The Marsh Demon (2 page)

“Yes, of course,” said the Mayor. “The thing that carried the children was some sort of giant. It had arms and legs. It walked like a man. But it was as tall as a house.”

“It stank of the marsh,” said the Mayor. “Its body seemed to be made of mud. We call it the marsh demon. The children were never seen again.”

“And you think this marsh demon will come again?” asked Mr Blood.

“Yes sir. It is Midwinter,” said the mayor. “It takes two children at midnight on Midwinter every year. But this year, our children will not die. You will kill the monster, Mr Blood. And if you do not, it will take your helpers, not our children.”

The mayor looked over Mr Blood's shoulder and nodded.

A group of men jumped forward.

Two men pulled Edgar and Mary from their chairs and dragged them away.

Mr Blood shouted, “No!”

But there was nothing he could do to stop them.

Mary and Edgar spent the rest of the day in a cell in the town prison.

They tried to stay calm, but after several hours Mary began to get angry. She shouted through the bars of their cell. She called the guards monsters, cowards and child-killers.

But the guards did not reply. Some of them even laughed at her.

“It's no good,” said Edgar. “They don't want to lose more of their children. If anyone gets taken by the marsh demon, they want it to be us.”

“Well, it won't happen,” said Mary. “Mr Blood will have a plan. He always does.”

“Let's hope so,” said Edgar. “But where is he?”

Outside, a bell rang eleven times. It was one hour to midnight.

Heavy feet thumped towards the cell. A group of guards opened the cell and walked in. Mary spat at one of the men.

“I'm sorry, miss,” he said. “But if we don't do this, two of our children will die. It's you or them.”

The guards tied their hands behind their backs and walked them out into the night.

As they marched through the town, the streets were empty. No lights shone in windows. Nobody wanted the marsh demon to notice them.

Mr Blood was waiting for the children at the town hall.

“If you have hurt them,” Mr Blood snarled at the guards, “I will find a way to set the demon on you.”

“We're not hurt,” said Mary. “Just get us away from these horrible men.”

“Where is the Mayor?” asked Edgar.

“He didn't want to face the demon,” said Mr Blood. “I suppose he is hiding under his bed, the fat toad.”

“Come on!” barked a guard. “Not much time left.”

They marched on to the edge of the town and a short way further. The stink of the marsh grew stronger.

The guards stopped.

“This is it,” said a guard. “We will tie the children to the tree. If you cannot kill the marsh demon, it will take the first two children it can find.”

“This is murder,” said Mr Blood. “We came here to help you. You do not need to put my helpers in danger.”

“We have our orders, sir,” the guard replied.

The guards tied Edgar and Mary to a large tree on the edge of the marsh and got ready to leave.

Edgar and Mary looked at the marsh with fear. It was covered in thick mist.

“One more thing, sir,” said the guard. “Do not try to untie the children. Several of my men will be watching from the town. They have bows and arrows. They are very good shots.”

He looked hard at Mr Blood. “If you untie the children, we will pin them to the tree with arrows.”

Mr Blood glared at the men.

“If you want this demon killed,” he growled, “place your torches on the ground around the edges of the marsh.”