Retrieving Amanda

Chapter 3

Far away in South-West England, two cold, tired women staggered towards a small village taking a bumpy path. "We're, we're nearly there now He, Heather." shivered the smaller of the pair. "I know! But then we'll have to find shelter in, in ... " Heather looked all around them, "In that forest." Heather said. "OK, but let's hurry to the village." A few minutes later, they arrived at the little town in front of a quiet pub. Few people were in there, as it was nearly midnight, and everywhere else up the street was dark. Heather and her friend quickly ran up the deserted street and down an alleyway behind some bins. Heather pulled a slip of paper out of her pocket and squinted at the small handwriting, hardly able to make out the words as she had no lamp. "Erm, 29, St George's Street. That's where we are headed." she said as she tried to stifle a loud yawn. "Come on Millie! It'll be morning soon!" and they hurried off into the darkness. Millie, you could tell, was a friend of Zina's. She wore very weird clothing, just like Zina. She had a long sea-blue dress, little turquoise boots and her hair was cut short to a bob. Heather -who looked very active- wore denim shorts and a pink short-sleeved top. Her hair was similar to Zina's, the red at the top blended into the orange-yellow towards the bottom. "This is the place." murmured Millie. "Now how do we get to Amanda?" they both thought for a while then Heather suddenly sprang to life and whispered, "We can climb up the fence, jump onto the lower roof then through the open skylight!" "Fine! Sounds easy, let's go!" so, they did just as they said they would! Soon, they were in the cold, damp kitchen of 29 St George's Street and crept down the hall and up the squeaky stairs. "Which is her room?" Millie whispered so quietly, so as not to wake the occupants of the house up, that Heather could scarcely hear her. "What? Oh, right. Apparently it's the one to the right, so this one. I think!" said Heather as she nodded at one of the thick, oak doors. Heather, very carefully, pushed open the door. Slowly, she tip-toed into the small, fire-lit room. Nearly speechless she said, "Conbeam!" then she pulled back her outstretched hand and along came the poor Amanda Roberts! Fast asleep. "Ginarlo!" said Millie closely watching the next door. "They will think she's gone on a trip somewhere for a month. That'll give us time to arrange some things." they quickly escaped through the window followed by the floating Amanda and ran towards the far forest, forgetting about their tiredness, hunger and the brutal wind. "This should do!" spoke Heather from the branches of a tall tree. "Lucky thing I brought some blankets and a picnic, heh! Come up here, I'll help you." and with that she yanked Millie off the ground and onto a branch. "What about Amanda?" asked Millie, "Where can she rest? Your spell doesn't stop her from getting a chill. Could we out her up her with us?" "Sure! Conbeam!" Amanda flew towards them and was laid down neatly on a bulky branch. "Night." yawned Millie as she pulled her blanket closer to her face. "We've got a long journey tomorrow. Get lots of rest." seconds later, loud, peaceful snores rumbled through the woodland.