Blat Magic: Part 5

By MICHAEL STEPHENS, Illustrator MICHAEL BUCHANAN

The wolves' legs were much longer than those of the woman. In fact, she was barely half as tall as a newborn wolf cub. Clutching the sack in both claws, the owl glided lower. Lightning showed him the backs of hurrying wolves. 'She's leading them away,' he muttered, half in horror and half in awe. He rested the sack on a branch and stood still. About to fly off, leaving the sack behind, the roaring and barking of the wolves became so loud suddenly that he pressed his wings to his ears to avoid hearing. When the noise had stopped he gave a mournful hoot.

Cliffmabakin de Mandiargues, Cliffkin for short, was asleep in a smallish bedroom a third of the way up Number 14, Drimsen Pallisades. Beside his bed was half a cup of cold tea, pale-milky on its surface, and a plate holding crumbs from a piece of strawberry shortcake.

Publisher: HarperCollins

Price: $16.95

Age group: 9-12 years