Whisper Gatherers by Nicola McDonagh Read Free Book Online Page A

and touched wall. It was a corridor that led to somewhere. I wondered briefly, why it was there, and if the sheriff knew about it. All thoughts on the matter ceased when I heard raised voices behind me. More than two. I ran faster, hands before my face so that I didn’t come a cropper on something ahead, then came to an abrupt halt when they hit something hard.
    “Adara? Are ye well?”
    “Yep.”
    “Stay where ye are.”
    “Not likely to do otherwise.”
    “Of course. I am lighting a gas tube, so do not be alarmed at the strange noise ye are about to hear.”
    A crackling, hissing sound filled the space and the dimness diminished. Through the hazy glow, I saw Dreng, Orva and two more shadowy figures. I blinked and rubbed my eyes. There before them were not only the S.A.N.T.S. but two of the Carnie/Praisebees.
    “What the huffin’ heck are they doing here?”
    “Followed us through. Although I do not know how they managed to free themselves.”
    “We prayed to Cheesus. He came to our aid.”
    “He did not. Lilith carries a small blade with her at all times. She managed to wriggle it free, I stooped down, picked it up and she cut her bonds then mine. We were not noticed because of the disruption taking place.”
    Lilith gave Elijah a somewhat less than Christian look and sucked in her cheeks. Elijah bowed. Orva cuffed him about the noggin. “You should not be here. You are trouble. I cannot send you back, as much as I wish to. We cannot let you be found and blab about this not-so-secret passage. You will have to come with us.”
    “Which is where?”
    “Ah, now that would be telling, Adara. It is enough ye know that we are taking ye to a safe place until all this hoo-ha blows over.”
    “Will it?”
    “Who knows? Not even the Greenman himself would attempt to second guess the strange ways of folk in Cityplace.”
    Dreng’s accent was oddly indeed. Clearly he was not from here.
    “Dreng, you are not a born-and-bred Citydweller?”
    “Well spotted Adara. Nay I am a Woodsfolk firstly. S.A.N.T. second and last.”
    Wow! A Woodsmale. They have a reputation for being tough and smelly. I sniffed and took in my own fear stink. He did not exude anything nasty. Perhaps that came from the S.A.N.T. training.
    “Enough chat. Dreng, activate the unlocking device.”
    He pulled out a small round black box and pressed it with his thumb. A whirring noise gave over to a clanking sound. The dead-end before us became a long narrow tunnel that dipped sharply downwards. “I’ll gae first to light the way. Orva wi bring the rear. Adara, wi follow me. The rest gae in single file behind her. This is a steep incline, slippery in parts. Be wary. Tread careful. If ye fall, we wi not be able to save ye, so acute is the drop.”
    Dreng thrust the gas tube light before him then entered the passage. He stopped at the top of a rickety looking wooden staircase and motioned for me to follow. I turned to the others and repeated the gesture he made to me. For a moment, I felt as if I too were a S.A.N.T. and became less a-feared fuelled by my brief brush with responsibility. It lasted less than a sec, for when I stepped towards Dreng, my foot caught on something. I tripped and fell into his arms. He guffawed most deeply and helped me right myself. I was thankful the place was so dark for I felt a heat burst most prominently across my face and neck.
    The Woodsmale S.A.N.T. grabbed onto the rail that jutted out from the wall and made his way down the creaky steps. I followed close not daring to see how the others fared, in case I lost my footing once again. The light from Dreng’s torch was adequate enough, but I discovered that if I did not keep up with his robust pace, I was plunged into almost darkness. Thankfully Orva’s torch at the rear cast a dim glow that was sufficient to illuminate the narrow tunnel.
    We wended our way in silence. The air became humid. I found it difficult to take in enough lungfuls and had to stop once or twice to