I had never held so much money in my hands before. I felt quite frightened of it.
‘There are thieves in Addis,’ Abba went on, looking serious. He nodded to Ma, who stood up and fetched down a little pouch from a shelf above the grain bins. Abba put the money in it and showed me how to hang it round my neck and keep it tucked inside my shirt.
‘There, now mind you keep it safe,’ Ma said. Her forehead was creased up with worry. I knew it was me she was anxious about, more than the money, and it made me feel a bit worried too.
The fire had died away to a few weak flames by the time we lay down that night. I stared up into the dim shadows flickering around the rafters. I was too excited to sleep.
What would Marcos say when I told him I’d been to Addis? He’d be sick with envy. But then my stomach jumped.
What if I lost sight of Grandfather in the busy streets, among all the crowds of people? What if thieves attacked me and stole my money?
I’ll be really, really careful, I told myself. I’ll look after Grandfather really well.
Then, suddenly, I was asleep.
Elizabeth Laird is the multi-award-winning author of several much-loved children’s books. She has been shortlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal six times. She lives in Britain now, but still likes to travel as much as she can.
Books by Elizabeth Laird published by Macmillan Children’s Books
Dindy and the Elephant
The Fastest Boy in the World
The Prince Who Walked with Lions
The Witching Hour
Lost Riders
Crusade
Oranges in No Man’s Land
Paradise End
Secrets of the Fearless
A Little Piece of Ground
The Garbage King
Red Sky in the Morning
Kiss the Dust
First published 2006 by Macmillan Children’s Books
This edition published 2016 by Macmillan Children’s Books
This electronic edition published 2016 by Macmillan Children’s Books
an imprint of Pan Macmillan
20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR
Associated companies throughout the world
www.panmacmillan.com
ISBN 978-0-330-47793-2
Copyright © Elizabeth Laird 2006
Cover images: Girl: © Tim Gainey / Alamy; Soldiers: Thomas Coex / Getty Images; Buildings: Photobvious / Getty Images; Barbed Wire © Shutterstock
The right of Elizabeth Laird to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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