Gallows at Twilight by William Hussey Page B

swarm, each feature made up of thousands of teeming insects. A mouth made of flies called down to the witch:
    ‘My faithful librarian.’
    The voice was a little deeper perhaps, and sharpened by the buzz of the insects, but those were the almost musical tones of Marcus Crowden.
    ‘Master.’ Grype bowed. ‘I hope that your plans are progressing well.’
    ‘Very well indeed. Slowly but surely the threads are coming together. After this visit to Spain, I have only one more journey to make. But come now, give your report.’
    Grype cleared his throat.
    ‘Jacob Harker and his friends arrived in Little Muchly earlier this evening, my Master. They entered the forest in the early hours, and soon after encountered the banshees. Once they had defeated the creatures, they smashed their way into the Grange. Jake Harker saw through the disguise of the skinwalker and killed the Navajo witch. He found Simon Lydgate and, with his friends, made his getaway.’
    Fly-lips spread into a wide grin. Laughter boomed from the ceiling and a spray of tiny black bodies fell like spittle upon Roland Grype.
    ‘All as I predicted!’ the Master crowed. ‘I laid my subtle trap and the boy fell right into it.’
    Grype nodded. ‘I placed the rotten apples around the trees. I arranged the white ash in the fireplace. As you predicted, he saw each of the clues—the hints that would guide him to overcome our “defences”.’
    ‘ Tiny clues,’ the Master corrected. ‘If they had been too obvious he would have realized that we wanted him to rescue the boy. Oh, how the fool has played into our hands! We have seen his strength tested and we know what kind of friends he has at his command. Best of all, we now have our spy in place. After the trouble they went to in order to rescue him, they will never suspect the boy.’ The demon laughed again. ‘And Simon? He will not even suspect himself! But when the time is right, we will activate him.’
    A whirlwind of flies swirled through the hole in the ceiling. The Master’s face fractured and broke apart, yet still his voice echoed around the chamber.
    ‘The time is at hand, Mr Grype. Very soon now our enemies will feel the might of demonkind unleashed!’

Chapter 6

Terror in the Tunnel

    Too easy. Far too easy.
    The thought nagged at Jake, even as the purr of the engine lulled him into troubled dreams …
    Streetlight glare and the sound of car horns snatched Jake from his slumbers. Resting against his shoulder, Rachel shifted slightly and snuffled her nose. Jake looked onto the back seat. His dad was still unconscious, his crumpled grey skin looking more than ever like worn parchment. Beside him, Simon Lydgate whimpered in his sleep. What nightmares had Simon witnessed during these past weeks? Jake tried not to speculate—if Simon wanted to remember, then they would all find out soon enough. Jake’s father would see to that.
    A thought struck Jake and he winced—his dad might see to it, if he lived long enough.
    That had to be Jake’s mission now: to find a cure for Crowden’s hex. Of course, he had known that Adam was seriously ill, but he had never dreamed that the end could be so near. He had reckoned on his dad having a couple of years, and that in that time Pandora would find a cure. Now he knew the truth. Adam had a few weeks left to live. Jake’s mouth set into a hard line. Forget the Demon Father and his mysterious travels overseas; forget magical training and witches and demons. Nothing mattered now except saving his dad.
    There is a cure , he thought, and I’m going to find it, whatever the cost.
    The car swept in a wide circle. Jake glanced idly out of the window, blinked twice, and turned to the driver.
    ‘Erm … do you mind telling me what the hell’s going on?’
    Pandora frowned into the rear-view mirror. She had two hands wrapped loosely around the steering wheel and the other six tucked inside her clothes, just in case a passing motorist happened to glance over and see an