Read Online Trespass: A Tale of Mystery and Suspense Across Time (The Darkeningstone Book 1) by Mikey Campling - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mikey Campling
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hut. I’ll go closer now , Tellan thought. While he’s busy . He crept across the pit floor, picking his way carefully through the scattered stones. As he neared Waeccan’s hut, he crouched, edged his way behind a clump of dense hawthorn.
He could just see Waeccan. It looked as though the old man was struggling to light his fire, muttering away to himself. Tellan was well hidden. He could move closer, close enough to hear what Waeccan was saying.
Almost noiselessly, he crouched down, parted the lower branches and slid in between them. He hardly noticed the thorns scratching his arms. He’d known much worse. Inside the clump of bushes there were very few branches, just the main trunks of each bush. They formed a dark space that made a perfect hiding place. Tellan even had room to shift his position and stretch his legs a little. It had been a long day.
Now Waeccan crouched over his pathetic attempt at a fire. The acrid smoke drifted into Tellan’s hiding place. It stung Tellan’s eyes, made them water. He blinked, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. And when he looked back to Waeccan…Oh no—the old man had jumped to his feet, was rushing toward him. Tellan froze; there was no time to react. Waeccan reached among the branches, peered into the darkness within. I’m too close to him , Tellan thought. I should’ve known better . But it was a shadowy hiding place. There was a chance Waeccan wouldn’t see him if he kept absolutely still.
No. Waeccan gasped in horror. It was too late. He’d been discovered. Tellan tensed. His hunting instincts told him to strike, to try for a quick kill. But the old man was staring him in the eye, and nothing in Tellan’s life had prepared him for this moment.
“Who are you? What are you doing there?” Waeccan called. There was no mistaking the fear in the old man’s voice, but nevertheless his words chilled Tellan to the core. Tellan backed away, retreating into the gloom. One step, two, then in one motion he turned and crouched. He pushed his way through the branches, and then, as quickly he dared, he slipped away. He heard the old man calling after him: “What do you want? Why do you hide like a coward? Show yourself if you are a man.”
Don’t run , Tellan thought. It’s too noisy—he’ll know where you are . He moved in among the trees and breathed more easily. The daylight was dwindling, the shadows were darkening and the old man’s frustrated cries were fading away behind him. He had escaped.
Now he must return to find Burlic. He looked for the path he needed and spotted it easily enough. He started walking. Burlic , he thought, there’s another problem . What would he tell him? How would he react if he knew that Tellan had been seen? Better not to mention it. He would tell him about the secret way up the rock face. Waeccan must have some sort of hiding place up there. That should satisfy him. And there was nothing else worth talking about. If there was anything suspicious to see, then it must be in that hiding place. He’d tell Burlic to climb up there himself and look around while Waeccan was busy elsewhere. It would give him something to do, distract him from his murderous plans. “And while you think about that,” Tellan muttered, “I’ll think of a way to stop you.”
It was all right. He had until tomorrow. They’d come back into the pit tomorrow.
Chapter 18
2010
WHERE DID I GO WRONG? The question nagged at me over and over as I barged through the undergrowth, hopelessly casting about for a glimpse of this supposed path. Of course, I’d never really been in with a chance in the first place, not with a girl like Cally. “Oh well,” I muttered to myself, “at least you tried.” And how was I to know she had a boyfriend? Dean , I thought bitterly, sounded like a prop forward—whatever that means . I stood for a moment and looked around to get my bearings.
The slope was steeper than I’d thought. And there was no sign whatsoever of a
He could just see Waeccan. It looked as though the old man was struggling to light his fire, muttering away to himself. Tellan was well hidden. He could move closer, close enough to hear what Waeccan was saying.
Almost noiselessly, he crouched down, parted the lower branches and slid in between them. He hardly noticed the thorns scratching his arms. He’d known much worse. Inside the clump of bushes there were very few branches, just the main trunks of each bush. They formed a dark space that made a perfect hiding place. Tellan even had room to shift his position and stretch his legs a little. It had been a long day.
Now Waeccan crouched over his pathetic attempt at a fire. The acrid smoke drifted into Tellan’s hiding place. It stung Tellan’s eyes, made them water. He blinked, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. And when he looked back to Waeccan…Oh no—the old man had jumped to his feet, was rushing toward him. Tellan froze; there was no time to react. Waeccan reached among the branches, peered into the darkness within. I’m too close to him , Tellan thought. I should’ve known better . But it was a shadowy hiding place. There was a chance Waeccan wouldn’t see him if he kept absolutely still.
No. Waeccan gasped in horror. It was too late. He’d been discovered. Tellan tensed. His hunting instincts told him to strike, to try for a quick kill. But the old man was staring him in the eye, and nothing in Tellan’s life had prepared him for this moment.
“Who are you? What are you doing there?” Waeccan called. There was no mistaking the fear in the old man’s voice, but nevertheless his words chilled Tellan to the core. Tellan backed away, retreating into the gloom. One step, two, then in one motion he turned and crouched. He pushed his way through the branches, and then, as quickly he dared, he slipped away. He heard the old man calling after him: “What do you want? Why do you hide like a coward? Show yourself if you are a man.”
Don’t run , Tellan thought. It’s too noisy—he’ll know where you are . He moved in among the trees and breathed more easily. The daylight was dwindling, the shadows were darkening and the old man’s frustrated cries were fading away behind him. He had escaped.
Now he must return to find Burlic. He looked for the path he needed and spotted it easily enough. He started walking. Burlic , he thought, there’s another problem . What would he tell him? How would he react if he knew that Tellan had been seen? Better not to mention it. He would tell him about the secret way up the rock face. Waeccan must have some sort of hiding place up there. That should satisfy him. And there was nothing else worth talking about. If there was anything suspicious to see, then it must be in that hiding place. He’d tell Burlic to climb up there himself and look around while Waeccan was busy elsewhere. It would give him something to do, distract him from his murderous plans. “And while you think about that,” Tellan muttered, “I’ll think of a way to stop you.”
It was all right. He had until tomorrow. They’d come back into the pit tomorrow.
Chapter 18
2010
WHERE DID I GO WRONG? The question nagged at me over and over as I barged through the undergrowth, hopelessly casting about for a glimpse of this supposed path. Of course, I’d never really been in with a chance in the first place, not with a girl like Cally. “Oh well,” I muttered to myself, “at least you tried.” And how was I to know she had a boyfriend? Dean , I thought bitterly, sounded like a prop forward—whatever that means . I stood for a moment and looked around to get my bearings.
The slope was steeper than I’d thought. And there was no sign whatsoever of a
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