‘Madge? I thought you said this wasn’t human?’ Sarah took a step back.
Felix looked back at Sarah and laughed. ‘Madge isn’t human, don’t worry. She’s not a ghost either. She’s a badger. Madge the badge.’
‘A badger? Aren’t they dangerous?’
Felix laughed again. ‘They’re not after you, if that’s what you’re worried about. Did you know they can eat hundreds of worms every night?’
‘Gross.’
‘Yeah, but they’ll also eat hedgehogs, so I’d rather they stick to worms. Madge is often round here. You’ll get used to her.’
‘I’m not sure I want to.’
‘Don’t worry,’ said Felix, standing up and taking the stick from Sarah’s hand. He used it to flick the badger poo into the undergrowth. ‘How about a quick nightcap to help you sleep?’
Sarah wanted to refuse, but despite knowing the intruder’s identity, she didn’t relish the thought of being alone in her tipi. ‘Fine.’
‘Don’t sound so enthusiastic.’
Sarah followed Felix back to his tipi. He rummaged around under his bed and pulled out a bottle of whisky. Sarah hated whisky, but hated the thought of being alone in the dark more, so accepted the glass he held out to her.
‘So where do you walk?’
‘Huh?’
‘At night. You said you went walking?’
‘Yeah, just around the woods,’ said Felix, but not before Sarah noticed him pause and look at the floor. Why was he lying? What had he been doing, out in the woods in the middle of the night?
‘Sounds a strange hobby to me.’
‘Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it,’ said Felix, sounding a little too jolly to Sarah’s ears. He picked up the poetry book from his bed. ‘Did a bit of reading, did you? I love his poems. Do you know them?’
Sarah didn’t want to admit she didn’t know the poet, let alone his poems. ‘No, poetry’s not my thing.’
‘What do you read then?’
The women’s magazines my mum buys. ‘Novels. I like the classics.’
‘Oh yeah? Like what?’
Sarah wracked her brain, but couldn’t remember the last time she picked up a serious book.
‘I’m not sure.’
‘Hmm. Well, how about you give this a go?’ asked Felix, holding up the book of poems. ‘You won’t be disappointed.’
‘OK,’ said Sarah, thinking it was easier not to argue.
Before Felix handed her the book, Sarah watched him slip out the bookmark and tuck it under his pillow.
‘Sorry,’ said Sarah, yawning. ‘I think I’m ready to sleep now.’
‘Looks like it,’ said Felix. ‘You know where I am if any more wild beasts come pooping beside your tent.’
Sarah frowned at him, then said her goodbyes and headed to bed.
Chapter 20
