Read Online The Crystal Code by Richard Newsome - Free Book Online Page A

gave Gerald an enormous hug and kissed him on the cheek.
    Just as the final strike for midnight sounded, Gerald found himself standing beside Ruby.
    â€˜Happy Christmas, Gerald.’ Ruby smiled up at him.
    Gerald smiled back. ‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘You, too.’
    Then the lights went out.
    There were cries of surprise as the room plunged into darkness. The music and the video machines cut out. A faint red glow came from the embers in the fireplace, but it was not enough to see by.
    â€˜All the outside lights have gone as well,’ Alisha said. ‘The snow must have brought down the power lines.’
    â€˜We’d be on generator power all the way out here,’ Sam said. His voice came from by the pinball machines. ‘Something must have broken.’
    â€˜I think I saw an emergency torch on the wall,’ Ox said. ‘There should be a blinking red light somewhere.’
    â€˜I see it,’ said Felicity. ‘Hold on. I’ll get it.’
    There was some shuffling and a muffled yelp as Felicity bumped into a low table in the dark. ‘There, that’s got it,’ she said. A torch flicked on. It provided just enough light for everyone to see Gerald and Ruby, their eyes closed and blissful looks on their faces, holding each other in the most tender embrace.
    â€˜Gerald?’ Felicity said. ‘What are you doing?’
    Gerald and Ruby broke apart. Busted.
    But before anyone could speak, a series of sharp explosions sounded from the front of the house.
    â€˜Are we having fireworks?’ Ox said. ‘That’s a nice way to bring in Christmas.’
    A fresh volley of bangs rattled the windows.
    â€˜I’m not sure those are fireworks,’ Alisha said as she peered out into the snow.
    Then a high-pitched scream came from deep within the house.
    â€˜What was that?’ Felicity asked.
    The double doors burst open. Mr Fry and Miss Turner barged into the room.
    â€˜Is everyone here?’ Miss Turner demanded. Fry bolted the doors behind them.
    â€˜Yes,’ Gerald said. ‘What’s going on?’
    â€˜The house is under attack,’ Fry said. ‘Men. With guns. They’re coming this way.’

Chapter 7
    T here was no time to think. No time to plan. Mr Fry crossed to the windows and pressed on a panel in the wall. It popped open to reveal a narrow door. The butler fumbled with a ring of keys and had it unlocked in seconds.
    â€˜In here,’ he said. ‘This passage leads to the kitchen. There’s a drying room at the far end with jackets and boots. You need to rug up and get out into the kitchen garden.’
    There was a stunned silence.
    They were under attack?
    â€˜Is it Mason Green?’ Gerald asked.
    â€˜Don’t talk,’ Miss Turner said. ‘Listen and act. The power has been cut but once you’re in the garden you’ll see the covered bridge. The one we crossed when we arrived this afternoon. Go over it and follow the roadway to the left for about two miles. There’s a caretaker’s cottage.’
    â€˜Lock yourselves in and stay there,’ Fry said. ‘We’ll come and get you when it’s safe.’
    â€˜But our parents,’ Ruby said.
    Another scream echoed from the front of the house, followed by the sound of breaking glass.
    Fry bundled them to the passage doorway. ‘Go! Now!’
    Ruby pushed Alisha and Felicity ahead of her. Gerald was last through, behind Sam and Ox. He looked back to see Mr Fry, grim-faced, closing the door behind them. And he heard the key turn in the lock.
    They were in a narrow corridor that snaked off into the distance. Felicity switched off the torch.
    â€˜What did you do that for?’ Sam hissed. ‘I can’t see a thing.’
    Felicity shushed him. ‘This will be a service passage,’ she said. ‘It will pass behind every major room in the house on the way to the kitchen. That means we need to be totally quiet. No