The Spooks battle wc-4 Read online

  "Don't speak about Mam like that!" I demanded angrily. "You know nothing about her!" But I was baffled by his reference to a goat song. What was that?Tibb's response was a snort of laughter, and another bead of moisture fell from his mouth to soil my shirt front."I know nothing? How wrong you are. I know more than you. Much, much more than you. More now than you will everknow…"Then you'll know what's in the trunks," I said softly.Tibb gave a low growl of anger."You can't see that, can you?" I taunted. "You can't see everything."You will give us the keys soon, then we will see. Then we willknow!"I'll tell you now," I said. "There's no need to wait for the keys -"Tell me! Tell me!" Tibb demanded.

  Suddenly I wasn't afraid of him anymore. I'd no idea at all what I was going to say, but when I spoke, the words came out of my mouth as if uttered by somebody else."In the trunks is your death," I said quietly. "In the trunks is the destruction of the Pendle covens."Tibb gave a great roar of anger and bafflement, and for a moment I thought he was about to hurl himself down onto me. But instead I heard the sound of claws cutting into the wooden ceiling panels, and a dark shape moved above me toward the door. Moments later I was alone.I wanted to get up and go into the next room to see if I could help Father Stocks, but I lacked the strength to do so. I struggled for long hours through the darkness, but was too weak and exhausted to clamber from the bed, and I lay there in thrall to Wurmalde's power.Only when the first dawn light illuminated the window did the enchantment fall from my limbs. I managed to sit up and looked down at the pillow. There was a bloodstainon it, two more on the front of my shirt. The blood had dripped from Tibb's open mouth.

  He must have been feeding…Remembering the groans, cries, and prayers from the next bedroom, I rushed out into the corridor. The priest's bedroom door was ajar. I opened it farther and stepped inside cautiously. The heavy curtains were still closed, the candle had long since burned out, and the room was in near darkness. I could see the shape of Father Stocks lying on the bed, but I couldn't hear him breathing."Father Stocks," I called, and received a faint answering groan."Is that you, Tom?" he said weakly. "Are you all right?"Yes, Father. What about you?"Open the curtains and let in some light…"So I 'went to the window and drew back the curtains as he'd asked. The weather had certainly changed for the worse, and the sky was heaped with dark clouds. When I turned back to face Father Stocks, I recoiled in horror. The pillow and top sheet were soaked in blood. I went tothe side of the bed and looked down at him, full of pity for his plight.

  "Help me, Tom. Help me sit up…"He gripped my right arm, and I pulled him forward into a sitting position. He groaned in pain. There were beads of sweat on his brow, and he looked very pale. With my left hand I lifted the pillows and positioned them behind his back to offer support."Thank you, Tom. Thank you. You're a good lad," he said, trying to smile. There was a tremor in his voice, and his breathing was fast and shallow. "Did you see that foul thing? Did it visit you in the night?" he asked.I nodded. "It came into my room but never touched me. It just talked, that's all."God be praised for that," said the priest. "It talked to me, too, and what a tale it told. You were right about Mistress Wurmalde-I've underestimated her. She cares little for her position in this house now. She's the power behind the Pendle clans, the one who's trying to unite them. Within a few days this whole district will belong tothe Devil himself. Her days of pretending are over, it seems. She's already managed to unite the Malkins and the Deanes and believes she can persuade the Mouldheels to join them. Then, at Lammas, the three covens will combine to summon the Fiend and bring a new age of darkness to this world."When that foul creature finished talking, it dropped down from the ceiling onto my chest.

  I tried to throw it off, but it fed ravenously and within moments I became as weak as a kitten. I prayed. Prayed harder than I've ever done before. I'd like to think that God answered, but in truth I think it only left me when it had drunk its fill." "You need a doctor, Father. We need to get you help -" "No, Tom. No. It's not a doctor I need. Left alone to rest, my strength would return, but I won't get the chance. Once it's dark, that beast will return to feed from me again, and this time I fear I shall die. Oh, Tom!" he said, clutching at my arm, his eyes wide with fear, his whole body trembling. "I'm afraid to die like this, alone in the darkness. I felt as if I was at the bottom of a greatpit, with Satan himself pressing me down and stifling my cries so that even God couldn't hear my prayers. I'm too weak to move, but you've got to get away, Tom. I need John Gregory now. Bring John here. He'll know what to do. He's the only one who can help me now…"Don't worry, Father," I told him. "Try to rest. You'll be safe during the daylight hours. I'll get away just as soon as I can, and I'll be back with my master long before dark."

