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on, you two,” she said to Jason and Milly. “Michael can catch up in a minute.” Michael’s eyes caught hers. I owe you one, he told her silently.
    â€œSo, what are you doing then?” Rick said, a faint challenge in his voice. “Can you come with us to town?”
    Michael gritted his teeth. “My, uh…my stepmum laida load of errands on me ’cause I broke so many rules this week.”
    â€œCool,” said Josh.
    â€œNever mind then, mate. Another time,” said Rick easily. “Hey, I got my allowance today. How about I treat everyone to a burger tonight—end of half-term treat?”
    â€œCool!” said Josh again, with more enthusiasm, and Sam and Thomas nodded.
    â€œWell, Michael?” said Rick.
    Michael looked at Rick’s clear, confident face and the words came out of him before he could stop himself. “I’d love to, mate,” he said with a short smile. “But actually I get my allowance too and I’d been planning to treat everyone as a surprise.”
    Rick looked taken aback. “Oh.”
    That phoenix had better be right about that gold she’s going to give us, thought Michael. “Not just for a burger though,” he went on airily. “I thought we could go to the new multiplex in Quilborough—tickets, hot dogs, and popcorn. The works. All on me.”
    His friends stared at him. “But you only get a rubbish allowance,” said Sam. “You’re always moaning about how broke you are.”
    â€œWell, I got extra this time.” Michael licked his dry lips—Fenella would give him some gold in advance offinding the stuff, he was sure. Then he could trade some in for cash to fund a trip to the multiplex. He’d be loaded! “I…er…my parents found another valuable book— I found it, actually—and so they’ve given me some of the money.”
    â€œBut I thought you broke so many rules you had to do errands?” said Rick.
    â€œYeah…” Michael shrugged. “Well, I took the errands over a cash deduction. You on for it then?”
    They all nodded. “You bet!” said Sam.
    Michael noted Rick’s slightly crestfallen face and felt a surge of triumph. “I’ll meet you outside the ticket office at eight, yeah?” he said, lifting his fist and knocking knuckles with the four of them. “Laters.” Then he sauntered off up the hill after Jess, Milly, and Jason.
    Jess looked up as he joined them. “Everything okay?”
    â€œFor once, everything’s fine,” said Michael. And he meant it. A grin spread across his face as Fenella launched herself from her branch and fluttered along over their heads. Maybe having a talking phoenix in their lives wasn’t going to be such a bad thing after all….

Chapter Six
    A fter fifteen minutes of walking, the Worthingtons reached the footpath that bordered the large country house where Mr. Milton lived. The gardens of the house were separated from the footpath by a wooden fence and a hedge, but at different points along the path the hedge was sparse and it was possible to see into the gardens.
    The house was old and rambling. Around the back of it there were massive French windows, and grand stone steps led down from a large patio into the gardens. Mossy stone statues and bushes cut into the shapes of animals were dotted here and there. The lawns near the house were mown short with neat flowers in beds, but farther away from the house there was a wood and an orchard.
    Michael whistled. “The old geezer must be worth a fortune to have a place like this.”
    â€œCome on,” said Milly. “The workshop isn’t far from the main drive around the front. Let’s see if it’s any good.” The others followed her down the footpath, along theroad, and into the mouth of a grand driveway that led into the landscaped grounds while Fenella flapped about in the