The Twilight Circus
Page 22
“Right,” said Nat. “They look a bit …. uh … girly.”
Woody looked down. “Oops. I must have put on Cassiopeia’s by mistake.”
“Who’s she?” asked Nat.
“My litter sister,” said Woody proudly. “We Wolven take our names from the constipations—you know, stars an’ that. My litter brother is called Lupus.”
“I think you mean constellations,” said Nat. “What’s yours?”
“Erm … can’t remember.” Woody grinned weakly. “Come on,” said Nat, “what is it?” “Uh … Crux,” said Woody.
“Crux? That’s a terrible name!” Nat winced. “I think I’d stick with Woody if I were you.”
“Come on,” said Woody, his mouth bulging with the last of the bread, “I’m gettin’ cold. Wanna race back to the Silver Lady?”
“Last one back smells like moldy cheese,” said Nat, vaulting expertly onto Arcadia’s back as though he’d ridden all his life.
“AAAAAAaaargoooohhhh!” howled Woody, already half out of his girly pajamas.
As Nat watched, Woody’s body shortened in a rush of silvery air and spread out onto four legs. His head shifted into that of an enormous Wolven covered in long handsome fur that shone like quicksilver in the noonday sun. The Wolven and the black palomino sped away neck and neck, the white Wolven almost invisible against the blinding white of the snow, until they had both disappeared in the distance.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Huge thanks to the Coop—Barry and all the chicks, especially the gorgeous (and patient) Imogen, to Pat and Claire at RCW, and Mary Byrne. Also, many thanks go to Scholastic and my US editor, Siobhán.
Nat and Woody have been championed by so many cool people to whom I am eternally grateful: Julie and Hannah Watkinson (aka Lucas Scale and Ophelia Tate), Peter Wallis (aka Vincent Spaghetti), all my friends near and far and the girls from Bristol Water for their unfailing support, the lovely and dedicated Mark Scott from Waterstone’s, Gordano School’s cool head Graham Silverstone and lovely librarian Sue Chatfield (and IT’s Gavin Turnball who let me print stuff for free—shh!), and all our kids in the library for making me lol or lmao at least fifty times daily.
And as always to my darlings, Phil, Frankie, Dan, and Annie.
About the Author
DI TOFT lives in Portishead, England, with her husband, their children, and their dog, Dave, who is so ginormous that he can be located by Google Maps. Di’s debut novel, Wolven, is the first book in a trilogy about Nat and Woody’s hairy adventures! The Twilight Circus is the sequel.
Copyright
Text copyright © 2011 by Di Toft
Cover art © 2011 by Martin Simpson
Cover design by Phil Falco
All rights reserved. Published by Chicken House, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., Publishers since 1920. CHICKEN HOUSE, SCHOLASTIC, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.
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First published in the United Kingdom in 2010 by Chicken House, 2 Palmer Street, Frome, Somerset BA11 1DS.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Toft, Di.
The twilight circus / Di Toft. — 1st American ed.
p. cm. — (Wolven; #2)
Summary: After a summer spent dodging mutant werewolves and mad scientists, Nat Carver and shapeshifter Woody join the Twilight Circus of Illusion and are caught up in a struggle against a black widow vampire and her terrifying hive.
ISBN 978-0-545-29492-8
[1. Supernatural—Fiction. 2. Circus—Fiction. 3. Werewolves—Fiction. 4. Vampires—Fiction. 5. Grandfathers—Fiction. 6. England—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.T5732Wol 2010
[Fic]—dc22
2010054231
First American edition, November 2011
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e-ISBN 978-0-545-38836-8