The Black Room Read Online Free PDF

again, and all the time the wild, angry voice went on and on, growling and raging at him. It was all so fast and so painful that he didn’t even recognize the voice at first. But when he did, he rolled over onto his back and grabbed at the fists, bellowing as loudly as he could.
    â€œStop it, you lunatic—it’s me! Tosher! Don’t be a fool, Robbo! It’s me ! ”
    It was like shouting into a whirlwind. Robert was screaming and shaking and thumping as if he’d gone berserk. And none of Tom’s struggles were any use, because Robert was a head taller, and superfit from playing basketball.
    There was only one way to survive. As Robert came at him again, Tom lifted a foot and kicked him as hard as he could, in the groin. Robert lost his grip and doubled up on the ground, and Tom crawled away to a safe distance.
    â€œBloody hell, Robbo,” he said. “What’s got into you?”
    There was no answer. Only a sound of gasping. And something that sounded horribly like a sob.
    Helga had stopped barking now. She was pulling at her leash and whining uneasily as she watched Robert. Tom’s common sense told him to untie her, fast, and run away while there was still time.
    But something deeper and more dogged than common sense kept him crouching there under the trees. Robert was his friend. He couldn’t run out on him without knowing what was wrong.
    â€œYou could have broken my skull,” he said. “And I wasn’t doing anything. Only prodding around in that hole a bit—”
    There was a sudden, sharp movement as Robert’s head came up, like a bull’s. Helga stiffened and Tom edged a bit farther away.
    â€œWhoa! Give me a break,” he said. “What’s your problem?”
    Robert took a long, difficult breath. Slowly he pulled himself up onto his knees. “You don’t need to know that,” he said. His voice was rough and harsh. “Just keep away from here.”
    Tom could taste blood trickling down the back of his throat, and one of his eyes was starting to close. But he wasn’t going to back off now. “This is a public park, Doherty. I’ve got as much right as you have to be here. If you and The Hag want to play games, you should stick to your own backyard.”
    â€œShe’s called Emma,” Robert said in a fierce, clipped voice.
    â€œHag was good enough before,” Tom said bitterly. “All those years when you needed a friend to prop you up and keep you going. Or have you forgotten about that?”
    For the first time, Robert hesitated. It was just a second of uncertainty, but he looked more like he used to. Tom leaned forward and spoke to him —theold Robert.
    â€œThis is crazy,” he said. “Can’t you see what you’ve done to me? Look at the blood.”
    Robert shuffled closer, on hands and knees. Tom lifted his head and met him eye to eye. After a moment, Robert sat back on his heels. His clenched fists relaxed, but his face was grim.
    â€œYou’ve got to keep away from here, Tosh,” he said. “I can’t explain. You’ve just got to promise to stay away.”
    His voice was very quiet, but it made Tom shudder. Whatever was going on, it wasn’t any kind of game. It was something powerful and weird. All his instincts told him to back off and keep clear.
    â€œDo it,” Robert said. “Promise.”
    Robert had got himself into something frightening—that was obvious. And he was offering Tom an easy way out. A chance to walk off without getting involved. All it would take was a smile and a quick shrug. That’s cool, Robbo. No need to worry about me. If he said that, and meant it, Robert would let him go. He could turn away and leave the danger behind him. Whatever it was.
    But it would still be there for Robert.
    And they would never be friends again. Not really.
    Very slowly, Tom shook his head. “No, I won’t do it. Not unless you give