Oranges in No Man's Land

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by Elizabeth Laird


  I had never held so much money in my hands before. I felt quite frightened of it.

  ‘There are thieves in Addis,’ Abba went on, looking serious. He nodded to Ma, who stood up and fetched down a little pouch from a shelf above the grain bins. Abba put the money in it and showed me how to hang it round my neck and keep it tucked inside my shirt.

  ‘There, now mind you keep it safe,’ Ma said. Her forehead was creased up with worry. I knew it was me she was anxious about, more than the money, and it made me feel a bit worried too.

  The fire had died away to a few weak flames by the time we lay down that night. I stared up into the dim shadows flickering around the rafters. I was too excited to sleep.

  What would Marcos say when I told him I’d been to Addis? He’d be sick with envy. But then my stomach jumped.

  What if I lost sight of Grandfather in the busy streets, among all the crowds of people? What if thieves attacked me and stole my money?

  I’ll be really, really careful, I told myself. I’ll look after Grandfather really well.

  Then, suddenly, I was asleep.

  Elizabeth Laird is the multi-award-winning author of several much-loved children’s books. She has been shortlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal six times. She lives in Britain now, but still likes to travel as much as she can.

  Books by Elizabeth Laird published by Macmillan Children’s Books

  Dindy and the Elephant

  The Fastest Boy in the World

  The Prince Who Walked with Lions

  The Witching Hour

  Lost Riders

  Crusade

  Oranges in No Man’s Land

  Paradise End

  Secrets of the Fearless

  A Little Piece of Ground

  The Garbage King

  Jake’s Tower

  Red Sky in the Morning

  Kiss the Dust

  First published 2006 by Macmillan Children’s Books

  This edition published 2016 by Macmillan Children’s Books

  This electronic edition published 2016 by Macmillan Children’s Books

  an imprint of Pan Macmillan

  20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR

  Associated companies throughout the world

  www.panmacmillan.com

  ISBN 978-0-330-47793-2

  Copyright © Elizabeth Laird 2006

  Cover images: Girl: © Tim Gainey / Alamy; Soldiers: Thomas Coex / Getty Images; Buildings: Photobvious / Getty Images; Barbed Wire © Shutterstock

  The right of Elizabeth Laird to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  Visit www.panmacmillan.com to read more about all our books and to buy them. You will also find features, author interviews and news of any author events, and you can sign up for e-newsletters so that you’re always first to hear about our new releases.

 

 

 


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