still there. He let out a sigh of relief, but then he realised what had woken him. The room was vibrating. Through the walls he heard a deep hum and an even deeper thud as regular as the ticking of a clock. Cautiously, he pressed his ear to the damp wall adjoining Springheelâs quarters. It felt unnaturally warm. Then, a mournful cry made him recoil. He had heard that sound before.
Julius looked around for his carpetbag. Time to scarper, Higgins. Just as he was about to bolt, a howl rang out. He froze in terror.
A creature stepped through the wall into his room. Julius leapt onto the bed and pressed himself against the opposite wall. The creature was similar to the one he had seen at the Thames. Same red eyes, cadaverous pallor and sharp teeth. But this one had spiky black hair and was possibly a little shorter. It had silver buttons on its tail coat and the tip of a handkerchief poking out from its breast pocket, but this time Julius could see through it. The creature was a ghost-like image, seemingly made of mist. And it was looking around in fear, just like the other one had.
âAaaarch graach jahaar?â it said.
Even though the sound more closely resembled the cry of an animal than human speech, Julius recognised the words. The apparition was asking where he was. Julius did not know who was the more frightened. He tried to recall the words that the professor had uttered to calm the creature at the Thames.
âKa cha, ka cha,â Julius called out, trying to imitate the creatureâs accent. Be calm, be calm.
The creature backed away towards the open door and stooped to peer down the dark stairs. With one last imploring look at Julius, it turned and fled down the stairs, letting out a terrified cry as it went.
The throbbing noise continued on the other side of the wall and Julius could hear Springheel and Clements arguing but could not distinguish their words. What have you got yourself into, Higgins? He squinted into the darkness of the staircaseâno one there. He snatched his carpetbag from the bed and patted the money in his pocket . Iâll walk to Kent. Better still, Iâll run, Julius thought as he edged down the stairs.
There was no sign of the creature in the dark kitchen. Julius unlocked the back door and slid out into the night. Seconds later he was sprinting through New Market Square. In his eagerness to get away he was almost in the middle of the empty square before he realised that something was amiss.
He dropped the bag and looked around. For a start it was unseasonably warm, even for a summerâs night; secondly the clouds covering the sky were red and orange and a lot lower that usual. They were like swirling molten coals, as if a mighty storm were raging. The buildings around the square were lit up by the light display overhead. But it was silentâthere was no thunder. Julius could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Itâs the Apocalypse, Higgins. The end of the world.
To the south Julius could see the dome of St Paulâs above the rooftops. What had Mr Flynn said about meeting the professor at the steps of St Paulâs? Midnight wasnât it? Julius had no idea what time it was as he looked around the square counting his options. Well, Higgins, itâs back to Jack Springheel and his apparitions, back to grandfather without the diary, off to Kent, or see what the professor and Mr Flynn have to say.
The only appealing option was Kent, but Julius knew, in his heart of hearts, it was not a realistic one. Something very frightening was happening in London and he needed to find out what was going on.
When he got to the cathedral the silent storm was still raging over Cheapside. In the amber light Julius could see Professor Fox standing at the cathedral steps looking up at the clouds. Mr Flynn was nearby looking around as if searching for someone. Julius approached them slowly. Keep your mouth shut, Higgins. Let them do the talking.
âAh,
Julius looked around for his carpetbag. Time to scarper, Higgins. Just as he was about to bolt, a howl rang out. He froze in terror.
A creature stepped through the wall into his room. Julius leapt onto the bed and pressed himself against the opposite wall. The creature was similar to the one he had seen at the Thames. Same red eyes, cadaverous pallor and sharp teeth. But this one had spiky black hair and was possibly a little shorter. It had silver buttons on its tail coat and the tip of a handkerchief poking out from its breast pocket, but this time Julius could see through it. The creature was a ghost-like image, seemingly made of mist. And it was looking around in fear, just like the other one had.
âAaaarch graach jahaar?â it said.
Even though the sound more closely resembled the cry of an animal than human speech, Julius recognised the words. The apparition was asking where he was. Julius did not know who was the more frightened. He tried to recall the words that the professor had uttered to calm the creature at the Thames.
âKa cha, ka cha,â Julius called out, trying to imitate the creatureâs accent. Be calm, be calm.
The creature backed away towards the open door and stooped to peer down the dark stairs. With one last imploring look at Julius, it turned and fled down the stairs, letting out a terrified cry as it went.
The throbbing noise continued on the other side of the wall and Julius could hear Springheel and Clements arguing but could not distinguish their words. What have you got yourself into, Higgins? He squinted into the darkness of the staircaseâno one there. He snatched his carpetbag from the bed and patted the money in his pocket . Iâll walk to Kent. Better still, Iâll run, Julius thought as he edged down the stairs.
There was no sign of the creature in the dark kitchen. Julius unlocked the back door and slid out into the night. Seconds later he was sprinting through New Market Square. In his eagerness to get away he was almost in the middle of the empty square before he realised that something was amiss.
He dropped the bag and looked around. For a start it was unseasonably warm, even for a summerâs night; secondly the clouds covering the sky were red and orange and a lot lower that usual. They were like swirling molten coals, as if a mighty storm were raging. The buildings around the square were lit up by the light display overhead. But it was silentâthere was no thunder. Julius could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Itâs the Apocalypse, Higgins. The end of the world.
To the south Julius could see the dome of St Paulâs above the rooftops. What had Mr Flynn said about meeting the professor at the steps of St Paulâs? Midnight wasnât it? Julius had no idea what time it was as he looked around the square counting his options. Well, Higgins, itâs back to Jack Springheel and his apparitions, back to grandfather without the diary, off to Kent, or see what the professor and Mr Flynn have to say.
The only appealing option was Kent, but Julius knew, in his heart of hearts, it was not a realistic one. Something very frightening was happening in London and he needed to find out what was going on.
When he got to the cathedral the silent storm was still raging over Cheapside. In the amber light Julius could see Professor Fox standing at the cathedral steps looking up at the clouds. Mr Flynn was nearby looking around as if searching for someone. Julius approached them slowly. Keep your mouth shut, Higgins. Let them do the talking.
âAh,
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