The Spook's Apprentice Part 11

*No use, that,' she said. *Too strong, they are. Can't fight *em, can you?'

*No,' I said. *I want it to cut the rope. I'm going to run for it.'

Suddenly Alice was gone. Had she gone to fetch a knife or would she be too scared of Lizzie? I waited a few moments, but when she didn't come back I became desperate. I struggled, trying to pull my wrists apart, trying to snap the rope, but it was no use.

When a face peered down at me, my heart jumped with fear, but it was Alice holding something out over the pit. She dropped it, and as it fell, metal gleamed in the moonlight.

Alice hadn't let me down. It was a knife. If I could just cut the rope I'd be free ...

At first, even with my hands tied behind my back, I never had any doubt in my mind that I could do it.

The only danger was that I might cut myself a bit, but what did that matter compared to what they'd do to me before the sun came up? It didn't take me long to get a grip on the knife. Positioning it against the rope was more difficult and it was very hard to move it. When I dropped it for the second time, I began to panic. There couldn't be more than a minute or so before they came for me.

*You'll have to do it for me,' I called up to Alice. *Come on, jump down into the pit.'

I didn't think she'd really do it, but to my surprise she did. She didn't jump but lowered herself down feet first, facing the side of the pit and hanging onto the edge with her arms. When her body was fully extended, she dropped the final two feet or so.

It didn't take her long to cut the rope. My hands were free and all we had to do was get out of the pit.

*Let me stand on your shoulders,' I said. "Then I'll pull you up.'

Alice didn't argue, and at the second attempt I managed to balance on her shoulders and drag myself up onto the wet gra.s.s. Then came the really hard part - pulling Alice out of the pit.

I reached down with my left hand. She gripped it hard with her own and placed her right hand on my wrist for extra support. Then I tried to pull her up.

My first problem was the wet, slippery gra.s.s and I found it hard to keep myself from being dragged over the edge. Then I realized that I didn't have the strength to do it. I'd made a big mistake. Just because she was a girl, that didn't necessarily make her weaker than me. Too late I remembered the way she'd pulled the rope to make the Spook's bell dance. She'd done it almost effortlessly. I should have let her stand on my shoulders. I should have let her get out of the pit first. Alice would have pulled me up without any trouble.

It was then that I heard the sound of voices. Bony Lizzie and Tusk were coming through the trees towards us.

Below me I saw Alice's feet scrabbling against the side of the pit, trying to get a hold. Desperation gave me extra strength. I gave a sudden heave and she came up over the edge and collapsed beside me.

We got away just in time, running hard with the sound of other feet running behind us. They were quite a long way back at first, but very gradually they began to get closer and closer.

I don't know how long we ran for. It felt like a lifetime. I ran until my legs felt like lead and the breath was burning in my throat. We were heading back towards Chipenden - I could tell that from the occasional glimpses I got of the fells through the trees. We were running towards the dawn. The sky was greying now and growing lighter by the minute. Then, just as I felt I couldn't take another step, the tips of the fells were glowing a pale orange. It was sunlight and I remember thinking that even if we were caught now, at least it was daylight and so my bones would be of no use to Lizzie.

As we came out of the trees onto a gra.s.sy slope and began to run up it, my legs finally began to fail.

They were turning to jelly and Alice was starting to pull away from me. She glanced back at me, her face terrified. I could still hear them crashing through the trees behind us.

Then I came to a complete and sudden halt. I stopped because I wanted to stop. I stopped because there was no need to run any further.

There, standing at the summit of the slope ahead, was a tall figure dressed in black carrying a long staff. It was the Spook all right but somehow he looked different. His hood was thrown back and his hair, lit by the rays of the rising sun, seemed to be streaming back from his head like orange tongues of flame.

Tusk gave a sort of roar and ran up the slope towards him, brandishing his blade, with Bony Lizzie close at his heels. They weren't bothered about us for the moment. They knew who their main enemy was. They could deal with us later.

By now Alice had come to a halt too, so I took a couple of shaky steps to bring myself level with her.

