dropped to the ground, and for a moment lay motionless across a grave. It looked as if it was carved from stone. Then the body cracked into tiny fragments and a wisp of shadow blew away from it, swirling in the air towards the woods. The children, squinting through their fingers, saw two angels standing astride the roof, hacking at the squealing fiends as they scuttled to get away. Their great wings stirred as they skimmed over the tiles and their swords gleamed as another loathsome creature was dispatched. Beyond the church, Saint Michael was driving a couple of wolves out of the churchyard. They growled and snapped at him, leaping aside to avoid the sharp edge of his sword.
âWhy doesnât he kill them?â Erin asked in a low voice.
âI dunno. But look how fast they move!â
The rest of the wolf pack, disheartened, had given up trying to break through the barrier of the charm and slunk away over the churchyard wall. Jonah, watching them go, caught sight of the shadowy, cloaked figure standing in the shade of a tree. He scrambled to his feet but when he looked again, there was nothing beneath the branches after all. He screwed his eyes up, blinking, but he couldnât see anyone in the meadow. As the wolves loped towards the forest, he caught a glimpse of what looked like smaller creatures moving with them. Some demons had got away, then, and it looked as if they and the wolves were making for the fissure. Perhaps the angels would drive them all away from Cascob and back into the Underworld. He turned to look for the Archangel again and froze, gripping Erinâs arm.
The largest wolf, the alpha male which had attacked him the day before, was standing a few feet away, its yellow eyes fixed on Jonah. Saliva dripped from its jaws. It took a slow step forward, and then another, drawing its lips back from its fangs in a rumbling snarl. Jonah could not move; he felt as if his body had turned to ice. He could hear Erin breathing shakily behind him.
The wolf brought one foot slowly forward, hunched its shoulders and then erupted into a streak of snarling fur. It slammed into Jonah, knocking him and Erin backwards. Everything seemed to go into slow motion. He felt the weight of its feet pressing down on his chest and legs. Its stinking breath made him gag. He tensed for the terrible ripping bite, but it did not come. Instead, there was a high-pitched scream, a smell of burning hair and a flash of golden light. He felt the rush of wings, and then he was being lifted up and swept gently across the churchyard. An angel lowered him to the grass. He began to tremble as he watched Erin getting to her feet. Another angel was hovering above her, protectively. Near the lych gate, two more angels pursued the wolf, which scrabbled over the wall and disappeared.
âYou are safe now,â said the one who had rescued him. âStay here while we chase off the others.â
Two angels floated over the church, searching in case any fiend were still hiding behind the guttering. Another searched the churchyard and two more bent over Megan and Gethin, who were both sitting up. They had nasty wounds and blood all over their clothes but they were conscious again, and talking. A couple of other angels, in the hill-meadows beyond the church wall, examined the hedgerows and looked along the lane. Once the wolves had been driven off, people stopped trying to rush out of the churchyard and were spellbound by the sight of the heavenly beings. The villagers began to feel that the angels would somehow keep them safe from the Red Dragon, if it returned.
Jonah sighed with relief and shakily began to stand up. He looked towards the hills, wondering where the dragon was. He soon found out.
CHAPTER 16
TALKING TO A DRAGON
The sky darkened again, and the oppressive gloom seemed to stop the villagers in their tracks. The angelic light above the church faded. Abruptly, total silence fell. No one seemed able to move. Too scared to
âWhy doesnât he kill them?â Erin asked in a low voice.
âI dunno. But look how fast they move!â
The rest of the wolf pack, disheartened, had given up trying to break through the barrier of the charm and slunk away over the churchyard wall. Jonah, watching them go, caught sight of the shadowy, cloaked figure standing in the shade of a tree. He scrambled to his feet but when he looked again, there was nothing beneath the branches after all. He screwed his eyes up, blinking, but he couldnât see anyone in the meadow. As the wolves loped towards the forest, he caught a glimpse of what looked like smaller creatures moving with them. Some demons had got away, then, and it looked as if they and the wolves were making for the fissure. Perhaps the angels would drive them all away from Cascob and back into the Underworld. He turned to look for the Archangel again and froze, gripping Erinâs arm.
The largest wolf, the alpha male which had attacked him the day before, was standing a few feet away, its yellow eyes fixed on Jonah. Saliva dripped from its jaws. It took a slow step forward, and then another, drawing its lips back from its fangs in a rumbling snarl. Jonah could not move; he felt as if his body had turned to ice. He could hear Erin breathing shakily behind him.
The wolf brought one foot slowly forward, hunched its shoulders and then erupted into a streak of snarling fur. It slammed into Jonah, knocking him and Erin backwards. Everything seemed to go into slow motion. He felt the weight of its feet pressing down on his chest and legs. Its stinking breath made him gag. He tensed for the terrible ripping bite, but it did not come. Instead, there was a high-pitched scream, a smell of burning hair and a flash of golden light. He felt the rush of wings, and then he was being lifted up and swept gently across the churchyard. An angel lowered him to the grass. He began to tremble as he watched Erin getting to her feet. Another angel was hovering above her, protectively. Near the lych gate, two more angels pursued the wolf, which scrabbled over the wall and disappeared.
âYou are safe now,â said the one who had rescued him. âStay here while we chase off the others.â
Two angels floated over the church, searching in case any fiend were still hiding behind the guttering. Another searched the churchyard and two more bent over Megan and Gethin, who were both sitting up. They had nasty wounds and blood all over their clothes but they were conscious again, and talking. A couple of other angels, in the hill-meadows beyond the church wall, examined the hedgerows and looked along the lane. Once the wolves had been driven off, people stopped trying to rush out of the churchyard and were spellbound by the sight of the heavenly beings. The villagers began to feel that the angels would somehow keep them safe from the Red Dragon, if it returned.
Jonah sighed with relief and shakily began to stand up. He looked towards the hills, wondering where the dragon was. He soon found out.
CHAPTER 16
TALKING TO A DRAGON
The sky darkened again, and the oppressive gloom seemed to stop the villagers in their tracks. The angelic light above the church faded. Abruptly, total silence fell. No one seemed able to move. Too scared to
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