Chapter 45

 

  Badock’s Wood

  7.39 p.m.

 

  An isolated squally wind blew around the burial mound in the woods. Stubby grass on the hill bent backwards as the gust intensified, whirlwinding into a sudden updraft. Loose soil and stone whipped around. The spinning wind glowed with a pale blue incandescent luminosity. A bolt of lightning flashed from the storm, although no clap of thunder followed. Instead the dark form of a heavily built man rolled from the top and tumbled to the base of the hill.

  For a few seconds the man lay in darkness on the damp earth as the mini whirlwind diminished. His jeans and white t-shirt were stained and muddy. His black leather coat rode up around his back.

  He stood up, wiped himself down and straightened his jacket before heading towards the exit of Badock’s Wood with a purposeful stride.

  He cursed, as he diverted his path around a fallen tree which blocked the pathway. Its trunk was split in two and burnt.