The Door That Led to Where Read Online Free PDF Page B

top-floor flat, in what had once been a children’s nursery. Below the windows ran a faded frieze depicting bunny rabbits. AJ had never before seen such a room; not because of the rabbits but because of the huge collection of books. There were books everywhere. Books propping up tables, books supporting shelves, books piled precariously on top of one another. On an old table sat a lopsided candelabra with half-melted candles, and on one wall hung a panorama of London dated 1642. Time here had not stood still; rather it had fallen backwards. He put the books on the table, causing a cloud of dust to rise.
    â€˜Sherry?’ said the professor, reaching for a decanter.
    AJ had never tried sherry.
    â€˜Why not?’ he said.
    The glasses were none too clean.
    â€˜They belonged to Napoleon,’ said the gentleman. The biscuits he offered looked as if they might have belonged to Napoleon too. They had a greenish tinge to them.
    â€˜No thanks,’ said AJ.
    The sherry had at least stopped AJ’s heart beating bass and drum.
    â€˜How is AJ spelled? Two As and a Y?’
    â€˜No, just the initials. Short for Aiden Jobey. Or so I’m told.’
    â€˜Very interesting,’ said the professor. ‘Very interesting.’
    AJ was mesmerised by the clutter in the room. On a small table propped up by books stood a rigged wooden galleon. It looked older than anything AJ had ever seen, as if it belonged in a museum.
    â€˜What’s that?’ he asked.
    â€˜Oh, it’s a model of one of the ships of the Armada.’
    â€˜Is that for real?’ asked AJ. ‘Bloody hell, this place is like an antique shop.’
    â€˜I suppose it is.’
    â€˜And all these books – do you read them?’
    â€˜Yes. Do you read?’ asked the professor.
    â€˜I love reading,’ said AJ, bending his head to have a better look at the spine of a book whose cover was so old it resembled wood. The professor passed it to him.
    AJ opened it. ‘“
The Trial of Charles I
”,’ he read. ‘This was published in 1648.’
    It smelled of another time.
    â€˜You work for Mr Groat, don’t you?’ said the professor, helping himself and AJ to another glass. Slightly light-headed, AJ saw that the professor’s jacket was patched in places, the cardigan he wore under it was buttoned up wrong and his trousers concertinaed at the ankles.
    â€˜What happened out there?’ asked the professor as if he was certain something had happened to AJ.
    AJ told him about the fog and the voice, keeping his eye on the professor all the while, looking for traces of disbelief. There were none. AJ didn’t mention the key nor the conversation he’d overheard, although he had a sickening feeling that it was about him.
    As he was leaving the professor said, ‘I look forward to seeing you again, young man.’ He opened the door. ‘Just pop up, any time.’
    Only as the door was closing did AJ catch his last words.
    â€˜Best you keep that key to yourself.’

Chapter Six
    The second AJ stepped into the stairwell at Bodman House that night, he knew there was trouble. He could hear plates smashing and his mum shouting. When he reached the second floor, Vera from the flat opposite Elsie’s was on the landing.
    â€˜If she doesn’t put a sock in it I’ll do it for her.’
    AJ climbed the flights of concrete stairs dreading what would greet him.
    â€˜Oh, look what the cat’s brought in,’ shouted his mum.
    She was surrounded by broken crockery. The muffled sound of sobbing came from Roxy’s room.
    â€˜What’s going on?’ asked AJ.
    â€˜What does it look like?’ she said and pushed past him. ‘Frank!’ she screeched.
    Frank came out of the bedroom carrying an Arsenal holdall. He looked done in, his usually greyish complexion had taken on an unhealthy, reddish glow.
    â€˜I’m not staying here. I’ve had enough,’ he