Bastian carefully turned to the next page. His interest was peaked. Derra? Who was she and what was she doing there all alone? He had found out so much about Atreyu and the childlike empress, so why were there no clues on that strange girl? There were so many questions and all he knew in that moment was that only reading the next pages would answer those questions. Bastian made himself more comfortable on his bed, then he turned his attention back on the book.

"Atreyu went over to Artax and was just about to climb on his broad back, when Derra took his hand and…."

"Bastian!" came his father's voice from downstairs. "Bastian! Come down here!"

The boy frowned and made a funny face. Why did his dad always come home so early? But he knew that he couldn't let him wait or else his father would come upstairs and this wouldn't make things easier. Bastian closed the book and hid it underneath his pillow, just in case. When he left the room, he glanced back to check if the book was well hidden. Somehow he felt that he needed to make sure.

"Bastian!"

The boy spun around and raced down the stairs.

"Yes, Dad?" he asked as innocently as possible.

"Where have you been?"

"In my room." Bastian answered truthfully.

"I didn't hear you, so I assumed you were still at school."

"Dad, you should know by now that school finishes at 3.10 pm and with the 10 minute walk home, it's more than likely that I get home before you."

"Don't be such a smart-aleck."

"Hey, maybe I'm the wise cracking street kid that mum said I was, after all." Bastian laughed while his father tried to keep a straight face.

"Have you done your homework yet?"

"Dad! I just came home…" Bastian pouted. "But I will do them soon…"

"How about now?" His dad smiled.

The boy's face dropped. "Ok…" He knew that it was no use arguing. So he would have to do it now. Slowly, he turned, his head hanging a little, and made his way up the stairs again. He went into his room through the door he had left open and stared onto his bed. The book was still there, he could see it. He had never been so immersed in a story as he was in this one, even though he had only read a few pages. He longed to go over to the bed, pull the book out from underneath the pillow and start reading again. But he knew that his father would be quite upset if he found out that Bastian didn't do his homework. They always got along so well so the boy didn't want to ruin his father's trust in him. With a frown, Bastian walked over to the desk and sat down. He opened the math exercise book and started working.

After an hour or so he closed the book with a sigh.

"Finally!" he said and stood up. Now his father wouldn't have anything to worry about. Now he could go on reading this weird book. Pulling it out from its hiding place, Bastian squatted down on the bed and made himself comfortable again. His back ached a little from doing the homework.

Anxiously, he opened the book where he left off. Thank god, the lines were still there.

"Atreyu went over to Artax…" Bastian started again. "…and was just about to climb on his broad back, when Derra took his hand and held him back. The woodland boy turned and looked at her.

"Why are you here, anyways?" he asked…