The story of Wendy and Howie's kidnapping and miraculous return spread like wild fire. After three days, it was as if every street child in the Free Territory had heard of it, with Wendy and Howie becoming instant celebrities.

Wendy and Howie were positive they had been rescued. 'While we were in the black car, we're sure there was a commotion before we heard one of those men screaming,' Wendy had said. Slink, however, put the idea into their heads that the two men may have just changed their minds, switched cars and returned them. Wendy and Howie were not convinced by that one bit. Owning to this, rumors spread that Spring Heights had got its own heroes. And street children had started to call them the 'Saviors'.

Matthew had heard Wendy and Howie's story from street children so many times in the days after the incident he lost count. In one day, Aldo told him the story three times, each one slightly different, the last having Wendy spotting a woman wearing a red cape. Matthew really enjoyed listening to the stories. It wasn't because he was one of the Saviours but how happy everyone became when telling it.

Reality did set in for him one morning while he lay in his hammock. What he and the others had done, rescuing street children from Spring Heights, was something that may not happen again. This made him feel quite down.

But there was no time for Matthew to dwell in his hammock for long. There was work to do. He, along with the others, needed to prepare for the huge party they were going to have to celebrate Wendy and Howie's rescue.The Harrower had its own celebration for the return of Wendy and Howie, but many in the Free Territory wanted one too. 'What happened to Wendy and Howie is a cause for a party,' everyone was saying. Being Chancellor of the Free Territory, it was up to Norman to sort it all out.

'Out of your beds, all of you,' shouted a groggy Chloe. She was ringing a cow bell

Yawning, John swung his feet over his hammock and complained, 'Why so early? And why do we have to help Norman? He's the Chancellor, not us.'

'Because we help each other out, that's why,' answered Jennifer.

Matthew had already climbed out of bed and was stuffing the stove with newspaper and wood when he asked, 'Where are we going to have the celebration?'

Norman threw a box of matches over to Matthew. 'Usually, events, parties, whatever are held in this old unused tramcar that sits near the rail yard, because not a lot of people show up to them –'

'That's because your events aren't very good,' John cried out. 'That party you threw to celebrate Slink winning the cart race was so boring.'

'As I was trying to say,' said Norman, 'events are usually held in a tramcar. But because a lot of people are sure to show up to celebrate Wendy and Howie, the only place is the top of Maple Hill.'

Matthew and Slink exchanged a look as John moaned.

'What's wrong with that?' snapped Norman. 'I think it's a great idea of mine.'

'I do too,' said Chloe and Jennifer together, filling pots with water.

'It's just,' said John, 'it's just that we'll have to carry the tables from the tramcar all the way to Maple Hill Park and then all the way up the hill.'

'That's what you're moaning about?' said Norman. 'Scared of a bit of carrying?'

'A bit of carrying?' said John. 'That's a long way.'

'What, you don't think Wendy and Howie deserve it after what they went through?' Norman said to John. 'You don't think the street children of the Free Territory deserve a bit of happiness? A bit of fun? Carrying tables is not asking much, is it?'

'No, it isn't,' John softly said, his head down.

'So, what's the plan for today again?' Ramon asked, retrieving an enormous bag of oats.

Sitting down at the table, Norman replied, 'We spread out in twos – the list of couples and the areas I want them to go is on the wall next to the door – and ask the street children who live in those areas if they can spare food and drink for the celebration . . . that's if they're coming. Whatever they can spare, all right?

'Hey, Slink? What's our honey situation like? I thought we could bring some to the celebration.'

With all the wild flowers in Whatever-grows Park, their honey bees were thriving. They just loved their new home.

'Sorry to say but we won't be getting any honey from the hive for some time,' answered Slink.

'Oh, well,' said Norman. 'John and Matthew . . . as you two are going to Hilt Avenue I especially want you to pop in to see Amanda.'

Matthew didn't know this Amanda, but John did, and he began to moan again.

'Do we really have to?' he said. 'I can't stand her. She's so annoying.'

'I thought it would be nice if she performed,' said Norman. 'Everyone would get a kick out of it. You did just say the events I put on aren't very good. Make sure she comes, okay?'

