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shinned quickly up the tree. She sat with her legs dangling on either side of the branch, struggling to undo the rope knot. “I tied it really tight so that it didn’t slip off while I was swinging,” she called down to the others.
    At last the knot came undone and Summer let the rope drop to the ground before climbing back down the tree trunk.
    “Here’s a good tree,” Rosalind called from the edge of the riverbank. “It’s got really flat branches and it looks like it’s strong.”
    Lottie and Summer ran to join her and Lottie shone the torch up at the tree.

    “That’s great!” Summer climbed up and tied the rope firmly to the branch. “Pull on it – see if I’ve tied the knot properly.”
    Rosalind pulled the rope, then she tried dangling from it with the fishing net in one hand. “It feels strong to me. So who’s going to swing over?”
    Summer climbed back down and the three girls exchanged looks.
    “I don’t mind swinging across …” began Summer.
    “No, it can’t be you,” said Lottie firmly. “Whoever goes across will be stuck there. They’ll have to walk along to the bridge to get back. We need you here so that you can find a quick way back through the woods to the palace. You’re the one that knows the way. Custard’s life could depend on it.”
    “So will you swing over?” asked Summer.
    Lottie nodded. “I’ll do it.”
    “Hold on a minute,” said Rosalind. “If you swing across and then you’re stuck on the other side, how do we get the rainbow opal back to Custard?”
    “I’ll throw it across to you,” said Lottie.
    “But if it drops in the river we’ll be right back where we started,” said Rosalind.
    “Don’t worry – I’ve got an idea.” Summer turned away from the river and cupped her hands around her mouth. “Kanga? Can you hear me?”
    There was a long silence. Then they heard the whirr of wings and there was a flash of blue and yellow feathers in the darkness.

Chapter Nine
The Magic Inside the Rainbow
    Kanga landed on Summer’s shoulder and she patted his wings. “Good boy, Kanga! I know you don’t like flying in the dark.” She turned to Lottie. “When you get hold of the necklace, I’ll send Kanga across. He’ll collect it from you and bring it back to us. Here, take the torch. You’ll need it to find your way to the bridge.”
    “Thanks!” Lottie put the torch in her pyjama pocket. Then she took hold of the rope and climbed to the top of thebank. “Watch out, everyone! I’m going to swing.”
    “Wait!” Rosalind hurried over and gave her the home-made fishing net. “Take this as well! You might need it to reach the necklace.”
    Lottie held the net in one hand and the rope in the other, and took an enormous leap off the top of the riverbank. She swung across the fast-flowing river, her feet skimming over the water.
    Summer held her breath, hoping that the rope would take Lottie all the way across. But the other girl gave a shriek and there was a splash as she landed in the water near the opposite bank. She jumped up and waved to them, only up to her ankles in water. “It’s all right!” she called to them. “This part is quite shallow. I’ll be able to get the necklace easily.”
    She waded towards the glowing light made by the opal, but the river became deeper and she had to climb back on to the bank.
    Summer and Rosalind watched anxiously. “Try using the net,” shouted Rosalind.
    Lottie crouched down and stretched the fishing net towards the necklace. She dipped the net into the water to scoop out the opal and then jiggled the branch where the chain was caught. At last the necklace fell into the net, caught by the frilly material.
    “She did it!” cried Summer, and Kanga gave a happy squawk.
    Lottie pulled the necklace out of the net and held it up to show them. The rainbow opal dangled on the end of the chain and its ever-changing colours glowed brightly in the dark.
    “Now, Kanga,” said Summer urgently. “Please could you