Dance of the Stones Read Online Free Page A

forest.
    *   *   *
    Ron drove the final miles toward Avebury. The hot air was thick and heavy. He rubbed his forehead. “There’s a storm hanging around.”
    â€œHurry up rain, freshen the air,” joked Lynne. As she spoke, heavy drops of rain spattered on the windscreen.
    â€œWell done, Mum,” said Owen. “The weather was listening.”
    With the rain came relief from the heat. Irritations forgotten, everyone except Holly chatted happily about the forest and the size of the trees.
    Holly gazed unseeing out the window.
    â€œHolly, where did you get to?” Owen asked eventually.
    â€œTo the Mother Tree,” Holly replied.
    â€œThe Mother Tree?” repeated Lynne. “What’s that, the oldest tree in the forest?”
    â€œYes,” Holly muttered, looking uncomfortable.
    â€œHow did you know? Was there a plaque?” her mum continued.
    Holly flushed. “No. I . . . er . . . just guessed.”
    â€œNo way,” Owen crowed. “I think our tree was the oldest, don’t you, Adam?”
    To Holly’s relief, the conversation flowed away from her. She slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out the acorn.
    Chantel touched her knee. “You okay?”
    Holly nodded. She passed the acorn to Chantel. “Does this look like anything special?”
    Chantel examined it. “An acorn! I’ve never seen a real one before. They don’t grow in Alberta.”
    The boys turned round to see what she was looking at.
    â€œCan I see?” Adam grabbed the acorn. It slipped out of his fingers, hit the floor and rolled out of sight.
    â€œThat’s mine and if you’ve lost it, you’re in big trouble.” Holly’s voice was fierce.
    â€œKeep your hair on. It’s only an acorn. Besides, I didn’t mean to drop it.” Adam had the grace to look ashamed.
    â€œYou were snatching,” accused Chantel.
    â€œWhat’s the matter now?” called Lynne from the front seat.
    â€œNothing, just dropped something,” Holly said, looking daggers at Adam.
    Lynne sighed. “I’m sure you’ll find it when we stop.”
    â€œDe poor liddle girl’s lost her acorn. Oo, don’t cry,” mocked Owen, offering Holly a filthy hankie.
    Holly pushed his hand away. “We’d better find it,” she hissed at Adam. “It’s special. It’s from the oldest tree.”
    Adam and Owen stared.
    Holly glared back at them.
    Adam’s eyes dropped first. “Okay . . . okay . . . I’ll help you look as soon as we stop.”
    â€œWe’re nearly there,” called Ron. “Watch for Silbury and then we are not far from the Stone Circle.”
    â€œThat is.” Lynne pointed.
    A large conical green mound rose up beside the road.
    Ron slowed the car.
    â€œIt’s big, but what is it?” persisted Adam. He wound down the window so everyone could see without rain streaks.
    â€œNobody knows. Silbury Hill is one of the great mysteries of the world,” said Ron. “It’s a man-made hill, the biggest ancient man-made structure in Europe. It’s several thousand years old. But no one has any idea why it was constructed.”
    â€œThere are lots of stories,” added Lynne. “The best is that it’s the burial mound of King Sel, the Golden King.
    He is supposed to have been buried with his horse and a complete set of golden armor.”
    â€œSweet,” said Adam.
    â€œUnfortunately, no one has ever been able to find his grave, though the mound has been tunneled into several times,” Lynne finished.
    â€œI’m glad,” said Chantel dreamily. “It’s much nicer to think of him still being there.”
    Ron turned the car off the highway and they bumped down a narrow lane. “Watch for the stones,” he called.
    *   *   *
    The stones stood gray, wet and silent. They towered over umbrellaed tourists who,