“Aha. A root vegetable question, I think,” said Miss Tick. “Two carrots, please.”
Tiffany handed them over.
“Thank you. Ready? To find the school for witches, go to a high place near here, climb to the top, open your eyes…” Miss Tick hesitated.
“Yes?”
“…and then open your eyes again.”
“But—” Tiffany began.
“Got any more eggs?”
“No, but—”
“No more education, then. But I have a question to ask you.”
“Got any eggs?” said Tiffany, instantly.
“Hah! Did you see anything else by the river, Tiffany?”
Silence suddenly filled the tent. The sound of bad spelling and erratic geography filtered through from outside as Tiffany and Miss Tick stared into each other’s eyes.
“No,” lied Tiffany.
“Are you sure?” said Miss Tick.
o;I have six sisters,” said Tiffany. “I’m the youngest. Most of them don’t live with us now.”
“And then you weren’t the baby anymore because you had a dear little brother,” said Miss Tick. “The only boy, too. That must have been a nice surprise.”
Suddenly, Tiffany found Miss Tick’s faint smile slightly annoying.
“How do you know about my brother?” she said.
The smile faded. Miss Tick thought: This child is sharp. “Just a guess,” she said. No one likes admitting to spying.
“Are you using persykology on me?” said Tiffany hotly.
“I think you mean psychology,” said Miss Tick.
“Whatever,” said Tiffany. “You think I don’t like him because my parents make a fuss of him and spoil him, yes?”
“Well, it did cross my mind,” said Miss Tick, and gave up worrying about the spying. She was a witch, and that was all there was to it. “I think it was the bit when you used him as bait for a slobbering monster that gave me a hint,” she added.
“He’s just a nuisance!” said Tiffany. “He takes up my time and I’m always having to look after him and he always wants sweets. Anyway,” she added, “I had to think fast.”
“Quite so,” said Miss Tick.
“Granny Aching would have done something about monsters in our river,” said Tiffany, ignoring that. “Even if they are out of books.” And she’d have done something about what happened to old Mrs. Snapperly, she added to herself. She’d have spoken up, and people would have listened…. They always listened when Grannyspoke up. Speak up for those who don’t have voices, she always said.
“Good,” said Miss Tick. “So she should. Witches deal with things. You said the river was very shallow where Jenny leaped up? And the world looked blurred and shaky? Was there a susurrus?”
Tiffany beamed. “Yes, there certainly was!”
“Ah. Something bad is happening.”
Tiffany looked worried.