The Hidden World Read Online Free PDF Page A

window.’
    Jessica tapped on the door panel with her knuckle and called out, ‘Hello? Hello? Is there anybody there?’
    They waited, but there was no reply. She tapped again, and hissed, ‘Don’t be afraid! We’re here to help you!’
    There was still no answer. Eventually Renko stood up and said, ‘There’s nobody in there, Jessica. We’ll have to look through all of the other rooms.’
    Together they went along the upstairs corridor, trying every door handle and tapping at every door they couldn’t open. The house had nine bedrooms altogether, as well as a box room and Grannie’s sewing-room, but the bedrooms they could open were empty, and there was no reply from the rooms that were locked.
    â€˜Forget it,’ said Renko. ‘There’s nobody here.’
    â€˜But you heard them.’
    â€˜I know I heard them. I’m not saying I didn’t.’
    â€˜So where are they, then?’
    â€˜Maybe they’re in the attic.’
    â€˜They sounded so close.’
    â€˜Yeah, well, it’s amazing how voices can travel along chimneys and drainpipes and stuff.’
    â€˜All right then. Let’s take a look in the attic.’
    She was about to open the narrow cream-painted door that led up to the attic when Grandpa Willy came puffing up the stairs. ‘How’s it going, kids?’
    â€˜Fine, thanks, Grandpa. I was just showing Renko my CDs.’
    â€˜You like that stuff, Renko?’
    â€˜Beck, and Eminem? Sure.’
    â€˜Andy Williams is more my style. “The Days of Wine and Roses”. Jeez, I think I ate two muffins too many. I think I need to lie down.’
    Jessica glanced at Renko and she could tell he was thinking the same thing. They couldn’t explore the attic while Grandpa Willy was up here.
    â€˜Renko was just leaving, Grandpa.’
    â€˜OK then. Good to meet you, Renko. Good to see some of Jessica’s friends paying her a visit for a change. You come again.’
    â€˜Yes, sir. I certainly will, sir.’
    Grandpa Willy went off to his bedroom in a fit of coughing while Jessica and Renko went downstairs. Renko took his coat off the rack and shuffled himself into it.
    â€˜Grannie and Grandpa are going out tomorrow afternoon. They always go out Thursdays for their over-sixties’ club. Do you want to come round?’
    â€˜I don’t know … I’m kind of busy tomorrow.’
    â€˜How about Saturday? Do you want to come around Saturday? I could make pizza or something. I make really good pizza.’
    â€˜I don’t know. I’ll have to see what I’m doing.’
    â€˜I’m going to take a look in the attic even if you don’t come with me.’
    Renko hesitated for a moment, and then he said, ‘Listen … I don’t know if I really want to get involved in this. I heard something, for sure. I heard somebody talking, I’m not saying that I didn’t. But, you know, maybe it’s just one of those what-d’you-call-its. Natural phenomena. Like when you can see cities that are hundreds of miles away, floating in the sky. Only this is voices.’
    â€˜So you’re not going to come, then?’
    Renko gave a non-committal shrug.
    â€˜That’s all right,’ said Jessica. ‘At least you came around to say you were sorry, even if I didn’t know what it was you were supposed to be sorry about.’
    â€˜Yeah. Sorry.’
    She opened the door for him and he stepped out into the wintry chill. She watched him walk all the way down the pathway to the gate, but he didn’t turn round once. The sky was orange and the first few flakes of fresh snow were falling.
    â€˜Jessica! Is that front door open? There’s a howling draft in here!’
    Jessica closed the door and the log fire in the hallway billowed out a cloud of eye-stinging smoke. She went into the kitchen where Grannie was making pies. ‘Sorry, Grannie. I was just