Free The Wind Singer by William Nicholson

front of the house, and most of the neighbours were leaning out of their windows to watch. On the doorstep, on either side of the closed door, stood two district marshals, fingering their medallions of office and looking grave. Everyone seemed to be waiting for something to happen.
    As Kestrel drew near, her footsteps dragging ever more slowly, Rufy Blesh saw her, and came running to her side.
    ‘Kestrel,’ he cried excitedly. ‘You’re in big trouble. So’s your father.’
    ‘What’s happened?’
    ‘He’s being taken away on a Residential Study Course.’ He lowered his voice. ‘Really it’s a kind of prison, my father says, whatever they call it. My mother says it’s awfully shaming, and thank goodness we’re going up to Scarlet, because after this we won’t be able to talk to you any more.’
    ‘Then why are you talking to me?’
    ‘Well, he hasn’t actually been taken away yet,’ said Rufy.
    Kestrel went as close to the house as she dared, and then slipped down the side. She ran swiftly along the alley where the rubbish bins stood, and so came to the back of her home. She could see her mother through the kitchen window, moving back and forth, carrying Pinpin in her arms, but no sign of Bowman. She sent him a silent call.
    Bo! I’m here
!
    She felt him at once, and his wave of relief that she was safe.
    Kess! You’re all right
!
    He appeared at their bedroom window, looking out. She showed herself.
    Don’t let them see you, Kess. They’ve come to take you away. They’re taking pa away
.
    I’m coming in
, said Kestrel.
I have to talk to pa
.
    Bowman left the window and went downstairs to the front room, where his father was standing in the middle of the floor, packing an open suitcase. The twins’ class teacher, Dr Batch, sat on the sofa, beside a senior member of the Board of Examiners, Dr Minish. Both men wore expressions of grim seriousness. Dr Batch took out a watch and looked at it.
    ‘We’re already half an hour behind schedule,’ he announced. ‘We have no way of knowing when the girl will return. I suggest we proceed.’
    ‘You are to notify the district marshals as soon as she comes home,’ said Dr Minish.
    ‘But I won’t be here,’ said Hanno Hath mildly.
    ‘Come along, sir, come along.’
    It irritated Dr Batch to see how the fellow stood looking so distractedly at the muddle of clothing and books on the floor.
    ‘Don’t forget your wash things, pa,’ said Bowman.
    ‘My wash things?’
    Hanno Hath looked at his son. Bowman himself had brought down his toothbrush and his razor, half an hour ago.
    ‘In the bathroom,’ said Bowman.
    ‘In the bathroom?’ He understood. ‘Ah, yes.’
    Dr Minish followed this exchange with exasperation.
    ‘Well, get on with it, man.’
    ‘Yes, very well.’
    Hanno Hath went away up the stairs to the bathroom. Ira Hath came into the front room, carrying Pinpin, who could feel the anxiety in the house and was crying in a low whining way.
    ‘Would you like a drink while you’re waiting?’ Mrs Hath asked the two teachers.
    ‘Perhaps a glass of lemonade, if you have it,’ said Dr Minish.
    ‘Do you like lemonade, Dr Batch?’
    ‘Yes, ma’am. Lemonade would do very well.’
    Mrs Hath went back into the kitchen.
    Up in the bathroom, Hanno Hath found his daughter waiting for him. He took her silently in his arms and kissed her, deeply relieved.
    ‘My darling darling Kess. I had feared the worst.’
    Speaking very low, she told him about the Special Teaching, and he groaned aloud.
    ‘Don’t ever let them take you there, ever, ever.’
    ‘Why? What happens there?’
    But he would only shake his head and repeat,
    ‘Don’t let them take you there.’
    Then she told him about the man who had said he was the Emperor.
    ‘The Emperor! You’ve seen the Emperor?’
    ‘He said I was to get the wind singer’s voice. He gave me this.’
    She showed him the map. He unrolled it, and stared at it in astonishment, his hand trembling as he held the