Dragons of the Watch - Donita K. Paul [37]
“It took a long, long time to walk into the city.”
Bealomondore sat on the edge of the cabinet. “I’ll ask Det to scout out a house so we can go straight to it instead of searching.”
Tak stood at the door, looking out of the building and into the alley. He stamped his feet and glanced over his shoulder at Airon. The dragon let out a shrill whistle. Bealomondore grabbed the rope of garlic and hurried down.
“They’re coming!” said Ellie. “They’re coming down the alley. We’ll have to go out the front.”
Bealomondore hopped down and ran to the big window. He ducked and peeked through the displays. “I don’t see anyone out here.”
He crouched as he approached the door. Ellie also stooped as she joined him. Tak and Airon stayed at the back and kept their eyes on the alley. Bealomondore manipulated the large deadbolt.
As the door swung open, Ellie whispered loudly, “Come on!”
They raced past the fountain and down the street that would lead to the library. Airon flew in front. Tak brought up the rear. Ellie kept pace with Bealomondore.
The chase reminded Ellie of the first morning she had spent in Rumbard City. Every time she thought they had lost the boys and girls, another group popped up and sent their little party of visitors fleeing again. Someone ought to take these children in hand and teach them how to be civilized.
While she and Bealomondore panted from the exertion of escaping, the hunters giggled, shouted, laughed, and called out the despicable things they planned to do when they caught the two wee ones, the bird, and the dog. Ellie didn’t believe a word of their cannibalistic plans. They didn’t know how to cook, for one thing. For another, she suspected they had never actually caught anything and had no idea what to do if they should, by chance, take prisoners. The children seemed woefully ignorant.
One of the reasons the countryfolk didn’t encourage reading was the expanded imagination that resulted from books. She dreamed of going to a big city and seeing the royal wedding celebration and dancing in the streets at the coronation. Books describing such things had awakened a longing in her heart. Many of the older folk saw this as a danger, not a blessing.
But Gramps said, “Education means you can think bigger. Thinking bigger is a good thing, more fun than having thoughts that are pinched and scrawny.”
Ellie read to her younger siblings, and they developed wild schemes, much wilder and more detailed than those proposed by these children. Her brothers made up grand stories and acted them out. Her sisters staged operas, even though they had never seen one. And they imagined wearing ball gowns, even though they’d only seen black and white sketches. This bunch of six-year-olds didn’t go much further with their devious plots than “catch ’em,” “tie ’em up,” and “eat ’em.”
Bealomondore found a break in a building wall, and they climbed over a pile of bricks and into a cool, dark room with no windows. After Tak climbed in and Airon swooped through the hole, Bealomondore pulled some of the loose bricks closer to make a barrier. They sat back in the darkness and listened as the hunters stormed right past their hiding hole.
“Can we stay here for a while?” asked Ellie. “My shins hurt. And Tak looks all in.”
The goat had collapsed near a sidewall. Ellie could just make out his shaggy white coat. Airon perched on a box and chittered. She heard the dragon’s agreement in her mind.
“Yes,” said Bealomondore. “If they don’t spot us for a while, they will probably lose interest.”
For a long time, no one spoke. Various groups of children passed from time to time. They no longer ran but trudged past. Disparaging remarks about the wee ones, the bird, and the dog became softer, less vehement. The last pack made muttering sounds and dragged their feet. When no more came by, Ellie wondered if they had found comfy spots to nap. She could have used some water, a more comfortable room, and a good sleep.
“How far are we from the library?” she