The Watcher in the Shadows (Niebla 3) - Page 24

‘A friend of yours?’

Lazarus smiled at the memory.

‘Ready?’ he asked.

Dorian nodded vigorously. Lazarus removed the cloth covering the figure and the boy took a step back in shock.

‘It’s only a machine, Dorian. Don’t let it frighten you . . .’

Dorian stared at the impressive sight. Lazarus had created a metal angel, a colossus about two metres high, with huge wings. Its chiselled steel face was shrouded by a hood and its hands were enormous, large enough to surround Dorian’s head with a single fist.

Lazarus pressed a button at the base of the angel’s neck and the creature opened its eyes – two rubies that glowed like burning coals. They were staring straight at Dorian.

The boy felt his insides twist into a knot.

‘Please, stop it . . .’ he begged.

Noticing the boy’s terror, Lazarus quickly covered the creature again.

Dorian breathed a sigh of relief.

‘I’m sorry,

’ said Lazarus. ‘I shouldn’t have shown it to you. It’s only a machine. Don’t let its appearance scare you. It’s just a toy.’

Dorian didn’t seem convinced.

Lazarus hurried off to pour him another hot chocolate. When he’d drunk half the cup, Dorian looked up at Lazarus and finally seemed to relax.

‘What a fright, eh?’

Dorian giggled nervously. ‘You must think I’m a coward.’

‘On the contrary. Not many people would dare to start searching the woods at midnight after what happened to Hannah.’

‘What do you think happened?’

Lazarus shrugged. ‘Hard to tell. I suppose we’ll have to wait for the police to finish their investigation.’

‘Yes, but . . .’

‘But . . . ?’

‘What if there really is something in the forest?’

‘The shadow?’

Dorian nodded gravely.

‘Have you ever heard of a doppelgänger?’ asked Lazarus.

Dorian shook his head.

‘It’s a German term,’ Lazarus explained. ‘It’s like the shadow of a person which, for some reason, has become separated from its owner. Would you like to hear a strange story?’

‘Please . . .’

Lazarus settled in a chair opposite Dorian and closed his eyes briefly, as if he were trying to conjure a long-lost memory.

Tags: Carlos Ruiz Zafón Niebla Fantasy
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