The names made her shiver. 'Poor souls,' she thought. She looked up at the tower once more to check the time. The clock shuddered and ten chimes rang out. She shivered again and, remembering the pain in her hand, looked at her palm. The welts were gone; there was no pain, but what shook her more was that, in the distance three dark figures lurked in the corner of the churchyard. They seemed to be looking directly at her, even though she could not see their faces. Blaming last night's glass of red wine on causing such an illusion, she almost ran the remaining twenty yards towards the shops. There was a huge commotion going on in the town centre. Heavy digging equipment and scores of grubby men in overcoats were hanging around. In the middle of them was a short, round man, barking orders and pointing in all directions. 'What occurs?' she asked two old ladies politely. 'They're resurfacing the old road,' one replied. 'Been a while,' said the other. 'Yesss,' they both said at the same and started tutting in unison. 'And all this machinery. So much noise. It's enough to wake the dead.' The vicar's wife felt a chill run down her spine.. next »