Stormchaser Read Online Free PDF

only a matter of time before everything falls apart.’
    ‘But what can be done?’ said Twig.
    The caterbird shrugged and turned his head. ‘That is not for me to say.’ It swivelled a purple eye round towards him. ‘Right,’ it said, ‘my story is complete. Now , will you release me?’
    Twig started guiltily. ‘Of course,’ he said, and retrieved the knife from his sleeve. He began jiggling the narrow blade about in the padlock again. There was a soft click. The lock was undone. He unclasped the padlock and pulled the door open.
    ‘ OY !’ came an angry cry. ‘You said you were trust- worthy! What in Open Sky do you think you’re doing?’
    Twig spun round and gasped with horror. It was Flabsweat, back at last with the animal-doctor, and bearing down upon him like a madman.
    ‘I can’t…’ he heard the caterbird complaining. ‘Help me, Twig.’
    Twig looked back. The caterbird had managed to get its head and one wing out of the cage, but the door was small, and its other wing was twisted back and jammed. ‘Go back in and try again,’ Twig instructed.
    The caterbird did as it was told, folded its wings up and thrust its head back outside. Flabsweat was almostupon them, a heavy club swinging at his side. Twig reached up and, with his hands round the creature's neck and shoulders, pulled gently. Flabsweat raised the club. The caterbird pushed its legs hard against the perch.
    ‘Come on!’ Twig urged it desperately.
    ‘Almost there…’ the caterbird strained. ‘I … Made it!’ It flapped its wings experimentally – once, twice – then launched itself off from the edge of the cage and soared up into the air, apparently none the worse for its confinement.

    It was time for Twig to make himself scarce, too. Without looking round, he turned on his heels and sped away into the thronging street. As he set off, the clubglanced against his shoulder. A second earlier, and it would have smashed his skull.
    Faster and faster Twig ran, barging through the crowds, elbowing dawdlers out of his way. Behind him, Flabsweat screamed with rage.
    ‘Thief! Scoundrel! Netherwicket!’ he roared. ‘ CATCH HIM !’
    Twig ducked down into a narrow alley. The shouting grew fainter, but Twig kept going, faster than ever. Past pawnbrokers and tooth-pullers, barbers and inns, round a corner – and slap-bang into the arms of his father.
    Cloud Wolf shook him roughly by the shoulders. ‘Twig!’ he bellowed. ‘I’ve been looking for you everywhere. We’re ready to set sail. What have you been up to?’
    ‘N…nothing,’ Twig faltered, unable to return Cloud Wolf's furious gaze.
    High in the sky, behind his father's head, Twig saw the caterbird flapping off into the setting sun – past Sanctaphrax, out of Undertown, and away. He sighed enviously. The caterbird might be gone, but its doomladen words remained with him. A vicious circle, that's what it is. If nothing is done then it is only a matter of time before everything falls apart .
    And for a second time, Twig found himself wondering, But what can be done?

• CHAPTER THREE •
C RIES AND W HISPERS
    i
In the Twilight Woods
    I t was twilight. It was always twilight in the woods, with the sun permanently setting. Or was it rising? It was difficult to tell. Certainly none who entered the Twilight Woods could ever be sure. Most, however, felt that the golden half-light between the trees whispered of endings not beginnings.
    The trees, majestically tall and always in full leaf, swayed in a gentle breeze which endlessly circled the woods. They, like everything else – the grass, the ground, the flowers – were coated in a mantle of fine dust which glittered and glistened like frost.
    Yet it was not cold. Far from it. The breeze was balmy, and the earth itself radiated a soothing warmth which rippled through the air above so that everything swam slightly before the eyes; nothing was quite in focus. Standing in the Twilight Woods was like standing under water.
    There