The Stone Witch by Benjamin Hulme-Cross, Nelson Evergreen Page B

to the stream.”
    The stone witch was now standing down on the ground.
    â€œThe statue is moving by itself!” cried Mary. “Come on!”

    They pushed the stone witch over onto the barrow and slowly dragged it out of the tomb. There was no track down to the stream.
    They slid and pushed and bumped the barrow down the slope towards the water.

    The stone witch’s hands and feet began to move on the barrow.
    Down in the village nobody was screaming any more. There was no sound at all.

Chapter 6

Stone to Bone
    â€œI can’t keep hold of it much longer,” said Edgar. His voice was tired.
    Mary looked at him. His hair was gray, his face lined.
    She looked down at her arms and saw that her skin looked old too. She gave a small cry and let go of the barrow.
    The barrow was too heavy for Edgar on his own. He let go.
    The barrow began to bounce and tumble down the slope towards the water.
    They chased after it. The barrow stopped at the bottom of the slope, a little way from the stream.

    The stone witch had fallen off the barrow. She lay on the ground. Her hands were starting to move, opening and closing.
    Mary and Edgar got to the bottom of the slope.
    They were weak and frail now. It was hard to walk, but they pushed and rolled the stone witch towards the stream.
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    Her face began to move. Her legs began to kick.
    They got to the edge of the stream.
    â€œPush!” Edgar said.
    They pushed the stone witch forwards. The statue crashed into the water.

    The statue’s foot stuck out of the water. It twitched for a few moments, and then stopped moving.
    Edgar and Mary looked at each other. They were no longer an old man and woman. They were young again. They had broken the spell!

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    â€œWe’re alive!” said Mary. “But what about Mr Blood and the other people?”
    The sound of cheering came from the village. They looked back up the slope.
    Mr Blood stood at the mouth of the cave, waving to them and smiling.

This electronic edition published in June 2013 by Bloomsbury Publishing
    Copyright © 2013 A & C Black
Text copyright © 2013 Benjamin Hulme-Cross
Illustrations copyright © 2013 Nelson Evergreen
    First published 2013 by A & C Black
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    eISBN: 978-1-4081-8066-2
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