Free Dragonfire by Anne Forbes Page A

up.
    “What’s up, Ian? Did you get him?”
    “I … I could have sworn I saw someone but … it must have been the rocks casting a shadow.” The policeman peered around. “There’s no one here! Sorry, chaps.”
    It was at that particular moment that Dougal freaked! The two policemen seemed to be talking to him and he could see them quite plainly but it was also obvious that they could not see him! He walked back up the slope and, to his horror, the legs that moved were not his own! It was then that he remembered that the MacArthurs had merged into the flock of sheep before climbing into the transporter. Had he somehow merged with the policeman? The thought terrified him! But how had it happened? He kept very still and looked out of the policeman’s eyes at the darkness of the hill. He wondered if the policeman could read his thoughts and if he knew that he, Dougal MacLeod, was sharing his body.
    “This is awful!” thought Dougal wildly. “What if I can’t get out again!”
    The policeman, however, seemed unaware of anything amiss and as he calmly continued to patrol the hillside, Dougal gradually relaxed at the very ordinariness of the occupation.
    “I wonder,” he thought, “if I can use him to get me out of this mess. The High Street isn’t far. If only I could get through the cordon!” Dougal concentrated his mind on leaving the hill and, to his relief, the policeman started to make his way down the slope towards the road.
    No one but Amgarad seemed to notice that the policeman had left the hill and was walking towards the police cars, fire engines and ambulances that sealed off the park from the public. Still dizzy, Amgarad shook his head, stretched his wings and flew unnoticed to the houses at the foot of the High Street,determined to follow the firestones to their destination.
    Dougal, feeling much more confident, strode through the barrier knowing that no one would stop him. Once through the cordon, however, he guided the policeman’s steps to a narrow passageway at the foot of the High Street.
    “Now,” he thought, “now I have to try to escape!”
    He gathered himself and his mind together and stepped out of the policeman’s body. He had succeeded! He felt faint with relief as he looked down and saw his own dusty trousers and scuffed shoes. He held his breath and stood very still as the policeman gave himself a slight shake, looked alertly up and down the High Street and then, realizing that he was supposed to be part of the action round the barricade, moved back towards the police cordon.
    The relief was enormous! Dougal felt washed out and exhausted but, as he moved out into the High Street and turned his feet for home, he remembered the fabulous jewels that he carried. As he slipped his hand into his pocket to feel their reassuring bulk, a sense of triumph and power surged through him.
    He would not, however, have felt quite so happy had he known that Amgarad, watching from the rooftops, was following him home.

14. The Loch Ness Monster
    As Dougal MacLeod strode the streets of Edinburgh, Neil and Clara climbed down from the cab of the transporter, stretched their cramped legs and looked over the blue waters of Loch Ness.
    “Here at last,” laughed Clara delightedly, as she breathed in the wet smell of the loch that gleamed before them in the morning sun. Little ripples splashed on a narrow bank of pebbles where tree branches hung limply over the water.
    “What do you think then, MacArthur?” queried Sir James. “The bank here is a bit steep but if we drive much further on we’ll find ourselves too exposed for comfort. And we are on a bend, as you asked.”
    “Aye. The place is fine.” The MacArthur scanned the road in both directions and saw that it was clear. “Let’s get the sheep out of the back of the transporter while the going’s good.” They moved to the back of the vehicle where the Ranger was already unfastening the pegs and preparing to let down the ramp.
    “I hate to