We both watched as Tusk made his final charge, lifting his curved blade and bellowing angrily as he ran.

The Spook had been standing as still as a statue, but then in response he took two big strides down the slope towards him and lifted his staff high. Aiming it like a spear, he drove it hard towards Tusk's head. Just before it made contact with his forehead, there was a sort of click and a red flame appeared at the very tip. There was a heavy thud as it struck home. The curved knife went up in the air and Tusk's body fell like a sack of potatoes. I knew he was dead even before he hit the ground.

Next the Spook cast his staff to one side and reached inside his cloak. When his left hand appeared again it was clutching something that he cracked high in the air like a whip. It caught the sun and I knew it was a silver chain.

Bony Lizzie turned and tried to run but it was too late: the second time he cracked the chain, it was followed almost immediately by a thin, high, metallic sound. The chain began to fall, shaping itself into a spiral of fire to bind itself tightly around Bony Lizzie. She gave one great shriek of anguish, then fell to the floor.

I walked with Alice to the summit of the slope. There we saw that the silver chain was wrapped tightly about the witch from head to toe. It was even tight across her open mouth, hard against her teeth. Her eyes were rolling in her head and her whole body was twitching with effort, but she couldn't cry out.

I glanced across at Tusk. He was lying on his back with his eyes wide open. He was dead all right and there was a red wound in the middle of his forehead. I looked at the staff then, wondering about the flame I'd seen at its tip.

My master looked gaunt, tired and suddenly very old. He kept shaking his head as if he was weary of life itself. In the shadow of the slope, his hair was back to its usual grey colour and I realized why it had seemed to stream back from his head: it was saturated with sweat and he'd slicked it back with his hand so that it stuck up and out behind his ears. He did it again as I watched. Beads of sweat were dripping from his brow and he was breathing very rapidly. I realized he'd been running.

*How did you find us?' I asked.

It was a while before he answered, but at last his breathing began to slow and he was able to speak.

*There are signs, lad. Trails that can be followed, if you know how. That's something else you'll have to learn.'

He turned and looked at Alice. *That's two of them dealt with, but what are we going to do about you?' he asked, staring at her hard.

*She helped me escape,' I said.

*Is that so?' asked the Spook. *But what else did she do?'

He looked hard at me then and I tried to hold his gaze. When I looked down at my boots he made a clicking noise with his tongue. I couldn't lie to him and I knew that he'd guessed that she'd played some part in what had happened to me.

He looked at Alice again. *Open your mouth, girl,' he said harshly, his voice full of anger. *I want to see your teeth.'

Alice obeyed and the Spook suddenly reached forward, seizing her by the jaw. He brought his face close to her open mouth and sniffed very loudly.

When he turned back to me his mood seemed to have softened and he gave a deep sigh. *Her breath is sweet enough,' he said. *You've smelled the breath of the other?' he asked, releasing Alice's jaw and pointing down at Bony Lizzie.

I nodded.

*It's caused by her diet,' he said. *And it tells you right away what she's been up to. Those who practise bone or blood magic get a taste for blood and raw meat. But the girl seems all right.'

Then he moved his face close to Alice's again. *Look into my eyes, girl,' he told her. *Hold my gaze as long as you can.'

Alice did as he told her but she couldn't look at him for long even though her mouth was twitching with the effort. She dropped her eyes and began to cry softly.

The Spook looked down at her pointy shoes and shook his head sadly. *I don't know,' he said, turning at me again. *I just don't know what to do for the best. It's not just her. We've others to think about. Innocents who might suffer in the future. She's seen too much and she knows too much for her own good. It could go either way with her and I don't know if it's safe to let her go. If she goes east to join the brood at Pendle, then she'll be lost for ever and she'll just add to the dark.'

*Haven't you anywhere else you could go?' I asked Alice gently. *No other relations?'

*There's a village near the coast. It's called Staumin. I've another aunt lives there. Perhaps she'd take me in...'

*Is she like the others?' the Spook asked, staring at Alice again.

