Tom looked at his mother. She was smiling. Her voice was so calm and ordinary. 'Yes, that's the best thing,' she continued. 'I'll get my knife and kill her. She'll go to God. She'll be happy.' Tom stood up. His legs felt weak. He had to get away from there — and he had to take Vicky and the boys with him. Tom and his family have come to Kirren Island for their holiday. They come to the quiet, lonely island every year. 'It's a good place to think about the important things in life,' Tom's father says. But this year is different | Introduction Tom looked at his mother. She was smiling. Her voice was so calm and ordinary. Yes that s the best thing she continued. I ll get my knife and kill her. She ll go to God. She ll be happy. Tom stood up. His legs felt weak. He had to get away from there and he had to take Vicky and the boys with him. Tom and his family have come to Kirren Island for their holiday. They come to the quiet lonely island every year. It s a good place to think about the important things in life Tom s father says. But this year is different. First the Rochester family arrive in their big yacht. When Tom sees pretty Vicky Rochester he is happy and excited. But strange and terrible things begin to happen. A sheep s head in a pool of blood. A dark and empty farmhouse. And then his mother and father and Vicky s parents . . There is something wrong with all of them. Wrong and dangerous . Nigel Hinton was bom and brought up in London. After university he became a teacher and he taught English for ten years. His first book was written to read to one of his classes. Since then he has written fourteen other books for adults and for children. Nigel Hinton writes songs and he also writes for television and cinema. Chapter 1 Kirren Island September 1944 The army officer watched the boat move out into the middle of the lake. He called an order to the soldiers on the boat and they started to throw large tins into the water. The officer turned to the scientist next to him. This is all your fault he said. He was angry. We were using those chemicals to make the war shorter the scientist said. We wanted to change ordinary men into the bravest soldiers that the world ever saw. Oh yes brave the officer said. But they went crazy at the same time Thirty of my men -good men - died because of your chemicals. He watched the soldiers on the boat throw the last tin into the lake. Ĩ hope it s safe now he said. The lake s very deep the scientist said. There s no danger now. Last week At the bottom of the .
