The Wee Free Men (Discworld 30)
Page 145
The people around here looked as though they’d either been taken from that book or had dressed for a fancy-dress party in the dark. One or two of them nodded to her as she passed but didn’t seem surprised to see her.
She ducked under a round leaf much bigger than she was and took out the toad again.
“Whap? It’s sti’ cooold,” said the toad, hunching down on her hand.
“Cold? The air’s baking!”
“There’s just snow,” said the toad. “Put me back, I’m freezing!”
Just a minute, thought Tiffany. “Do toads dream?” she said.
“No!”
“Oh…so it’s not really hot?”
“No! You just think it is!”
“Psst,” said a voice.
Tiffany put the toad away and wondered if she dared to turn her head.
“It’s me!” said the voice.
Tiffany turned toward a clump of daisies twice the height of a man. “That’s not a lot of help.”
“Are you crazy?” said the daisies.
“I’m looking for my brother,” said Tiffany sharply.
“The horrible child who screams for candy all the time?”
The daisy stems parted and the boy Roland darted out and joined her under the leaf.
“Yes,” she said, edging away and feeling that only a sister has a right to call even a brother like Wentworth horrible.
“And threatens to go to the toilet if he’s left alone?” said Roland.
“Yes! Where is he?”
“That’s your brother? The one who’s permanently sticky?”
“I told you!”
“And you really want him back?”
“Yes!”
“Why?”
He’s my brother, Tiffany thought. What’s why got to do with it?
“Because he’s my brother! Now tell me where he is?”
“Are you sure you can get out of here?” said Roland.
“Of course,” Tiffany lied.
“And you can take me with you?”