*Not so you'd notice,' she replied. *Still, it's a long way and I ain't ever been there before. Could take three days or more to get there.'

*I could send the lad with you,' said the Spook, his voice suddenly a lot kinder. *He's had a good look at my maps so I reckon he should be able to find the way. When he gets back he'll be learning how to fold them up properly. Anyway, it's decided. I'm going to give you a chance, girl. It's up to you whether you take it. If you don't, then one day we'll meet again and the next time you won't be so lucky.'

Then the Spook pulled the usual cloth from his pocket. Inside it was a hunk of cheese for the journey.

*Just so you don't go hungry,' he said, *but don't eat it all at once.'

I hoped we might find something better to eat on the way but I still mumbled my thanks.

*Don't go straight to Staumin,' said the Spook, staring at me hard without blinking. *I want you to go home again first. Take this girl with you and let your mother talk to her. I've a feeling she might just be able to help. I'll expect you back within two weeks.'

That brought a smile to my face. After all that had happened, a chance to go home for a while was a dream come true. But one thing did puzzle me because I remembered the letter my mam had sent the Spook. He hadn't seemed that happy with some of the things she'd said. So why should he think my mam would be able to help Alice? I didn't say anything, because I didn't want to risk making the Spook have second thoughts. I was just glad to be away.

Before we left, I told him about Billy. He nodded sadly but said not to worry because he'd do what was necessary.

As we set off, I glanced back and saw the Spook carrying Bony Lizzie over his left shoulder and striding away towards Chipenden. From behind you'd have taken him for a man thirty years younger.

Chapter Twelve.

The Desperate And The Dizzy As we came down the hill towards the farm, warm drizzle was drifting into our faces. Somewhere far off a dog barked twice, but below us everything was quiet and still.

It was late afternoon and I knew that my dad and Jack would be out in the fields, which would give me a chance to talk to Mam alone. It was easy for the Spook to tell me to take Alice home with me, but the journey had given me time to think and I didn't know how Mam would take it. I didn't feel she'd be happy having someone like Alice in the house, especially when I told her what she'd been up to. And as for Jack, I'd a pretty good idea what his reaction would be. From what Ellie had told me last time about his att.i.tude to my new job, having the niece of a witch in the house was the last thing he'd want.

As we crossed the yard I pointed to the barn. *Better shelter under there,' I said. *I'll go in and explain.'

No sooner had I spoken than the loud cry of a hungry baby came from the direction of the farmhouse.

Alice's eyes met mine briefly, then she looked down and I remembered the last time we'd been together when a child had cried.

Without a word, Alice turned and walked into the barn, her silence no more than I expected. You'd think that after all that had happened, there'd have been a lot to talk about on the journey, but we'd hardly spoken. I think she'd been upset by the way the Spook had held her by the jaw and smelled her breath. Maybe it had made her think about all the things she'd been up to in the past. Whatever it was, she'd seemed deep in thought and very sad for most of the journey.

I suppose I could have tried harder but I was too tired and weary, so we'd walked in silence until it had grown into a habit. It was a mistake: I should have made the effort to get to know Alice better then - it might have saved me a lot of trouble later.

As I jerked open the back door the crying stopped and I heard another sound, the comforting click of Mam's rocking chair.

The chair was by the window but the curtains weren't fully drawn and I could see by her face that she'd been peering through the narrow gap between them. She'd watched us enter the yard, and as I came into the room, she began to rock the chair faster and harder, staring at me all the while without blinking, one half of her face in darkness, the other lit by the large candle that was flickering in its big bra.s.s holder in the centre of the table.

*When you bring a guest with you, it's good manners to invite her into the house,' she said, her voice a mixture of annoyance and surprise. *I thought I'd taught you better than that.'

*Mr Gregory told me to bring her here,' I said. *Her name's Alice but she's been keeping bad company. He wants you to talk to her but I thought it was best to tell you what's happened first, just in case you didn't want to invite her in.'

So I drew up a chair and told Mam exactly what had happened. When I'd finished she let out a long sigh, then a faint smile softened her face.

