Seamus Tripp & the North Star Witch Page 2

swung the door open, bursting inside with a shout. Gordon stood there, lantern in hand, gently shaking Seamus. He looked up in alarm and gave a shout back. Seamus, finally awake, opened his eyes in alarm and shot up straight from the bed, knocking into the lantern held over his head. He also shouted.

  Elie quickly shut the door behind her.

  “So sorry,” she said, though she could hardly hold back laughter at the look on Gordon’s face.

  “What’s the meaning of all this?” said Seamus, rubbing his forehead where it had hit the lantern.

  “I was up,” said Gordon, “to um…”

  “Out with it,” said Seamus, clearly in no mood for Gordon’s nerves.

  “… to use the outhouse.”

  “And how did all of that go?” Seamus said in mock concern.

  “It is so very cold,” Gordon said uselessly.

  “And…?” said Elie. She knew there must be more to the story than Gordon’s rather obvious observation on the weather.

  “I opened the door and saw a great multitude gathered on the hill.”

  “‘Multitude’?” said Seamus.

  “Of people.”

  “Really, you shouldn’t read the Bible before the bed.”

  “It’s from the Epic of Gilgamesh.”

  “It’s archaic, anyway.”

  There was a pause.

  “So…?” said Elie again, trying to move the conversation along.

  “I was out. And there is a multitude gathered on the hill,” Gordon said again, “carrying torches. And there’s a great bonfire at the top of the hill.”

  Seamus’s manner changed immediately.

  “I apologize for being flippant. Grab your coats and boots, both of you. We’ll take a look.”

  He rolled himself out of bed and began pulling on his gear. The children scrambled back to their rooms to do the same. “And children?” he said as they left. “We’ll want to be cautious. Something sinister may be afoot”

  Elie marveled that though Seamus teased Gordon relentlessly on things like word choice he literally jumped at his nephew’s report, never questioning the veracity or import of Gordon’s news.

  They bundled up and met up a minute later before the exit in the back of the rectory, where the Pastor surprised them. He, too, had taken note of the gathering and was similarly bundled up for the cold night. After a quick exchange of greetings the four headed out together into the starry night.