by Glenn Dakin
Theo stopped. Silence. In the darkness he could feel eyes upon him. For a moment he felt like running away. He glanced at Chloe and saw her stifling a yawn. Somehow, this made him feel better. He had prepared a speech and was determined to deliver it.
Except he was not used to people actually listening to him. After spending much of his childhood as a virtual prisoner, he wasn’t used to people, full stop. He took a deep breath.
‘Years ago,’ he said, ‘someone had a great idea for a charity: the Society of Good Works.’
Silence.
‘But then, it went wrong,’ Theo continued. ‘It became a wicked, evil, criminal gang.’
None of the Board seemed to react. Theo gulped.
‘That is all over now,’ he said. ‘The old leaders of this society have been arrested. Now is the time to make a new start. From now on, this will be a real Society of Good Works, performing –’ he struggled for words for a moment – ‘err . . . real good works!’ he concluded.
There was another moment of silence. The dark figures around the table stirred. Suddenly a loud noise made Theo jump.
It was applause. To Theo’s relief, the table erupted in a huge round of cheers and clapping. He fell back into his chair, astonished and relieved.
‘I say, can someone put the light on?’ came a voice from the back. ‘I can’t see a ruddy thing.’
‘Good idea,’ said Chloe. ‘I’m falling asleep here.’
Someone found a light switch. Theo blinked as lamps began to shine in every corner of the room. Theo was surprised to see that the sinister figures were, in fact, nearly all as young as him.
At the far end of the table, a smartly dressed young man in a sleek black frock coat was slouched in a big leather chair. It was he who had called for the lights to come on.
‘Freddie Dove,’ said the young man, rising. ‘May I just say, on behalf of the rest of the Board, that we are with you all the way! A real society of good works! At last! Just what we need!’
For this, Freddie received a round of applause.
‘And may I add that if my wicked father, Lord Dove, was here,’ he continued in a cool, confident voice, ‘I would gladly run him through with my rapier!’
Freddie acted out this imaginary piece of swordsmanship for the benefit of the room, to slightly more muted applause.
‘I don’t care who your parents are – or what they did,’ Theo added, smiling. ‘I want this to be a new age – a new start for everyone.’
Somebody started singing ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’ and then the whole room joined in – except Chloe.
‘One item of business,’ piped up Freddie again. ‘When will our network of underground tunnels be open again?’
‘I realise that everyone here wants life to return to normal. The network has been damaged since the great battle,’ Theo said. ‘But a team is being sent down straight away to investigate any damage and make repairs.’
Someone started singing ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’ again.
Theo wasn’t sure how to react. But when he began to join in the chorus, Chloe gave him a swift kick on the ankle.
Theo left the room to a standing ovation.
‘See? I told you things weren’t as bad as they look,’ he said to Chloe outside the room. ‘They like me. No one wants the bad old days back. They just want the network open again and a chance to make amends.’
Chloe frowned. ‘I told you they would be tricky!’
Chapter Three
New Age
‘Well, are you ready for the new age of friendship and cooperation?’ Chloe asked with a slight smile as she helped Sam load a bundle of tools into a gigantic iron wheelbarrow. Late, low sun sparkled in the icy puddles of the old graveyard. Even the dead heads of decayed weeds were golden in its rays.
Theo was pleased to see his friends all gathered together, outside the cemetery keeper’s cottage. There was Magnus, the graveyard keeper, Sam the gravedigger, his grandson, and, of course, Chloe. It wasn’t often the whole Society of Unrelenting Vigilance were united in one place.
‘This is an important time in the great history of our Society,’ Magnus croaked. He was bundled up in a shapeless army-surplus trench coat and a mustard-coloured scarf. The old man paused for breath, leaning on a pair of battered old walking sticks. ‘A chance to sweep away the grudges of old.’
Chloe frowned. ‘Blah, blah,’ she remarked lightly. ‘But are you sure this expedition is a good idea?’
‘You saw them,’ said Theo. ‘You were there. The new generation of the Society of Good Works just want to be friends. All they ask is that the network is up and running again, so they can use it as they have done for a hundred years.’
Chloe scowled. ‘Use it for smuggling, spying and skulking.’
