The Dragons' Call. Judy Hayman

like to!”

      “Yes I would!” Emily began to lose her temper. She felt that Alice was being unfair. “And if I do, and you tell, I’ll never speak to you again!” She turned her back on Alice and pretended to read her book, but she was so angry and upset that the words blurred on the page. She hoped that Alice would say sorry and promise never to tell, but after a few minutes of tense silence, she heard Alice flounce over in bed, turning her back as well. She found the pages that mentioned the School Bus and read all she could find. She would sneak a word with Ollie in the morning!

      She read on defiantly, too irritated to sleep, until she realised that Alice was snoring faintly on the other side of the room. When she finally put the book away, having found out as much as she could, she still couldn’t sleep. She made up her mind, slid off her bed and tiptoed quietly across the cellar to the room where the boys slept. She would wake Ollie and make a plan with him now, while nobody could hear her!

      At the arched doorway of the boys’ cellar room, she hesitated. In the faint moonlight shining through a tiny high window, she could see the humped shape of Tom, motionless in his bed, but Ollie was thrashing about in a muddle of hay and straw, swishing his tail and muttering. She heard a few blurred words – “Can’t move!” “No, NO...!” and realised that Ollie was in the grip of a nightmare. She knew what that felt like! She was just about to move in and wake him when he gave a final heave and a low cry and she saw that he had woken himself up. She held her breath, expecting Tom to wake too, but he just stirred and slept on. At the same time, Ollie, shaking his head and breathing heavily, realised she was there.

      “Em!” he said, confused. “What you doing here? I...I...thought I...”

      “It’s all right,” Emily whispered, moving into the room. “You were dreaming, I think. Are you OK?” She could sense him shivering.

      “Course I am! Didn’t wake you, did I? Allie’s not out there too?”

      “No. I wasn’t asleep. I’ve been reading the School Bus book. I came to say I’d like to go out to see it, if you’ll come too. Alice doesn’t approve, so could we sneak out without telling her?”

      “Course we could! Great!” Ollie was recovering fast. “What have you found out?”

      Emily sat next to him on the hay. “It happens twice every day. The bus picks up all the children from their caves – houses I mean - in the morning and takes them to the school-place. Then they go home in the afternoon. Except for two days they call the ‘weekend’. I don’t know what that means.”

      “Not at night?”

      “No.”

      “Pity. Makes it more difficult for two of us to sneak out. We need to think about this. Can’t decide tonight, but good idea of yours to come and tell me. I’ll work something out. Better get back in case Allie wakes and notices you’re missing. Tom never does, fortunately!”

      “I hope you don’t have another nightmare,” said Emily as she got up. “They can be horrible! Are you sure you’re OK?”

      “I’m fine, honestly. Don’t say anything, will you? You know how they fuss!”

      “I won’t. ‘Night.” She tiptoed across to her own room and fell asleep as soon as she hit the hay. Ollie lay down, took several deep calming breaths, stared into the darkness and tried very hard to stay awake.

      Chapter 5

      The Rook–Hunt

      Emily slept so late the following morning that her mother came down to the cellar to check on her. She was just surfacing, and remembering the events of the previous day – and the night – when she saw Gwen in the doorway.

      “Are you feeling all right? The others came up a while ago. What’s the matter with Alice? She’s hardly said a word. You haven’t been quarrelling, have you?”

      Emily shook herself free of her hay. Her bed was in a mess, so she had obviously been tossing and turning. “Not really,” she said, wondering what to say. She obviously couldn’t tell her mother the real reason. Gwen looked sympathetic, which made her feel guilty.

      “It wouldn’t be surprising,” she said. “You’ve been cooped up together for a long time now. I’m surprised you haven’t started fighting. And I’m really amazed that Angelica hasn’t turned us out before now. Especially on indoor Tail-Stane days!”

      “If only we could go out for a proper fly!” said Emily as they crossed to the stairs. “I’d love to explore round here before we go back to the Glen. When do you think Des will be back?”

      “Not yet. It would take him at least two days to get there, even at his speed. And we don’t know if he’ll need to stay. It’s hard to wait for news, isn’t it?” Looking at her mother, Emily realised it was even harder for her, and gave her a quick hug.

      “I’ll try not to fight with Alice! Sorry!” she said.

      “What for?” Fortunately they had reached the kitchen and Gwen didn’t seem to be expecting an answer. Oliver was just coming in through the hole in the front door.

      “It’s getting warmer outside. Thick mist out there, so we might manage to get them out. What do you think?” he addressed Gwen, but Emily listened open-mouthed.

      “Us?” she asked, breathlessly.

      “Breakfast!” said her mother firmly, pushing her through the door. Oliver bounded up the stairs to the tower room in search of Duncan.

      It was hard to see inside the kitchen, which was full of smoke from the fire mixing with mist drifting in through the window. Alice was playing a game with Lily and Georgie and didn’t look up, but Ollie gave her a searching glance from the other side of the room.

      “You’re late!” said Tom. Emily ignored him and sat down with a bowl of porridge.

      Alice stalked across the room followed by the little dragons, falling over each other and both talking at once. “Tom, we’re going to set up that run with the wee balls in the other room,” she called. “Not enough room in here. Coming?”

      Tom, who had found a bag of marbles while rummaging in the upstairs cupboard in a fruitless search for another tennis ball, agreed and followed them across the hall. Gwen looked at Ellen and raised significant eyes to the ceiling. Ellen shook her head and shrugged her wings. Emily was scowling as she finished her porridge. Ollie finished stacking a pile of firewood and looked thoughtfully at her.

      “Shall I take Grandad a drink?” he offered. His mother looked surprised. “Thanks, Ollie. Here you are. He’s probably better staying in his room as it’s so foggy and damp.”

      “Can I go and say hallo to him?” Emily asked. She was very fond of Old George. As Ellen nodded, she vanished into the hall after Ollie. Their mothers stared suspiciously after them.

      “There’s certainly something going on!” said Ellen. “I agree – they need to get out! Let’s hope Duncan and Oliver decide it would be safe.”

      Emily headed for the stairs, following Ollie. Once he had delivered the tea, they might have a chance to talk over their plan. Old George looked drowsy, but twinkled his thanks to them both as they left him to rest in his little room. It was the only room with a window intact, so was always cosy and warm. They paused for a whispered consultation before going down the stairs, but were almost knocked over by the flurry of Duncan and Oliver hurtling down from the tower.

      “What’s up?” asked Ollie.

      “Great flock of rooks just gone over,” Oliver said over his shoulder as he followed Duncan down the stairs. “They’ve settled in the trees outside. Worth a hunt.”

      Ollie and Emily looked at each other, then dashed down the stairs after them and followed them