could awaken others, creatures best left sleeping.
But you said we re being followed, Sophie protested. That means Dee knows
we re here.
Flamel urged the twins to the left, away from the statue, hurrying them
toward the exit. I would imagine there are watchers in every airport,
seaport and railway station across Europe. Although Dee might have suspected
that we were heading to London, the instant either of you activates your
aura, he ll know for certain.
And what will he do then? Josh asked, turning to look at Flamel. In the
harsh overhead light, the new lines on the Alchemyst s forehead and around
his eyes were clearly visible.
Flamel shrugged. Who knows what he is capable of doing? He is desperate, and
desperate men do terrible things. Remember, he was on top of Notre Dame. He
now has some inkling of your powers; he s also confirmed that you are the
twins of legend. He has to have you. The Alchemyst reached out and poked
Josh in the chest. Paper rustled. Beneath his T-shirt, in a cloth bag hanging
around his neck, Josh carried the two pages he d torn from the Codex. And,
above all else, he must have these pages.
They followed the signs for the Euston Road exit and were swept along by a
crowd of commuters heading in the same direction. I thought you said there
would be someone to meet us, Sophie said.
Saint-Germain said he d try and contact an old friend, Flamel muttered.
Maybe he couldn't get in touch.
They stepped out of the ornate redbrick station onto Euston Road and stopped
in surprise. When they d left Paris nearly three hours ago, the skies had
been cloudless, the temperature already creeping into the high sixties; but
in London it was raining hard, and the wind whipping down the road was cold
enough to make the twins shiver. They turned and immediately ducked back into
the shelter of the station.
And that was when Sophie saw him.
A boy in a green parka, with the hood pulled up, she said suddenly, turning
to Nicholas and concentrating fiercely on his pale eyes, knowing that if she
looked away, she would involuntarily glance at the young man who had been
hurrying after them. She could see him from the corner of her eye. He was
loitering close to a pillar, staring at the cell phone in his hand, fiddling
with it. There was something wrong about the way he was standing. Something
unnatural. And she thought she caught the faintest taint of spoiled meat in
the air.
The smile on the Alchemyst s face grew strained. Wearing a hood? Yes, that s
who s been following us. The twins caught the faintest tremor in his voice.
Except he s not a boy, is he? Sophie asked.
Nicholas shook his head. Not even close.
Josh took a deep breath. So should I point out that I can see two more
people wearing green hooded parkas, and they re both heading in our
direction?
Three! No, not them, Flamel whispered in horror. We ve got to go.
Grabbing the twins arms, he pulled them out into the driving rain, turned to
the right and dragged them down the street.
The rain was so cold it took Josh s breath away. Pellets of hard water stung
his face. Who are they? he demanded, blinking water from his eyes, brushing
his hair back out of his face.
The Hooded Ones, the Alchemyst said bitterly. Dee must be desperate, and
more powerful than I thought if he can command them. They are the Genii
Cucullati.
Sophie shivered as memories suddenly flickered at the edges of her
consciousness. She felt something sour at the back of her throat, and her
stomach twisted in disgust. The Witch of Endor had known the Genii
Cucullati and she had loathed them. Sophie looked sidelong at her brother.
Flesh-eaters.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The list grows ever longer, but The Magician would not have happened without
the support of so many people
Krista Marino, Beverly Horowitz, Jocelyn Lange and Christine Labov at
Delacorte Press, without whose help, patience, perseverance
Barry Krost at BKM and Frank Weimann at the Literary Group, for continued
support and advice
A particular mention must go to:
Libby Lavella, who gave Perenelle a voice
Sarah Baczewski, who gives the best notes
Jeromy Robert, who created the image
Michael Carroll, who reads it first and last
And finally there are:
Claudette, Brooks, Robin, Mitch, Chris, Elaine, David, Judith, Trista, Cappy,
Andrea, Ron and, of course, Ahmet, for everything else!
Now, I know I ve forgotten someone .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
An authority on mythology and folklore, Michael Scott is one of Ireland s
most successful authors. A master of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and
folklore, he has been hailed by the Irish Times as the King of Fantasy in
these isles. He lives and writes in Dublin, where he is at work on the third
book in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series The Sorceress.
Visit him at www.dillonscott.com.
ALSO BY MICHAEL SCOTT
The Alchemyst
The Magician
Copyright 2008 by Michael Scott