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'Hallo? Is there anyone there?'
'Come along in, child. Take a seat. Rest up a little.'
Ella stepped cautiously on to the rocking veranda. Mrs Gogol was sitting in her chair, a white-clad raggedy doll in her lap.
'Magrat said - '
'I know all about it. Come to Erzulie.'
'Who are you?'
'I am your - friend, girl.'
Ella moved so as to be ready to run.
'You're not a godmother of any kind, are you?'
'No. No gods. Just a friend. Did anyone follow you?'
'I... don't think so.'
'It's no matter if they did, girl. No matter if they did. Maybe we ought to move out into the river for a spell, even so. We'll be a lot safer with water all round.'
The shack lurched.
'You better sit down. The feets make it shaky until we get into deep water.'
Ella risked a look, nevertheless.
Airs Gogol's hut travelled on four large duck feet, which were now rising out of the swamp. They splashed their way through the shallows and, gently, sculled out into the river.
Greebo woke up and stretched.
And the wrong sort of arms and legs!
Mrs Pleasant, who had been sitting watching him, put down her glass.
'What do you want to do now, Mr Cat?' she said.
Greebo padded over to the door into the outside world and scratched at it.
'Waant to go owwwt, Miss-uss Pleas-unt,' he said.
'You just have to turn the handle there,' she said.
Greebo stared at the door handle like someone trying to come to terms with a piece of very advanced technology, and then gave her a pleading look.
She opened the door for him, stood aside as he slunk out, and then shut it, locked it and leaned against it.
'Ember's bound to be safe with Mrs Gogol,' said Magrat.
'Hah!' said Granny.
'I quite liked her,' said Nanny Ogg.
'I don't trust anyone who drinks rum and smokes a pipe,' said Granny.
'Nanny Ogg smokes a pipe and drinks anything,' Magrat pointed out.
