“The men should be onto it by now and the fire trucks have been called. But the nearest fire department is a long way from here. Malibu, perhaps, or even Oxnard. And I can’t call again. The phone line is down.”

“Then what are we going to do?” Mummy demanded.

“Nothing much we can do,” the sheriff said. “As you can see that whole area in front of the gate is in flames. We’d never manage to drive through that.”

“Then how do we get out?”

“We should be okay here,” the sheriff said. “There’s a good gap between the house and the nearest foliage.”

As he spoke flying embers fell crackling around us and we hurriedly stepped back inside.

“That’s not good. Part of the house has a shake roof,” Ronnie said as he joined us with a terrified-looking Algie in tow.

“Oh my God. We’re going to be burned alive,” Algie wailed. “Somebody do something.”

“Do shut up,” Belinda said angrily. “I’m going to rescue my things from the cottage. I’ve a couple of Chanel outfits I’d hate to lose.”

“Belinda, no.” I tried to grab her.

“Don’t be silly. I’ll be quite safe. The fire can’t move as fast as that. I’ll be in and out in a jiffy.” And she ran down the hill. I was half tempted to follow her, wondering if I had anything worth saving. Then I remembered one thing. “Queenie. Queenie must be there, Belinda. And Mummy’s maid. Get them out.”

We stood in the forecourt, waiting. Holding our breath while the swirling smoke stung our eyes and made us cough. We could see the flames rushing toward us from all sides. It really was quite terrifying. Suddenly a zebra burst from the trees, followed by another. A giraffe lumbered out at surprising speed. They stopped on the gravel, trembling, unsure where to go.

“I wish Belinda would hurry up,” I said. The flames were awfully close now. Suddenly there was a great whoosh and crackle and the Brothers Grimm cottage where Bella had spent the night went up in flames.

“Belinda!” I screamed.

And at that moment Queenie emerged from the trees, running up the hill with surprising agility for one so large, followed by Claudette and Belinda, each with items hanging from a half-shut suitcase.

“Oh, she’s brought my things. How thoughtful of her,” Mummy said. “She really is a gem.”

I noted that Queenie hadn’t had the same sentiments about my stuff. She was running toward us like a charging hippo, her face red with determination.