'But, if it is him, we're lost.' Peter began to shake. 'He's only just arrived and we've lost him already. That's just terrible. He was our only hope. He was going to save us from the guardians ... they'll kill him.'
'Not just kill him ... he'll die a thousand deaths.'
'They show no mercy,' Peter moaned.
'No mercy,' Crispin echoed.
'What are we going to do?'
Crispin stood back and thought for a moment.
'We must treat this as a challenge. That's what Father taught us. He said you should regard all adversity as a challenge. If you don't then you are beaten from the start. You don't stand a chance.'
'How do we start?'
'We work out a plan.'
Crispin began to tick off points on his fingers.
'First, we find out whether the Lord of Light is the big man in the boat or the little man with Liala. Second, we find a way to get Liala and the little man to safety. Third, we find a way to contact the big man and tell him he is in mortal danger. Fourth, we review our plans for possible errors and omissions.'