Witch Silver by Anne Forbes Page B

otherwise the possibilities were endless. Most country houses had big, open fireplaces and if there was another clue in the riddle, she had yet to find it.
    Cautiously, she opened her bedroom door and holding ontothe banister made her way carefully down the spiral stair, grateful for the moonlight.
    The school seemed totally deserted and although she crept quietly along at first, her confidence gradually grew and by the time she reached the long corridor that led to the main staircase, she was striding along, thoroughly enjoying the adventure.
    She stopped abruptly, however, when a black shadow suddenly swept across the stretch of windows that lined the corridor. An owl, she thought, flying in front of the moon? No, surely it was too big for an owl. She turned and, looking out to see what sort of bird it was, clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a scream. There, flying in the darkness above the grounds of the school was a witch; a witch on a broomstick.
    Heart racing frantically, she stood rooted to the spot, unable to take her eyes off the shadowy figure that was growing ever smaller as it headed out towards the main road and the hills beyond. She was only roused from her trance by a whispered voice.
    “Clara,” she heard Neil call from the end of the corridor. “Clara? Where are you?”
    Clara turned. She had forgotten all about meeting Neil. “Neil,” she choked.
    He ran lightly up to her. “What’s the matter?” he hissed. “Clara! What’s wrong?”
    “Neil,” she said, grabbing him urgently, “you’ll never guess what I’ve just seen! I … I was on my way to meet you and … and something flew across the window. You’re never going to believe this but … it was a witch,” she said, “a witch on a broomstick!”
    “A witch!” Neil’s eyes narrowed as he strode to the window and looked out over the moonlit grounds. “There’s nothingthere now,” he observed.
    “I know,” she whispered impatiently. “But that isn’t what’s freaking me out! Listen to me, Neil! I reckon she came from
inside
the school. I’m sure she did; from one of those windows over there.”
    “I think that’s the staff living quarters,” Neil said, peering out.
    “You know what it means, don’t you?” she said in a whisper.
    “Yes,” Neil’s voice was hard as he answered, “It means that one of the staff is a witch! Look,” he said, “what if we just have a quick peep at the fireplace in the big hall. If we do it now, then at least it’ll be over and done with — and it won’t take long, either.”
    “Okay,” Clara whispered, taking a deep breath. “Let’s go!”
    They slipped silently down the main staircase and over the stone-flagged floor towards the hall. For a moment, Neil thought it might be locked but the door handle turned quite easily and, shivering with excitement, they crept inside.
    Moonlight lit up row upon row of chairs, set out for assembly the next morning, but they only had eyes for the massive fireplace at the far end of the hall.
    It was so big that when they clambered inside, Clara found she could stand upright under the chimney. But although they went over it carefully, there was nothing to show that anything had been hidden there.
    Clara looked disappointed as she stepped back and shook her head. “There doesn’t seem to be anything here,” she whispered .
    “What about the library?” Neil said, pursing his lips thoughtfully. “It has a big fireplace in it as well.”
    Clara nodded. She had recovered from the shock of seeing the witch and wasn’t the least bit tired. Besides which, she wasquite enjoying their midnight adventure. The library, however, was further away than she’d thought and she quickly lost track of where she was. “Is it much further?” she whispered.
    “Just along here,” he replied.
    They both stopped, however, when they reached the heavy, panelled door, looking at it uncertainly. It was ajar. Someone was in the library! At this time of night? Who