The Devil's Paintbox. Robin Jarvis

said, and Lil was astonished at the coldness in her voice.

      ‘Did I say something wrong?’ she asked. ‘If I did, I’m sorry. But this has knocked me sideways. I’m scared.’

      ‘Welcome to my world,’ was the terse answer. ‘Goes with the territory. Now, you kids, scram and take Captain Clankaroo with you.’

      ‘All right,’ the girl muttered, feeling hurt. ‘Verne, come back to ours – and you too, Mr Potts.’

      ‘Just Potts,’ the automaton reminded her as they rose and left the parlour.

      Cherry saw them to the front door, arms folded. ‘I’d leave off usin’ them paints,’ she cautioned sternly. ‘They’ll be packed with toxic gunk. The white’s gonna be chock-a-block with lead for a start, and some of the others might contain arsenic.’

      ‘I’ll be careful,’ Lil assured her, hugging the box tightly as she stepped outside.

      ‘Thank you for a most interesting time,’ Jack Potts said politely, his voice muffled by the parka he had zipped up to conceal his face once more.

      Cherry ignored him.

      ‘And don’t you go pressin’ no more buttons on that bauble of yours,’ she told Verne.

      Verne scowled in reply. It was unsettling – she had practically swept them out of the cottage. Walking away in thoughtful silence, he pushed Mrs Gregson’s wedding ring and pension money through her letter box as they passed.

      ‘Hey!’ Cherry called after them. ‘Lil, that badge – don’t forget. I want it exactly the same.’ And she slammed the door.

      ‘Does anyone have a clue what just happened?’ Lil asked. ‘Why’d she go all weird?’

      ‘She’s always been weird,’ Verne said.

      ‘One cannot predict a witch’s humour,’ Jack Potts said. ‘They are as sleeping tigers.’

      ‘Nah,’ Verne disagreed. ‘That’s just girls.’ And he yelped when Lil punched him on the arm.

      Inside the cottage, Cherry Cerise slid down against the front door. The colour of the hallway drained to an arctic blue.

      ‘Curse you, Cherry,’ she uttered in a cracked and anguished voice. ‘You shoulda seen this comin’. That’s what you’re here for! This could be the biggest disaster this town has ever faced.’

      And she buried her face in her hands.