The Hanging Hill

108

“Say the words, Derek,” Grimes hissed.

Derek coughed. “I can’t.”

“Say them!”

“Don’t, Derek!” Meghan pleaded. “They want to kill us! I don’t think they can if you don’t say their stupid words.”

“Silence, foolish girl! Derek?”

“Yes, sir?” He wheezed.

“My grandfather is counting on me. I am counting on you.” He fed him his first line: “O, magnus Molochus.”

All Derek could do was hack up another cough.

“Derek?” He could see the rage boiling up in his director’s very disappointed face.

“Maybe if you extinguished the charcoal, sir,” he suggested. “I’m allergic to smoke.”