The word ‘stables’ had led me to imagine a number of stalls housing the different worms but it was immediately evident that these creatures were treated as if they possessed far greater autonomy than the average horse.
It was a vast area, at least the size of a football field. In the centre, a large pile of plant debris smelled distinctly of manure and rotting vegetables; that must be their food.
There were worms around the perimeter of the room, some of which were lying down asleep. In one corner three of them had their heads close together as if they were engaging in a gossip session. I counted eleven worms in total, indicating that five were out and about performing their duties.
I took another step – I’d planned to walk around the room – but as soon as I moved the nearest worm emitted a high-pitched squeak to alert the others to my presence. I immediately froze.
I couldn’t tell what the worms were thinking but if they all decided to rush me at once, I’d have problems. I thought quickly then, because there was little else I could do and my mental traffic lights were already flashing a dangerous amber, I raised my hands to indicate surrender.
‘Hi.’ My voice echoed around the huge cavern. ‘My name is Kit McCafferty. I’m not here to hurt any of you – I’m looking into your friends’ disappearance. I thought I’d see if I could find anything here that might helpme find them.’
The worms continued to stare at me. It was highly unnerving.
I sucked in a breath. ‘Nicola, Solly, Fields and Tiger,’ I said loudly. ‘That’s who’s missing, right? I will find them.’ Or at least what was left of them.
I recognised Dusty to my right; he must have been on his way here when we’d seen him in the tunnels earlier. ‘There!’ I pointed. ‘I met Dusty earlier. He knows who I am.’
In a synchronised motion, all the worms turned towards Dusty. Aha: so they understood what I was saying. I wondered if there was a way to ask them questions and understand their answers in return because if anyone had an idea about what had happened to their four mates, these worms did. Anthony would be the most likely Dr Doolittle candidate – but he was also one of the prime suspects for attacking me.
Dusty’s vast mouth opened and he gave a series of groans and clicks. Several long seconds passed, then one by one the other worms relaxed and went back to whatever they’d been doing before I entered the room. I guessed I passed muster. I breathed a little more easily.
I turned to my right and began to walk, circling the pile of food in the centre of the room. Determined not to make any sudden movements that might upset the worms, I kept my steps slow and measured. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for but hopefully anything useful would jump out at me. Not literally, of course.
It took five minutes to complete the circuit. I hadn’t seen any other doors or entrances leading away from this tunnel so it was unlikely someone had sneaked in and spirited the worms away. Neither was there a desk or an area that appeared to belong to Anthony. If I’d been hoping to find any residue from the monster-conjuring spell in here, I was going to be disappointed.
‘Thanks for letting me look around,’ I said aloud. ‘I’ll leave you in peace now.’
A couple of the worms glanced at me again and Dusty grunted. I nodded to acknowledge him and his friends and turned on my heel. At that moment a furious voice yelled from behind me. ‘What the blasted fuck are you doing here?’
Uh-oh.
Chapter
Twelve
Anthony was storming towards me, fangs bared and fists clenched. If he hadn’t been vamp, his face would have been bright red with fury. As it was, he remained pale but several veins were bulging in his neck and on his forehead.
It was far too late to hide; my only recourse was to brazen it out. I smiled brightly and clasped my hands in front of my body in an effort to appear as meek and unthreatening as I could. ‘Good afternoon! We met yesterday. I’m Kit McCafferty and…’
‘I know who you are! I don’t have bleeding on my fucking brain!’
Oh dear. He was very, very angry. Captain Montgomery would not have been best pleased if he knew how much I was upsetting the local population. This was far from conflict resolution – quite the opposite, in fact.
He stopped in front of me and bellowed in my face, ‘Have you hurt them?’
I squinted, momentarily confused. ‘Hurt who?’ Then belatedly I realised. ‘The worms? Of course not!’
‘Because the pain and suffering I will mete out if you haveso much as disturbed their sleep will be like nothing you’ve ever experienced before, girlie.’
Girlie? I frowned.
‘Didn’t you see the yellow warning to stay out of here?’ he spat. ‘Are you fucking colour blind?’
I opened my mouth to assure him that I was perfectly capable of registering all colours but before I could snark a word, She Without An Ear pelted past me like a streaked grey bat out of hell. She threw herself between me and Anthony and spat at him for all she was worth.
‘I know you think you’re helping,’ I said, touched that she’d decided to ignore her fear of the worms to protect me. ‘But you’re really not.’
Anthony had taken a step back and was staring at She Without An Ear in horror. ‘What the fuck is that?’
