“Yes,” said Oscar, watching the car disappear. “He is that, certainly.”
“Do you think Manky will be safe?”
He shrugged. “All I know is that no greater animal could be looking after him.”
17____________________
THE train didn’t arrive in Asquith until late afternoon. Among its passengers inconvenienced by the emergency halt were four angry Dark Alchemists who’d acquired a nasty dose of worms. They’d spent the remainder of journey scratching their bottoms against seats, doorways and each other. When they returned to Sinson-Rascalian’s cubicle to confess yet another bungled attempt at retrieving the Pumbel, he’d banished them from the carriage altogether. Not only was he furious, but their bottom-scratching put him off lunch. By the time they arrived in Asquith’s central station, however,
