Penny stepped through the storeroom door into the hollow with Katie and Ellen close on her heels.
“Leave that door open,” Erasmus shouted through at them. “I’m not finished with you yet.”
“Are we in trouble again?” Elle asked.
“I’m never sure,” Katie said.
“I wanna know what he has to say,” Penny said.
“Do you now, missy?” Erasmus stepped through into the hollow, whacking his cane against the doorframe. It shrank instantly into the red-tipped wand. The single dreadlock swung freely against his cheek, reached up and tugged the knitted hat free of his head, and stuffed it inside his jacket. “There isn’t much more to tell, really.”
“We’ve been out of touch with the Reds for a long time,” Bowen said, following Erasmus through and closing the door behind himself. “They were very upset wit
