“Who?”
“The ring leader. He was down on thesquare last night. When you get cursed he holds some fascination. You want tobe with him.”
Daisy almost jumped up with anger.“What! This is even worse than I thought. I don't want me daughter hangingaround with some strange man.”
“We’ll call the police! Our localbobby, Gerald Tubbs, he’ll arrest this man for child abduction and – how can Iput it – mental cruelty.”
Arthur shook his head. “I don’t thinkGerald will take us seriously when we explain that three teenagers stayed outall night – because they’ve been possessed by a pagan God.”
“And if poor old Gerald goes andknocks up at the Manor he’ll probably get cursed and bit,” added Daisy.
“We’ll just have to sort this outourselves!” exclaimed Jim, suddenly becoming animated. He puffed out his ruddycheeks and banged his fist on the table. “I’ll get a load of men from thevillage, most own shotguns, and we’ll go up to the Manor.”
“I don’t think that’s good idea dad,”said Arthur. “It’d be a bloodbath on both sides.”
“And what if some trigger-happy foolshot the kids?” said Daisy, who was so agitated she stuffed three rashers ofbacon into her mouth at once.
“And you might get cursed,” saidArthur, “and where would that leave me and mum?”
Jim knitted his brow and puffed outhis cheeks but he was lost for words. So was Daisy. They bowed their heads andtucked into their breakfasts. Everyone ate in silence for a while.
“Well! I’m off to the tool shed to getsome more nails,” said Jim when his plate was clear. “There are still a coupleof windows out the back that need boarding up.” He got up and left the kitchen.
Daisy pushed her plate away and stoodup. “And I’m going to telephone Mrs. Proops from the corner shop, see what’shappening around the village. If someone’s heard something about those peoplebeing attacked last night she’ll know about it.” As she headed off to thehallway she said over her shoulder, “Your turn to wash up, Arthur love.”
For a number of minutes, Bill had beendeep in thought but now he looked like he’d come to some sort of decision. WhenDaisy and Jim had gone, he stared wide-eyed at Ophelia and Arthur and said:“Remember the journal we talked about, the Journal of William Whitebeam, up atthe Manor?”
“Of course we do,” said Ophelia, “fullof gobbledygook from some mad Victorian scientist, supposed to be a cure.”
“I’m going to go and get it.”
“What?”
“Are you crazy?” said Arthur. “It’swall to wall pagans up there.”
“I don’t know why I’m being so brave,or stupid... But you don’t understand. When Professor Nox gave me his treatmentI saw a laboratory, a scientist, a brass cabinet.”
“What’s that got to do withanything?”
Bill jabbed a finger at his temple.“There was knowledge, complex scientific knowledge, floating about, it was allthere but I couldn’t understand it.”
“What you saying?”
“I was writing a formula, in ajournal...”
Ophelia shook her head. “I don’tunderstand.”
“Neither do I! But I have togo. There’s something very important locked up in my head and I think the keyto unravelling it is in that book, of me understanding the contents of thatbook. And if I can fathom it... then we’ll have a proper cure for Jimmy,Davy, Rosie... and you.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“Professor Jareth’s up there. Rememberwhy we came here in the first place? We came to rescue her,” said Bill.
Arthur nodded firmly, like he made uphis mind about something. “Well if you’re going then I’m coming with you.”
“And me,” said Ophelia.
“Neither of you can come,” said Bill.“Look, Ophelia, Lord Percy will take over your mind, you know he will. Lookwhat you did in the van when he was near, getting out to go to him. You’ll endup like Rosie, not wanting treatment, lost to whatever evil is trying to takeyou. And Arthur, if you get bit I don’t think Daisy could cope with allher kids being Arddhu. You need to stay here and help your mum stay strong.”
Arthur was about to launch into avehement counter argument but he knew his friend was right. He lifted hisfinger to make a point but dropped it down again and remained silent. Opheliaalso knew Bill was right. She couldn’t get any closer to Lord Percy and stay incontrol.
Bill got up and made his way over tothe door at the back of the kitchen. Ophelia followed and gave Bill a hug.Arthur went over to his friend and patted him on the shoulder.
“I’ll get the book and find the Prof,”said Bill.
“Don’t get turned into one of them,”said Ophelia, giving Bill a kiss that made him turn bright red.
“If I don’t come back-” said Bill.
“Don’t be a dunderhead!” said Arthur.“Of course you’re coming back.”
Bill left his friends at the door andmade his way through the vegetable patch behind the house. It was a chillycloudless morning that made Bill shiver slightly. He found the gate out thegarden and followed a dirt path that meandered round to the front of the houseand onto the cobbled street that led down into the village square. As he wascrossing the square he saw a few people wandering in and out of the villageshop. As he passed by, he heard them chatting about the attack last night,about broken windows and doors. How it was the worst commotion they’d seenaround the village since the war. Someone mentioned the blood and bitings andhow none of it made any sense. Gerald the local bobby had done his rounds andhad said he had no idea why young thugs up from the city would want to comecausing trouble.
It looked like any normal village onany normal day and only Bill seemed to know that there were terrible dangerslurking up at the Manor, ready to pounce, probably that very night. He followedthe lane that led past the Unicorn and a long row of thatched cottages. Soon hewas out the village and into the silent and oppressive presence of BogmireWood. Minutes later he saw up ahead the tall brick chimneys and ivy clad wallsof Brimstone Manor, a grim and brooding presence through the trees.
ChapterSixteen - The Dark Manor
I hereby bequeath the Valentine Estate, all
