Froi laughed, his chin resting on Quintana’s head, his eyes taking in the joy of their son, despite the ridiculous cap that covered the babe’s eyes. He looked across at Lirah and Arjuro and Rafuel, and then back to Gargarin who was smiling himself, because he knew the answer to his own question.
‘Because today, I think I’m leaning on the side of wonder.’
Acknowledgements
Firstly, a big thank you to my readership for the passion you’ve shown for this trilogy. I may not respond to all the letters, but I read every one of them and your words become part of the space I work in.
Thank you to my editor Amy Thomas and my publisher Laura Harris and designer Marina Messiha, and my US editor Deb Wayshak at Candlewick. Also to my agents Sophie Hamley, Jill Grinberg, Cheryl Pientka and Jennifer Naughton.
For everyone who has been in my creative world in some shape or form during the past year or so, especially Cathy Randall, Joanna Werner, Samantha Strauss and Sue Taylor.
For Kristin Cashore, who is as enthused about catacombs and underground cities and medieval ruins in Italy as I am. Thank you to Olivia Stewart for your warm hospitality in the Roman hills.
Thanks Kirsty Eagar for the late-night telephone angst. Much appreciation to Anthony Catanzariti and Barbara Barclay for feedback on the manuscript. And thanks to Anna, Barbara, Brenda, Janet, Liz, Maria, Pelissa and Philippa, who I’d take into the cave with me.
VIKING
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (Australia) 707 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3008, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd)
Penguin Group (USA) Inc. 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada) 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Canada ON M4P 2Y3 (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
Penguin Books Ltd 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL England
Penguin Ireland 25 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd)
Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi – 110 017, India
Penguin Group (NZ) 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd)
Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, Block D, Rosebank Office Park, 181 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parktown North, Gauteng 2193, South Africa
Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London, WC2R 0RL, England
First published by Penguin Group (Australia), 2012
Text copyright © Melina Marchetta, 2012
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved.
Maps by Cathy Larsen © Penguin Group (Australia)
ISBN: 978-1-74253-665-1
Quintana of Charyn Page 46