The Forest of Lost Souls (37 page)
Read The Forest of Lost Souls Online
Authors: Anne Plichota
As if to confirm his words, there was an alarming din as ten helicopters came hedge-hopping over the moorland. One of them hovered in front of the Runaways and they trembled with fear. Dragomira just had time to hide her Tumble-Bawler and the Veloso under her cape before a soldier popped his head out of the aircraft, megaphone in hand.
“Is anyone hurt? Do you need any help?” he boomed.
Abakum signalled that everything was fine, thanks, and the helicopter rejoined its squadron heading for the roads out of eastern England and London, which were chock-a-block as thousands of disaster victims poured into the area.
“How did you find us?” asked Oksa.
Abakum tapped his nose in amusement.
“Leomido’s house is only a couple of miles from here.”
Oksa sniffed at the air and exclaimed:
“All I can smell is mud, it’s so unfair!”
“I do have an uncommonly good sense of smell, sweetheart,” said the Fairyman. “And it’s not as if you don’t have a great many talents yourself, is it?”
“Fat lot of good they are! With these stupid helicopters popping up unexpectedly, we can’t even Vertifly for short distances!”
Everyone smiled except Gus, who turned his back on them with a brusqueness which upset Oksa.
“Excellent… Let’s go and find Naftali then!” suggested Dragomira. “It’s high time we were all back together.”
They set off again, their backs bowed under the beating rain but their hearts filled with renewed purpose.
May thanking filled with gratitude overrun the hearts of those who love Oksa and who have belief in her destiny.
May Estelle accept receipt of a special mention for bestowing the gift of the Song of the Runaways.
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Translation © Sue Rose 2014
Oksa Pollock: The Forest of Lost Souls
first published in French as
Oksa Pollock: La forêt des égarés
by XO Editions in 2010
Original text © XO Editions, 2010. All Rights Reserved.
First published by Pushkin Children’s Books in 2014
This ebook edition published in 2014
ISBN 978 1 782690 41 2
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