The Oracles Read Free Page B

imagine. They must be very wicked people. It was not possible for Artefacts to get out of the studio and attack the Swanns. If she had ever encouraged the others to think that they could, it was only as a means of keeping order. The idea had presented itself when Mike once asked if they could be in the house; she had answered quickly that they might come, if he did not do as she told him.
    From this beginning the cult had grown and ramified. It was half a game, half a religion, mingling enjoymentwith terror, until they had almost come to depend on it. Perpetual warfare raged betwixt the Artefacts and the Swanns, and, in this drama, Serafina played the part of witch-doctor. She knew the habits of the creatures; she knew how to propitiate and defeat them. She could distinguish between an Artefact and a milder type of demon, known as a Form, also an inhabitant of the studio, but less malign and sometimes actually upon the side of the Swanns. It was by her spells and incantations that these creatures were sent to the shed ,a kind of condemned cell next door to the garage, which was the ultimate fate of Artefacts and Forms alike. Once they were put there, all was over with them. Within a day or two men would come with a van or lorry and drag the occupant of the shed away to his doom. Sometimes a great many men came. Last year six of them had been needed to remove an egg-shaped Form, so large that the shed door could not be quite closed upon it. The Swanns had rather an affection for it, and were sorry to see it go off to execution. Dinah had cried until Serafina produced the theory that the men were good, and were secretly helping it to escape. One of them had said that it was going to Venice, which was a beautiful place, full of churches and holy people.
    Mike and Dinah believed it all. Joe believed as much as he could understand. Polly, who was sharper than the rest, had lately displayed some signs of scepticism , but she was thoroughly frightened now.
    ‘It really is,’ she persisted. ‘Go up to the meadow and look. He’s there still.’
    They had all come out of the tank by now and they followed Serafina up to the field, lagging a little way behind her, ready to fly at a moment’s notice.
    The first thing which she comprehended, when shereached the meadow, was the ruin which had fallen upon their tree. It really was destroyed—split from top to bottom and partially burnt. It looked terrifying enough, in that strange yellow light, with the thunder always growling around the hills.
    Then she saw the THING, and cried out in terror:
    ‘Jesus-Mary-Joseph!’
    She could not run away. She could not move. She had to stand there, petrified. If this could happen, anything could happen.
    It stood just beneath the blasted tree—it was the worst that she had ever seen. In hue it was a smouldering red and it was about her height. One long thin leg it had, and a great flat foot. The head was very small, a pear-shaped blob at the end of a twisted neck. It had no arms, but, as Mike said, it was shooting at them. Spikes of different lengths stuck out from it, like wicked arrows.
    At the moment it was motionless, but it was obviously just about to move. On its one long leg it could come hopping faster than anybody could run. It seemed to quiver slightly, as it stood there looking at them, jeering at them, boasting of what it had done—could do. It was the very embodiment of evil.
    ‘Pray for us! Pray for us! Now and in the hour …’
    But I’ve got my rosary, remembered Serafina. I’ve got the Holy Cross. God is stronger than the devil. If he comes at me, I can hold my cross up.
    Her panic subsided a little. This was only an Artefact. It was not real. It could not think. How it had come there she did not know, but it had not come of itself. Somebody must have brought it.
    ‘Pooh!’ she shouted suddenly. ‘I’m not afraid of that !’
    Gripping her rosary, she advanced upon it. Her heart was thudding and she felt sick, but she