The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner Page A

“he’ll never hear us. We’ll have to find our own way out.”
    â€œAnd we’ll do that if we keep going at our own pace,” said Colin. “If whatever caused this had intended to attack us it would have done so by now, wouldn’t it? No, it wants to frighten us into rushing over a precipice or something like that. As long as we carry on slowly we’ll be safe enough.”
    He was wrong, but they had no other plan.
    For the next few minutes the children made their way in silence, Susan concentrating on the ground immediately in front, Colin alert for any sight or sound of danger.
    All at once Susan halted.
    â€œHallo, what’s this?”
    At their feet lay two rough-hewn boulders and beyond them, on either side, could be seen the faint outline of others of a like size.
    â€œWhat can they be? They look as though they’ve been put there deliberately, don’t they?”
    â€œNever mind,” said Colin; “we mustn’t waste time in standing around.”
    And they passed between the stones, only to stop short acouple of paces later, with despair in their hearts, cold as the east wind.
    Susan’s question was answered. They were in the middle of a ring of stones, and the surrounding low, dim shapes rose on the limit of vision as though marking the boundary of the world.
    Facing the children were two stones, far bigger than the rest, and on one of the stones sat a figure, and the sight of it would have daunted a brave man.
    For three fatal seconds the children stared, unable to think or move. And as they faltered, the jaws of the trap closed about them; for, like a myriad snakes, the grass within the circle, alive with the magic of the place, writhed about their feet, shackling them in a net of blade and root, tight as a vice.
    As if in some dark dream, Colin and Susan strained to tear themselves free, but they were held like wasps in honey.
    Slowly the figure rose from its seat and came towards them. Of human shape it was, though like no mortal man, for it stood near eight feet high, and was covered from head to foot in a loose habit, dank and green, and ill concealing the terrible thinness and spider strength of the body beneath. A deep cowl hid the face, skin mittens were on the wasted hands, and the air was laden with the reek of foul waters.
    The creature stopped in front of Susan and held out a hand; not a word was spoken.
    â€œNo!” gasped Susan. “You shan’t have it!” And she put her arm behind her back.
    â€œLeave her alone!” yelled Colin. “If you touch her Cadellin will kill you!”
    The shrouded head turned slowly towards him, and he gazed into the cavern of the hood; courage melted from him, and his knees were water.
    Then, suddenly, the figure stretched out its arms and seized both the children by the shoulder.
    They had no chance to struggle or to defend themselves. With a speed that choked the cry of anguish in their throats, an icy numbness swept down from the grip of those hands into their bodies, and the children stood paralysed, unable to move a finger.
    In a moment the bracelet was unfastened from Susan’s wrist, and the grim shape turned on its heel and strode into the mist. And the mist gathered round it and formed a swirling cloud that moved swiftly away among the trees, and was lost to sight.
    The sun shone upon the stone circle, and upon the figures standing motionless in the centre. The warm rays poured life and feeling into those wooden bodies, and they began to move. First an arm stirred jerkily, doll-like, then a head turned, a leg moved, and slowly the numbness drained from their limbs, the grass released its hold, and the childrencrumpled forward on to their hands and knees, shivering and gasping, the blood in their heads pounding like triphammers.
    â€œOut – circle!” wheezed Colin.
    They staggered sideways and almost fell down a small bank on to a path.
    â€œFind Cadellin: perhaps