COPYRIGHT
HarperCollins Childrenâs Books
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First published in the USA by Scholastic Inc 2004
First published in Great Britain by HarperCollins Childrenâs Books 2007
Text copyright © Kathryn Lasky 2007
Kathryn Lasky assert the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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Source ISBN: 9780007215201
Ebook Edition © OCTOBER 2016 ISBN: 9780008226824
Version: 2016-12-05
AUTHORâS NOTE
Winston Churchill was Prime Minister of England during World War II. For months, citizens of London were subjected to ceaseless bombings by the Nazis. It was called the Battle of Britain and the courage of the men, women and children was remarkable during this terrifying time. Churchillâs radio addresses helped rally an exhausted and frightened nation. It was said that Winston Churchill was the man who mobilised the English language. I would like to acknowledge a great debt to Churchill, for I very closely modelled many of Ezylrybâs speeches in chapters Eighteen, Twenty and Twenty-two after some of Mr Churchillâs most stirring addresses.
When I was a child, a popular reply to a bully was: Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
Now that I am an adult, I think this is not true. Words can hurt. But I never would have dreamed back then when I was a child that words like Mr Churchillâs could give such courage, strength, stamina and valour to the citizens who were facing the most horrific circumstances of war.
As Dewlap lashed out in futile desperation against the wind and water, the book she had left on the rock tumbled end over end into the sea â¦
PROLOGUE
Sparks flew off his beak as the owl, mad with rage, careened through the night sky.
âI must find water! I must find water! This mask will melt my eyes. Glaux blood on my brotherâs gizzard!â the Barn Owl screeched as his glowing beak sliced the blackness of the night. The curse, the worst that an owl could say, seemed to relieve Kludd of the terrible feelings that stormed within him. But hate still fed him, fed his flight, fed his desperate search for a cool pond in which to plunge his mask of molten metal, his singed feathers set aflame by his brother Soren in a battle that had gone wrong. All wrong!
Below, he spotted the glint of the moon off a smooth liquid surface. Water! The huge Barn Owl banked and began to spiral downwards. Soon, cool water. He had lost his beak in one battle. He had lost all of his face feathers in another. His ear slits had been scarred this time but he still had one eye and, most important, he still had his hatred. Kludd fed and coddled his hatred as a mother owl fed and coddled her baby chicks.
Thank Glaux he still could hate!
CHAPTER ONE
The Pilgrim
The Brown Fish Owl looked up and blinked. The red comet had passed by for the last time nearly three months before. What could this glowing point in the sky be? It was hurtling towards the lake at an alarming speed. Great Glaux, it was screeching the most horrid, foulest oaths imaginable!
The Brown Fish Owl stepped further out on the sycamore branch that extended over the lake. If this were not a Fish Owl, it would need rescuing. Most species of owls, save for Fish Owls and Eagle Owls, were completely helpless in the water. The Brown Fish Owl began to spread his wings and was ready to flap them quickly for a power take-off. Within the silver of a second before he heard the splash, he was off.