Moon-Faced Ghoul-Thing by Barry Hutchison Read Free Book Online Page A

metal. He flicked his tongue around inside his mouth for a moment, analysing the taste, then his eyes went even wider with wonder.
    “Wyrdanium,” he gasped. “This metal, it’s wyrdanium.”
    “What’s wyrdanium?” Paradise asked.
    “Only one of the most magical elements in existence,” Mr Nuttendudge said. His fingers traced across the gauntlet’s surface. “You say it makes portals? Where to?”

    Ben looked at Paradise. They both shrugged. “Dunno,” he admitted.
    “I see. How do you activate it?”
    “There’s a button on the back,” said Ben. “Do you think it’ll get us home?”
    He made a move to press the button but Mr Nuttendudge caught him by the wrist.
    “Not here!” the little goblin yelped. “At the circle.”
    “What circle?” asked Ben.
    “The circle of the realms,” said Mr Nuttendudge. “Through the forest, not far from here. One hour. Perhaps two.”
    He raised a spindly arm and pointed through the gap in the wall with his oversized hand. “The circle is the key. From there we can target it. Point you the right way. Open a portal there and home you will go.”
    “And you’re sure about that?” asked Paradise.
    “Certain, yes. Almost definitely. Probably.” He shrugged. “It’s fifty-fifty.”
    Paradise nodded. “We’ve got to try.”
    Down on the floor, Burnie raised her head, peered out through the hole in the wall and let out a low growl.
    Ben and Paradise followed her gaze. They saw the forest with its twisted trees and tangled branches. They saw the brooding grey sky overhead. And within the forest’s deep shadows they saw something else. Something round and white that seemed to be floating through the darkness towards them.
    Ben’s stomach lurched, half with excitement and half with fear.
    It was back.
    The Moon-Faced Ghoul-Thing was back.

Chapter Ten
    “Run, go, flee,” urged Mr Nuttendudge, shooing the children towards a small door at the back of the house.
    Ben and Paradise had Wesley’s arms draped over their shoulders and were half carrying, half dragging him towards the door. He was stirring and groaning, but nowhere near awakeenough to walk on his own.
    Mr Nuttendudge hobbled ahead, unfastened half a dozen locks and slide bolts then pulled the door open, revealing an untidy garden beyond. “Hurry, hurry.”
    Paradise looked back and saw the Moon-Faced Ghoul-Thing float free of the forest. Burnie was up on all four feet, her tail pointed straight out behind her, her head lowered like she was ready to charge.
    “Come on, Burnie,” she called, clapping a hand against her thigh. “Here. Come here.”
    With a snarling yelp, the little dragon launched herself through the gap in the wall and bounded towards the approaching ghoulthing.
    “Burnie, no!” Paradise cried. She moved togo after the little dragon but Ben stopped her.
    “I’ll go. You get Wesley out of here.” He unhooked Wesley’s arm from around his shoulder. Paradise immediately fell over beneath the sleeping wizard’s weight. “Sorry,” said Ben, helping them both up again. “Should have thought that through.”
    “I will get the dragon,” said Mr Nuttendudge. “Find the well. Follow the tunnel within. The dragon and I will join you shortly.”
    Paradise glanced back again. Burnie was snapping and snarling at the Moon-Faced Ghoul-Thing but keeping a safe distance. The ghoul-thing floated on, ignoring her completely.
    “Promise you’ll get her,” Paradise said.
    “Promise. I promise. Get her I will,” said Mr Nuttendudge. “Now, go. The well. Hurry, hurry.”
    Ben and Paradise stumbled out of the house and along the garden path. The garden itself was small and poorly kept, with tall grass badly in need of cutting. Flowers had been planted around the border, but every one of them was shrivelled and brown.

    Mr Nuttendudge clearly didn’t have much luck with gardening either.
    On all sides stood the forest. It was the sort of forest it would be easy to get lost in, Ben thought,