Free The Queen and the Nobody Boy by Barbara Else Page B

was.
    Along the carriage, Sibilla stuck her head through a window. “Hodie! Hurry up!”
    â€œAll aboooaard!” The guard slammed the door.
    The pulleys strained and graunched. Wind whistled over the Depot roof and stung Hodie’s eyes. The wind-train lifted high above the ground.
    The guard came up beside him and spoke kindly. “Urchin-boy, you are better off here. They head into Force Nine gale.”
    The ugly squirrel was crouched on a crate. Gusts parted its scruffy fur this way and that, no doubt whisking fleas to goodness-knew-where.
    There was a crunching noise, and Hodie turned. Down the hill behind the Depot, the scientists’ carriage came sledding back. It skidded to a stop, and out jumped Professor Glimp. “Stop!” he called. “Stop wind-train!”
    â€œBlimmin’ civilians,” muttered the guard.
    â€œBoy with big cap!” shouted Glimp. “He has Queen of Fontania’s pendant around neck! He is thief, or Queen Sibilla in disguise!”
    The guard turned to Hodie, mouth open. Hodie yanked his cap down over his ears.
    â€œNot him!” the scientist cried. “Little boy. Big cap. Torn trousers. Runny nose.”
    The guard pointed up to the wind-train. “He is cook’s assistant!”
    â€œStop him!” the scientist shouted.
    â€œToo late!” cried the guard.
    â€œSend message ahead! Alert army!”
    The guard pointed his arms in all directions. “But telegraph is down!”
    Could the passengers hear this? Hodie could see that the windows on the wind-train were closed. But Murgott and Sibilla might be captured at the next stop. The Queen would be examined, and all for nothing, because magic was nonsense!
    Three Um’Binnian officers were running over. The pulleys had wound the wind-train almost to the top of the towers.
    Hodie took a step back – this was nothing to do with him. Then he took a step forward, and another. Clammy with fear, he set a hand on the first strut.
    â€œOi!” cried the guard. “Oi! Boy!”
    â€œOi boy, yourself,” muttered Hodie. He took a deep breath and started scrambling, two rungs, three …
    â€œCome down! You will kill self!” yelled the guard.
    The officers and station workers clamoured too. Hodie, hands slippery with sweat, scrambled up another level. He heard his own voice clearly in his head: Another half-minute – I have to warn the little Queen . But his satchel snagged and wouldn’t tug free. The rolled-up blanket had hitched onto one of the struts. The pulley still groaned on its last turn.
    â€œYou will be stowaway!” the guard cried. “Will be arrested!”
    Hodie nearly lost his grip, glanced down and saw an officer set foot on the first rung.
    He yanked the satchel again. The wind roared, and along with the roar was the high hissing scream of a squirrel dashing full-scamper over the platform and up the pulley tower. It hauled itself up Hodie’s leg (sharp claws!), onto his head (ouch!), then disappeared above him. For all Hodie knew, it had toppled off the other side.
    The pulley thrummed in the blast of wind. Hodie yanked the satchel a third time and it pulled free. He felt something tumble out, but didn’t dare look in case he followed. Then, just as the pulley hooks released the wind-train, Hodie jumped. His jacket snagged, but he grabbed a bar on the side of the luggage van and kicked around to find a step. He hauled himself up, found the strength to slide the door, and squeezed inside.
    ~

how to travel
to Um’Binnia

13
    too late to change your mind
    Hodie lay on the floor of the luggage van. What a stupid thing he’d done. He was a stowaway. If he was discovered, he’d be tossed into the Stones.
    He crawled round to see through a crack in the door. Down was a very long way. He went clammy all over again. He glanced up and glimpsed yellowish sky, the shade he felt when he’d tasted something nasty by