Children

Joe and Charlie were thankful for the clever disguises that Doctor Argentine had provided. The bandage concealed most of Joe’s face and Charlie was well hidden underneath his woollen hat and scarf. As the door closed, they stared at each other with wide, panicked eyes.
‘We’ve only got to keep this up till morning when Doctor Argentine comes back for us.’ Joe tried to sound confident, but a little nagging voice in his head kept repeating, “What if it goes wrong? What if they don’t come back? What if…? What then?”

Max stared straight ahead, focusing on the fluffy white tail of the reindeer in front as the sleigh took off, soaring into the night sky. The last thing he wanted to see was the rooftops far below and he asked himself for the hundredth time whether he’d done the right thing by agreeing to go off with a total stranger … even if he was Father Christmas.

On and on he padded, as the blazing disc of the sun rose higher. Feeling his pale skin begin to blister, Max scanned the horizon in desperation, but there was nothing – only the never-ending ocean of golden sand. Dropping the lamp, he fell to his knees, his chest heaving.