Spellfall Read Online Free PDF Page A

Tim shouted after her, miraculously coming out of his sulk. But Julie said, “Leave her alone, Timothy. I’ll manage – unless you’re volunteering, that is?”
    Tim grunted. “I gotta get ready. I’m goin’ out.” A chair scraped and after a moment his heavy footsteps could be heard clumping upstairs.
    Natalie went through the utility room and stopped at the door to the garage. She took a deep breath and knocked. “Dad?” she called, letting herself in.
    It was dark inside with the up-and-over door shut. A blast of chill air brought garage smells – oil, polish, paint. Taking up most of the space, Mr Marlins’ car crouched like a caged animal. As far as Natalie could remember, this car hadn’t left the garage since the day her mother died, although Dad spent hours out here polishing it. Above its gleaming black roof, loops of cable hung like giant cobwebs. As her eyes adjusted, shelves took shape in the gloom supporting the usual garage junk of sagging cardboard boxes, rusty tins, and jars of old nails.
    “Dad?” Her voice squeaked slightly. “Are you there? I’ve come for the tray.” She stood on tiptoe to reach the dangling light cord. Electric light flooded the garage, making her squint.
    As if she’d woken it up, the car gave an angry lurch. The driver’s door opened and a rumpled figure with egg yolk in his beard lurched out. He frowned when he saw Natalie. “I thought I told you kids to stay out of here. Where’s Julie?”
    “Washing up.”
    He grunted and clutched at the car. Inside, empty bottles rolled on the passenger seat. Natalie counted them. Six. Mr Marlins’ gaze followed hers and for a moment he looked sheepish. Then his expression tightened. “Go back in the house, there’s a good girl. I’m busy.”
    “I... need to ask you something.”
    He blinked at her, as if surprised she might think he had anything useful to give. “Is it trouble with homework? Ask Julie, she’ll help you.”
    Natalie gritted her teeth. “She can’t help me with this. I need to know about something I found today – something weird.”
    The frown came back.
    Feeling slightly foolish, Natalie brought out the wrapper.
    She didn’t know what she’d been expecting. Sarcasm, maybe. Or indulgent laughter as if she were five. Her father provided neither. Before she could move, he lurched around the car, kicked the door shut, and snatched the wrapper from her hand. His beer-breath made her feel sick as he thrust her against the wall. Natalie’s heart hammered. The garage was insulated from the rest of the house. Would Julie hear if she screamed?
    Her father made as if to rip the wrapper in two, then seemed to change his mind and grabbed her upper arm, fingers digging in painfully. “Where did you get this?” he demanded. “Who gave it to you? What lies did they tell you? Answer me, girl!” He shook her until the elastic holding her ponytail snapped. Green beads rolled across the floor.
    Tears sprang to her eyes. “It wasn’t my fault—”
    “Who gave it to you?”
    “No one. At least, not really. An old man dropped it in the car park at the supermarket this morning.”
    “ Dropped it?”
    “Yes! By the recycling bins. He was throwing it away.” Not quite a lie.
    The bloodshot eyes narrowed. “You’re never to touch one of these things again, d’you hear? Never!”
    He let go of her arm so suddenly she stumbled and bruised her knees. While she stared, heart pounding, he snatched a tin off the nearest shelf, tipped out the screws it contained, and folded the wrapper until it would fit inside. Then he put the tin on the floor and stamped on the lid several times. Natalie put her hands over her ears. Finally, Mr Marlins unlocked the boot of his car and threw the rather mangled tin inside. There were other things in the boot. Small, sealed boxes. But before Natalie could read their labels, the boot slammed shut and her father turned the key.
    Still trembling from the unexpectedness of his reaction,