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Back The Cottage Save as PDF
Chapters (82)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. ONE
  4. TWO
  5. THREE
  6. FOUR
  7. FIVE
  8. SIX
  9. SEVEN
  10. EIGHT
  11. NINE
  12. TEN
  13. ELEVEN
  14. TWELVE
  15. THIRTEEN
  16. FOURTEEN
  17. FIFTEEN
  18. SIXTEEN
  19. SEVENTEEN
  20. EIGHTEEN
  21. NINETEEN
  22. TWENTY
  23. TWENTY-ONE
  24. TWENTY-TWO
  25. TWENTY-THREE
  26. TWENTY-FOUR
  27. TWENTY-FIVE
  28. TWENTY-SIX
  29. TWENTY-SEVEN
  30. TWENTY-EIGHT
  31. TWENTY-NINE
  32. THIRTY
  33. THIRTY-ONE
  34. THIRTY-TWO
  35. THIRTY-THREE
  36. THIRTY-FOUR
  37. THIRTY-FIVE
  38. THIRTY-SIX
  39. THIRTY-SEVEN
  40. THIRTY-EIGHT
  41. THIRTY-NINE
  42. FORTY
  43. FORTY-ONE
  44. FORTY-TWO
  45. FORTY-THREE
  46. FORTY-FOUR
  47. FORTY-FIVE
  48. FORTY-SIX
  49. FORTY-SEVEN
  50. FORTY-EIGHT
  51. FORTY-NINE
  52. FIFTY
  53. FIFTY-ONE
  54. FIFTY-TWO
  55. FIFTY-THREE
  56. FIFTY-FOUR
  57. FIFTY-FIVE
  58. FIFTY-SIX
  59. FIFTY-SEVEN
  60. FIFTY-EIGHT
  61. FIFTY-NINE
  62. SIXTY
  63. SIXTY-ONE
  64. SIXTY-TWO
  65. SIXTY-THREE
  66. SIXTY-FOUR
  67. SIXTY-FIVE
  68. SIXTY-SIX
  69. SIXTY-SEVEN
  70. SIXTY-EIGHT
  71. SIXTY-NINE
  72. SEVENTY
  73. SEVENTY-ONE
  74. SEVENTY-TWO
  75. SEVENTY-THREE
  76. SEVENTY-FOUR
  77. Suggested topics for reading-group discussion
  78. Keep Reading …
  79. Lisa Stone also writes under the name of Cathy Glass.Don’t miss her latest book …
  80. About the Author
  81. Books by Lisa Stone
  82. About the Publisher

‘If Moller knows in advance, he tells me. He agreed. It was one of the conditions for not reporting him. He notifies me so I can provide the antenatal care, then I take the baby and look after it for as long as necessary. It’s difficult, working as well, but specializing in home deliveries gives me flexibility.’

‘How many are there?’ Ian asked, still struggling to accept what he was being told.

‘I have three at present. That’s the most I’ve ever had at one time. Sometimes I don’t have any. The numbers fluctuate. Some of them only live for a few months, others years.’ Her eyes filled. ‘They are my children, Ian. I love and care for them, and when they die I mourn their passing. I pray for them and bury them in Coleshaw Woods.’

‘Is that why you were in the woods tonight?’

‘No. We go there for a walk. They can’t be seen so have to stay indoors during the day, but they need fresh air and exercise, just as all children do. I take them in the van after dark to the deepest part of the forest where they can run and play freely. There is nowhere else for them to go.’

‘And they really are upstairs now?’

‘Yes. I’m telling you the truth, Ian. They’ll be asleep, worn out. They’re like children, just different. They can be very mischievous sometimes, but they mean no harm. They love to run and can move very quickly. They can’t talk, but they understand in different ways. They like to have fun. I can’t always keep up as they’re too fast. I live in dread of them being discovered. A couple of times when they’ve run off into the woods it’s taken me hours to persuade them to come back. My neighbours believe I have dangerous dogs, which keeps them away. But there’s a tenant in Ivy Cottage, which backs onto the woods, who knows far too much. I think she’s heard me calling them, and she’s been encouraging them into her garden with food.’

Ian fell silent as he tried to come to terms with what he’d been told. He was still struggling. ‘So they’re genetic throwbacks from our ancient ancestors,’ he said at last.

‘Yes, although I prefer to call them outsiders, as they live outside the human race and animal kingdom.’

Ian fell quiet again, then said, ‘I suppose I should thank you for taking David and looking after him. When did he die?’

‘He hasn’t yet. Your son is still alive.’

FIFTY-SEVEN

Ian held his head in his hands as the room spun and a buzzing noise filled his ears. He thought he was going to faint. ‘David is still alive?’ he asked incredulously, finally looking up, his voice far off and unreal.