"Don't be daft," I said. "She's a malevolent witch. We're natural enemies."Stranger things have happened," teased Alice."Anyway," I said, quickly changing the subject, "how would she get me inside the tower?"There's a tunnel. Leads straight into the dungeons."But why do we need Mab to guide us, Alice? You're a Deane and also a Malkin on your mother's side. Surely you know where the tunnel entrance is?"Alice shook her head. "I've been in the tower a few times, but only above ground. Know that part wellenough, but only Anne Malkin, their coven leader, knows where the actual entrance is. It's a secret passed down from generation to generation. Only one living person is ever given that knowledge! She'd only be allowed to show it to others if the whole coven was in mortal danger and they needed to get into the tower secretly and take refuge there."So how does Mab know? Is this some sort of trick? Maybe she's only pretending to know."

"No, Tom, this is no trick. Remember that night when you saved me from the Mouldheels and we met Dead Maggie in the wood? Hungry for blood, Maggie was, and set off to meet 'em. Trouble is, there were too many and they got the better of her. Maggie was once the leader of the coven, so she knows where the entrance is. Got the secret from her, they did. Don't know how, but it wouldn't have been pleasant. Wouldn't talk easily, our Maggie, so they must have hurt her pretty bad. Mab said she'd hurt me, too, if I didn't talk you round. Got my lock of hair, ain't she. I'm starting to feel unwell again-think shemight be doing something to it now, just so I know what's what. And that's part of the bargain. Offer to give her the trunks and keys, and shell show you the entrance to the tunnel and help you rescue your family. Not only that -she'll return my lock of hair. Be more use to you when I get that back. At the moment I'm useless. Just a shadow of myself, I am."It seemed simple. All I had to do was surrender the trunks and I'd be given a chance to get Jack, Ellie, and Mary out-perhaps before midnight, before Wurmalde could carry out her threat. But, in a way, nothing had changed.Alice did look ill. Somehow we had to get that lock of hair back from Mab, but not this way. I shook my head. "I'm sorry, Alice, but I just can't do it. As I told you, Wurmalde says she'll swap Jack and his family for the keys, too. But whether I give them to Wurmalde or Mab, I'd still have surrendered them to a witch. It would still help the dark and place the County in danger."

"This way is better, though, ain't it? Can you trust Wurmalde? Giving her the keys is easy-but what guarantee is there that you'll get your family back safely in return? Mab Mouldheel prides herself on always keeping her word. Once the bargain's made, she'll show us the way in person. She'll guide us through to the dungeons because the trunks will be nearby. She'll be in as much danger as us. Be a terrible thing for her, to be caught by the Malkins, so she needs to get in and out safely. We'll be with her every step of the 'way. Not only that-if she's helping us, maybe she won't join up with the Malkins and Deanes. We'll be stopping the covens uniting and releasing the Fiend as well as rescuing your family."It's still giving her the trunks, though. I can't do that-" "Let me try to talk her round. Let's see if she'll do it for just one trunk. If she agrees to that and is prepared to give me back my lock of hair before we enter the tunnel, then we're laughing, ain't we? Just one trunk can't do that much harm."It's still one trunk too many. Mam wanted me to have them all, and it must be for an important reason. The lastthing she'd want is for me to give them to the dark!"No, Tom, the last thing she'd want is for Jack and his family to die!"

"I'm not even sure about that, Alice," I said sadly. "However much it hurts, there are more people than just immediate family to consider. There's the County and the world beyond that."Then we'll do it your way!" Alice snapped. "We'll say that Mab can have the trunks in order to get to your family, but once we're inside the tower it'll be easy enough to get the better of her. Came up on me unawares, the Mouldheels did. And there were a lot of em. If it's just me and Mab, I'll sort her out for sure. Just see if I don't."But she's got a lock of your hair, Alice. You said yourself you're not as strong as you should be."I've got you, though, haven't I? Look, once we're inside the tower, the two of us can overpower Mab. Then we'll rescue your family before midnight, and once the soldiers have breached the wall -we'll get your trunks back."I thought about it for a bit, then nodded. "I'm not sure what other choice we have, though I doubt whether a few soldiers will be a match for the Malkins."You may be right, Tom. We may need another plan for getting hold of those trunks, but for rescuing your family this is the best plan we have."

"I know you're right," I said, "but I feel uncomfortable with betraying Mab like that."Mab? You can't mean that! Just think what you're saying. Do you think she felt guilty when she was planning to kill me the other night? Or when she was trying to make you hers, or when she tortured me all day today with my hair? You're turning soft, Tom, like Old Gregory. Pretty girl smiles at you and your brain goes soft."I'm just saying it isn't right to break a promise. My dad taught me that."He didn't mean when you were dealing with a witch, though. Old Gregory probably wouldn't like our plan, but then he's never around when we need him these days.If he was, we wouldn't be having to rescue Father Stocks and your family all by ourselves."Her mention of Father Stocks reminded me again of the great danger he was in and the terrifying ordeal we were about to face at Read Hall. "Alice," I said, "something else is puzzling me. Who exactly is Wurmalde? She claims to come from the same land as Mam but talks as if she's part of the covens. As if she speaks for them."Alice frowned. "Never even heard of her before today."But you were in Pendle until two years ago. Wurmalde's been in Roger Nowell's employment longer than that."Nowell's a magistrate. Ain't likely I'd go near his house. Not stupid, am I? Nor any of my family either. As for his housekeeper-what would anyone know about her?"

"Well," I said, "she's a mystery all right, but we've delayed long enough now, so let's press on toward Read. Feeling any better, or shall I go on ahead at a faster pace?"I'll go as fast as I can. If I can't keep up, you'd best go on ahead."Our pace wasn't quite as fast as before, but Alice did manage to keep up and we came within sight of Read Hall with over an hour of daylight still remaining. But now we had a problem-how to get inside unseen.A creature of the dark, Tibb was not yet a threat, but there were still two risks. Wurmalde wouldn't be able to sniff out either Alice or me, but she might glimpse us from a window. There were also the servants to worry about. Some might be unaware of what was going on behind the magistrate's back, but if Cobden had returned from Malkin Tower, he'd certainly pose a danger. I couldn't afford to simply walk down the wide carriageway."I think the best chance of getting inside unseen is to approach from the shrubbery at the side. I can use my key to enter by the tradesmen's door."Alice nodded her agreement, so we circled around and approached from the -west, moving through the bushes and trees until we were close to the side of the house,only ten or twenty paces from the door."We need to be very careful here," I told Alice. "I think it's probably best if I go in alone."

"No, Tom. Ain't right. Need me, you do," Alice said, her voice indignant. "Two of us together have more chance."Not this time, Alice. This is risky. You stay hidden, and if I get caught, at least I'll know there'll be somebody on the outside to help. If the worst came to the worst, you could come in after me."Then give me your key!"I need it for the door -"'Course you do! But once you get it open, throw it back onto the lawn. I'll come and pick it up once you're inside."You'd better take my staff as well," I told her. Father Stocks would still be weak, and I'd have to help him down the stairs. My staff would be an encumbrance. It was still light, so I hoped I wouldn't have to face Tibb, and the chain would be enough to deal with Wurmalde.If I missed her, I still had salt and iron to fall back on.Alice nodded but grimaced as I handed it to her. She didn't like the touch of rowan wood.I walked cautiously forward across the grass.