place behind an old bookcase in mind.
I must admit that I always found this part of the game a bit scary. In the eerie silence I’d find myself imagining that I could hear other sounds-like a rat scratching or bones being crunched.
I crouched behind that bookcase for ages, waiting for the faint tell-tale sound that would let me know in which direction Colin was moving. To pick up the real clues you had to hold your breath and train your heart to stop thumping. Straight ahead of me, on the dirty brick wall, the faint shadows looked like headstones in a graveyard.
It was much longer than usual before I caught the first tiny squeak of Colin’s trainers, and then it seemed to come from an unexpected direction, near the foot of the steps-where there weren’t any decent hiding-places. I decided not to sneak a look round the corner in case he was trying to trick me into showing myself.
And then, suddenly, there was no need to hold my breath and stay frozen. There came the unmistakable clump of Colin’s feet pounding up the steps, followed by theopening and slamming of the door. And then, almost immediately after, the dim bulb was switched off and I heard the sound of the key being turned in the lock.
Chapter Three
At first a flush of panic swept through me and my heart pounded madly. I’d suffocate. The rats would get me. I’d starve to death. They’d never find my body and no one would ever know what had happened to me.
I took a deep breath and plucked up enough courage to feel my way over to the foot of the steps. Edging my way across wasn’t as easy as I’d imagined itwould be. I stubbed my toes, grazed my shin, knocked my elbow and winded myself against a sharp corner-but I eventually got there.
At the foot of the steps I paused for breath. Somewhere behind me, or perhaps it was only in my head, the rat was scrabbling again. I really was feeling nervous about the next bit. The steps were steep,and narrow, and there was no handrail; and if you missed your footing and tumbled over the edge you’d probably break your head open on the concrete floor beneath.
The steps seemed to have got even narrower in the dark. I hesitated for a moment and then decided that the only way up was on hands and knees. I was so scared whenever my right hand reached forward and upwards and found nothing solid that I kept my left shoulder tightly pressed to the wall.
When I finally pushed out my hand and touched the bottom of the door, I almost cried with relief. With trembling legs I slowly pulled myself up and wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand. I wasn’t going to give Colin the satisfaction of seeing that he’d upset me.
Without much hope I started to rap lightly on the door. I was amazed when I heard the key turn and saw the door open after just the first few taps. Colin greeted me with an unconvincing laugh.
“Well done, Rod,” he said, clapping me on the shoulder. “You said you could do it and you did.”
It was then that I spotted Aunt Carrie by the kitchen door, with a tea towel in her hand. Colin’s little show had been for her benefit.
“Did you lock Roderick in the cellar?” she said.
“Of course not,” said Colin, like the natural liar he is.
“Yes, you did,” she said; “I’ve just seen you unlock the door. Well, no more cellar for you today. That’s for sure.”
Colin knew better than to protest because he didn’t want her telling his dad. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Chapter Four
That night, as Colin and I lay in our beds in the dark, and I was just about to fall asleep, he suddenly whispered, “You very nearly got me into trouble, you did.”
That was typical. I could have broken my neck because of him and he says I nearly got
him
into trouble.
“But I didn’t,” I said, “because I didn’t scream and I didn’t go moaning to your mum and dad.”
“And I suppose you think that makes you tough?” said Colin. I could just imagine the sneer on his face. “Well, let me
I must admit that I always found this part of the game a bit scary. In the eerie silence I’d find myself imagining that I could hear other sounds-like a rat scratching or bones being crunched.
I crouched behind that bookcase for ages, waiting for the faint tell-tale sound that would let me know in which direction Colin was moving. To pick up the real clues you had to hold your breath and train your heart to stop thumping. Straight ahead of me, on the dirty brick wall, the faint shadows looked like headstones in a graveyard.
It was much longer than usual before I caught the first tiny squeak of Colin’s trainers, and then it seemed to come from an unexpected direction, near the foot of the steps-where there weren’t any decent hiding-places. I decided not to sneak a look round the corner in case he was trying to trick me into showing myself.
And then, suddenly, there was no need to hold my breath and stay frozen. There came the unmistakable clump of Colin’s feet pounding up the steps, followed by theopening and slamming of the door. And then, almost immediately after, the dim bulb was switched off and I heard the sound of the key being turned in the lock.
Chapter Three
At first a flush of panic swept through me and my heart pounded madly. I’d suffocate. The rats would get me. I’d starve to death. They’d never find my body and no one would ever know what had happened to me.
I took a deep breath and plucked up enough courage to feel my way over to the foot of the steps. Edging my way across wasn’t as easy as I’d imagined itwould be. I stubbed my toes, grazed my shin, knocked my elbow and winded myself against a sharp corner-but I eventually got there.
At the foot of the steps I paused for breath. Somewhere behind me, or perhaps it was only in my head, the rat was scrabbling again. I really was feeling nervous about the next bit. The steps were steep,and narrow, and there was no handrail; and if you missed your footing and tumbled over the edge you’d probably break your head open on the concrete floor beneath.
The steps seemed to have got even narrower in the dark. I hesitated for a moment and then decided that the only way up was on hands and knees. I was so scared whenever my right hand reached forward and upwards and found nothing solid that I kept my left shoulder tightly pressed to the wall.
When I finally pushed out my hand and touched the bottom of the door, I almost cried with relief. With trembling legs I slowly pulled myself up and wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand. I wasn’t going to give Colin the satisfaction of seeing that he’d upset me.
Without much hope I started to rap lightly on the door. I was amazed when I heard the key turn and saw the door open after just the first few taps. Colin greeted me with an unconvincing laugh.
“Well done, Rod,” he said, clapping me on the shoulder. “You said you could do it and you did.”
It was then that I spotted Aunt Carrie by the kitchen door, with a tea towel in her hand. Colin’s little show had been for her benefit.
“Did you lock Roderick in the cellar?” she said.
“Of course not,” said Colin, like the natural liar he is.
“Yes, you did,” she said; “I’ve just seen you unlock the door. Well, no more cellar for you today. That’s for sure.”
Colin knew better than to protest because he didn’t want her telling his dad. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Chapter Four
That night, as Colin and I lay in our beds in the dark, and I was just about to fall asleep, he suddenly whispered, “You very nearly got me into trouble, you did.”
That was typical. I could have broken my neck because of him and he says I nearly got
him
into trouble.
“But I didn’t,” I said, “because I didn’t scream and I didn’t go moaning to your mum and dad.”
“And I suppose you think that makes you tough?” said Colin. I could just imagine the sneer on his face. “Well, let me
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