Magnus flicked an enormous rubber-covered torch on and off to check that it was working. ‘They are a proud, if misguided, Society. A band of ancient, once noble families ruined by wealth and privilege. Like us, they are a relic of another age. None of us fit into this new world of computers and rocket ships.’
Sam snorted. ‘Computers aren’t new,’ he groaned. ‘And neither are rocket ships. Even you must know that, Grandad.’
Magnus ignored him. ‘The point is, I can feel pity for my enemies,’ he said. ‘They lost friends, hopes, a whole way of life when Dr Saint was defeated. He convinced them the Society of Good Works was destined to rule this city. They thought he was a great visionary. No one realised until too late that he was falling under the power of dark alchemy. He led them on a reckless path that ended in ruin. But now we have a chance to show them kindness and end the old wars.’
‘And who better to help them repair the network than us?’ Sam grinned. ‘We’ve got the ancient map that Theo discovered. It reveals lost tunnels that have been forgotten for years.’
Theo knew he could rely on Sam for a bit of enthusiasm. The young gravedigger had a surprisingly cheery nature – considering his occupation. As Sam continued to load up the barrow with equipment, his fair hair gleamed in the late sun and his generally ruddy face was bright red from the effort.
‘I wish I was going down too,’ Theo said.
‘Well, I don’t,’ Chloe retorted. ‘After that incident with the Sewer Rat, I want you where I can keep an eye on you.’
‘I’d feel a lot better going down there with the Candle Man by my side,’ said Sam.
Chloe sighed. ‘You know what Theo’s like, Sam,’ she said with a grin. ‘He’s a danger-magnet. Take Theo with you and you’ll probably be followed by a horde of smoglodytes or end up at a garghoul’s wedding.’
Sam guffawed, but Theo felt a little dismayed. Sometimes Chloe’s jokes struck uncomfortable chords of truth.
‘Anyway,’ said Sam, ‘if there was any trouble, Theo would sort it out like he did that man who attacked him. Zap! Splosh!’
Theo turned away from the others. He was supposed to be a hero, but the idea of his power still churned his stomach and filled him with revulsion.
Sam shoved the wheelbarrow of equipment over the rutted ground as they headed off. Magnus fumbled in his fingerless woollen gloves to triple-lock the cottage door.
‘Theo,’ the cemetery keeper said in a low tone, encouraging Theo to lag behind the others as they trudged towards Kensington Gore. ‘Beware! I feel something. The invisible, approaching footprint of an enemy.’
‘An enemy?’
‘Don’t forget the words of that Sewer Rat,’ Magnus said. ‘“He” is back. Beware whoever “he” is.’
Theo looked miserable. ‘I – I’ve only been the Candle Man for a couple of months,’ he said. ‘I’ve told everyone that I just want to make friends and forget the past. How can I already have enemies?’
Magnus stopped and glowered down at Theo with a look that was almost frightening. ‘Because light,’ he said, ‘doth cast shadows!’
Theo gulped.
‘There is one more thing,’ Magnus said. ‘A further portent.’ They were in
sight of the street now, where a large grey van was waiting for them. The old man stopped under a great, bare, ruined old oak.
‘Yes?’
‘All is not well in the cemetery,’ Magnus said. ‘There is a disturbance in the yard.’ Magnus gestured at the great field of sloping graves and tumbledown mausoleums. The door of the nearest tomb hung slightly ajar, as if inviting morbid curiosity.
‘Bones have gone missing,’ Magnus said in a low tone. ‘Robbed out of old tombs. Graves have been found open, with no remains to be found inside.’
‘Is – is that normal?’ Theo asked feebly.
Magnus’s shrivelled lips puckered in a small smile. ‘Theo, this is a graveyard, not a library,’ he said darkly. ‘We don’t lend bones out.’
‘Room for one more?’ a haughty voice called out, as the Network Repair Team clambered into the big unmarked grey van outside Empire Hall. Sam and Magnus had boarded first, followed by a crew of engineers and security guards.
The van was ready to set off for the Monarch Fields pumping station – the Society of Good Works’ traditional point of entry to the network.
