Six

When Merle went back the day after, she smiled.

The apple had gone, and she knew she was right.

He did want them after all.

*   *   *

She slipped into the orchard once more, though still checking first to see that he was not around.

She picked four apples this time, and left two on the doorstep.

She ate an apple on the rock at the top of the hill, and sneaked the other into her bedroom, in case she was hungry in the night.

At bedtime, she kissed her hare on the nose, and went to sleep.

She dreamed of flying on the back of a dragon, right above the island, right over her house. She looked down at her house and saw her mother in the back garden, looking up and waving, and smiling.