Part 2 (1/2)

”I don't know,” said Fighting Prawn. ”I have sent men out to search the island; we will know soon enough if they are here. But I suspect they are not. I suspect this arrow was left, carelessly, by a scouting party. If it had been a war party, we would know by now. The Scorpions prefer to strike by surprise with ma.s.sive force. Now that they've found this island, they will be back, I'm certain of that.”

”But now you'll be ready for them,” said Peter.

Fighting Prawn hesitated, and again Peter saw the flicker of fear.

”We will post lookouts, yes,” Fighting Prawn said. ”We will be as ready as we can be. But the Scorpions attack in great force; their war canoes will bring more attackers than we have defenders. They are vicious, brutal fighters. They have taken many islands, Peter. They rarely fail.”

”And what happens to the people on the island?” said Tubby Ted.

Fighting Prawn only shook his head.

”I wish I was back in England,” Thomas said softly.

”Maybe I can do something,” said Peter. ”I could fly over their canoes and drop things. Fire, maybe. Or at least I could fly out to sea and watch for them, anda”

”No,” said Fighting Prawn. ”You will stay here with the others. The Scorpions are expert marksmen. The slightest touch from this”a”he held up the arrow againa””and you would fall from the sky like a stone. You must promise me you will not go out there.”

Reluctantly, Peter nodded.

”Good,” said Fighting Prawn. He put his hand on Peter's shoulder and gave it a fatherly squeeze. ”You have great courage, Peter,” he said. ”I will need your help before this is over.”

Then he turned and walked toward the gate, somehow looking much older than he had fifteen minutes before.

Peter looked at the other boys and they at him.

”I wish I was back in England,” said Thomas again.

CHAPTER 5.

MOLLY'S PLAN QUIETLY CLOSING HER BEDROOM DOOR, Molly tiptoed down the stairs past her mother's room to the ground floor. Putting on her coat, she walked quietly to the front doora”only to hear a familiar voice boom out behind her.

”And where do you think YOU'RE going, young lady?”

Molly turned to face the formidable shape of her governess, Mrs. b.u.mbrake, who, on hearing Molly's footsteps, had huffed into the hallway.

”Just out for a walk,” said Molly.

”A walk to WHERE?”

”I thought I'd visit the Darlings,” answered Molly.

The stern expression on Mrs. b.u.mbrake's face instantly changed to one of approval.

”Going to see young George, then?” she said.

Molly blushed. ”Yes,” she said. ”I'll be back before dark, I promise.”

”See that you are,” said Mrs. b.u.mbrake, trying to sound harsh, but unable to hide her pleasure. George Darling was exactly the sort of well-bred young man she thought Molly should be seeing. Not like that other boy, Peter, who (in Mrs. b.u.mbrake's view) had gotten Molly into such trouble aboard that awful s.h.i.+pa.

”Bye,” said Molly, ducking out the door before Mrs. b.u.mbrake could say any more. Pulling her coat front tight, she crossed the broad, mansion-lined street in front of her house and entered Kensington Gardens, the ma.s.sive form of Kensington Palace looming through the fog. She took the path through Hyde Park, then crossed Kensington Road into a street lined with fine homes. Reaching the Darlings', she climbed the steps, rang the doorbell, and told the servant who answered that she was there to see George.

In thirty seconds he was bounding down the stairs, gangling and awkward, but showing more and more indications of the handsome young man he was becoming.

”h.e.l.lo, Molly,” he said.

”h.e.l.lo, George.”

There was an awkward pause, which was not unusual; Molly and George spent a good deal of their time together pausing awkwardly. Finally Molly broke the silence.

”I wondered if we could talk,” she said.

”Of course!” said George. ”What about?”

”I meant talk, uh, quietly,” said Molly, glancing toward a servant dusting the mantel in the next room.

”Ah!” said George, feeling idiotic, which made him turn even redder than usual. ”Of course. Father's study is empty. He and Mother are traveling.” He rolled his eyes. ”Again.”

They went into the study, and George closed the door.

”Is something wrong?” he said.

”Yes,” said Molly. ”At least, I think so.”

”The Starcatchers,” said George.

A few months ago, Molly would never have discussed the Starcatchers with George, or even acknowledged their existence. But George had been with her and Peter that night at Stonehenge; in fact, without him, none of them would have gotten there at all. He had been very brave that night, and though he was not a Starcatcher, Molly trusted him absolutely.

”Yes,” said Molly. ”The Starcatchers.”

Quickly she summarized what her father had said about the meeting in Paris and the Starcatchers' concerns.

When she had finished, George said, ”I don't blame them for being worrieda”that Ombra thing was quite alarming. But it sounds to me as though, now that they're aware of the situation, they're taking steps to deal with it.”

”I don't know,” said Molly. ”Father seemed so worrieda”more so than I've ever seen him. I wish there was something I could do to help.”

”Such as what?”

”I've been thinking,” Molly said. ”About the starstuff warnings.”

”The ones they're not getting anymore.”