Flyte by Angie Sage

Author:Angie Sage [Sage, Angie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-06-25T21:52:50+00:00

The Causeway

Jenna, Septimus, Nicko, Wolf Boy and Stanley took the Causeway out of the Port toward the Marram Marshes. Jenna led the way and behind her trotted Thunder, shaking his head and snorting in the cool morning air, glad to be out of the smelly stable he had spent the night in at the rear of the Doll House.

Jenna had insisted on going back for Thunder. She was afraid that if they left the horse behind, Nurse Meredith might have been tempted to sell him to the meat pie shop down by the harbor. So, when they had rounded the end of The Rope Walk and still no witches had come out of the house, Jenna had crept down the dirt track that ran behind the houses and led Thunder away.

The Causeway ran along the high ridge that skirted the fields at the edge of the Port. As they walked in the early-morning haze, Jenna could see the faded circus tent and smell the well-trodden grass from the crowds the night before. It was a quiet and peaceful scene, but Jenna was on edge—the burn on her arm from Sleuth stung and was a constant reminder that Simon now had a Tag on her—and any sudden movement or sound made her jump. So when, out of the corner of her eye, Jenna saw a small dark shape making a strange clattering noise and heading toward her, she panicked and grabbed hold of Septimus.

“Ouch!” gasped Septimus. “What’s up, Jen—what is it?” Jenna ducked behind him. Something was heading straight for her.

“Eurgh—eurgh gettitoff!Gettitoffme!” Jenna yelled, frantically brushing a large spiky insect off her shoulder.

The boys knelt down and peered at the bug, which lay on its back in the fine dust of the Causeway, legs slowly waving in the air and making a faint buzzing noise.

“But I thought it was dead,” said Septimus, poking at the bug with his finger.

“How did it get here?” asked Nicko, shaking his head.

Wolf Boy stared at the bug. It didn’t look very edible to him. Far too crunchy, he reckoned, and spiky too. He would not be surprised if it had a nasty sting.

Jenna peered over their shoulders. “What is it?” she asked.

“It’s your Shield Bug,” Septimus said.

“No!” Jenna dropped to her knees and very gently picked up the bug and laid it in the palm of her hand. She brushed as much dust off it as she could, and after a few moments, watched by a fascinated audience, the bug stood up and shakily began cleaning its wings, buzzing and fussing as it tried to get everything back into working order. And then, suddenly, with a triumphant clatter of wings against its green armor-plated shell, the bug rose into the air and took its rightful place on Jenna’s shoulder—just as it had done more than a year ago when it had first been created at Aunt Zelda’s cottage. Jenna’s spirits lifted; now she had something to defend herself with if—or was it when?—Simon came looking for her.

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