The Book of Lies Read Online Free PDF Page B

that? They didn’t even want to think about it. But Hugh had a point to make. “It sounded pretty big, don’t you think? It’d need quite a bit to eat, but all Mrs Timmins ever leaves outside that strange door is a small tray for the old man.”
    “Maybe he lets it out at night, to go hunting in the forest,” suggested Dominic.
    “How does it get out, then? We’ve never heard it going though the house.”
    “There’s a tunnel,” said a voice.
    They spun around, all three of them trying to find who had spoken. Marcel was the first to see her. “Bea,” he breathed in relief when the girl appeared from the shadow of the well where she had just filled a bucket. “How do you know there’s a tunnel?”
    “Because I’ve heard strange noises in the wall beside my bed. They started soon after that man came to live in the tower.”
    “But where does it come out then? I’ve never seen a hole in the wall,” said Dominic sceptically.
    “It’s on the other side of the house, where we don’t go very much, near the orchard. There are bushes up against the wall, that’s why you haven’t noticed it. I’ve seen some tracks there – giant paw prints, they looked like – but the opening is hidden somehow. I need to take another look.”
    “No!” blurted Marcel, horrified. “Don’t go near those bushes. Whatever’s up in that tower, well… I don’t think any of us wants to meet it face to face.”
    Before they could say another word, little Dot called from the kitchen door. “Bea, Mrs Timmins is waiting for that water.”
    Bea hurried off, easily visible to them all now in the sunlight. Very strange, Marcel thought to himself yet again.
    Though they were meant to be on their way to the stables, the boys couldn’t resist detouring to the far side of the house,where they stayed well back from the overgrown bushes that hugged the walls. “In there somewhere, eh?” said Hugh.
    None of them went in for a closer look. They could still see that tower from here, though. There was only one window on this side. Marcel scoured the glass for a glimpse of Lord Alwyn. “Why does a sorcerer live here?” he wondered aloud. “A man like him would have a house of his own, don’t you think?”
    “Or a whole castle.”
    “If you ask me, he’s here because of you,” said Dominic. “You heard Mrs Timmins at dinner last night. We’re not even supposed to mention your name over in the village.”
    “And if I go there myself, he’ll send that beast after me.” I don’t think I’ll ever find out who I really am, Marcel added to himself.
    Hugh broke into his thoughts with another loud cough. “Come on,” he said to Dominic, “Albert’ll be wondering where we’ve got to.”
    They walked silently back into the courtyard and to the stables, where they parted company. Marcel pushed aside the groaning door and called tentatively, “Hello, anyone here?”
    When there was no answer, he sank down on a saddle in the darkness to wait for Old Belch. He hadn’t laid eyes on the man yet and didn’t know quite what to expect.
    Soon he heard heavy footsteps on the cobblestones of the courtyard, then the stable door was swept aside to reveal thesilhouette of a man as wide as he was tall. “Now then, where’s this lad who’ll be helping me with my horses?” he called.
    Marcel scrambled to his feet, but no sooner had the man shouted into the narrow confines of the stables than a loud gurgle exploded from his throat. He slapped a hand over his mouth. “Er, sorry, my boy,” he muttered, but it did him no good, as his stomach immediately erupted again.
    No need to ask how he acquired his name then, thought Marcel. “Albert said I’m to work with you today, sir,” he said, as he reluctantly moved closer. Despite the gloom of the stables, Marcel could see the man better now, his little pig eyes squeezed above hearty cheeks. His beard was nothing much to speak of, just a few gingery wisps that had no chance of hiding that series