  I returned to my room, wondering about Tibb and the threat he posed to me now. My studies had taught me certain things. Tibb was a creature of the dark, so he might have to hide away during the daylight hours. Even if he could stand daylight, he might not be as dangerous. I'd decided to risk climbing down the ivy, but not until the cart had passed the end of the carriageway. I didn't want to be seen by Cobden, the driver; even the two bailiffs might be in the pay of Wurmalde.After about twenty minutes I heard the sound of horses' hooves from behind the house and saw Cobden drivinghis cart down to the gates. They didn't open by themselves on this occasion, and he had to climb down and unfasten them. Outside he was soon joined by Constable Barnes, who was folio-wed by the two bailiffs on foot. After the men jumped up into the cart, the party set off for Malkin Tower -without so much as a glance toward the house. No doubt Cobden had already been briefed on what to tell the constable and No-well. As far as they were concerned, both Father Stocks and I were ill.As I watched them ride away into the distance, I began to wonder about the wisdom of going back to Downham.

  The Spook and Alice would have expected us to return with news. By now, after a whole day and night without -word of -what was happening, perhaps they'd set off to investigate and might be on their way already. It really -wasn't such a bad thing, because both the Spook and Alice knew Pendle district -well and would take the direct route to Read Hall, passing to the west of the hill, the way I'd come with Father Stocks. More than likely, I -would meet them on the way.I eased up the sash window and climbed out feet first, turning so that I was facing back toward the wall. I gripped the window ledge firmly and lowered myself to the full extent of my arms, then transferred my left hand to the ivy, pushing my fingers deep into it, reassured by the feel of thick, woody stems. The ivy held my weight, but I made a nervous descent, fearful of what could be waiting for me at the bottom. I took more than a few risks in my eagerness to get to the ground as quickly as possible, but moments later I was standing on the pebbles and immediately set off running down to the gates. I glanced back once or twice and was relieved to see that there were no signs of pursuit. Once beyond the grounds of Read Hall, I headed north across the laund, running hard toward Downham.As the crow flies, the distance between Read Hall and Downham is probably no more than five or six miles, but the difficult hilly terrain meant it was actually quite a bit farther. I had to get there and back by nightfall, andneeded to run at least part of the way. It seemed sensible to complete the first journey as quickly as possible, thus making it easier to return at a more leisurely pace, because by then I'd be tired.After the first two miles or so I slowed down to a fast walking pace. I was making good time, and just after what I judged to be the halfway point, I allowed myself a five-minute rest and quenched my thirst with the cool water from a stream. But when I set off walking again, it seemed much harder to make progress.

  Fasting is a good idea when facing the dark, but it doesn't help when real exertion is required, and I hadn't eaten since the previous morning's breakfast of cold mutton. I felt weak and started to make heavy weather of it. Even so, I thought of poor Father Stocks and gritted my teeth, forcing myself to run another mile before settling down once more to a brisk walking pace. I was grateful for the cloud cover, "which kept the heat of the sun from my head.I kept hoping tha
t I would meet the Spook and Alice, but saw no sign of them at all. When I reached the out-skirts of Downham, despite all my attempts at speed, it was already midafternoon, and I wasn't relishing the prospect of the return journey.But when I arrived in Downham, to my dismay, the Spook wasn't there.

  Chapter XI

  Thief And Murderer

  Alice came out to meet me at the church gate. As I approached, I saw her welcoming smile start to fade. She'd read the expression on my face and knew there was trouble."You all right, Tom?"Is Mr. Gregory here?" I asked."No. Your brother James arrivedlast night, and they went off together first thing this morning."What for? Did they say when they'd be back?"Old Gregory never tells me much, does he? Talked to James but mostly made sure I was well out of earshot. Still doesn't trust me and perhaps he never will. As for when he'll be back, he didn't say. But I'm sure he'll be back before nightfall. He just said that you were to wait here until he returned."I can't do that. Father Stocks is in danger," I told her. "Soon after nightfall, if help doesn't reach him, he'll be dead. I came to fetch the Spook, but now I'll have to go back alone and see what I can do."Not alone, Tom," Alice said. "Where you go, I go. Tell me all about it…"I kept my story brief, giving her the bare bones of the situation as we walked quickly past the church and between the gravestones toward the cottage. Alice didn't say much, but she looked horrified when I told her about Tibb drinking Father Stocks's blood.

