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‘As yet <strong>the</strong>y have not managed it,’ he said placidly, ‘but <strong>the</strong>y<br />
will – very soon.’<br />
Tommy slipped out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> room <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> old Abbot turned to<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Doctor</strong>. ‘Now, <strong>Doctor</strong>, I think you have a story to tell me.’<br />
‘Somehow I have a feeling you already know most <strong>of</strong> it. It<br />
concerns a certain blue crystal that I found...’<br />
‘Found?’ interrupted <strong>the</strong> old man gently.<br />
The <strong>Doctor</strong> rubbed his chin. Sarah could see that he was<br />
ra<strong>the</strong>r taken aback. ‘Well, perhaps “stole” would be a better<br />
word.’ The <strong>Doctor</strong> looked at <strong>the</strong> old man sharply. ‘Forgive me –<br />
but have we met before?’<br />
K’anpo smiled benignly. ‘The recognition <strong>of</strong> friends is not<br />
always easy. Tell me about <strong>the</strong> crystal that you – stole.’<br />
The <strong>Doctor</strong> cleared his throat. ‘Ah, well, yes... It didn’t occur<br />
to me that I was stealing it <strong>of</strong> course – not at <strong>the</strong> time...’<br />
As <strong>the</strong> <strong>Doctor</strong> launched into his narrative, Sarah sat back<br />
unnoticed watching <strong>the</strong> calm face <strong>of</strong> K’anpo Rinpoche. There<br />
was something very strange, very powerful, about this frail old<br />
man. Sarah could see that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Doctor</strong> had noticed it too.<br />
With a wrenching <strong>and</strong> tearing noise, <strong>the</strong> cellar door burst open<br />
at last, <strong>the</strong> iron lock torn clean from <strong>the</strong> wood. Barnes, Moss,<br />
Keaver <strong>and</strong> L<strong>and</strong>s all tumbled out into <strong>the</strong> corridor on top <strong>of</strong><br />
one ano<strong>the</strong>r. Barnes assumed control. ‘We must spread out <strong>and</strong><br />
search for <strong>the</strong>m. They won’t have gone far.’<br />
Little Moss shook his head vigorously. He’d had enough.<br />
‘I’m leaving. I don’t want anything more to do with it.’ He had<br />
time to take only a single step before something inside his head<br />
caught <strong>and</strong> twisted at his mind. Moss screamed, his h<strong>and</strong>s<br />
clawing at his temples. ‘No, no, please stop it. I’ll do anything.<br />
Please, make it stop!’<br />
The pain died, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> icy voice in his head said, ‘You will<br />
obey me?’