Free The Headless Huntsman by Benjamin Hulme-Cross Page B

the road and the mob did not see them. As they got near to the town they could hear shouts and screams coming from the town hall.
    A crowd of people stood outside. “Hail to the Huntsman! Hail to the Huntsman!” they chanted. Three guards lay dead on the ground. Their heads were missing.
    â€œPeople of Goreditch!” Mr Blood called. “I know that the Council has brought evil on this town. But. . .”
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    The crowd turned to Mr Blood. There was rage on every face.
    â€œThey’ll kill us!” shouted Edgar. He, Mary and Mr Blood jumped off their horses and ran to the town hall doors.
    â€œLet them go in!” someone shouted. “The Huntsman will deal with them!”
    They bolted the doors behind them and raced up to the Sheriff’s office. Inside they found the Sheriff and four of the councillors standing by the opposite wall. Their faces were grey with fear.
    â€œMr Blood!” the Sheriff cried. “Thank Heavens! The Huntsman dragged each of us from our beds and brought us here. Save us!”
    At that moment the door opened and the Huntsman came in. He dumped another of the councillors on the floor and the man crawled over to his friends.

    â€œKillers and thieves!” the Huntsman roared. “This ends tonight!”

    â€œWait!” cried Mr Blood. “If you want the people of Goreditch to be free, then they must free themselves. Hand the councillors over to the people. Let the people decide what to do with them.”
    â€œVery well,” said the Huntsman. “Come with me.” He led Mr Blood and the children back out onto the street. A roar went up from the crowd. The Huntsman waited for it to die down, then spoke.
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    â€œFriends,” the Huntsman said to the crowd. His voice seemed to be coming from everywhere. “I know the councillors have destroyed many lives in this town. That is why I have taken their lives in return.”
    The crowd cheered and shouted, “
Hail to the Huntsman! Hail to the Huntsman!
”
    â€œNow it is for you to decide what happens to the councillors. Should I kill them all?” asked the Headless Huntsman.
    Then, Mary spoke up. “Make them pay for their evil deeds but let them live. If you spill more blood it will bring shame on you all.”

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    â€œWell said, Mary,” whispered Mr Blood.
    Then, the crowd all began to talk at once. A young man ran to the top of the Town Hall steps.
    â€œThe girl is right,” he shouted to the crowd.
    â€œWe are better than the councillors. We will not make them pay with their lives but they will give their rich houses to the poor and they will work for the rest of their lives to make up for their greed and cruelty,” he said.
    â€œYes! Yes!” shouted the crowd.

    Mr Blood turned to the Headless Huntsman but he had vanished.
    â€œWhat has happened to the Headless Huntsman?” asked Edgar, as the three of them left the town of Goreditch.
    â€œNow he has brought justice to the town, he can rest in peace,” said Mr Blood.

First published 2015 by
    A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
    50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP
    www.bloomsbury.com
    Bloomsbury is a registered trademark of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
    Copyright © A & C Black 2015
    Text copyright © Benjamin Hulme-Cross 2015
    Illustrations © Nelson Evergreen 2015
    The moral rights of the author have been asserted.
    All rights reserved
    No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers
    A CIP catalogue for this book is available from the British Library
    ISBN: 978-1-4729-0819-3
    ePub: 978-1-4729-0820-9
   
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