  At my mention ofWurmalde, a look of puzzlement flickered across her face.When I'd finished, she gave a sigh. "Just gets worse and worse, it does. I've something to tell you as well -"At that moment we reached the house. "Save it for the journey," I told her. "We'll talk as we walk."Wasting no time, I collected my rowan staff. My bag would have been an encumbrance, so I left it behind, but I put a handful of salt in my right breeches pocket and iron filings in my left. In addition I tied my silver chain around my waist under my shirt. Once again, I left off my cloak: It was dangerous in Pendle to signal that you were a spook's apprentice.Next I wrote a short note for the Spook to tell him what had happened.Dear Mr. Gregory, rather Stocks is in great danger at.Read Hall. Please follow me there just as quickly as you can. Bring James as well. We a11 need all the help we can get.Tibb has drunk father Stocks's blood and left him weak and close to death. The creature will feed again after dark, and if I don't get back and help. he will certainly die. Beware Mistress Wurmalde, the housekeeper. She's a witch who is trying to unite all three covens. She comes from Greece and is an old enemy of Mam's.Your apprentice, Tom PS. Some of Magistrate Nowell's servants seem to be working for Wurmalde. Trust nobody.That done, I drank a cupful of water and had a nibble of cheese. I took more cheese with me for the journey, and within twenty minutes of arriving at Downham I was on the road again. But this time I wasn't alone.At first we walked in silence, at a very fast pace, Alice just in the lead; she recognized the urgency of getting back to Read Hall before dark. After we'd covered about a third of the distance, I began to feel very tired butforced myself to keep going by imagining Tibb on the ceiling, about to drop down onto Father Stockss chest. It was too horrible to think about -I had to get him away from Read Hall before that happened.Nevertheless, almost without being aware of it, we did begin to slow. It was Alice. She was walking slightly behind me now, breathing heavily, and seemed to be having difficulty keeping up. I turned to see what was the matter and noticed that she looked pale and weary."What's wrong, Alice?" I asked her, coming to a halt. "You don't look well-"Alice fell to her knees and suddenly cried out in pain, then clutched at her throat and started to choke."Can't breathe properly," she gasped. "Feels like someone's squeezing my windpipe!"

  For a moment I panicked, not knowing what I could do to help, but gradually Alice's breathing returned to normal and she sat down wearily on the grass."It's Mab Mouldheel up to her tricks. Using that lock of hair against me, she is. She's been doing it all day. But don't worry, it's starting to pass. Let's rest for ten minutes and I'll feel better. Besides, I've something to tell you. Something for you to think about."Still concerned about Father Stocks, I considered going on ahead and asking Alice to catch up when she felt better. But it seemed certain that we'd be back well before sunset and I was tired as well, so I told myself that ten minutes wouldn't matter. Besides, I was intrigued. What was she going to say?We sat ourselves down on a grassy slope with our backs to the hill. No sooner had I taken the weight off my legs than Alice began."Been talking to Mab, I have. Wants me to pass on a message to you -"What were you doing talking to her?" I demanded."Wouldn't choose to speak to her, would I? Came looking for me, she did. It was this morning, not long after Old Gregory had left. I heard someone shouting my name from the other side of the Avail and went out. It was Mab. She couldn't climb over to this side because thehouse is set in the church grounds. Holy ground, ain't it? Mab can't set foot there. Anyway, she wanted me to tell you this. She wants the trunks for herself. In return, she'll guide you into Malkin Tower and help you rescue Jack and his family."I looked at Alice in astonishment. "Do you think she can do that?"Yes, and what's more I think she's fond of you. More than a bit keen, I'd say!"

  "Don't be daft," I said. "She's a malevolent witch. We're natural enemies."Stranger things have happened," teased Alice."Anyway," I said, quickly changing the subject, "how would she get me inside the tower?"There's a tunnel. Leads straight into the dungeons."But why do we need Mab to guide us, Alice? You're a Deane and also a Malkin on your mother's side. Surely you know where the tunnel entrance is?"Alice shook her head. "I've been in the tower a few times, but only above ground. Know that part wellenough, but only Anne Malkin, their coven leader, knows where the actual entrance is. It's a secret passed down from generation to generation. Only one living person is ever given that knowledge! She'd only be allowed to show it to others if the whole coven was in mortal danger and they needed to get into the tower secretly and take refuge there."So how does Mab know? Is this some sort of trick? Maybe she's only pretending to know."

