Magic at Silver Spires Read Online Free

hands and then linking arms to spin each other round – especially Emily, because she hadn’t even taken her helmet off. Bryony had brought her camera in her bike bag and she got Miss Stevenson to take a picture of us.
    â€œIt’s all about timing, isn’t it?” said Nicole, really getting into the dance.
    â€œNo, it’s all about cycling,” laughed Mrs. Truman, coming over to us at that moment. “Back on your bikes now, girls. I’ll clear up here while you lot follow Miss Graham. It’s about eight kilometres to the next stop, all right?”
    I don’t know if we got stronger as we got more used to biking a long distance, but I felt more comfortable during the second stretch, and I was almost keeping up with Bryony as we went down a lovely long hill. We were singing our hearts out, because we knew we were just coming to the barn where we would be having lunch.
    â€œ Cincirinella l’aveva una mula… ” I sang as it started to rain very lightly.
    â€œDidn’t you say there’s a bit of the song about the wind and the rain?” Nicole asked me.
    I was enjoying myself so much that I sang her the bit about the weather as I tilted my face towards the raindrops.
    â€œâ€¦ non temeva ne pioggia ne vento …”
    I heard Nicole call out something from behind me, but I was too far ahead of her and her words got lost in the wind as I sailed down the hill at top speed.
    â€œ Trotta, trotta cantava contento! ” I carried on happily.
    There was Nicole’s voice again, but I didn’t hear what she was saying, because I was so far in front now. And my wheels turned faster and faster as a picture of Mamma and Papà dancing with big smiles on their faces rushed through my mind.
    â€œAntonia!”
    Something was happening to me. One second I was sailing happily along, and the next it just felt too fast, but when I put the brakes on I wobbled. The words of my song seemed so far away. That terrible cry of Nicole’s was the last thing I heard before… Bang!
    There were gasps and shouts and the whirring of my front wheel, but I couldn’t see it. In fact, I couldn’t see anything.
    â€œAntonia! Oh no! Antonia! Say something.” It was Nicole’s voice, softer now and full of crying.
    But I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t open my eyes. I could only screw up my face as a searing pain shot down my leg, and then another and another, until the pain was constant. And my shoulder hurt too, and my arm and my hand. They were stinging. I kept my eyes closed as though it might block out the pain, but then I felt another kind of pain. The pain of the realization that I’d ruined the day for everyone, because I could hear Miss Stevenson and Miss Graham and the other teachers all shouting out instructions to the rest of the girls to get off the road and stay with their bikes.
    â€œI know it’s a very quiet road, but just in case there happens to be any traffic.”
    I wondered then whether I was off the road. I wasn’t sure exactly where I’d fallen, but I didn’t want to open my eyes to see. The next thing I heard was Miss Graham saying that she’d call an ambulance and a second later Miss Stevenson’s voice was right beside me.
    â€œKeep perfectly still, Antonia,” she said. “Can you hear me all right?”
    I licked my lips and swallowed. “I…”
    â€œWhat’s hurting?”
    I felt her press something on my hand and raised my head just enough to catch a glimpse of a screwed-up tissue.
    â€œStay still, Antonia, it’s only a bit of blood. Now keep talking to me. Tell me what’s hurting most. Is it your leg?”
    I wondered why she wanted me to keep talking, but I thought I ought to do as I was told. “Yes, my leg…sorry…” I couldn’t help starting to cry.
    â€œNo need to say sorry. No need at all. Look, here’s Mrs.