I awoke to the sound of people muttering somewhere close by and the smell of fresh bread. I deliberated for awhile on whether or not to open my eyes and let whoever it was that was talking know I was awake. But I knew they would stop talking if they thought I was awake so I decided to pretend to still be sleeping; I wanted to know what it was they were talking about. "Well did you really think it was a good idea to take him into camp? I mean he could be a liability to us all!"

"Don't be such a worrier, he's just a boy."

"Yes but has it not occurred to you that this boy might have some high up family somewhere? A high up family who would think nothing of burning this whole place down on the assumption we kidnapped him?"

"Oh come off your high horse Rufus. Can you not tell by his clothing he is from a background of little importance?"

"Humph. Well then. What do you intend to do with him?"

"I thought he might make a very nice addition to our engine crew. They're always saying they could use someone small. You know, to get inside if something goes wrong. Or he could go along with the potten's children. I'm sure they wouldn't notice one more or even Marianne I'm sure she'd love to have an extra pair of hands and eyes to help her out."

"Alright. But you'll have to check that one of them is willing to have him. I know I wouldn't want a scruffy little runaway working or living with me. No doubt he'd steal everything he could fit in his pockets the second my backs turned and be off again like a shot!"

"Well then." There was a short pause then "And you had better watch your tongue young man! Having the cheek to tell me to go boss someone around! I hope you enjoy looking after him since that will be your job until someone else takes him under their wing."

"That's alright with me." I then heard another humph followed by the sound of footsteps leaving the tent. Someone was shuffling around nearby, presumably waiting for me to wake up, thus I decided it was a good time to open my eyes. "Good morning sleepy head." I realised it was the blond man from yesterday. He came over to my bedside and ruffled my hair. "Can you hear me? Or should I just shut up 'cause I'm talking to a deaf child?"

"No, I can hear you."

"Well there's a start." He smiled at me which made me feel better. At least someone was going to be on my side. "So, are you hungry? Thirsty?" He was already reaching for a beaker so I nodded and he handed me a beaker of water. I drank it quickly surprising myself at how thirsty I was. "Hungry?" he asked. I nodded again and was handed a bread roll. Once again I wolfed it down licking the crumbs of my fingers. I looked up and he was looking at me with a huge grin on his face. "Wow. Someone was hungry!" I scowled at him but I couldn't keep it up and we both burst out laughing. "Do you have a name then?"

"Alistair. Alistair Smith."

"Jimmy Pearn." He gave me his hand which I took. As we shook hands he winked at me. "Might be able to have some fun with you Alistair mightn't we? Get up to a bit of mischief you know. But watch out for the tall dark haired guy in the long jacket, Rufus White. He'll have you hung drawn and quartered before you can blink if you cross him."

"Who's he?"

"He's the boss. He owns all these tents and most of the caravans. Only the Potten's and the Kirmby's won't let him near theirs. Hats off to them I say." Jimmy was staring into space with a determined scowl. We sat in silence for awhile as I was too scared to say anything. Eventually Jimmy turned round, "Come on then. We'd better get out of this tent so Marianne can clean up."

"Who's Marianne?"

"The person who lives in this tent, she sat with you awhile last night. Someone had to check you were still breathing. You got a nasty knock from that carriage."

"I know" I said as I rubbed the back of my head.

"Anyway, like I was saying we need to move. Marianne wants to give Lola a nap." Seeing my questioning look he continued "Who is Marianne's two year old daughter. Maybe if you're good she'll let you sleep in here again tonight. I think she liked the company last night. Her husband died of consumption a few months back. She gets quite lonely. Anyway come on! I'll show you round and then maybe we can do some work or I can dump you with one of the families so I can do some work."

As I got up I felt a little giddy but it soon went away. Outside the tent the ground was still frozen and our footsteps made the ground crunch beneath our feet. As we walked along I could see my breath and I pretended to be a train puffing into the sky. That was until I felt a pair of eyes staring at me looking round I saw it was another young man with jet black hair and sapphire blue eyes, feeling self conscious I stopped. Looking back at Jimmy he smiled and shook he head at me.

He showed me round several tents with no one in them, simply stating the name of the people who lived in them and what his personal views about them were. I was beginning to wonder where all the people were after we came out of the seventh empty tent. It was only when we got to the caravans that I heard voices. As we entered a ring of caravans I could see some women surrounding a large cooking pot in the centre of the ring and children playing nearer the caravans. Washing lines were strung up between the caravans and held an array of clothing. Through one gap in the caravans I could see some washing held up between two trees and below it a row of dented tin cans on a log. My heart jumped as I realised it was the same place I had seen from the road when the boys were firing rocks at the cans. I was in the gypsy camp!