4
One minute there was darkness. The next, Nicko had reappeared and was throwing a navy cloak around Toby, his free fist glazed in flame. Krampus howled as fire hit him in the snout and the giantess recoiled, slipping on the icy cobbles.
‘What took you so long?’
‘Be quiet!’ said the old man when both of them were invisible. ‘They’ll hear us.’
‘What about my family?’
‘No time.’
Unused to shadow-walking, Toby watched, starry-eyed, as a black wind swirled around him. Through it, the street rippled. They slipped away as the giantess and Krampus squabbled.
‘Did you get him?’ the beast asked, massaging his snout.
‘I thought you did!’
‘Ussselesss! Thisss is all your fault!’
Nicko and Toby didn’t stick around for the argument. Running, they put distance between themselves and the monster
