Organ Music Read Free

roaring in, twisting around them in ropes of sound.
    â€˜I’m not getting out,’ said David.
    Harley immediately shut himself in again, but he could not shut the music out. ‘Oh, come on!’ he begged. ‘What are you scared of?’
    â€˜Electronic ghosts,’ David muttered. ‘What if the security system vaporizes us?’
    â€˜You said they do forestry research here,’ said Harley uneasily. ‘That’s trees, right? They won’t be worrying about tree security with us. What’s the bet they’ll just tell us off, and then drive us back onto the motorway and turn us loose?’
    David was amazed at Harley’s optimism.
    â€˜You’re unreal,’ he said wearily. ‘I mean – think of this car. It’s not just an average old taxi, is it? It’s weird. The whole place is weird. Let’s ... let’s just ... just make some sort of a plan , and then maybe we can ... ’
    His voice trailed away and they both flopped back in their seats, studying those black doorways in front of them. As they stared blankly ahead, a figure appeared in the left-hand doorway.
    One moment the doorway had been dark and empty. The next, someone was there, looking back at them. In spite of the shadows they could see her in totally unexpected detail: a girl older than they were – sixteen or seventeen, perhaps – a little hunched, hugging around her (as if her pockets were full of treasures) a disintegrating leather jacket that fell almost to her knees. Her hair, dyed bright red, was cropped close to her skull. Big, dark glasses with metal rims hid most of her face, but they could see three rings in her right ear and one in her left nostril. She was certainly not the kind of person you would expect to find in a forestry research establishment.
    The boys stared at her, and she stared at them. Then she must have stepped back as quickly as she had stepped forward. Without giving any impression of moving, somehow she just wasn’t there any more.
    â€˜Hey!’ said Harley. ‘Some chick!’
    Obviously the sight of this girl had lifted his spirits a little, and he was trying to play it cool again.
    â€˜Okay,’ said David, giving in. ‘Let’s face the music.’
    â€˜What music?’ asked Harley. ‘Mozart?’
    â€˜Oh, ha ha!’ said David. ‘There’s bound to be some trouble, isn’t there? I mean we did sort of steal this car.’
    â€˜It stole us!’ Harley sounded almost pious. ‘And, anyhow, anyone who leaves a car with the keys in it is asking to get it lifted.’
    Harley’s words bothered David. It was true. The car had almost been begging for theft and misuse.
    And, as he thought this, someone tapped on the car window.

Harley let out a small, shrill, rodent cry. David didn’t blame him for shrieking. He would have shrieked himself if his throat had not been paralysed by a new shock of terror. The sudden knock had sounded three inches from his ear. Turning, he looked into the beaming moon-face of the guard who had waved them through the gate. He must have come through some unseen door, and now he was peering in at them, still smiling.
    Scrambling out of the car, David on one side, Harley on the other, they crouched slightly, ready for anything, even attack. The man, though, looked entirely friendly. The air around them still rang with piped music, but it seemed quieter than it had been when Harley had first opened the car door. Half listening, David realized it was now classical music of some kind.
    â€˜Great run!’ the man said, patting the car affectionately. ‘Nice to meet you at last, though I feel I know you already. I’ve been monitoring your approach. My name’s Finney – Winston Finney. Winnie Finney, they call me. So how did you enjoy your million-dollar ride?’
    â€˜Amazing,’ said David. At least he tried to say it. He felt his lips moving but no