The Demon Curse Read Online Free Page B

us to the one city in America where Billie knows someone, cares about someone…” He nibbled his lip. “What’s going on, Harry?”
    â€œI’m not sure,” Harry muttered as he tried to puzzle out what Arthur was saying.
    â€œTo the boats!” one of the Islanders cried. “Quickly!”
    The huddle of arms flew apart, and Auntie May was staring back toward the city, a worried look on her face. Harry turned too. He heard a throb of noise echoing out from the city’s buildings, screams, the pounding of boots. He felt vibrations from the din making their way through the wharf’s timbers.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Billie pulled at Auntie May’s dress.
    â€œYou left us in difficult times, child. But there have never been more difficult, more terrible times for us Islanders than these.” Auntie May shook her head. “As I have said, not everyone understands our ways… Come with us. Come back to Fisherman’s Point.”
    Two other Islanders tugged at Auntie May’s arm. They hurried her down the wharf toward the boats, which were a blur of untying ropes, hoisting sails. Harry saw that some of the children who had greeted Billie were shaking with fright as they scrambled into a boat and huddled in a prow. He turned around and concentrated on the terrible noise, which was even louder now.
    A deafening, ugly roar.
    Harry ran up the jetty. He climbed the steps three at a time and vaulted over the wall into the street. The noise was coming from a nearby street, and he headed for it. He heard footsteps behind him and saw Billie and Arthur following him. He waved them on, ran around the corner of the street, and froze.
    Hundreds of people were surging toward him, waving placards angrily. Harry stumbled back, trying to get to the side of the street, but it was too late. The crowd swallowed him up, and Harry saw the writing on the nearest placards, daubed in red.
    â€œBANISH THE ISLANDERS!”
    â€œTHE ISLANDERS! RID US OF THEIR EVIL!”
    â€œTHROW THEM OUT! DRIVE THEM FROM OUR CITY!”

Chapter 3
    The crowd swept up the street. Craning his neck, Harry saw Billie and Arthur bobbing along further back, too far away to reach. At least they’re together , he thought. Swinging around, he stared up at another placard. “ISLANDERS, BE GONE.” Then he looked at the people in the crowd.
    They were shouting, wailing, shaking their fists. Craning his neck again, Harry saw other people gathered at the sides of the street and up on balconies, watching the crowd go by. Their expressions were wary; none of them made any attempt to stop the crowd, and Harry couldn't blame them, feeling the strength and speed of the bodies sweeping him along. He looked back at the faces around him, which were alive with fear, determination, and rage.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Harry asked the man closest to him.
    â€œHaven’t you heard?” the man roared back. “The whole city’s talking about it! Those folk on Fisherman’s Point, they’ve gone too far this time!”
    â€œDon’t tell him. He’s only a boy!” A woman, her eyes peeping fearfully out from under a ribboned bonnet, bobbed past. “Some say dark deeds like these can spread their wickedness simply by being spoken of!”
    â€œDark deeds?” Harry tried to keep his balance.
    â€œSpells, hideous curses, wicked dealings with spirits! Oh, those Islanders and their terrible ways!” The fearful woman bobbed on. “We do not wish to know of such evil…”
    â€œWe have no choice!” Another man, keen-eyed and wearing the white collar of a priest. “Mayor Monticelso didn’t have a choice, did he?”
    â€œMayor Monticelso?” Harry asked.
    â€œThe best, kindest mayor this city’s ever had! Set up brand-new hospitals! Saved whole neighborhoods from the floods! A worthy man!” The priest swung around and turned pale.