There was a childish squeal of delighted terror that Maisie recognized as coming from Bertie.
Hugh went on: "Jack went down the beanstalk as fast as his legs could carry him--but the giant came after him!"
Kingo's daughter Anne said in the superior voice of a knowing seven-year-old: "Bertie's hiding behind his chair because he's scared. I'm not scared."
Maisie wanted to hide like Bertie, and she turned and began to walk back to her room, but she stopped again. She had to face Hugh sometime today, and here in the nursery might be the easiest place. She composed herself and went in.
Hugh had the three children enraptured. Bertie hardly saw his mother come in. Hugh looked up at Maisie with hurt in his eyes. "Don't stop," Maisie said, and she sat down by Bertie and hugged him.
Hugh returned his attention to the children. "And what do you think Jack did next?"
"I know," said Anne. "He got an ax."
"That's right."
Maisie sat there hugging Bertie, while Bertie stared big-eyed at the man who was his real father. If I can stand this, I can do anything, Maisie thought.
Hugh said: "And while the giant was still halfway up the beanstalk, Jack chopped it down! And the giant fell all the way to the earth ... and died. And Jack and his mother lived happily ever after."
Bertie said: "Tell it again."
Section 4
THE CORDOVAN MINISTRY was busy. Tomorrow was Cordovan Independence Day and there would be a big afternoon reception for members of Parliament, Foreign Office officials, diplomats and journalists. This morning, to add to his worries, Micky Miranda had received a stiff note from the British Foreign Secretary about two English tourists who had been murdered while exploring the Andes. But when Edward Pilaster called, Micky Miranda dropped everything, for what he had to say to Edward was much more important than either the reception or the note. He needed half a million pounds, and he was hoping to get the money from Edward.
Micky had been the Cordovan Minister for a year. Getting the job had required all his cunning, but it had also cost his family a fortune in bribes back home. He had promised Papa that all that money would return to the family, and now he had to make good his promise. He would rather die than let his father down.