  "No, Tom, this is no trick. Remember that night when you saved me from the Mouldheels and we met Dead Maggie in the wood? Hungry for blood, Maggie was, and set off to meet 'em. Trouble is, there were too many and they got the better of her. Maggie was once the leader of the coven, so she knows where the entrance is. Got the secret from her, they did. Don't know how, but it wouldn't have been pleasant. Wouldn't talk easily, our Maggie, so they must have hurt her pretty bad. Mab said she'd hurt me, too, if I didn't talk you round. Got my lock of hair, ain't she. I'm starting to feel unwell again-think shemight be doing something to it now, just so I know what's what. And that's part of the bargain. Offer to give her the trunks and keys, and shell show you the entrance to the tunnel and help you rescue your family. Not only that -she'll return my lock of hair. Be more use to you when I get that back. At the moment I'm useless. Just a shadow of myself, I am."It seemed simple. All I had to do was surrender the trunks and I'd be given a chance to get Jack, Ellie, and Mary out-perhaps before midnight, before Wurmalde could carry out her threat. But, in a way, nothing had changed.Alice did look ill. Somehow we had to get that lock of hair back from Mab, but not this way. I shook my head. "I'm sorry, Alice, but I just can't do it. As I told you, Wurmalde says she'll swap Jack and his family for the keys, too. But whether I give them to Wurmalde or Mab, I'd still have surrendered them to a witch. It would still help the dark and place the County in danger."

  "This way is better, though, ain't it? Can you trust Wurmalde? Giving her the keys is easy-but what guarantee is there that you'll get your family back safely in return? Mab Mouldheel prides herself on always keeping her word. Once the bargain's made, she'll show us the way in person. She'll guide us through to the dungeons because the trunks will be nearby. She'll be in as much danger as us. Be a terrible thing for her, to be caught by the Malkins, so she needs to get in and out safely. We'll be with her every step of the 'way. Not only that-if she's helping us, maybe she won't join up with the Malkins and Deanes. We'll be stopping the covens uniting and releasing
the Fiend as well as rescuing your family."It's still giving her the trunks, though. I can't do that-" "Let me try to talk her round. Let's see if she'll do it for just one trunk. If she agrees to that and is prepared to give me back my lock of hair before we enter the tunnel, then we're laughing, ain't we? Just one trunk can't do that much harm."It's still one trunk too many. Mam wanted me to have them all, and it must be for an important reason. The lastthing she'd want is for me to give them to the dark!"No, Tom, the last thing she'd want is for Jack and his family to die!"

  "I'm not even sure about that, Alice," I said sadly. "However much it hurts, there are more people than just immediate family to consider. There's the County and the world beyond that."Then we'll do it your way!" Alice snapped. "We'll say that Mab can have the trunks in order to get to your family, but once we're inside the tower it'll be easy enough to get the better of her. Came up on me unawares, the Mouldheels did. And there were a lot of em. If it's just me and Mab, I'll sort her out for sure. Just see if I don't."But she's got a lock of your hair, Alice. You said yourself you're not as strong as you should be."I've got you, though, haven't I? Look, once we're inside the tower, the two of us can overpower Mab. Then we'll rescue your family before midnight, and once the soldiers have breached the wall -we'll get your trunks back."I thought about it for a bit, then nodded. "I'm not sure what other choice we have, though I doubt whether a few soldiers will be a match for the Malkins."You may be right, Tom. We may need another plan for getting hold of those trunks, but for rescuing your family this is the best plan we have."

  "I know you're right," I said, "but I feel uncomfortable with betraying Mab like that."Mab? You can't mean that! Just think what you're saying. Do you think she felt guilty when she was planning to kill me the other night? Or when she was trying to make you hers, or when she tortured me all day today with my hair? You're turning soft, Tom, like Old Gregory. Pretty girl smiles at you and your brain goes soft."I'm just saying it isn't right to break a promise. My dad taught me that."He didn't mean when you were dealing with a witch, though. Old Gregory probably wouldn't like our plan, but then he's never around when we need him these days.If he was, we wouldn't be having to rescue Father Stocks and your family all by ourselves."Her mention of Father Stocks reminded me again of the great danger he was in and the terrifying ordeal we were about to face at Read Hall. "Alice," I said, "something else is puzzling me. Who exactly is Wurmalde? She claims to come from the same land as Mam but talks as if she's part of the covens. As if she speaks for them."Alice frowned. "Never even heard of her before today."But you were in Pendle until two years ago. Wurmalde's been in Roger Nowell's employment longer than that."Nowell's a magistrate. Ain't likely I'd go near his house. Not stupid, am I? Nor any of my family either. As for his housekeeper-what would anyone know about her?"