“I was afraid of this,” said Mr Blood. “We need to escape.”
“But what does it mean?” Mary asked. “I don’t know what’s going on.”
“There is no time to explain now.” Mr Blood was worried.
“There are some horses tied up outside the barn,” said Mr Blood. “We’ll need to take two horses and get back to the beach.”
They turned back to face the crowd.
“Sheriff,” said Mr Blood. “I am going to unlock the door to let the children outside. They are afraid of what will happen here.”
The Sheriff’s face was pale. His eyes seemed bigger than before.
“If you think that will help you,” he growled. “Do as you wish.”
Mr Blood unlocked the door.
All the people in the barn fell silent. Through the doorway Mary and Edgar could see a bright full moon. Its silver light shone down on the faces of the men and women. They all stood still.
It seemed as if the people were all waiting for something.
Only Anne moved. She pushed her way through the crowd with a hand over her eyes, and dashed for the door.
“Stop her!” shouted Mr Blood. He pulled out his crossbow.
“But she helped us,” cried Edgar. “She wrote the note.”
Anne made it to the door and ran out, into the moonlight.
As the light of the moon entered the barn, all the people fell to the ground.
They rolled around on the floor, wailing and growling.
Their shoulders began to swell. Arms grew longer. Legs grew shorter. Eyes burned yellow.
Human faces twisted into the faces of savage wolves.
“Quick!” shouted Mr Blood. “We must escape! They are all werewolves!”
Edgar, Mary and Mr Blood ran through the door. Mr Blood locked it behind them and bolted it with a large piece of wood.
“Edgar,” snapped Mr Blood. “Take a horse, ride to the beach, and get us a boat. Mary, you ride with me. I’ll need both my hands free.”
He put an arrow into the crossbow as they got on their horses. The barn door shook as a werewolf tried to break it down.
Mr Blood, Edgar and Mary sped away on horseback. Behind them, in the barn, forty werewolves howled with rage.
