is to fly to Wales to check on them,” Ollie declared. “I bet Des is planning that right now. And he’s agreed that I can travel with him when he goes off again, so I’ll be going too. We can sort everything out between us, no problem. Don’t worry, Em!”
The other three stared at him, open-mouthed.
“You never said!”
“I bet you haven’t asked the parents!”
“That’s not fair! Why can’t we all go?” Tom’s voice rose in outrage.
Ollie held up a wing for silence. “Shut up, you’ll have them all down here! Des and I only fixed it this afternoon. Obviously we’ll tell the parents, but they can’t possibly object if I’m with Des. And it’ll be better to have two of us if we’re going all the way to your Gramps’ place.”
“Mum might want Des to take HER!” Emily interrupted, but Ollie waved this suggestion away.
“Nah, he’d prefer me to go with him, obviously,” he said.
Alice scowled at him. This was the boastful brother that got on her nerves. “I don’t see why,” she argued. “It was ME he chose to be the leader when we were at the seaside in the summer, not you. He said you were too reckless and I was more sensible. I bet he hasn’t REALLY said he’d take you. I’d prefer Gwen any day.”
“Mum was great when Dad had his accident and we were waiting for Des to get back,” Emily remembered. “She took charge and knew just what to do, didn’t she, Tom?” Tom decided not to take sides. He was too horrified at the thought of being left behind with the girls to think about anything else.
“I’ll go and find Des and we can get things organised.” Ollie got up, ignoring Alice, and set off up the stairs. Alice had just time to whisper, “Honestly, he’s such a....” when they all heard one word, “OUT!” shouted from upstairs. The girls collapsed in giggles, to Tom’s surprise. Ollie came back down.
“They’re still sitting round gassing in there. I need to talk to Des on his own,” he said casually, without looking at them. “Think I’ll get to bed. We might be starting early. Coming, Tom?”
“’Night!” said Alice, trying to keep the giggles at bay. “What is he like!” she said, turning back to Emily. Then she saw that tears were streaming down her friend’s face.
“Sorry,” Emily sniffed, “but it’s Gran! I just know they’re right and there’s something the matter with her or Grandad. I want to see them again. I couldn’t bear it if...” Sobs overwhelmed her again.
Alice put her wings round her. “Winter’s nearly over. I’m sure they’ll be OK. Des will sort things out, and he’ll come back and tell us. He might even bring them back with him! You really mustn’t worry!”
But looking at her friend, she realised that would not be easy.
Chapter 3
Ollie in a Rage
Emily slept badly that night, though she tried to keep still and quiet so she did not disturb Alice. She stopped crying, and concentrated instead on trying to pick up the ‘call’ from her Gran, like Gwen and George. It was not really successful, so she tried instead to send Gran a message of her own, with no real hope it would work, and then tried to think of suitable arguments to convince her parents that SHE should go to Wales with Des. Eventually she fell asleep from sheer exhaustion, and didn’t even wake when Alice tiptoed out for breakfast.
Her wakening was sudden and caused by Ollie. He was rampaging round the cellar, yelling in fury, lashing his tail on the walls and sending spurts of flame to the ceiling. She staggered out, rubbing her eyes.
“Good thing the ceiling’s stone down here,” Alice remarked, coming over to join her. “He’d have set the place alight if there was wood, like upstairs. Watch out, idiot!” she added to Ollie as a particularly fierce flare just missed her.
“What’s the matter with him?”
“Des set off to Wales last night. By himself. He said that would be quickest, so he didn’t even take your Mum. He’s arranged with the Dads to check out Huff range too. The grown-ups planned it all last night. That’s why they wouldn’t let Ollie in. He’s furious, as you can hear! Turns out Des hadn’t actually promised to take him travelling. That was just him boasting last night. Oh, GO AND HAVE YOUR TANTRUM SOMEWHERE ELSE!!” she shouted to Ollie, who was still rampaging around the cellar.
“I’m going upstairs.” Emily set off for the flight of steps, trying to avoid Ollie as she went. Alice followed, and the two of them saw him disappear into the secret passage that led into the garden.
“I hope he doesn’t go over the fence in a rage,” Alice remarked. “That really WOULD cause a row with Dad!”
Emily had forgotten about Ollie. She was too eager to see her mother and hear about Des. She rushed into the kitchen to find her. Gwen made her sit down for a late breakfast while she told her what had been decided. “He set off soon after you went to bed,” she said, bringing a bowl of porridge and adding some honey as a special treat. “He didn’t take all his bundles, just some emergency rations, so he could travel light. He says he knows the quickest way.”
At that moment, Oliver and Duncan came in. “You’ve been a long time. It’s light. I hope you weren’t seen!” said Ellen anxiously.
“Where’ve you been?” asked Emily with her mouth full.
“We’ve found a good Huffing spot a few miles away, up on the moor,” Oliver answered. “I went a bit of the way with Des last night, and we arranged that he should send a Huff early this morning, to let us know he was OK and check we could get messages through. It worked. We picked up his Huff, and he’s got a good long way. He’s heading south-west, and there are lots of hills and moors that way, so he reckons he can manage to travel by day and still avoid Humans. After that, he’ll reach the coast and fly out at sea to avoid being seen, until he gets to the wilds of Wales where your folks live. He’s done it before. He’ll come back the same way. Says it saves wasting time by hiding up during the day.”
Emily beamed. “He’s brilliant!” she said.
Gwen, who was looking happier this morning, chuckled. “So you always say! How does your wing feel after that flight, Duncan?”
“I managed fine, didn’t I, Oliver? I reckon I could get myself home now, no bother.”
“Not until we’ve heard from Des,” his wife said firmly.
“And you need to be sure the snow has melted further north,” Maggie added, bringing hot nettle tea. “Harold says there’s still a lot lying, even here. It takes a long time for a big drift to disappear. We’re in no hurry to be rid of you!”
“It will be quieter when we’ve gone!” said Duncan, hearing Tom cross the hall outside, yelling for Ollie, and Georgie and Lily scampering after him, shouting almost as loudly.
“Och, I’ll miss the wee ones,” said Maggie fondly.
“I’d miss Emily,” Alice
