15
　　The map comes in useful
　　Jack¹ was pushed firmly into a small, square room with one bench in it against the wall. He wasmade to sit down on this, and the policeman went to report at a big, untidy desk. He spoke² veryquickly, and it all sounded like a lot of Double Dutch to Jack.
　　It did to Kiki too, and she sat on Jack’s shoulder and sent out such a stream of unendingnonsense that every policeman in the place stared in admiration³.
　　Nobody was standing⁴ in Jack’s way to the door. He looked at it. He thought he would make adash for freedom, and try to get away from these awkward policemen. He was half-afraid he mightbe locked up for weeks. Perhaps they thought he was a beggar or a tramp? Perhaps it was a greatcrime not to have some kind of card to say who he was?
　　He saw his chance, when nobody was looking at him, and raced for the door. He was down thesteps and into the street before a policeman stirred! He heard shouts behind him but he didn’t lookback. Down the dusty street he ran at top speed, turned a corner, ran down an alley⁵, and came to abig door.
　　He ran inside and looked round. No one was there. A squawk attracted his attention, and madeKiki look round in interest. Jack saw a parrot in a cage, a very colourful one with blue and greenand yellow feathers.
　　Kiki flew to the cage and stood on the top. She bent⁶ her head down and looked inside excitedly.
　　Another parrot!
　　‘How- do- you- do, how- do- you- do!’ said Kiki. ‘Good morning, good night! Pop goes theweasel!’
　　The other parrot gave another squawk. It seemed rather scared. Then Jack heard the sound offootsteps, and before he could move, a voice spoke – a gentle voice, soft and kind.
　　A girl stood there, aged⁷ about twelve. She was beautifully dressed in bright silks, and her longdark hair was woven in and out with bright ribbons. She stared at Jack in surprise.

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