Free The Crowmaster by Barry Hutchison Page B

The Wizard of Oz .
    Pulling the furry hood up over my head, I sighed and stepped into the living room. How the hell did I find myself in these situations?
    â€˜Ta-daa!’ I said, holding out my arms as I entered the room, only to find nobody there. The costumes were still piled on the floor and the chest was still open, but there was no sign of Marion.
    I returned to the hall, noticing how silent the house was. Suddenly the forty-year-old fancy-dress costume I was wearing wasn’t the only thing making me uncomfortable.
    â€˜Marion?’ I said. No reply. I tried again, louder. ‘Marion?’ Again nothing.
    Creeping across the hall I pushed open the door to the kitchen, half expecting to find a flock of birds in there. Instead I found an empty room, with the back door standing wide open.
    â€˜Marion, you there?’ I called, edging towards the open door. Clouds of cold air rolled in through the gap, making me shake and shiver like… well, like a cowardly lion.
    As I drew nearer the door I saw her. She was standing just outside the house, looking out into the darkness. A full bowl of dog food was clutched in her hands.
    â€˜There you are,’ I said, stepping out to join her and immediately wishing I hadn’t. The cold was biting and my current attire was hardly designed for warmth. ‘You OK?’
    â€˜Still no sign of him,’ she said. ‘I’m really starting to get worried now.’
    I didn’t speak. I couldn’t tell her the truth. Not now. Not after leaving it so long.
    â€˜He’ll be fine.’
    â€˜I’m not so sure,’ she said, pulling her cardigan tightly around her neck. ‘It doesn’t feel right. Something’s wrong. Something’s happened.’
    She spent another few moments scanning the darkness, before finally turning to face me. Her expression went from sad to surprised to delighted in under a second.
    â€˜Oh my goodness. You look—’
    â€˜Like an idiot?’
    â€˜Well, it’s not quite the word I’d have chosen,’ she grinned. ‘But maybe it is a little bit on the neat side. Joe couldn’t have been as tall as you, after all.’
    â€˜Joe?’ I asked, through chattering teeth.
    â€˜The old friend of mine I mentioned.’ She gestured with the dog bowl towards the door. ‘Now get inside before you freeze.’
    I gratefully rushed back inside, not stopping until I was in the living room, where the fire crackling in the hearth quickly began to warm me up. Marion arrived a few moments after me, Toto’s bowl no longer in her hands.
    â€˜Now,’ she said, ‘where’s that camera?’
    â€˜Don’t you dare!’
    â€˜Kidding,’ she laughed. ‘I think you’ve been tortured quite enough for one night.’
    I smiled, relieved. ‘Thanks.’
    â€˜Besides, you’re here for ages yet. Plenty more costumes for you to try on.’ She caught my expression and gave another laugh. ‘I’m joking. You have to stop taking me so seriously.’ Her eyes went to the stash of clothes on the floor as she remembered something. ‘Although, come to think about it…’
    I stood there by the fire, hunched over in my badly fitting lion costume, watching her rummage through the outfits. Silently, I gave thanks that Ameena wasn’t around to pass comment.
    â€˜I’ve got Dorothy’s dress and the Tin Man’s hat,’ Marion announced, holding up a blue and white checked outfit and a metal funnel. ‘I’m sure I used to have the full set, but one’s missing. That’s a shame.’ She held the items higher. ‘Fancy either of these?’
    â€˜I’ll pass, thanks,’ I said.
    She nodded and smiled. ‘Fair enough.’ Her bones creaked as she got to her feet. ‘Now, it’s high time you were in bed.’
    I looked at the clock and was shocked to see the hands had crept past midnight. Too