Henry and the Guardians of the Lost. Jenny Nimmo

Mark came round to Henry’s side of the table and sat next to him. ‘Did you get lost?’

      ‘I was hi-jacked,’ Henry stated.

      Mark emitted a knowledgeable grunt. ‘That happened to someone else.’

      ‘What about you?’ asked Henry. ‘What did you –?’

      ‘Don’t!’ Mark stood up and made for the door. ‘Don’t ask me,’ he mumbled.’ I don’t want to talk about it.’ And then he was gone.

      Herbert sighed and Twig tut-tutted.

      Ankaret didn’t even raise her head.

      After a moment Henry asked, ‘Did I say something wrong?’

      ‘He doesn’t like to talk about his first life.’ Twig walked sedately across the table, carrying Henry’s plate of eggs. She set the plate before him and provided him with a knife and fork. Henry assumed it must be OK to walk on tables in this particular house. He wondered what Pearl would have said. At least Twig’s slippers looked reasonably clean.

      There was a sudden loud shout from somewhere in the house. This was followed by several thumps on the staircase. The hanging pots and pans shivered and tinkled, but no one paid any attention.

      Glancing nervously at the swinging pans above him, Henry thanked Twig for the eggs.

      ‘You’re welcome.’ Twig dipped her head. Then she screamed.

      It was such a shrill, heart-stopping sound, Henry dropped his knife and fork. Ankaret raised her head at last, and put her hands over her ears.

      Twig was staring at something behind Henry and, looking round, he saw that Enkidu had appeared in the doorway.

      ‘Cat! Cat!’ shrieked Twig, pointing a trembling finger at Enkidu.

      ‘Oh dear, I thought this might happen,’ said Herbert. ‘Twig, dear, stop screaming and we’ll do something about it.’

      ‘He’s never hurt a soul,’ said Henry. ‘Never.’

      Unconvinced, Twig retreated across the table, her eyes never leaving the big black and white cat. ‘Out! Out! Out!’ she screamed.

      Enkidu seemed to consider this an invitation. He ran in and jumped on Henry’s lap.

      ‘GET IT OUT!’ The voice behind Henry made him almost jump out of his chair. He turned to see a very tall man with a wiry black beard, and a navy-blue beret pulled over his curly black hair. He looked very like the man who had been standing outside Henry’s window the night before.

      ‘Cats are not allowed!’ boomed the man, not bothering to introduce himself.

      Henry decided to show the man some manners. He stood up, placing Enkidu on his chair. ‘How do you do? I’m Henry,’ he said pleasantly.

      ‘I know who you are,’ the man said irritably. ‘Get that cat out of our house, out of our sight. Take it now, and make sure it never comes back.’

      ‘I can’t do that, sir,’ Henry said firmly. ‘Enkidu and I come together. If it wasn’t for him, I might not be here at all.’

      ‘Aargh!’ growled the man. ‘Didn’t I make myself clear? Cats are taboo. They upset people. Take it OUT!’

      ‘If my cat goes, then I go too,’ said Henry, without even considering where he might go.