Flight of the Shaman

"They were told not to go back to the city!"

  "Flippin' heck how can we do anything!" said Paddy. "Think lad, there must be something we can do!"

  "Maybe if we knew more about whatever that thing was that got them we could help," suggested Davey.

  Paddy latched onto the idea immediately, "Follow it down that cliff lad!"

  Their view shot down the cliff, at its base lay the broken body of Hotchas. They scoured the area looking for some sign but saw nothing.

  "The thing's gone," said Davey.

  Paddy did not reply, he sat with his head in his hands, Davey was suddenly concerned that the strain of what they were witnessing was telling upon him."Are you alright Uncle Paddy?"

  Paddy turned towards him, "You know how we found that when you move yer head back from the mirror we see more of the picture and it speeds things up?"

  "Yeah" said Davey relieved that Paddy was still in the fight.

  "Well stick yer 'ead closer to the mirror, then see what 'appens."

  Davey moved his face nearer to the mirror.

  "That's it! Stay there! Can yer see what's 'appening?" asked Paddy.

  The sun's going back the other way now," said Davey.

  "Right that's it STOP. Take a look!"

  Davey looked, "It's the runner! He's running along the roadway again. He's still alive!" Davey exclaimed.

  "No lad. He's dead. What yer seeing is before 'e reaches the girls. It's all going to 'appen exactly as it did but you've just moved it all back so that we get to see it again. Just like yer speeded it forwards yer can speed it backwards!"

  "But what good is it though Uncle Paddy?"

  "Right, just 'ang on with me a minute, yer old feller will tell yer that Paddy Murtagh's not the kind of man to start playing chess with, swing yer gaze back up to the kids."

  Davey did as he was asked, there were the children playing unsuspectingly.

  "Now that thing 'ad to come from somewhere, give me a guess who it was an' were it come from."

  Davey did not need to think, "The Shaman. The temple!" he almost spat the words out.

  "Get down there lad, we'll find out everything we can about this evil little sod. Like I told yer Davey lad, knowing yer opponent is half the battle, this is only the opening game, wait till we get into it proper!"