John lifted his hands in defeat. 'Fine.'

Matthew was told of Amanda over breakfast. Going by the name of the 'Great Arundel', she performed magic on the streets for money. Her range of tricks went from pulling rabbits out of hats ('She keeps so many of them as pets,' said John. 'Rabbits, not hats.') to freeing herself from ropes while underwater ('The last one I saw wasn't that impressive,' said John. 'She had to lie down in the fountain and the water barely covered her mouth. All she had to do if she got into trouble was sit up'). Her mother was once a well-known magician, performing escape stunts all over the country in front of huge audiences and was known as the 'Amazing Maxwell', but sadly, she was murdered by a crazed fan.

Once breakfast was finished, everyone, in their pairs, set out.

Matthew and John visited at least ten street children before they got to Amanda's, and every visit had been a success. Every child had promised to bring something to the celebration. Short Arms, a nickname for a boy who had long arms, had promised to bring his famous pie, which consisted of bread and birdseed scavenged from the city's parks, and a girl called Briggs was going to bring juice made from wasted fruit from people's front gardens. 'I don't get it,' she had said. 'These people have free food growing on their trees and they don't use it.'

Then, there was 'Bank Robber Rob', a tiny boy who had unsuccessfully tried to rob a bank by holding it up ('I'm not a bad boy. I was just desperate.'). Along with promising to bring the roadkill of a turkey, he also wanted to play his harmonica for everyone. But after giving Matthew and John a sample, accompanied by the strangest of dances, John refused his request, telling him to never do that in front of anyone again.

Amanda's home on Hilt Avenue lay beyond an air vent behind a dumpster and a room Matthew was not expecting at all. The room was dim, dusty, smelled musty and there were Egyptian sarcophagi everywhere.

'What is this place?' Matthew asked, as John closed the cover to the air vent. The room gave him the heebie-jeebies

'We're in one of the basement rooms of Spring Heights Museum,' replied John, stepping over a tiny stone sarcophagus lying on the ground and leading the way across the room. 'It's where they store artefacts they don't display anymore.'

Matthew gave a very noticeable shiver. 'Are there mummies in these things?'

John shrugged and came to stop in front of a sarcophagus standing flush against the wall. 'All I know for certain is there isn't a mummy in this one. Or is it that one over there? No, it's this one.'

Surprising Matthew, John knocked on the sarcophagus three times, then two and finally three.

BANG!

Scaring the absolute daylights out of the boys, the sarcophagus had sprung open, revealing a heavily bandaged mummy with outstretched arms.

Matthew and John were about to bolt when the mummy began to giggle. 'I've always wanted to do that.' The mummy quickly unwrapped itself, revealing a girl with short and parted hair. 'The look on your face, John, and your friend's was priceless.'

Matthew began to breath again.

'That wasn't very nice, Amanda,' said John angrily.

Sounding like a baby, Amanda replied. 'What you need now is a bit of magic to cheer you up.' She stepped out of the sarcophagus and magicked a coin from John's ear. She then magicked another, and then another, and then another . . .

Matthew thought it quite something, but John clearly didn't because every appearance of a new coin drew a heavy sigh. Amanda eventually stopped when John's face began to twitch.

'Still mad I see,' said Amanda.

'Were you all dressed up like that waiting for someone to visit? said John.

Amanda didn't answer that question. 'Are you going to introduce me to your friend.'

'This is Matthew,' said John.

'Nice to meet you,' said Matthew. 'What you just did, the magic, was amazing.' John gave him the stink eye.

'Thank you very much,' said Amanda. 'And it's nice to meet you, too.' She turned around and walked back into the sarcophagus, opening a sliver of what was a door at the back. 'Now, what can I do for you two?'

Matthew and John followed her, squeezing through the door, and into another room.

From ground to ceiling along one side of the room were rabbit cages made from twigs and string, all with occupants, and all munching away on something. There were shelves full of magic props and locks were hanging from nails all around. Also, there was a table covered with scientific equipment, a Bunsen burner roaring away, cooking whatever was in the small pot on top of it.

