Read Online Bec by Darren Shan - Free Book Online Page B

on the shore, I think there was once a bridge connecting the island to the mainland. But that’s been demolished, probably because of the threat posed by demons. Now you can only get to it by swimming or in one of the curraghs tied up close to the fort’s gate.
    “Hello!” Goll yells. Echoes, then silence.
    Run Fast is hopping up and down, his face alight, reaching out to the crannog as though he can stretch across the lake and stroke the walls of the fence.
    “Anybody there?” Goll shouts. When the silence holds, he adds, “We’ve come to help. Your boy told us you were in trouble. We’re here to...”
    He draws to a halt, since it’s obvious nobody’s going to answer.
    “It’s a ghost village,” Ronan says.
    “We’re too late,” Connla sniffs.
    “Maybe not,” Fiachna disagrees. “They might be sheltering underground, in a souterrain, where they can’t hear us.”
    “You two seem to think people do nothing but cower underground,” Connla snorts, nodding at Fiachna and Orna. “Why don’t you just accept the simple truth that when nobody answers a call, it means they’re all dead?”
    “I prefer to hope for the best,” Orna says stiffly, “even when I can see just as clearly as you that it’s unlikely.”
    “Smoke bread,” Run Fast says bafflingly, leaning over so far that he almost topples into the lake.
    “Right,” Goll says. “We haven’t come all this way to turn back now. If nothing else, the crannog offers a place to rest tonight.”
    “Unless it’s been taken over by demons,” Connla says.
    “Unless it’s been taken over by demons,” Goll agrees. “But we have to check. Lorcan, will you swim across and come back in a curragh for the rest of us?”
    Lorcan’s the best swimmer in our tuath. Even when he was twelve years old, he could beat most grown men in a race. He steps forward now and studies the water, looking for demons. He can’t see any but that doesn’t mean it’s safe — they often hide down deep during the day, to avoid the rays of the sun.
    Without saying anything, Lorcan undresses quickly, then dives in and strikes powerfully for the crannog. We watch nervously, Ronan having notched an arrow to his bow, ready to fire instantly if his brother comes under attack.
    Lorcan makes it to the crannog unhindered and pulls himself out, pausing only to offer up a quick prayer of thanks to the gods. He brushes water from his stubbly hair — it comes off in rusty red drops, colored by the blood caked into his scalp. Then he unties a leather-framed curragh and rows across to where we’re waiting, hard strokes, one eye on the setting sun.
    Lorcan, Goll, Run Fast, and Orna cross first. Then Lorcan rows back to pick up Ronan, Fiachna, Connla, and me. At the gate I test the air for the scent of demons. It’s clear. I don’t think there are monsters in the village but I can’t be certain.
    “Will we try the gate or go over the fence?” Goll asks.
    “The gate’s open,” Fiachna says.
    Goll squints, then chuckles. “I was never the sharpest with two eyes, but with only one . . .” He looks around. “We’ll go in fast. Any sign of trouble, retreat to the gate. Based on what we’re facing, we’ll decide then whether to fight or flee.”
    Deep breath. Weapons drawn. A signal from Goll.
In.
    No demons. No people either. Just a few chickens and lots of blood. While we stand a few paces inside the gate, Run Fast chases after the chickens, laughing. They squawk and flap away from him. With his speed he could catch them easily, but he’s only playing with them.
    “Do you think they’re all dead?” Orna asks, eyes narrow, nose wrinkled against the stench of fresh blood.
    “Unless they’re hiding,” Goll grunts.
    “We should check the huts,” Fiachna says.
    “Aye.” Goll points at Ronan, Fiachna, Connla, and me. “You four go right. The rest of us will go left. We’ll meet in the middle if all’s clear.”
    “What about Run Fast?” I ask.
    Goll looks at the boy