05:20
Winky bounces out of the gate and clips the lantern box with one foot. It goes over with a clatter like a drawer of spoons; lanterns roll into the long grass, down the bank and under the bridge. Winky does not notice and is three gardens away. Zenny, sitting still in the dark, hears it and remembers the direction.
2 fluffs tell this minute. None of them saw the same one.
And I was off the step and out of the gate before the plan was even finished, which is how my plans usually go. A cloud melts in sunlight — everyone knows that — so Rainbow would be walking home in the dark. So there would have to be lights. Lanterns! All the way along the path! And at the end of the path, a party. Here. At mine.
So when the clatter came from over by Winky's gate, I let that go past too.
And then I sat with it.
Because that had not been the world being busy. A gate creaks on its own. A leaf falls on its own. Nothing tips over by itself and then goes on rolling for that long.
I opened both eyes, which I almost never do before the birds.
