Troll Fell Read Free Page B

“Thief! You watch out. If the trolls don’t get you, Iwill! You’ll steal no more. That’s finished! If the Gaffer—”
    Troll Fell cracked out a blinding whip of lightning anda heart-stopping jolt of thunder. The rain began fallingtwice as hard. Beaten by the downpour, Uncle Baldurthrew himself back on to his seat and grabbed for thereins. The oxen slowly plodded forwards. Without anotherword, the rider trotted briskly past, and soon struck offalong an even rougher track that led away to the right.
    Gritting his teeth, Peer clung to the side of the cart asit crashed and slithered down the slope.
    Well, that’s it , he said to himself. Uncle Baldur is mad . Completely crazy .
    Sick, cold and miserable, he tried to picture his father, asif the memory could blot out Uncle Baldur. He thought ofhis father’s bright, kind eyes, his thin shoulders hunchedfrom bending over his chisel and plane. What would he saynow, if only he knew?
    I can guess , he told himself sternly. He’d say, “ Keep your heart up, Peer! ” Like Ingrid said, I’ve got another uncle at the mill, and he can’t be as bad as this. There can only be one Uncle Baldur. Maybe Uncle Grim will take after my side of the family. Maybe – just maybe – he might even be a little bit like Father!
    The cart rattled down one last slope and trundledover a shaky wooden bridge. Peer looked downapprehensively at the black glancing water hurtlingunderneath. “Gee!” howled Uncle Baldur, cracking hiswhip. The sound was lost in the roar of the stream. Onthe other side of the bridge, Peer saw the mill.
    It crouched dismally on the bank, squinting into thestream, a long black building that looked as if it had beencold for ages and didn’t know how to get warm again.Wild trees pressed around it, tossing despairing arms in thewind. Uncle Baldur drove the cart round the end of thebuilding, into a pinched little yard on the other side. As thesky lit up again with lightning, Peer saw to his right thestained frontage of the mill, with dripping thatch hanginglow over sly little black windows. To his left lurked a darkbarn, with a gaping entrance like an open mouth. Aheadstretched a line of mean-looking sheds. The weary oxensplashed to a halt, and a wolf-like baying broke out fromsome unseen dog. Uncle Baldur dropped the reins,stretching his arms till the joints cracked.
    â€œHome!” he proclaimed, jumping down. He strodeacross to the door of the mill and kicked it open. Weakfirelight leaked into the yard. “Grim!” he calledtriumphantly. “I’m back. And I’ve got him !” The doorbanged shut behind him. Peer sat out in the rain,shivering with hope and fear.
    â€œUncle Grim will be different,” he muttered alouddesperately. “I know he will. There can’t be anotherUncle Baldur. Even his own brother couldn’t—”
    The latch lifted with a noisy click, and he heard anew, deep voice saying loudly, “Let’s take a look at him,then!”
    The mill door swung slowly open, shuddering. Peerheld his breath. Out strode the burly shape of UncleBaldur. At his heels trod someone else – someoneunbelievably familiar. Flabbergasted, Peer squintedthrough the rain, telling himself it couldn’t be true. Butit was. There was nothing left to hope for. He shook hishead in horrified despair.

CHAPTER 2
The Departureof Ralf
    In a small, damp farmhouse higher up the valley, Hildescowled down at her knitting needles. Her head achedfrom the strain of peering at the stitches in the firelight.She dropped one, and muttered angrily as a ladder randown the rough grey sock she was making. It wasimpossible to concentrate. She felt too worried. And sheknew her mother did too, although she was calmlypatching a pair of trousers. Hilde took a deep breath.
    â€œMa? He’s so late. Do you think he’s all right?”
    Before Gudrun could answer, the wind pounced onthe house like a