'Norman wanted us to come round and ask you if you're willing to perform at Wendy and Howie's celebration,' said John. He whipped out a bunch of lettuce leaves and waved them in front of Amanda. 'We've brought you a gift to help you say yes. They're from our vegetable garden.'

Amanda took the lettuce leaves and smelled them. 'Mmmm . . . they're lovely. My little bunny wunnies love their lettuce. Thanks, but you didn't really have to. I would have said yes to performing without being bribed. Now I have to give you a gift in return.'

'No, no,' said John, waving her away, 'there's no need.'

It was too late. Amanda had already produced a flower made out of newspaper from thin air. Then handing it to John, Amanda said, 'That looks a bit sad all by itself, don't you think? A bouquet would be better.'

One at a time, and at a fast and dizzying pace, she conjured up at least twelve more flowers, handing each one to John.

Stone-faced, John droned, 'Marvellous.'

Amanda turned to Matthew. 'Two years ago, John asked me how I did this card trick I showed him – I think it was 'the sheriff and the bandits' – and I didn't tell him. He's still angry at me.'

'I asked you nicely,' said John. 'And I promised I wouldn't tell a soul.'

'Like I said to you then,' said Amanda, 'magicians don't reveal their tricks.'

An awkward quiet descended between the three of them, for which Matthew broke. 'What's that amazing smell? Are you cooking something?'

'I am,' said Amanda. 'I'm making stew. One of my rabbits kicked the bucket.'

Matthew and John furrowed their eyebrows at one another.

Amanda sat down on a cracked leather chair, its stuffing pouring out. 'So, how long does Norman want my performance to be?'

'Around ten minutes,' said Matthew.

'Not going to cut it,' Amanda said instantly. 'Tell him half an hour. I have a few new tricks that'll knock peoples' socks off. They'll be talking about it for ages.'

'Is it a new escape stunt?' John asked. 'Are you going to be tied up while submerged in a blowup baby pool?'

'Oooh . . . very funny,' Amanda smiled. John couldn't help but smile too.

'Whatever it is,' said John, 'I'm not looking forward to it. Well, Matthew and I should be getting on.'

'Thank you, Amanda,' Matthew quickly added, 'for doing this. Can't wait.'

Matthew and John were almost out the room when Amanda said, 'You know, John, magicians tell their assistants how their tricks are done. You could be mine if you want? I could dress you up in a lovely, frilly dress.'

'I do not like that girl,' said John, as he and Matthew walked back outside. 'What did you think of her?'

Matthew quite liked her, but just shrugged.

'Now, the next child we're going to see,' said John, 'is another piece of work, but in a completely different way. And yes, it's another girl.'

Down an alleyway and then down two more, Matthew and John came to a stop beside a manhole cover.

Looking down, John pulled out two strips of cloth from his pocket and gave one to Matthew. 'You'll be needing that. We're going down there and down there is not a storm drain, if you know what I mean.'

'Sewers?' said Matthew, making a face.

John nodded, covering his nose and mouth with the cloth and tying it around his head. 'Be careful. The last time I ventured into the sewers I tripped over this huge fatburg and nearly went swimming.'

'That's disgusting,' said Matthew. He helped John remove the manhole cover.

What lay beneath, other than the top of a ladder, was complete darkness. But soon, with the help of a flashlight, it was all revealed. The ladder went down a long way, stopping onto a walkway beside a gushing river of you-know-what.

'After you,' said John.

'You're so kind.'

Matthew hesitated for a bit, scared he might slip and fall into the river, then stepped onto the ladder and began to climb down. Even with the cloth on his face the stink was horrendous and the very moment he stepped off the ladder at the bottom, he cupped both his hands over his mouth and nose.

'Why would anybody live down here?' Matthew mumbled to John the second he joined him.

Pointing his flashlight down both ends of the sewer, John replied, 'To be safe. Apart from street children and the city's maintenance people, nobody in their right mind would come down here.'

They weren't going to be in the stink for too long, though, for after walking for a few minutes, they arrived at a metal door. A sign read, 'Keep Out. Authorized Personnel Only.'

'Here we go,' said John. He grabbed the piece of string Matthew had just noticed dangling down from the sign, giving it a pull.

