The Runaways (24 page)

Slowly Apollo lowered his head and sniffed at Afra, who now stood timidly still. She made a small complaining sound. Apollo squatted back on his haunches. He yawned, raising his head and blinking at the sun, and then he dropped flat to the ground, head and shoulders high, facing the other cheetahs. Afra squatted a foot from him. Rico ate behind him. The cars passed slowly along the road, and the other cheetahs, as though they had been given some command dangerous to disobey, slowly turned and moved away.

Apollo had accepted Afra and Rico. Father, son and daughter were together.

POSTSCRIPT

Joe's old green van was found by the police late that afternoon.
It was abandoned in a lay-by on a main road twenty miles from
Longleat. Lying on the driving seat was a note that read:

This van belongs to Joe Ringer of Heytesbury.
Say to him the old grey goose is still flying.

First published in 1972 by Heinemann

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Copyright © Victor Canning, 1972

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