‘I see it begins. Well, I must away. Have fun, young people!’ Budela heaved himself up into the carriage. ‘Forward!’ he cried. The horses pulled away and within seconds were galloping. White dust flew up from the road and soon they could see nothing of the carriage but a great cloud. The two girls turned back towards Leonis. Christina started giggling again. Leonis looked uncomfortable. He tried to brush the smut from his nose, but he only made it worse. ‘That will never do,’ she laughed. ‘Why have you got the exhaust pointing towards your face? You should have it so it trails behind you!’ ‘Well, it wouldn’t be a dragon then, would it?’ Leonis was hot and sweaty and looking more uneasy by the minute. He shuffled from foot to foot. He held the helmet under his arm. ‘Why does it have to look like a dragon? What does it matter what it looks like, as long as it goes from one place to another quickly and safely?’ ‘Well…I suppose…’ Imigriana was frowning slightly.
