like a fralas dropped the stick and picked up the shattered flakes of butterfly, the bright pieces of sun and grass He tried to fit it back together again and breathe a spell of life into it But at last, crying, he said, ‘I’m sorry’

And then Grandpa had spoken, saying, ‘Re of the butterfly, he was reminded of Quarter out of Quartermain’s face, and he kne it felt to be inside a haunted house, alone He went to the birthday table and picked up a plate with the largest piece of cake on it, and began to walk toward Quartermain There was a starched look in the oldof the boy’s eyes and chin and nose with a sunless gaze

Douglas stopped before the wheelchair

‘Mr Quartermain,’ he said

He pushed the plate out on the warm air into Quartermain’s hands

At first the old ers opened with surprise Quarterift with utter bewilderment

‘Thank you,’ he said, so low no one heard hi to his mouth

Everyone was very quiet

‘Cri away from the wheelchair ‘Why’d you do that? Is it Aronna let ive that cake to that awful old gink?’

Because, Douglas thought but didn’t say, because, well, I could hear him breathe

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

I’ve lost, thought Quarterame Check Mate