Soon after, there was the sound of something sliding open. John nudged Matthew and gestured to the 'O' in the word 'Out'. Staring down at them was an eye.

'Hello, John,' said the voice belonging to the eye. 'Ooooh, and Matthew.'

John looked at Matthew. 'I didn't know you knew Apricot.'

Matthew's heart sank as he heard the door unbolting. It was one of the girls he had met on top of Maple Hill after the auction. It was the girl who had warned him and Slink about the Mongraw Gang. Being that Slink hadn't told the others what had happened yet, Matthew was hoping she wasn't going to mention any of it.

'Did you meet her at the auction or something?' John asked softly. 'A piece of work, isn't she?'

Matthew nodded as the door swung open. Apricot was standing in the middle of a room that looked like a tent reserved for an Arabian princess. Sheets and drapes of all colors and patterns hung from the ceiling and covered the walls. There were no chairs or tables, but just cushions amongst her possessions.

'Glad to see you, Matthew. Come on in,' said Apricot.

The air inside did not smell of sewers.

Apricot continued to John's bewilderment. 'Got away then? I thought you and Slink were surely done for. I'm sorry I didn't stop and help, but I panicked.'

'You don't have to be sorry,' said Matthew, 'I'm glad to see you're safe as well. What about your friend?'

'Yeah, she's fine now. It took me a long time to calm her down.'

'What's she on about?' John whispered to Matthew, as they followed Apricot over to a ring of cushions.

'Slink and I had a little run in with some members of the Mongraw Gang,' Matthew replied. He had to tell John now.

John looked absolutely shocked at this and Matthew could tell he wanted to know more, but they weren't there for that.

'So, Apricot,' said John, sitting down on a cushion next to her, but still eyeing Matthew. 'You're probably aware of the celebration on top of Maple Hill for Wendy and Howie –'

'Yes, well aware,' replied Apricot. 'Who wouldn't be? For hours I cried for joy when I heard what had happened. I wonder who the Saviours are, if they're actually real. Do you think they're real?'

'I doubt it,' said John. 'Well, about the celebration. Are you going?'

'Why's that?' said Apricot, smiling. 'Do one of you want to take me or something?' She winked. 'I would prefer Matthew but I would go with you, John.'

Matthew and John shuffled uncomfortably on their cushions.

'Ummm . . . actually, we're trying to collect food and drink for it,' said John. 'We're going around asking everyone.'

'What a shame?' said Apricot, jokingly frowning in disappointment. Then smiling, she said. 'I'll be happy to bring something. How about cereal? I recently came into possession of twenty cereal boxes. I found them up near Market Way. They must have fallen off a truck or something.'

John seemed to go into a trance. 'Do they have marshmallows?'

'Oh yes,' said Apricot.

'A lot of them?'

'I think Medieval Munch has the most marshmallows than any other cereal.'

With a goofy smile, John said, 'Medieval Munch . . . that stuff is the best. They have marshmallow dragons, castles, knights, swords and shields.'

'The thing is,' said Apricot, 'I don't have any milk.'

'That's all right, we do,' said John, sternly, 'We just got some powdered milk from Bazza. He gave it to us for the celebration.'

'Which Bazza? I hope it wasn't Baretooth Bazza. I wouldn't trust anything from him.'

'Don't worry. We got it from BPPG.' BPPG stood for Bazza the Purveyor of Powdered Goods.

Thanks to the cereal, John forgot all about Matthew and Slink's run-in with the Mongraw Gang because that was the only thing on his mind. He talked about it for the rest of their visit with Apricot and also when they got back to the Harrower. However, once everyone had returned home and he was skimming over the Spring Heights Nightly, looking to see if there was any news of the two men who had kidnapped Wendy and Howie, he remembered.

'Please . . . I beg you John,' Chloe said from the table. John had opened his mouth to talk for the umpteenth time. 'Stop talking about cereal.'

There were mutterings of agreement, to which John sucked his teeth. 'Well, sorry for having a passion for something. And I wasn't going to talk about cereal this time.'

'Oh, really,' said Chloe, making a face that showed she didn't believe him.

'Yeah, that's right,' said John. He folded up the Spring Heights Nightly.