Chapter 11 An uncxpected visitor

It was past then o' clock at night when Finn finally left jade in the little kitchen of Crynghordy House. She couldn't stay in the hosptial with Paco so Finn drove her back. 'How kind and helpful Finn is,' she thought. She sat down at the table and lloked at hte white walls, the cupboards, the table , the fridge. nothing moved. she felt strange in the thick quietness without Paco. In London she didn't mind being alone, but here, in this house, she was uncomfortable. She kne she was afraid.

Now Paco was in hospital with a broken leg and a broken arm. he was lucky not to have a broken neck. Poor Paco. They said he had to stay in hospital for at least a week. "Poor me, too," she thought 'What am I going to do now? I haven't got a car. Whose idea was it to have a holiday, anyway? What a wonderful holiday thisd is. Here I am this house by myself on a cold, wet Welsh mountain in the middle of nowhere. I can't even walk to Llandafydd from here. There's no-one near, and what if . . .' she stoppedquickly before she could finish the thought.

"Well anyway, I've got my mobile phone and at least there's Finn," she told herself. "He's been very kind." Finn had told her that he lived on the other side of the hill. She could ring him any time if she needed anything. He would try to come the next moring to see her. but he had a lot to do and he wasn't sure if he'd have time. Anyway, she could call a taxi from Llandafydd to take her to the hospital. She felt safer thinking of Finn. She remembered the gun that she'd seen in his Land Rover. when he'd shown her the silver bullet, she hadn't ubderstood at first. Then she had rmemberd the stories her father used to tell her. Finn didn't really think a werewolf was killing his sheep. Did he?

She had asked him if he was joking. But he had just smiled and said, "You never know, do you? You can't be sure . . ." she couldn't believe he was serious.

"Where my father came from," she'd told him lightly "they believe that when a werewolf dies, it turns into a vampire. You can''t kill them, you know. It's impossible. They just change in something else."

"Do they really?" Finn had said.

"Of course, it's stupid," she told herself now. "Vampire and werewolves are just stories." she got up to look at the fire in the sitting-room. She thought of the time on Brynmawr Hill, and the Time at the zoo. But the danger wasn't real. There was nothing out there. It was only in here head. And she must fight it. She wished Paco was there.

"Oh, no!" she said aloud. The fire had gone out. That meant no hot water, and the house was cold now, too. And Their was no wood in the box either. 'OK' she thought 'L et's see if I can do this myself . . .' She picked up the wood box and opened the front door. She left the door open sothat she could see a little and went to the garage. When the wood box was full, she stood up again to go back inside. Just then, suddenly realised that someone or something was near and was moving towards her in the dark. She screamed and dropped the box. Pieces of wood fell eerywhere. She stood still and couldn't move.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry," a friendly voice said. She knew the voice at once. It was Drago. the man from the pub. "I made you jump, didn't I?" he went on. "I just came to see you were OK. I thought you might need something. Finn told me it was you two who were in the accident. I saw it on my way to the pub earlier tonight." He made it sound like a question.

"Yes," Jade said. "I know. I saw it was you. It's kind of you to come. I'm fine. But Paco's in hospital with a broken arm and a broken leg. Some holiday!"

"I'm, so sorry. Poor Paco," Drago said. "Here, let me help you pick up the wood."

"Thanks," Jade said. she added "I didn't hear you drive up or anything."

"No, I walked the last bit," Drago answered. "The snow''s quite bad on this road and I didn't want to have any trouble with the car. I haven't got a Land Rover like the farmer round here . . ."

"Well . . . would you like to come in?" Jade said, unsure what to do. He could help her with the fire anyway. And it was would be nice to talk to someone for a bit. She made them both a cup of tea while Drago lit the fire. The room soon started to feel warmer. Jade found herself talking to Drago as if he was an old friend. She told him about her life in London, her father, her family slovenia, her work. while she talked, he smiled at her and listened. She'd never talked like this before to a man she didn't know. he made her feel that everything she said was important and interesting.

She realised he was very good-looking, in an unusual way. His blue eyes watched her while she spoke. it was strange how comfortable she felt. he was so easy to talk to. she might almost fall in love with him. Suddenly, jade realised waht she was doing. paco was in hospital and here she was with a strange man in hte house. How could she possinly think of such a thing?

"Er . . . I'm afriad I'll have to go to bed now," Jade said.

"Of course, I''m terribly sorry. How stupid of me, it''s late," Drago said "You must be tired. I'd better go. Look, if you like, I could take you to the hospital to see paco tomorrow. I've got to go into town anyway."

"Oh well, that's very kind. yes please," Jade said.

"I'll come pick you up about twelve, then?" Drago said.

"That would be wonderful. Thanks very much. See you tomorrow," she replied. When Jade git into bed, she realised she was very tired. But in the night, the dreams started again. a oice called to her. "Come with me," it said. in the dream, she knew the voice but she couldn't quite say who it was. Suddenly, she was awake. Outside, there was a kind of scream. 'It must be an animal cuaght by something,' Jade thought. it came again, and then again, a hopeless, deathly scream. She pulled the blankets over her head to shut out the noise.