Page 78 (2/2)

"I--I don’t know exactly," I say, offering no comfort "But in the meantime, you must trust no one you ives me a hard look "Then why should I trust you, miss?" She walks back to her friends, and as she does I hear her say,"They can’t help us We’re on our own"

"All those spirits waiting to cross," Felicity says

"Waiting to be corrupted," Ann says

"You don’t know that," Pippa says

We fall silent

"Let’s press on," I say"Perhaps the Teo on," Pippa says "I don’t want to see any arden Who’s joining reen ahead of us The path dwindles under a heavy cover of leaves But through the through the brush

Bessie Timmons steps onto the path There’s a hard look in her eye"Why don’t you clear off, then, if you can’t help us? Go on--clear off Or else"

She doesn’t explain what the "or else" irls co ranks They don’t want us here It’s not worth fighting theo back"

We turn back on the little path Bessie Timmons calls out behind us "Don’t be so proud Soon you’ll all be like we are My friends are co for us They’ll make us whole! They’llbut dust"

The walk back to the garden is a quiet one We are tired and sticky and sullen, Pippa particularly

"Now may we please have a bit of fun?" she huffs e’ve reached the place where the runes used to stand "This hunting about for the Teaht e us all He has a cloth-wrapped bundle in one hand We gasp and he falls to one knee"Did I frighten you?" he asks, cocking his head to one side so that his curtain of straw-gold hair falls bewitchingly across his face

Pippa flashes him a dark look"You haven’t been summoned"