The Beasts of Upton Puddle by Simon West-Bulford Page A

else, though. Not sure where else we can get steak on a Sunday unless we go outside the village.”
    Heinrich emerged from one of the other enclosures, hiding his features with the hood of his coat. “Here. Letme help you with those.”
    The giant man relieved Joe of his bags and skulked away.
    â€œBe sure to bring the candle with you,” Mrs. Merrynether called.
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œHe has no meat at all?” Mrs. Merrynether asked Joe, leaving the manticore and stepping out of the enclosure. “He’s running a supermarket, and he doesn’t have any meat?”
    â€œHe had a break-in. The whole place is upside down.”
    She tapped a finger against her lips and scanned the floor as if the answer might present itself in the concrete.
    Joe watched her, considering whether this was the right opportunity to pursue one of his suspicions. “One of his Sunday staff thinks the Beast of Upton Puddle did it.”
    Mrs. Merrynether’s gaze flicked upward to meet Joe’s for an instant before she returned her attention to the floor.
    â€œDo you think there are apes or bears in Ringwood Forest, Mrs. Merrynether?”
    â€œHmm, perhaps I could call Derek Sunderland over at Oakridge Farm. He might have some fresh meat.”
    â€œIt’s just that I saw something in the woods last week. I couldn’t see it very well, but it looked too big to be even a bear. And bears don’t live in England, do they? Except maybe in zoos or . . . or places like this.”
    The tiny woman placed her hands on her hips. “I beg your pardon. Are you fishing, young man?”
    â€œWell, I . . .”
    â€œIf you have something to say, say it. Let’s see if you’ve got the gumption.”
    He could almost feel himself shrinking to the size of a gnome. “It’s just that . . . you said yourself Cornelius was very dangerous, and for all I know, you could have other creatures in here that are even worse. What if . . . what if one of them—?”
    â€œEscaped?”
    â€œYes.” Joe gulped.
    â€œDo you really think I would be irresponsible enough to allow that to happen?” She folded her arms and lifted her chin. “Well, do you, Joseph?”
    â€œGo easy on him, Ronnie,” Heinrich said, shuffling from the shadows with five empty wine bottles. “I for one can understand his suspicions. We already have an inebriated cluricaun on the loose, after all.”
    Mrs. Merrynether drew a long breath, released it slowly, and offered Joe an apologetic smile. “Heinrich’s right, of course. I should apologize. I’m worried about Cornelius, and I took it out on you. Do forgive me.”
    Joe smiled. “Don’t worry about it.”
    She nodded and squeezed his shoulder. “If there is a creature stalking Ringwood Forest, I’m afraid I have no idea what it is or how it came to be here, but I will tell you this: I’m not unmindful of what’s been happeningin Upton Puddle, and I intend to get to the bottom of it. Now, we need to do something about our manticore. Heinrich?”
    Heinrich had set up a workbench near the enclosure. A Bunsen burner fired its flickering blue flame onto the underside of a black ceramic bowl, and Joe watched as the tall man placed the church candle on it.
    â€œThat’ll take a minute or two to melt,” Mrs. Merrynether said. “I have no idea if this will work, but I’m not sure what else to try at the moment.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do?”
    â€œYou’ll see soon enough.”
    Joe looked at the huge red beast sleeping in the enclosure. His paws twitched, and every so often, the cactus-like end of his tail stirred, making thin lines in the soil.
    â€œI still can’t believe what I’m looking at.”
    â€œYou’d better get used to it. You’re likely to see other creatures far stranger than Cornelius in the weeks and months to