Free The Sin Eater by Sarah Rayne Page A

sounded uncertain.
    â€˜But what if he wasn’t? After all . . .’ Declan broke off because this time they both heard the cry, and there was no mistaking it. It was Sheehan’s voice and he was shouting for help.
    â€˜
Help me
. . .’
    â€˜What do we do?’ said Colm. ‘Can we get him out?’
    â€˜We’ll have to try.’ Declan began scrambling towards the jutting piece of rock, with the barred window just out of sight beyond it.
    â€˜No!’ said Colm. ‘We’d be better to go back up to the tower and get him out that way.’
    â€˜There’s no time!’ said Declan angrily, and even as he spoke a column of flame shot upwards. ‘The fire’ll be raging – we’d never get to that underground room. We’ll have to get him out through the sea window.’
    But they were both remembering that the window was only two feet square, with three thick iron bars. A cat could not get through the space, let alone a grown man.
    â€˜We’ll have to try, though,’ said Declan. ‘The fire might have loosened the bars.’
    Negotiating the rock spur was difficult, but there were footholds and crevices and also thick clumps of rock vegetation to cling to. The wind shrieked around them and tore at their hair, and they were both drenched from the sea spray, but eventually they got round the rock. A few feet ahead was the window to the underground room.
    Nicholas Sheehan was peering through it, his face slicked with sweat and his eyes wild with terror.
    â€˜We’ll get you out!’ shouted Declan. His words were snatched away by the sea, but he thought Sheehan heard.
    â€˜The door’s wedged,’ said Sheehan. ‘I can’t get out of here. You must get help.’
    â€˜There isn’t time. We’ll try to knock out the bars and get you out this way.’
    â€˜You’ll never do it. You bloody villain, Colm Rourke, you thought you’d left me for dead, didn’t you?’ The words came raggedly but they were filled with hatred and fear.
    â€˜Yes,’ panted Colm. ‘But we’ll put it right – I swear we will.’
    They were on each side of the barred window now, but when they grasped the bars, intending to pull on them, Declan yelped with pain.
    â€˜They’re as hot as a griddle,’ he said, gasping.
    â€˜Of course they are, you fool, this whole room’s heating up,’ cried Sheehan. ‘The stone walls are acting as a conductor to the fire – this room’s turning into a dry oven. If you don’t get me out I’m going to bake to death. For Christ’s sake, do something!’
    â€˜I’ll go for help,’ said Colm.
    â€˜There isn’t time! Oh Jesus, it’s getting hotter by the minute. Oh God, I never meant to die like this!’
    â€˜You won’t die,’ said Colm. ‘We’ll get you out.’
    â€˜Then bloody do it!’
    Working on the side of the cliff face, in the gathering darkness shot through with fire streaks, was appallingly difficult, but they managed to fashion a rope from Declan’s sweater and Colm’s scarf, and to tie it round one of the bars. But the bars were glowing so hot their hands blistered, and the first attempt to secure the makeshift rope caused the wool to shrivel.
    â€˜Again!’ cried Sheehan. ‘Wait, use this as well.’ His hands shaking, he passed them a length of cord – Declan thought he had torn it from one of the tapestries.
    This time the makeshift rope held and they were able to get purchase on the bars and pull.
    â€˜It’s still no use,’ gasped Colm after several minutes. ‘They’re stuck fast.’
    Sheehan was gasping and sobbing, and waves of intense heat were belching out from the room. Declan and Colm were starting to realize with horror that they were not going to succeed. Nicholas Sheehan was going to be slowly roasted alive.
    It was already happening.