Read Online Night on Terror Island by Philip Caveney - Free Book Online Page B

film-makers and he could no longer employ me. I went to Venice, where I met Señor Ravelli, who was planning to open Il Fantoccini and I worked for him until nineteen thirty-five, when the floods finally closed his cinema. After that, it was Paris and La Fantastique. It was while I was working there that I created the Lazarus Enigma and began to understand all the amazing things it could do. I was in my early sixties by then. After that, I travelled the world, looking for cinemas that needed help – cinemas like the Paramount.’
    ‘So … you didn’t really come here from Venice?’
    Mr Lazarus shook his head.
    ‘I thought that sounded more impressive. Most recently I was working in a little cinema on a remote Scottish island. The Moonlight, a beautiful little place with seating for just thirty-five people. But that closed down a year ago. The owner died and the man who purchased it turned it into’ – his lip curled – ‘a pub.’ He shook his head. ‘Since then, I have simply been … waiting.’
    ‘And how did you find out about us?’
    ‘I have developed a sense. Cinemas in trouble, they draw me, just as a moth is drawn to a candle flame. I have to go to them and help them to survive.’
    Kip frowned.
    ‘It still doesn’t explain the age thing,’ he said. ‘Come on, you have to admit, you don’t look …’ Kip did some quick maths in his head. ‘… over a hundred and twenty years old! I mean, that’s mental!’
    Mr Lazarus nodded.
    ‘It is the Enigma that keeps me young. Among its many special properties, it has the ability to take a man’s lines and wrinkles, all his infirmities, and lock them away in a piece of film. I always carry that reel of film around with me. Every so often, when I feel the years weighing heavy on my bones, I put myself into that film and when I come out again, I am restored to my former vigour. In the film there is an image of me as I should look now.’ He seemed to shudder. ‘It is not a pretty picture.’
    ‘So … that’s when you use the Retriever? To get back out again.’
    ‘Correct. And, of course, I have to keep that film in a very safe place. If anything ever happened to it, I fear all the age that I have shed over the years would come back to visit me. And then I would be a … how did you describe it? Ah yes. An old wreck. But listen, Kip, I have told you all this in the strictest confidence. I do not want you to share this information with anybody else. Not your friends, not your family, do you understand?’
    ‘Sure. You can count on me.’
    ‘Good boy.’ Mr Lazarus patted Kip on the shoulder. ‘Now I think it is time you went home. Your parents will be wondering what has happened to you.’
    Kip nodded. He slipped the business card into his back pocket and started to get out of his seat – but then he paused for a moment.
    ‘That “staying young” thing,’ he said. ‘Would it work on anybody?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ said Mr Lazarus. ‘I never tried it on anyone else. But why would you be so interested? You’re a young fellow, Kip; you have your whole life ahead of you.’
    ‘Yeah. But I was just thinking. Sounds kind of cool.’ He studied Mr Lazarus for a moment. ‘Does it mean that you can live for ever?’
    Mr Lazarus smiled sadly. ‘Nobody lives for ever,’ he said.
    Kip frowned. ‘Well, I’d better get home. Will you be OK to lock up?’
    ‘Of course. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
    Kip headed for the exit, but glancing back he saw that Mr Lazarus was still in his seat. He was gazing up at the big, empty screen in front of him, as though watching a film of his very own.
    A sudden thought flashed through Kip’s mind.
    That man is over one hundred and twenty years old
.
    Crazy as it sounded, Kip knew with a terrible certainty that it was absolutely true.

CHAPTER TEN
     

    ‘BUT I DON’T want to go to the cinema!’ protested Rose, dragging back on Kip and Dad’s hands. ‘It’s a rotten monster movie and I hate scary