Page 111 of Something Rotten (Thursday Next 4)

'Were you serious about not being able to think of a way in?'

'I'm afraid so. But we could always pretend to be Brummie water officials or something.'

'Why would water officials have ten truckloads of banned Danish books?' asked Bowden, not unreasonably.

'Something to read while doing water officially things?'

'If we don't get these books to safety they'll be burned, Thursday - we've got to find a way into the republic.'

'I'll think of something.'

I spent the rest of the afternoon fielding calls from numerous sports reporters, eager to get a story and find out who would be playing in what position on the field. I called Aubrey and told him that he would have five new players - but I didn't tell him they'd be Neanderthals. I couldn't risk the press finding out.

By the time I returned to Mum's house my wedding ring was firmly back on my finger again. I pushed Friday around to Landen's house and, noticing that everything seemed to be back to normal, knocked twice. There was an excited scrabble from within and Landen opened the door.

'There you are!' he said happily. 'When you hung up on me I got kinda worried.'

'I didn't hang up, Land.'

'I was eradicated again?'

'I'm afraid so.'

'Will I be again''

'I'm hoping not. Can I come in?'

I put Friday on the floor; he immediately started to try and climb the stairs.

'Bedtime already, is it, young man?' asked Landen, following him as he clambered all the way up. I noticed that in the spare room there were two as yet unpacked stair gates, which put my mind at rest. He had bought a cot, too, and several toys.

'I bought some clothes.'

He opened a drawer. It was stuffed with all kinds of clothes for the little chap, and although some looked a bit small, I didn't say anything. We took him downstairs and Landen made some supper.

'So you knew I was coming back?' I asked as he cut up some broccoli.

'Oh, yes,' he replied, 'as soon as you got all that eradication nonsense sorted out. Make us a cup of tea, would you?'

I walked over to the sink and filled the kettle.

'Any closer with a plan for dealing with Kaine?' asked Landen.

'No,' I admitted, 'I'm really banking on Zvlkx's seventh Revealment coming true.'

'What I don't understand,' said Landen, chopping some carrots, 'is why everyone except Formby seems to agree with everything Kaine says. Bloody sheep, the lot of them.'

'I must say I'm surprised by the lack of opposition to Kaine's plans,' 1 agreed, staring absently out of the kitchen window. I frowned as the germ of an idea started to ferment in my mind. 'Land?'

'Yuh?'

'When was the last time Formby went anywhere near Kaine?'

'Never. He avoids him like the plague. Kaine wants to meet him face to face but the President won't have anything to do with him.'

'That's it!' I exclaimed, suddenly having a flash of inspiration.

'What's it?'

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