and with a nod of her head indicated for her to join Bertie and Aldiss. Turning back to the guard, she said in her most reasonable voice, âSorry about that. Now, why has Marnoch Mor been shut down?â
âIf someone interferes with the Eye, the security system goes into defense mode. It locks the gates and seals the invisible dome above us to keep out any villain who is trying to get in. And keep in any villain who is trying to get out! No one can open them again except for Mr. Montgomery. The last time it happened was when the Eye of Lornish was stolen.â
âThatâs all very reassuring,â squawked Bertie from the side. âBut the Eye of Lornish hasnât moved. Lookâitâs where it should be.â
Morag turned round, and there, standing above all other buildingsâand still in its place on a huge spike on top of the clock tower of the Town Hallâwas the bright Eye of Lornish. As she watched, its normally steady light flickered like a candle about to go out. In her short time in MarnochMor, Morag had never known it to do anything but dazzle like a star. It had certainly never failed before, not even for a second. This was worrying.
âItâs Montgomery â¦,â she whispered, remembering what Henry had told her earlier about the pair being linked.
âEh?â asked the guard.
âOh, nothing,â she replied. âThanks for your help anyway.â
She turned to the others. âBertie, how did you and Aldiss get out before?â she asked.
âBefore?â The bird looked puzzled.
âWhen I first met you. You and Aldiss were trying to find the Eye of Lornish, but you came up through a tunnel into my basement by mistake. How did you get out of Marnoch Mor then?â
The dodo looked at the rat and they both shook their heads. âAldiss and I took the Underground as far as possible, then tried to find our way along the old tunnels,â said Bertie. âBut
someone
got confused.â¦â
âThe Underground is the last thing to close after an emergency shutdown to let in any approaching trains,â Henry piped up.
âAnd Montgomery was still here to keep everything going for a while after the Eye was stolen,â added Aldiss.
âDo you think the Underground will still be running this time?â Morag asked.
âIf it is, we canât have much time left before it shuts down too,â said Shona.
âWell,â said Morag, âthereâs only one way to find out. Letâs go.â
6
As news of the lockdown spread, the streets of Marnoch Mor filled with witches, kelpies and all manner of strange animals. They streamed like a swarm of bees to the town square, where they hoped someone would tell them what was going on. Morag, Bertie, Aldiss and Shona were swept along on the tide of anxiety and fear.
Rumble, rumble, rumble
.
The ground began to shake and shudder. Buildings rocked and buckled, chimneys toppled and slates fell from roofs like leaves from a tree. The people screamed and ran for cover as a large jagged crack tore up the middle of the street. As the rumbling grew louder and the shaking more violent, the crack raced toward Morag, Shona, Bertie and Aldiss like a plow tearing through soil, spitting up cobblestones along its way. Barely able to stand, the horrified friends could only watch.
Then the rumbling stopped as abruptly as it had begun. The crack was halted and the earth was still. An eerie silence fell as everyone waited. Minutes passed and no one moved.
âI think itâs safe,â Morag whispered to Bertie, who was standing closest to her. The dodo, wide-eyed with fear, could only nod dumbly.
âWe have to get to the station before another quake hits,â Shona said abruptly, causing Aldiss to squeak in fright. âEveryone climb on my back. Itâll be quicker if I carry you all there.â
âGood idea,â agreed Henry.
As Shona squatted, Morag climbed on
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