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“Right … so we shall …” Felicia said as shestart, shall we?”

They ing one another and nervously laughing before Felicia, still holding her friend’s hand, motioned for them to move across the roof so she could survey the next one

As it happened the two buildings shared one roof, and with a sigh of relief they slowly made their way unnoticed by

the people below

The next roof proved to be too far to take on, and Felicia stood frowning as she ht then We need to recoup, so breathe in and out for a moment, and then we’ll take the stairs … there” She indicated with her chin a small structure that housed the stairwell that would lead below

“Yes, and then … wait for it to be clear enough?”

“Oh, it will never be clear enough, Becky This part of town never is, but we are dirty enough and h to fit in, and that is e shall do We alk slowly and easily with the crowd” Felicia smiled with more conviction than she felt

Quietly and slowly they made their way down and found thelass door that led to the street

When they went outside, no one paid them any mind—Felicia was correct: in their present disarray they did fit right in

They made their way as leisurely as they could down the avenue, trying not to stand out in any way

“My heart is beating so fast, Felicia,” Becky said breathlessly

“Yes, mine too,” Felicia answered

Suddenly Felicia heard a man’s shout, and she closed her eyes One of their assailants had found them

She turned, with Becky leaning into her, and discovered one of her would-be-captors peering at theh a press of people in his way He shouted, “Ye don’t know the ins and outs of Blackburn, do ye? No, ye don’t We’ll have ye in no tihed as he and his villainous friend broke free of the crowd, and Felicia took Becky’s hand and ran once ive up till we get what is co to us”

All at once, Felicia and Becky were stalled by two large men who stood in their path and sneered at theet no help from that quarter, so for the moment they were trapped She turned to face heir abductors, her eyes darting all around as she looked for a means to escape