The Lost Witch by David Tysdale Read Free Book Online

heavy
door.
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- 8 -
    The door swung open with a groan, revealing a narrow, dimly lit hallway, out of which
wafted the pungent smell of cat pee and burnt soup.
    "Achoo!" Rubbing her nose, Carole looked down to see a pair of green eyes peering up
at her in the half-light...then two pair...then four pair...then six... finally more than a dozen sets of
eyes.
    The cats, looking rather amused, sat there staring silently. From behind them, she heard
laughter and the general racket of what sounded to be a party.
    Well, if whoever lives here likes cats, they can't be all that bad.
    When she moved, the cats vanished back into the building. Within seconds the sounds of
merriment died away. "Guess I've been announced." She brushed herself off and stepped through
the doorway. "Best not keep them waiting."
    Inside, the smell of cat pee was a hundred times worse, forcing her to hold her nose and
blink away the tears that sprang to her eyes. She took a few seconds longer to adjust to the
brighter light at the end of the corridor. When she did so, she found herself looking into a large
hall, lit by dozens of sputtering candles held aloft by three round chandeliers. On the floor,
seated in a semicircle and preventing her from stepping any further into the building, were the
cats.
    Even more impressive was the group of women standing behind them. The women, all
sizes and ages, were dressed in similar clothing, black satiny fabric that sparkled in the candle
light. They didn't look mean, but they didn't look exactly friendly either. And as they were
obviously waiting for her to make the first move, Carole cleared her throat.
    "Ahem. I wonder if you could help me?" She addressed both the cats and the women.
"You see I'm sort of lost. I jumped... That is I fell from... Ah, this is rather difficult to explain."
She scratched her nose while wondering if these people even knew about different dimensions. It
would probably be best to leave multitasking out of her explanation if she could.
    "Well the truth of the matter is, I accidentally landed on that hill about a mile back and
was chased down here by a group of nasty trees and some very beastly mist, and I was sort of
hoping there might be some place I could spend the night." She tried to look casual. "What with
ghosts and such flying about."
    As one, the cats arched their backs and growled menacingly. The women also began to
whisper and grumble amongst themselves.
    Carole wasn't sure if this was a good or bad sign, but at least she had their attention.
    An extremely large tawny tabby, the largest of all the cats and one who looked rather
like a small lion, paced towards her. She squatted to his level. This was definitely an animal she
wouldn't pet without permission.
    The cat let out a low throaty sound.
    She was surprised to find herself understanding what it was saying. "Oh, you're a brainy
cat."
    As the cat continued, her smile faded. "Well it might be impossible for you, but I'm not
a liar. I did escape from the Dark Wood and from The Whistler in The Mist, not more than thirty
minutes ago. And for your information, it's not in the mist at all. The Whistler is the
mist."
    Her last statement caused another round of muttering and hissing from the two
semicircles.
    The lionish cat waited for the noise to die down before uttering a few more growls.
    Carole snorted. "That might very well be true, but then I wouldn't know because I'm a
stranger to these parts. However, perhaps it's simply a matter of courage."
    The cat crouched with a snarl, flattening its ears and flicking its tail.
    "Enough Brutus! Back ye to the circle," someone said in a croaky voice.
    The cat turned and padded stiffly to its spot amongst the others, who were now all
glowering at Carole.
    Oh boy. She stood up and waited for the speaker to reveal herself. Now I've
put my foot in it.
    "Brave words from a young whelp who comes to disturb the coven of The Westhill
Witches. Brave or foolish words." The speaker was a very old-looking