Chapter Thirty-Three
A hand for Janet – Roldo and Charlie – pursuit and flight – family secrets
Charlie lay on the barn floor, his hair and whiskers full of straw. Gladys and the rat-lady had been knocked down too. Somehow Gruffydd had remained upright, propped against the barrier.
“What happened?” Charlie said.
“Your friend just learned a lesson,” the rat-lady said.
“I don’t feel well,” Charlie said, picking straw from his clothes.
“Oh, shut up!”
Gladys struggled to her feet. “Don’t you talk to my friend that way.”
“Never mind that,” the rat-lady said. “You have to hurry. Get out of here! They will be coming.”
Sure enough, Charlie could hear shouting outside the barn.
“I’m not leaving without Gruffydd,” Gladys said.
The rat-lady reddened and glared at Gladys. Gladys folded her
