Читать книгу The Hidden Kingdom - Tracey Hecht - Страница 23

THE NOCTURNALS

Dawn hid a smile and turned her attention to Cora. “Is there anything else you can remember? Anything that might explain what happened to your den?”

Cora closed her eyes to concentrate. She sat silently for a few moments, thinking hard. “No,” she finally said, opening her eyes. “I can’t think of anything. Well…except for some strange noises.”

Dawn’s ears perked up. “What kind of strange noises?”

“I… I thought I heard cries,” she whispered. “Strange, tiny cries. But…” Cora looked down, embarrassed. “But I didn’t see anyone. No one was there.”

Dawn, Tobin, and Bismark exchanged startled glances. Were Cora’s cries the same sounds they had heard earlier?

“Were the cries high-pitched and squeaky?” Tobin asked.

“Um…I think so,” she said. “Oh, but don’t listen to me. I’m probably just hearing things. I’ve been so thirsty lately, I can’t even tell what is what!” Cora let out a cracked, dry cough. Then she coughed again—louder, this time, and raspier. Unable to stop, she clutched her ribs and curled up on the den floor.

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