Free Moon Princess by Barbara Laban Page B

go with a small smile upon his face.
    Upstairs, the kitchen was empty and neither Feng nor Xiaolong were anywhere to be seen. Sienna had no time to wonder about that – she just wanted to know what had happened to Rufus.
    â€˜Where have you been? And where’s Minka? Is she all right?’
    â€˜One thing at a time,’ grumbled Rufus. ‘The cat is fine. I’m glad she’s not here. She never stops talking about herself.’
    Sienna sat Rufus on her lap and stroked his fur gently. ‘But where is she now?’
    â€˜She suddenly said she could feel your mother more strongly. Then she went off to look for her. Don’t worry. She’s tough, that one.’
    Sienna rested her head against the little spaniel’s head and tried to stop tears of relief from falling on his soft fur. ‘But where have you been, Rufus? I saw you … it looked like you were dead!’
    â€˜Dead? Dead?! Me? Don’t make me laugh!’ scoffed the little dog, giving Sienna a gentle nip as a rebuke. ‘We invisible friends cannot be killed that easily! And certainly not by one of our own kind. It is true that we can be injured … but we will heal, given time and the continued belief of our human counterpart.’ Rufus saw Sienna’s confused look and sighed. ‘You didn’t really think I was gone for ever, did you?’
    Sienna paused and then shook her head. She realized that he was right: even after witnessing the terrible scene at the station, a part of her had felt that Rufus would be with her again.
    â€˜Well then,’ continued Rufus firmly, ‘it was the strength of your belief and your love thatkept me alive. It’s the same for Minka. Even though your mum claimed to have stopped believing in her, she never truly did. As long as you’re here for us, we will always be here for you.’
    Sienna smiled. She didn’t think she would ever understand the mysteries of the invisible friends! Then her smile faded. ‘But the monster, Rufus. Will the monster be able to find us again?’
    â€˜That’s quite possible, Sienna. I take it you know who it belongs to?’
    Sienna gulped and nodded. ‘I think it’s Ling’s. Can Ling see you, Rufus?’
    â€˜Yes. And now we’ve met her best friend. A charming fellow, that monster. Now, come to think of it … where’s your new bestie? Did the two of you have a falling-out? I know you’re not always easy to get along with …’
    â€˜Rufus, stop it. I don’t know where Feng is right now either. He couldn’t come with me to the temple today.’ Then Sienna told Rufus Feng’s story about his brother, the Moon Festival, and her visit to the temple.
    Rufus rubbed his nose thoughtfully. ‘I am sure you are right. Something must have happened at the temple. Perhaps your mother discoveredsomething that Ling wasn’t happy about. But I don’t know what part your new friend and Gege play in all this. Perhaps Feng knows more than he has told you? But I don’t want you to get your hopes up too high; I’ve experienced first-hand what Ling and her crocodile companion are capable of.’
    â€˜Was it that bad?’ asked Sienna.
    â€˜Pretty much. They asked constant questions about you and your family and whether Kate had been in touch and what she had told you. It was most dull. And that crocodile monster has the most evil bad breath. Not to mention the constant caterwauling from Minka …’ Rufus shook himself. ‘It’s a wonder I survived, frankly!’
    â€˜Ah, I see you are feeling better.’ Zou had come upstairs. ‘Thanks, in no small part, to my potion, I expect!’
    â€˜You must be a very good doctor,’ said Sienna, frowning at Rufus as he stuck his tongue out at Zou.
    Zou put his head on one side and smiled. ‘I don’t know if I’m a good doctor, but I see things that other people don’t. That