She looked up, straight into the amused eyes of the gnome.
"You're alive?"
"I am, though I'll never dance the tango again."
"Could you tango before?"
"I've never tried."
Puddlebrain swept up her friend in her arms and pulled him in tightly. Her tears flowed freely, relief releasing them.
"Careful!" berated Billy. "I break, you know!"
"Sorry," she stammered. "Your ankle. I'm sorry."
"I've got another one. I'll be fine. Just help us out of here."
"Us?" Puddlebrain asked, frowning.
"You, me and that lot. I suppose we'd best get 'em out of this hole."
She looked past him. The cave was filled with figures but these were not shadowy ghosts of the Multitude – these were people! The villagers surrounded her, smiling but with confused expressions. She saw Brenda and Mrs. Mead and Quentin Bopsidy. At the front of the throng was her sisters. Edna stepped forward.
"Thank you," she said.
Gemini moved to stand next to the eldest witch.
"I'm hungry," she said.