The Lunatic's Curse Read Online Free PDF Page A

why not kill him? Firstly, it was not so easy. There was always the small matter of the body, usually the reason murderers didn’t get away with it. Far easier to imprison his father in such a way that no one would hear his protestations. And who would believe the ravings of a lunatic? With Stradigund to advise on legalities, no doubt Acantha
was well aware the law stated that when a man died his wife did not inherit a husband’s wealth; it went first to blood relatives.
    And that would be me! thought Rex. So by declaring Ambrose insane she had bypassed the laws of inheritance.
    But how could she possibly have known that he was to lose his mind like that?
    He kept coming back to the same answer: Acantha had a hand in his father’s breakdown. And, if so, then it was no wonder that Chapelizod and Stradigund had arrived so swiftly that night.
They must have been lying in wait. Chapelizod had declared Ambrose insane within minutes of his arrival, despite barely examining him. As for the Law of a Hundred Days, Stradigund must have dug deep
to find that one.
    The whole ghastly scene began to replay itself in Rex’s mind. He hated to think of it; it made him feel physically ill. In an effort to block out the full horror of what he had seen he had
taken to reciting a poem, a piece of doggerel, something he had heard in the town from a travelling bard.
    Oh, how I love to wander, wander, wander
    Wander, wander along.
    And as I go, a-ho-ho-ho,
    I always sing this song.
    The clock struck the seventh chime of nine as Rex emerged from his hiding place. Too late, he heard Acantha’s elephantine footsteps outside in the hall and before he
could do anything the door opened. He stood frozen on the spot. Acantha was framed in the doorway, her feet planted apart, her face flushed, and she was swaying ever so slightly.
    ‘Rex,’ she said unusually calmly. ‘I thought I told you to stay in your room.’
    ‘I know,’ said Rex evenly. ‘But I needed something to read.’ Thinking quickly he held up the book of gases.
    Acantha blinked slowly. ‘How long have you been in here?’
    ‘Oh, not long. I saw you and Mr Stradigund and Mr Chapelizod come out.’
    Acantha arched an eyebrow. She looked as if she was about to say something but changed her mind. A self-satisfied expression washed over her hot-cheeked face. ‘Well, perhaps you should
take advantage of the library; there is plenty to learn in here.’
    ‘Robert teaches me well enough.’
    ‘Robert? Oh, I have let him go.’
    Suddenly Rex knew he could stand it no longer. Her knowing, fleshy, complacent face, her barbed remarks, the way she spoke about his father. Something inside him exploded.
    ‘You . . . you cruel, foul-smelling witch!’ he shouted and lunged violently at her. ‘I know you sent him there because you wanted him out of the way. I know it!’ He
raised his fists to beat upon her but she grabbed him by the wrists. She was strong, far stronger than he could have anticipated, and her eyes were wild. And there was that smell from her, a smell that she couldn’t disguise with all her
expensive perfumes and waters. And suddenly he knew what it was.
    She smelt like an animal.
    ‘Look at you,’ she hissed, and spit came out of the corners of her mouth. ‘Look what your father did to you.’ She thrust his arm upwards to reveal the scar. It was red
and pulsating from the pressure. ‘You ungrateful wretch. I saved you from him. I wonder if I should have bothered. If you’re not careful, lad, you’ll end up with your
father. I’m warning you now. The sooner you’re gone from here, the better.’
    Rex pulled away and pushed past her. He tore up the stairs, three at a time, and ran to his room, slamming the door. He threw himself on to the velvet counterpane. He wanted to cry, but he
wouldn’t let himself. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. As he turned, a crackling noise came from under his pillow so he reached in and pulled out a small square of