Chapter 211 The Slow Turn (2/2)

”Ready to go?”

Meg held up the basket with a big grin, ”Ready!”

”Really?” asked Iah, ”Where have you put your boots then?”

Meg looked down, ”Oh, they're in my room”.

”Better go get them then, and don't forget your scarf!”

Meg ran off again, leaving the basket on the table. Iah shook her head with a smile on her face as she turned back to the dishes, then she paused. Has Sharli taken a basket? She didn't remember seeing one...Iah shook her head. She'd probably picked up one of the ones at the door.

***

Iah pointed to the more ripened tomatoes at the back of the stall as Meg picked up a few of the apples to the side and put them in the basket she was holding. Iah caught the basket as it was tipping.

”Careful Meg, don't want too many bruises on those apples,” she smiled as Meg righted herself and began to watch the basket carefully as she picked a couple more.

”There you are, Miss,” the vendor smiled as he handed over ten of the tomatoes and Iah handed him back the coin, ”Thanks for your business”.

”Thank you,” Iah smiled as she took Meg's hand and walked down the market, ”Alright, what else do we need”.

Meg thought for a moment, looking between hers and Iah's basket, ”Cheese”.

”Cheese?” asked Iah, ”I'm sure there was plenty when we left. Did those mice get into it again?”

Meg blushed and looked away, ”I saw it, that Mouse, it was big and fat. I think he really must like cheese”.

”Big and fat?” asked Iah, ”Are you sure we're not raising a rat?”

Meg shook her head, ”Maybe it's got a family too. Maybe its sharing the cheese”.

”Is it just? I thought you said it ate it itself,” Iah smiled.

”Nah uh,” Meg insisted, ”I said it was big and fat. I didn't say it ate all the cheese itself”.

Iah chuckled, ”Alright, cheese it is. Maybe we should get some extra for that mouse and his family, huh?”

”Right!” Meg said excitedly as she pulled Iah in the direction of the cheese vendor.

Iah laughed as she looked from Meg to the crowd around her, watching for any dangers that Meg might miss in her one-track mission to the cheese vendor.

Iah suddenly paused, her eye catching a cart on the nearby road, or more specifically, its passenger. That was...

”Iah, come on!” Meg insisted, pulling Iah. Iah turned to Meg as the child tugged her along, then Iah turned quickly back to the road. But the cart was gone, disappearing past the crowd and down the street.

Iah frowned, turning away. No. She must have been seeing things. Iah turned back to the task at hand and followed Meg through the Market.