Theo, who was ready to wave Sam and Magnus off, was surprised to see a figure he recognised, in a stylish frock coat, by the driver’s window.
‘Let me in the front with you, driver,’ he said. ‘I’m not getting in the back with all the riff-raff!’
It was Freddie Dove.
‘I’m sorry, sir,’ the driver said. ‘You’re not on the mission list.’
‘I am now,’ said Freddie, walking round to let himself into the front passenger seat.
He gave Theo a little half-bow before getting in.
‘Got to keep an eye on my interests, Theo. I hear there’s a world of wonders down there.’ He flashed a smile as he slammed the door.
Theo watched the van drive off into the London twilight.
‘That’s what I like to see,’ he said. ‘A bit of enthusiasm.’
‘Charming fellow,’ said Chloe. ‘Wonder if he’s brought his rapier?’
Chapter Four
Unmasked
‘It’s for you, sir,’ Montmerency the butler said, calling Theo over to the telephone in the main hallway. Theo had just finished a late supper of millet broth, and had been pondering whether to go up to bed.
Maybe it will be Sam calling from the network entrance at Monarch Fields, Theo thought. I wonder if they’ve managed to get down the main shaft there yet?
He picked up the antique instrument, taking great care to get the mouth and earpiece the right way round.
‘I need to see you,’ Chloe said urgently. ‘Can you meet me at the gates of the cemetery, about now?’
Theo nodded.
‘I can’t hear you – are you there?’ Chloe asked suddenly.
‘Of course I’m here – I just nodded, didn’t I?’ Theo said. He heard an exasperated noise at the other end of the line.
‘Theo, it’s a phone,’ Chloe groaned. ‘I can’t see you nod your head! Are you trying to win idiot of the week?’
‘I’m not used to them yet,’ Theo said. ‘Dr Saint never let me use one.’ He tugged at the tangled wire. The main landline at Empire Hall was inconveniently located next to an immense, potted aspidistra plant.
‘And I’ve got a plant in my face,’ he added.
‘Well, I’ve got the whole of Scotland Yard in my face,’ said Chloe, ‘and half of the Home Office. You’ve turned into an issue. Finley says he’s discovered something and he needs a meeting tonight. He’s in the Condemned Cemetery right now.’
Moments later, hastily wrapped in his long black coat, with a woolly hat pulled down over his ears, Theo met Chloe at the gates of the Condemned Cemetery. The night was freezing, and Theo could see his steamy breath plume out under the gateway lamps. Chloe was wearing her enormous navy greatcoat, with her familiar peaked cap angled low over her eyes.
‘I was dragged into headquarters today,’ Chloe said. ‘Some new bloke called Gold is in charge. Suddenly everyone at Scotland Yard is on their toes. You will not believe the hassle I’m going through. And guess what it’s all about? You! That’s why I asked you to meet me here.’
‘You know it’s past my bedtime,’ Theo said.
‘Ever the great adventurer,’ Chloe remarked.
She led Theo through the dark headstones at a pace he found rather tiring. His guardian had never allowed him much exercise, and now any kind of physical activity took its toll quickly.
They brushed through the little holly wood that bordered the cemetery keeper’s cottage. In front of the house stood the policemen they knew well – Inspector Finley and Sergeant Crane. Finley was impressive as ever in his vast beige coat, a Russian fur hat and a neatly tucked-in grey scarf. Crane cut an almost comical figure in shiny black shoes and the ghastly suede jacket he was so fond of.
As he approached the policemen, Theo noticed they were studying him with keen interest. Finley loomed over him, ominously silent, and Theo waited anxiously, a strange sinking feeling in his stomach.
‘We know who you are,’ Finley said at last.
Theo blinked. He gulped. He opened his mouth but no words would come out.
‘Yes,’ Finley continued. ‘We’ve finally worked it out. Despite the attempts by Special Detective Cripps to hide your identity under a smokescreen of confusing and misfiled reports.’
‘Or,’ added Crane wryly, ‘by using something we in the police call “lies”.’
Theo looked at Chloe. The game was up.
‘You’re the Candle Man,’ Finley stated.
For an instant, it seemed to Theo as if every frosty tree in the graveyard was suddenly listening to their conversation.
