Paupers Graveyard by Gemma Mawdsley Read Free Book Online Page A

enough. Squealing children flew through the bushes, closely followed by the dogs. She could hear their owner calling, but they paid no heed.
    â€˜Look, Elizabeth,’ Katie ran up to her, ‘we’ve got doggies.’
    â€˜Yes, indeed,’ she laughed at the dogs sniffing around her and Timmy.
    â€˜Watch this,’ one of the boys climbed on a dog’s back. ‘See, they’re almost as big as a pony.’
    The other children clapped and screamed with laughter as he rode up and down the field.
    â€˜Well, well, what have we got here?’ Black Jack asked.
    Instantly the dogs’ behaviour changed. They cowered down, stiffening and whimpering.
    â€˜Doggies, look!’ Katie was too caught up in the excitement to be worried about him. But the others were already backing away, crowding around Elizabeth.
    â€˜So I see,’ his smile at the child was one of pure malice. ‘May I stroke them?’
    â€˜Oh, yes, do,’ Katie smiled.
    â€˜Katie, come here.’ Elizabeth held out her hand, and with just a backward glance, the child ran to her.
    The sighing in the trees became louder and the wind whipped against them as Black Jack knelt down and buried his hands in the hair of one of the dogs. The terrified animal whimpered, its cries mingling with those circling the air. From outside the boundary hedge they could hear the dogs’ master calling to them, trying to be heard above the noise of the wind.
    The creatures drew courage from his voice, baring their teeth and emitting menacing growls. He had taught them to stand and fight when need be, but they had never faced anything as evil as this.
    â€˜Butch, Sandy, where are you?’
    Elizabeth tried to tear her eyes away from those of the animals, tried to call out to the man from the living world, but it was useless. Black Jack, who had been momentarily startled by the man’s voice, turned back to his game. He looked up at Elizabeth, winked, and broke the dog’s neck.
    The sighing had turned to a scream.
    â€˜No!’ Timmy ran towards Black Jack, as the sound of snapping bones still hung in the air. Black Jack knocked him aside as easily as he had the moth.
    The children cried and covered their ears against the screams around them. The other dog lay frozen, awaiting its fate. Its whimpering sounded childlike. Elizabeth noticed that the hair beneath the eye nearest to her was matted and wet. The dog was crying. Black Jack turned to finish his dire task. Timmy jumped on his back, beating him with his fist, but Black Jack easily shook him off. It lasted for an instant, but it gave Elizabeth time to act.
    â€˜Let’s save the dog,’ she called, running forward and throwing herself at Black Jack, who was knocked on his back by the suddenness of her action. At once the children were all over him, biting, scratching, and pulling his hair.
    â€˜Get the dog away,’ Elizabeth called to Timmy.
    Dragging the terrified animal over to the bushes Timmy pushed him through.
    Once outside the graveyard, the animal took flight and ran back to its owner, who would spend the rest of the night comforting it and calling for its mate. The screaming of the wind ceased.
    When they realised the dog was safe, the children drew back from Black Jack, who was covered in teeth and nail marks. He sat rubbing his wounds and swearing. ‘I’ll get the other dog, mark my words.’
    â€˜Do that,’ Timmy warned him, ‘and we’ll get you.’
    Black Jack watched as they sank down into the grass. The children lay clustered around Elizabeth. The smaller ones sniffled and sobbed over the dog’s death, while the older ones tried to cheer them.
    â€˜Did you see Black Jack’s face when I bit him on the ankle?’ asked one. ‘I think I pulled his nose off,’ offered another. But secretly they were all afraid, and glad when the dark veil of earth covered them.
    â€˜I’ll stay behind and bury