The League of Doorways (A Book of Vampires, Werewolves & Black Magic) (The Doorways Trilogy - Book Two) by Tim O'Rourke Read Free Book Online Page A

it.”
    A silence fell over the group, the only sound being the burning fire in the centre of the overhang. William looked at Zach, as if waiting for him to speak. Neanna lay on her side and looked at Zach, too. He knew that they were waiting for him to make a decision – to lead them. But what choice did he have? Zach wondered. There was no other way to reach the volcano where the box hung – the box that would save his sister and the Queen of this strange world. He sensed that the mechanical man knew more than he was saying, but what he didn’t know was if he could trust him or not.
    Drawing a deep breath and feeling the weight of the decision he had to make bearing down on his young shoulders, he looked at his friends and said, “We rest today and leave for the outer-rim at twilight.”
    “What about him?” Bom asked, pointing at Faraday with the end of his pipe.
    “I’m going to switch him off,” Zach said, heading towards the mechanical man.
    “I wouldn’t do that,” Faraday said, again his voice flat – cold.
    “And why not?” William asked, reaching for his catapult again.
    “Because you won’t survive without me,” Faraday said.
    “We’ll take our chances,” Zach told him, his fingers twitching over his crossbows.
    “And do you know where to find the home of Cribbot?” Faraday asked. “You won’t find it without me. You won’t reach the volcano without me.”
    “Why do you want to help us?” Zach asked, unable to crush the feelings of suspicion he felt inside.
    “Because like you, I have my own mission.”
    “And what’s that?” William woofed.
    Then leaping to his feet with the same speed and agility he had shown before, Faraday stood before Zach and said, “Like you, boy, I need to find out who and what I really am.”

Chapter Seven
     
    Anna Black felt the boat slow. It listed from left to right on the oily black waves. The paddlewheels on either side of the floating stagecoach stopped spinning as the giant seahorses steered it towards the shores of the outer-rim. Anna looked to her left. Tanner lay on his side. His fever seemed to have broken. It had been several hours since he had last screamed out in a state of delirium. In that time, Anna had managed to sleep. She didn’t know for how long, as she had lost track of time, deep in the bows of the strange boat in which she was held prisoner. Her Uncle Fandel felt the boat slow too, and he lifted his narrow face off his chest and looked over at her through the gloom.
    “It feels like we’re docking,” he whispered, and she couldn’t help but notice the fear in his eyes. “It’s our last chance to get out of here.”
    “I’m not going anywhere with you,” she glared. Anna broke his stare and looked at the peacekeeper. His face looked thinner than it had when they had first been taken prisoner. His hair looked whiter somehow.
    “Hey, you,” Anna said, nudging him with her foot. She still wore the nightdress she had been wearing the night she had escaped from her uncle and the jeans and boots she had found at the railroad station just outside the town of Tud.
    The peacekeeper groaned and his eyes flickered open.
    “Are you okay?” Anna asked him.
    “Thirsty,” he whispered.
    “I am too,” she said back. “I think we are going to be taken ashore.”
    Tanner peered blearily about the bow of the boat, as if trying to remember exactly where he was. Then, looking over, he spied Fandel and whispered, “Why aren’t you dead yet?”
    “Nice,” Fandel sneered back. “I think we’re all going to be dead soon.”
    “Not you,” Tanner hissed, struggling to pull himself up into a sitting position. With his arms tied behin d his back, he cried out as the wound in his shoulder exploded with pain. The world swam darkly before him and he gritted his teeth. With his head rested against the bow of the boat, he looked at Fandel and said, “Van Demon and his crew aren’t going to kill you. They need you to lead them to the