This might be just the thing I’ve been looking for.’ ‘Then take it away, Manalone. If Colonel Shears comes back and finds it here, there could well be a couple of children needing a new mumma.’ ‘I appreciate the risk. I’ll go immediately. Thanks again!’ He moved towards the door, but as he neared it, it was shaken by a heavy blow on the outside. ‘Open up! This is the police.’ Kitten uttered a small cry and flew to comfort her children. Manalone stood in front of the door, the book under his arm, and wondered precisely what he ought to do. His mildly noble thoughts of dashing out with the book and drawing police attention away from Kitten seemed unlikely to succeed. With his sort of luck he would be stopped on the threshold with the book still in his hands. He therefore perched the volume precariously on one of the roof-support struts in the darkness over the door, and released the doorcatch. Three men entered. The police militiamen wore the insignia of the local police garrison.
