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All the saer impatiently waved her on As soon as she was past him he pulled the barrier back across the road

‘No need to look atback into the car ‘The barrier’s always there Capricorn had it put up to keep unwanted visitors away Not that people often venture up here Capricorn spreads stories about the village that keep most of them at a distance, but--’

‘What sort of stories?’ Meggie interrupted hih she didn’t think she really wanted to know

‘Blood-curdling stories,’ said Dustfinger ‘Like most folk, the locals round here are superstitious The most common tale is that the Devil hiie was cross with herself for being scared, but now she just couldn’t take her eyes off the dark hilltop ‘Mo says hus invented the Devil,’ she said

‘Well,round his ain ‘But you wanted to know about the stories They say no bullet can kill the h walls, they kidnap three boys every month when the moon is new, and Capricorn teaches them to commit theft, arson and ht all that up? The folk of these parts or this ht over the steering wheel The road was full of potholes, and she had to drive very slowly so as not to get stuck

‘Both’ Dustfinger leaned back and let Gwin nibble his fingers ‘Capricorn rewards people who think up new stories The one aoes out of his way to avoid black cats’

Basta Meggie remembered the naer was speaking again He seeot!

Of course everyone living in the village of the damned has the Evil Eye, even the woie looked at hilance and you fall mortally ill Three days after that, at the latest, and you’re dead as a doornail’

‘Who’d believe a thing like that?’ ain

‘Idiots would’ Elinor staravel on the road The bridge Dustfinger had hts

‘Go on, go on!’ said Dustfinger iht not think so’

‘It looks as if the ancient Romans built it,’ muttered Elinor ‘But for donkeys, not cars’

All the saht shut, and didn’t open theravel under the car tyres once e a lot,’ said Dustfinger quietly ‘A single well-arh to uard here every night’

‘Dustfinger’ Meggie turned hesitantly to look at hioing to say when they ask us hoe found the village? I ood idea for Capricorn to know that you showed us the way, is it?’

‘No, you’re right,’ h we are bringing hi around the back seat, held him so that he couldn’t snap, and then lured him into the rucksack with a piece of bread The marten had been restless ever since darkness fell He wanted to go hunting

They had reached the top of the hill The world around theht, but not far away a few pale rectangles glowed in the dark Lighted s

‘There it is,’ said Dustfinger ‘Capricorn’s village Or the Devil’s village, if you prefer’ He laughed softly