‘Some of the villains from the Society of Good Works who we arrested recently have been blabbing. Your name kept coming up,’ Finley explained.
‘You can melt people,’ blurted out Sergeant Crane with a strange relish.
Theo had gone white.
‘Are . . . are you going to put me in prison?’ he asked.
For a moment there was a surprised silence. Then, to his astonishment, Sergeant Crane laughed. This was followed by a kind smile from Finley.
‘Certainly not,’ Finley said.
‘You’re a hero!’ Crane added with a grin.
‘We’ve been reading the old Wickland file in Scotland Yard’s Black Museum,’ Finley continued. ‘We know that the original Candle Man worked closely with the law, especially with a certain Inspector Edward Rooke. Dark days. Most of the files don’t make pretty reading.’
Theo’s eyes lit up.
‘You’ve got files – real stories about the Candle Man?’ he gasped. ‘Can I read them?’
‘Told you,’ muttered Chloe, looking away.
‘Maybe,’ replied the inspector. ‘But we need to get one thing clear. Like your ancestor, you must use your power in cooperation with the police.’
Theo looked away from the inspector, down at his feet.
‘I – I don’t want to,’ he said quietly.
‘Don’t want to?’
Theo looked up, his eyes clear, his voice calm and decided.
‘I’ve told everyone,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to go around melting people and making enemies. I just want to help people – if I can.’
Inspector Finley looked grave. ‘The original Candle Man helped Scotland Yard,’ he said, ‘during an evil time for this city. Now, I’m afraid to say, those dark days are returning.’
‘Hold on a minute,’ Chloe said, hopping from one foot to the other, trying to keep warm. ‘Why are we having this conversation in a freezing graveyard at midnight when we could be arguing in your cosy office?’
Finley looked grave. ‘Ah,’ he said. ‘That’s just it. You see, we might have a spot of Candle-Manning for our young friend here,’ he said. He turned to the other officer.
‘Sergeant Crane, how are our teams doing?’ he asked.
Crane exchanged swift radio messages with the police teams that were statio
ned elsewhere throughout the cemetery. ‘This way,’ he said.
Theo was uneasy. What did the police have in mind? Suddenly all the efforts of his day caught up with him and he felt almost faint. Chloe seemed to sense this and grabbed him by the arm.
‘I wasn’t expecting this, Theo,’ she said. ‘If you don’t like it, just say so. I’ll stand up for you.’
‘We . . . we’d better see what the inspector wants,’ said Theo.
‘We’ve got a signal!’ hissed Crane. ‘Come on!’
Now everyone was running along a narrow track. Torch beams flashed in the darkness. Crane shone his torch on a great stone casket, with a headless angel standing at one end.
‘Stop here,’ Crane ordered. They stood in a little grove about a hundred yards from the tomb. Theo could see a police officer pointing a scanning device, not unlike a metal detector, towards the foot of the grave.
‘Ground-penetrating radar,’ explained Crane with a nod.
‘What’s going on?’ Theo asked anxiously. He could feel the trap closing around him, his grim fate taking over from the quiet life he sought.
‘Bones,’ said Sergeant Crane. ‘Bones disappearing from graveyards all over London.’
‘With no sign of the graves being touched . . . above ground,’ added Inspector Finley.
Crane nodded. ‘Plenty of evidence of them being taken from below!’ he concluded, almost smugly.
‘Below?’ Theo couldn’t help but sound intrigued.
‘Coming in now,’ the radar man whispered.
As they all watched, spellbound, the headless angel on top of the tomb started to tremble.
‘This is it!’ said Crane, peering over the shoulder of the radar operative. ‘This is the contact we’ve been waiting for!’
The stone angel suddenly toppled to the ground. The walls of the tomb shuddered.
‘Go, go, go!’ roared Finley.
Sergeant Crane raced to the tomb, pulling out his gun. Theo looked on, astonished, as Crane shone his torch down into the shattered grave.
‘There’s an eye! An eye down there!’ he cried out in horror.
In the darkness, Theo saw something that looked like a dark root grip Crane’s ankle. Crane yelled as he was dragged to the ground.