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created our village to continue a bit of tradition!’
    Torsten bowed to
them as they entered the lift. When it began to move Alice waved to
him and Christina.
    ‘ So what’s
happened?’ she asked Thomas anxiously as soon as they were out
of sight.
    ‘ Nothing.’
    ‘ Nothing?
What do you mean? You had me worried! Why are we leaving, then?’
    ‘ You were
getting too close to that Ralph kid. You’ll only get hurt.’
    ‘ WHAT?! I am
not! I’ve only just met him!’
    ‘ I saw him put
his dirty great wing around you.’
    ‘ Oh, for
goodness sake! He was being nice, that’s all! What’s
your problem?’
    ‘ I don’t
have a problem,’ insisted Thomas. ‘I’m just trying
to protect you.’
    ‘ Bah! It’s
me who’s been protecting you, remember? You’re the one
who’s really in danger, you’re just too pigheaded to see
it!’ yelled Alice.
    ‘ I’m
not, actually. But you can believe that if you want.’
    Alice was furious.
She could tell from his tone that he was convinced he knew better.
Did he know something she didn’t? And why hadn’t Grandad
told her about Ralph? Alice felt she was being kept in the dark by
her own family and she didn’t like it one bit.
    *
    Alice could not
speak to Grandma alone until the next day. When Brigitte nipped out
to the post office the interrogation commenced.
    ‘ Why didn’t
you tell me there was another Finwip like me? Ralph’s only two
years older than me, he’s got multiple abilities and he can
fly! Surely Grandad should have told me!’
    ‘ I honestly
didn’t know!’ replied Grandma, shaking her head in
despair. ‘But then, I didn’t visit Finwip village when
we were here last time. I couldn’t get away from Brigitte.’
    ‘ Well, Grandad
knew that Ralph had become a Finwip and developed several abilities.
He even told him all about me and how similar we are. So why has he
kept it from me?’
    ‘ Perhaps he
wanted it to be a nice surprise for you when you met Ralph.’
    ‘ No. There
must be another reason. Grandad had no idea I would be coming to
Berlin this year. So if I hadn’t, I would still be thinking I
was a freak of nature – even for a Finwip. He knows I don’t
enjoy feeling like that. Something’s going on with him and I’m
being taken for an idiot.’
    ‘ Well, if you
are, my love, so am I,’ said Grandma wearily. ‘I promise
you he never told me that young Ralph had become just like you. It
doesn’t make sense; he’s very fond of Ralph and his
family. We both are. I’ll ask him about it when he calls
later – if Brigitte isn’t listening.’
    Alice simmered a
little. She knew her grandma was telling the truth because she
looked quite upset and confused about the whole thing. They did not
have to wait until evening to hear from Grandad – the phone
rang just a few minutes later.
    ‘ Alice, your
grandfather wants to speak with you,’ called Brigitte.
    She leaped up and
grabbed the telephone. ‘There’s something you need to
tell me, isn’t there?’ she began angrily.
    ‘ Indeed there
is! Now listen, I ... Get off, Benedict! Stop that! Get off my
shoulder, flamin’ bird!’
    ‘ Alice, I’m
so sorry! I got it wrong! Can you hear my voice on the phone?
Alice?’ called Benedict.
    ‘ Of course I
can hear you! What’s going on there? Benedict? Wrong about
what?’ Alice could hear his wings beating as Grandad tried to
shoo him away from the telephone.
    ‘ Alice, it’s
me again,’ said Grandad. ‘I think Benedict wants to say
something.’
    ‘ So let me
speak to him!’
    ‘ Listen,
Alice!’ warbled Benedict. I’ve been spying at the
Rowbottoms’ again. Apparently Isabella melted her dad’s
safe, just how she melted your grandad’s a few months ago. She
found the invoice for Lionel – I mean for the statue – or
whatever he is these days. It turns out the buyer was not Swiss,
although he was driving a van with Swiss plates. He was German.’
    ‘ Oh. What
about Isabella?’
    ‘ She
disappeared a couple of