*You've done well, son,' she told me. *You're young and new to the job so your mistakes can be forgiven. Go and bring that poor girl in, then leave us alone to talk. You might want to go upstairs and say h.e.l.lo to your new niece. Ellie will certainly be glad to see you.'

So I brought Alice in, left her with my mam and went upstairs.

Ellie was in the biggest bedroom. It used to belong to my mam and dad but they'd let her and Jack have it because there was room for another two beds and a cot, which would come in useful as their family grew.

I knocked lightly on the door, which was half open, but only looked into the room when Ellie called out for me to go in. She was sitting on the edge of the big double bed feeding the baby, its head half-hidden by her pink shawl. As soon as she saw me her mouth widened into a smile that made me feel welcome, but she looked tired and her hair lank and greasy. Although I looked away quickly, Ellie was sharp and I knew she'd seen me staring and read the expression in my eyes, because she quickly smoothed the hair away from her eyes.

*Oh, I'm sorry, Tom,' she said. *I must look a mess -I've been up all night. I've just grabbed an hour's sleep. You've got to get it while you can with a very hungry baby like this. She cries a lot, especially at night.'

*How old is she?' I asked.

*She'll be just six days old tonight. She was born not long after midnight last Sat.u.r.day.'

That was the night I'd killed Mother Malkin. For a moment the memory of it came rushing back and a shiver ran down my spine.

*Here, she's finished feeding now,' Ellie said with a smile. *Would you like to hold her?'

That was the last thing I wanted to do. The baby was so small and delicate that I was scared of squeezing it too hard or dropping it and I didn't like the way its head was so floppy. It was hard to say no though, because Ellie would have been hurt. As it was, I didn't have to hold the baby for long because the moment it was in my arms its little face went red and it began to cry.

*I don't think it likes me,' I told Ellie.

*She's a she not an it,' Ellie scolded, making her face all stern and outraged. *Don't worry, it's not you, Tom,' she said, her mouth softening into a smile. *I think she's still hungry, that's all.'

The baby stopped crying the moment Elhe took her back and I didn't stay long after that. Then, on my way downstairs, I heard a sound from the kitchen I hadn't expected.

It was laughter, the loud, hearty laughter of two people getting on very well together. The moment I opened the door and walked in, Alice's face became very serious, but Mam carried on laughing aloud for a few moments, and even when she stopped, her face was still lit up with a wide smile. They'd been sharing a joke, a very funny joke, but I didn't like to ask what it was and they didn't tell me. The look in both their eyes made me feel that it was something private.

My dad once told me that women know things that men don't. That sometimes they have a certain look in their eyes, but when you see it, you should never ask them what they're thinking. If you do they might tell you something you don't want to hear. Well, whatever they'd been laughing at had certainly brought them closer; from that moment on it seemed as if they'd known each other for years. The Spook had been right. If anyone could sort Alice out, it had to be Mam.

I did notice one thing though. Mam gave Alice the room opposite hers and Dad's. They were the two rooms at the top of the first flight of stairs. Mam had very sharp ears and it meant that if Alice so much as turned over in her sleep, she would hear it.

So for all that laughter, Mam was still watching Alice.

When he came back from the fields, Jack gave me a really dark scowl and muttered to himself. He seemed angry at something. But Dad was pleased to see me, and to my surprise he shook hands with me. He always shook hands when greeting my other brothers who'd left home but this was the first time for me. It made me feel sad and proud at the same time. He was treating me as if I were a man, making my own way in the world.

Jack hadn't been in the house five minutes when he came looking for me. *Outside,' he said, keeping his voice low so that n.o.body else could hear. *I want to talk to you.'

We walked out into the yard and he led the way round the side of the barn, close to the pigpens, where we couldn't be seen from the house.

*Who's the girl you've brought back with you?'

*Her name's Alice. It's just someone who needs help,' I said. *The Spook told me to bring her home so that Mam could talk to her.'

*What do you mean, she needs help?'

*She's been keeping bad company, that's all.'

*What sort of bad company?'