Read Online Cart and Cwidder by Diana Wynne Jones - Free Book Online Page B

troubled, in the middle of the hall. He saw quite clearly that his mother did not want to believe him. She had put Clennen and all that part of her life behind her and she did not want to be reminded of it. Yet if Ganner had had a hand in killing Clennen, this was the last place she ought to be—the last place any of them ought to be. Moril looked at gay, busy Lenina, shook his head desolately, and hurried away to find Brid.
    Brid was hurrying through the garden in the opposite direction. “Moril—!”
    â€œOne of the men who killed Father,” said Moril. “He’s staying here.”
    â€œI know. I saw him,” said Brid. “Did you try to tell Mother?”
    â€œYes. She wouldn’t listen.”
    â€œShe wouldn’t listen to me either,” said Brid. “She doesn’t want to know, I think. Moril, what are we going to do? We can’t stay here, can we? Do you think Ganner had Father killed?”
    Moril thought about it. He remembered that though Ganner had obviously been very pleased to see Lenina, he had not perhaps been entirely surprised. And he did not like it at all. “I don’t know. He could have done. Only he’s a bit too feeble to think of it, isn’t he?”
    â€œAnd why not do it years ago if he felt that bad about Father stealing Mother off him?” said Brid. “But I don’t care whether he did or not. I’m not staying here, and that’s final!”
    â€œMother is staying,” said Moril. “I’m afraid that’s final, too.”
    â€œThen we’ll have to do without her,” said Brid. “I can cook, and we’ve got good clothes now. The only thing is, I’m not very good on the hand organ.”
    Moril did not feel as if they had come to a decision. It was as if he had known all along that they would leave. “But can we manage?” he said. “Give shows and all without even Dagner?”
    â€œDagner will have to come, too,” stated Brid. “He’ll have to. He’s Father’s heir, and he ought to. Besides, he shouldn’t stay here even more than us. If it was old days, he’d have to avenge Father.”
    Moril was dubious. Wherever Brid thought Dagner’s duty lay, Moril knew Dagner would want to stay with Lenina. He knew, without knowing how he knew, that Dagner had always been closer to his mother than to Clennen. And how could Dagner take up the singer’s trade when he was terrified and nervous at every show? “But would Dagner do it—on his own? I mean—”
    â€œI know just what you mean,” said Brid. “But I can manage Dagner. I can always manage him when there aren’t any parents around to interfere.”
    â€œLet’s go and find him then,” said Moril.
    Neither of them had seen Dagner for a considerable while. Since they had not the least idea where to start looking, they drifted quite naturally to the stableyard first, to have a look at Olob and the cart.
    Dagner was in the stableyard, polishing Olob’s harness, and Kialan was helping him. Both of them looked a little blank when Moril and Brid came in.
    â€œDo you two haunt this yard, or something?” Kialan said irritably.
    Moril decided to take the bull by the horns. “We’re taking the cart and leaving,” he said. “Are you two coming?” Kialan was clearly astonished and stared at Moril with all the annoyance of someone who cannot believe his ears.
    â€œI’ve got to go anyway,” said Dagner. “Father asked me to take Kialan to Hannart. But there’s no need for you two to come.”
    â€œOh, yes, there is!” said Brid. “One of the men who killed Father is in this house, and if that isn’t a reason for going, give me a better one!”
    Dagner and Kialan exchanged glances, and Kialan screwed his mouth up. “True?” Dagner said to Moril.
    â€œI saw him,” said Moril. “The fair