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Golden Gate,” he finishes.
    â€œThe Golden Gate, you say? There’s many a folk as want to get there, easier said than done…”
    â€œHave you ever been there, Mr Sharpie?” Daisy interrupts.
    â€œOh, no, not me, my wife went there, never came back…” he pauses. “Searched for her I did, to no end. She was a fine woman.” Gunner Sharpie’s eyes mist over as he recalls her memory.
    â€œErm, oh..” Daisy rocks slightly in her chair, clearly uncomfortable at this revelation but Billy jumps in, his heart again dictating his brain.
    â€œMr Sharpie, I’m sure she will come back, we will look for her on our way.”
    â€œThat’s awful nice of you; you are a good boy. What’s your name?”
    â€œBilly, I’m Billy, this is Daisy and Peter and Rufus.” Billy gestures each of his friends in turn. Poor Mr Sharpie could do with some nice friends.
    â€œI have some custard and rhubarb crumble…would you like some? I like to cook and it’s all the sweeter when I get to cook for such a fine young bunch of, what to call ye, adventurers!” Gunner Sharpie beams.
    Custard and rhubarb crumble, that is just too good to pass up. Peter gathers up the stew bowls and cutlery. A couple of the spoons fall to the floor, clattering on the flagstones. Daisy hisses and jumps up to get them. Rufus is still looking at the stew pot – he looks like he has fallen in love.
    â€œNow, Billy? Will you just dig out some of the little bowls from that press,” he gestures. “Just there.” Billy walks over to the press and pulls out the bowls, he hands them to Gunner Sharpie.
    The pudding is delicious, so much so it turns Rufus’s affections away from the stew. Too soon, the bowls are empty and all four young faces look just a bit crestfallen. They are each too polite to ask for more. Gunner Sharpie appears to be unaware.
    Billy rises from his chair.
    â€œMr Sharpie, that was really nice of you but me and my friends need to get going. We will look for your wife, promise.”
    Gunner Sharpie’s face breaks into a grateful smile.
    â€œSon, you are such a good boy. May the Lord watch you.” He ruffles Billy’s hair and then grips and gently squeezes his shoulder. “A good boy.”
    Rex barks quickly and runs at the front door. He hasn’t had any stew but doesn’t seem a bit bothered by that. He wants to get going. He jumps up at the door trying to catch the latch with his paws but he can’t budge it.
    Billy picks up his backpack and follows Rex to the door, briefly looking back at Gunner Sharpie.
    â€œPromise.” Billy nods, lifts the door latch and follows Rex out. His three friends follow him.
    Peter rights his bike and clacks along.
    â€œBilly, hold up. Billy!”
    Gunner Sharpie watches them as they go, a slim smile appears and vanishes as quickly as an extinguished flame. He turns back into his cottage, the front door closes quietly behind him.

Chapter Six

    Monster
    â€œBilly, Billy, open the map. Look, there’s the river, down there, look, down there!” Daisy bounds ahead of Billy, her hair has dried off and the curls are even more frantic. They snake out around her head as her boots trample over the cobblestones.
    Rex starts barking, loud piercing noises, while Rufus covers his ears. Billy pulls out the book and unfolds the map. Their route is drawn moving from the path to the banks of the river – they have to follow the bank to the ferry. Daisy is already way ahead of them when Billy sees the monster on the map, a monster that wasn’t there a moment earlier.
    â€œDaisy! Wait, hey
Daiseeee
, ah come on, will you listen to me!” Billy folds up the map as he breaks into a run after his headstrong friend. Peter and Rufus look on. They don’t start to run.
    Peter mutters to Rufus, “You know, if she wants to get there first, I figure let her. What chance does a monster –