The Darke Toad Read Online Free PDF

“That’s a good idea, Linda. But what kind of professional? Not a nasty little Wizard Apprentice, I hope.”
    Linda laughed. “No, something much better than that. A ship’s rat!”
    â€œA rat?” The Witch Mother sounded scornful. “We’ve got plenty of those living in this rubbish.” She kicked at the floor and sent flying a shower of liquified carrots. As if on cue, a rat fled for cover.
    Linda sighed. “Not a real rat, Witch Mother. It’s what they call those kids who work on the ships doing all the nasty jobs that no one else wants to do. They’re tough little things. One of those would last for ages.”
    The witches fell silent. Simon could tell that the suggestion was not popular.
    â€œBut Linda,” Daphne ventured, “those rat kids live on ships. And ships live on salt water. And, well, you know what happens to us in …” Daphne trailed off. It was considered bad luck to mention that Darke Witches had a tendency to dissolve in salt water (which is why you will never see a Darke witch cry).
    â€œI know exactly what happens to us, Daphne, thank you,” said Linda. “But we shall not need to go near any of that saltwater stuff. Because we will get the kid to come to us .”
    â€œHow?” asked Daphne.
    â€œWoodworm,” said Linda.
    Daphne went pale. She could tell that Linda had something nasty planned.
    Linda turned to the Witch Mother. “Tell Daphne to go get her giant woodworms, please, Witch Mother.”
    â€œGo get your giant woodworms, Daphne,” the Witch Mother said obediently.
    Daphne looked horrified. “Why?”
    â€œWhy?” the Witch Mother asked Linda.
    â€œBecause I say so ,” said Linda.
    â€œBecause she says so,” said the Witch Mother.
    â€œB-but …” Daphne spluttered.
    â€œUnless, Daphne,” Linda snarled, “you, too , would like a pair of elephant ears. So that you and Dorinda could have little elephant-ear styling sessions together.”
    The Witch Mother cackled loudly and Veronica dutifully joined in.
    Daphne gulped. “How many woodworms would you like, Linda?”
    Linda smiled, her yellowing teeth glinting in the light from the stove. “All of them.”
    Daphne looked horrified. “ All of them?”
    â€œYou heard. Get them!”
    Daphne fled. She clattered up a ladder and disappeared through a hole in the kitchen ceiling.
    Simon and DomDaniel sat awkwardly on the sofa together, watching the preparations for going out. Drowsy in the warm fug of the kitchen, Simon fell asleep and was woken half an hour later by the nasty, squashy sensation of DomDaniel’s hand squeezing his shoulder.
    â€œCome on, Heap,” his Master said. “Time for my test drive.”
    Simon got blearily to his feet and very nearly fell over the wheelbarrow.
    â€œMind my woodworms!” yelled Daphne.
    â€œOh. Sorry,” Simon mumbled.
    Daphne glared at him. “You will be, if anything happens to them.”
    A grating laugh came from Linda. “Get used to it, Daphne. A lot is going to happen to those boring—ha ha, boring , get it?—little biters.”
    Excited now by the prospect of a servant and the Darke Toad—and much encouraged that the Clothed Bones were still Clothed —the Witch Mother smiled, her makeup cracking like a dried-up riverbed. “Ah, Dommie,” she said. “Off out on the town, eh? Just like the old times.”
    DomDaniel sighed. The old times with the Witch Mother had been nothing but trouble. “Indeed, Pamela,” he murmured.
    â€œOh, you know you can call me Pammie, Dommie.”
    DomDaniel grimaced and Simon suppressed a smile—clearly that was a step too far.
    â€œOff we go!” The Witch Mother threw open the kitchen door and offered her arm to DomDaniel, who obediently took it and led her out. A quick scuffle between Linda and Veronica ensued over who should go next. It