The Marsh Demon (3 page)

The guards did as they were asked. Then, one by one, they crept away.

It was midnight. In the distance, a single bell rang twelve times.

Edgar and Mary trembled. The tree creaked. Very slowly, the mist hanging over the marsh began to swirl. The marsh smell grew stronger.

Mr Blood stared hard into the dark. The torch flames flickered in the mist.

The marsh itself was hidden. It was a black, silent, stinking terror.

“The guards are gone,” said Edgar. “Quick, untie us!”

“I'll try.” Mr Blood's voice sounded strained.

He walked around the marsh towards Edgar and Mary.

“What are you doing?” asked Mary. “If you try to untie us, the men with bows will kill us.”

“You'd rather wait and see what comes to get us?” Edgar spat.

Mary didn't reply.

Mr Blood was only a few steps away from Edgar and Mary when an arrow hissed through the air and thumped into the ground next to Edgar's foot.

Edgar yelped.

Mr Blood jumped back.

“So they meant it,” said Mary. “Our only way to escape is to do what they want.”

“Mr Blood…” said Edgar in a very quiet voice.

The mist had lifted. The black surface of the marsh moved slowly. The rotten mud was bubbling and steaming up through the ground.

It was forming a heap.

“It's coming,” said Mr Blood. “We will fight the monster with fire.”

“Does that work with marsh demons?” asked Mary.

Mr Blood didn't reply.

“You've never even seen one before, have you?” said Edgar. “
Look!
”

He pointed again at the marsh.

A huge mound of stinking mud was piling up a short way from the tree.

“Marshes burn,” said Mr Blood. “So this monster will burn.”

He picked up two of the torches.

“I am putting two torches behind the tree,” said Mr Blood. “If I can untie you, take one each as a weapon.”

“Is that the best plan you can think of?” Edgar yelled. “Wave a burning stick at it? We are all going to…”

The others never heard what Edgar was trying to say. An awful sound boomed across the marsh. It was a slow, hollow roar that seemed to go on for ever.

The mound of mud began to unfold itself.

The marsh demon rose from the slime and stood above its victims.

It was huge. Rotten leaves and sticks stuck to its skin. It shook itself like a wet dog. Live eels and frogs fell from its mouth and sank back into the marsh.

In two huge steps the monster reached the edge of the marsh and looked down at Edgar and Mary.

Mr Blood ran forward and pushed a flaming torch into the monster's belly.

The flames fizzled out. The monster roared again. With a swipe of one arm, it knocked Mr Blood out of the way.

Edgar shouted in terror.

The monster reached down and grabbed Mary's arm. She screamed and kicked, but the rope tying her to the tree held firm. She couldn't get free.

The monster snapped the rope.