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leave. Emily climbed up on to Pegasus. ‘OK, Paelen, lead on. Take us to Earl.’
    With the lights of New York City behind them and all the towns of New Jersey ahead, Emily expected to head due north, back towards Tuxedo, New York, where they first met Earl. But once they were higher in the sky, the sandals took them in a southern direction.
    ‘Did Earl tell you where he lived?’ Joel called to Emily.
    ‘In Tuxedo,’ Emily called back. She turned on Pegasus’s back and pointed in the direction they’d come from. ‘But that’s way back there. Where do you think we’re going?’
    ‘Guess we’ll find out soon enough.’
    As the moon rose high and full above them in a sky filled with stars, Emily settled down on Pegasus for a long flight. The air was warm and getting warmer the further south they travelled. Beneath them, they watched towns and city lights passing. Yet Paelen’s sandals continued without a break.
    After a time, the lights of civilization stopped and they passed silently over a tall, heavily wooded mountain range with only the occasional car headlights to break the solid darkness below.
    ‘Em,’ Joel finally called, ‘do those look like the Blue Ridge Mountains to you?’
    ‘Don’t know,’ she admitted. ‘I’ve never travelled any further south than New Jersey.’
    ‘Well, I’ve gone down to Florida and this looks familiar.’
    Emily was unsure how long they had flown. But with the passing of the moon overhead, she knew it had to be most of the night. Just before dawn, with the air becoming warmer and sweeter with the fragrance of flowers and salty sea air, Paelen’s sandals finally started to descend.
    They were heading down towards a densely populated neighbourhood that was filled with houses running along a canal. With the pink rays of dawn rising in the east, Emily noticed several homes with their lights already on. There was some light traffic on the roads as commuters started their journeys to work.
    ‘I don’t like this,’ Emily called to Joel and Paelen. ‘We could be seen.’
    Paelen looked over his shoulder. ‘But this is where Earl is.’
    Within minutes, they were gliding over a row of homes.
    ‘Don’t land in front!’ Joel called. ‘Paelen, if it’s one of these homes, land in the backyard.’
    Paelen repeated the order to his sandals. Soon they were touching down in the grass of a small backyard along the canal. Palm trees were blowing in the soft warm breeze and the sound of morning songbirds filled the soupy, humid air.
    Emily looked around nervously. ‘I really don’t like this. We’re too exposed here.’ Pegasus was still glowing in the pre-dawn light. She pointed to the house directly across the canal from them. ‘Look, their lights are on. If they look outside, they can’t miss us.’
    ‘Then let’s not stay out here,’ Joel said. He looked at Paelen. ‘Are you sure this is the right place?’
    ‘I am not, but the sandals are certain.’
    Alexis fluttered her wings into position and scanned the area. ‘I have never been here before. The air is delicious. Where are we?’
    Joel looked around. ‘Looks and smells like Florida to me.’
    ‘Florida?’ Emily repeated. ‘Are you saying we flew over a thousand miles in one night?’
    Pegasus nickered softly and Chrysaor squealed as they moved closer to the back of the house. ‘They say we should seek cover before the sun is fully up,’ Paelen translated.
    Joel approached the sliding glass door at the rear of the house. ‘I hope your sandals are right,’ he muttered softly, ‘or we’re about to ruin someone’s day.’
    ‘Someone’s whole life, you mean,’ Emily added.
    The door was locked. But one of the benefits of having an artificial arm made in Vulcan’s workshop was that Joel now possessed amazing strength in his silver right arm.
    With a quick, sharp tug, the lock on the door snapped and the glass door slid open.
    ‘Everyone inside,’ Joel whispered.
    As the biggest, Pegasus went first.