9789127420175

Polar Fish

– a horror story The fire was out of control – the flames moving and dancing in time to a rhythm Janek couldn’t hear. He looked up – and there in the flames he saw the shadow man again. And even though the shadow man had no face, Janek knew he was laughing at him.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

ISBN 978-91-27-42017-5

9 789127 420175

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Andy Coombs 10-06-08 16.25.54

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10-06-15 14.44.06

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1.

Janek was asleep. He was dreaming. He was a boy again – maybe eight or nine. He was following the dark shape of a man. Following him towards a big bonfire. Fireworks exploded over his head and he laughed excitedly. The man he was following stopped by the bonfire. Janek ran and stood behind him.

The man put a dark hand into the bonfire.

He pulled out a burning stick. Then he turned to Janek. He had no face – like a shadow. He held out the fiery branch to Janek who took it. He screamed as the fire burnt into his skin.

The dark man started to laugh. The smoke from the branch filled Janek’s eyes and mouth. His scream turned into a cough. And the cough woke him up. His bedroom curtains were smoking and 3

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steam was coming from his lips. The room was freezing.

Janek sat up in bed and looked at the smoking curtains. He coughed again. Was he still asleep?

Curls of smoke drifted upwards from the base of the curtains. There was something else. A shadow man. The same one that was in his dream. No face at all – looking at him from the curtains. From within the curtains. As though the man were part of the material.

And then the curtains burst into flame. Janek jumped back. He was not dreaming. He could feel the heat on his face and bare feet. The material started to melt into the fire – dripping and wrapping around the dark shape. He shouted at the man.

The man opened his mouth. And under the sound of the fire eating into the material Janek heard, ‘And so it begins.’

Then the man vanished into the flames.

Janek jumped out of bed and ran from the room.

‘Mama! Tata!’ He banged hard on their bedroom door and then, not waiting for 4

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an answer, he pushed the door open. ‘Mama! Tata!

There’s a fire in my room. Help!’

His parents, Piotr and Kasia, jerked awake.

‘What?’ said Kasia. ‘What do you want? It’s three in the morning!’

‘There’s a fire. In my room!’

Piotr ran to the doorway and pushed Janek aside. He looked into Janek’s room.

‘Kasia! Help me in here. Now!’ Janek ran into the bathroom. He looked around frantically, trying to find something to hold water.

He picked up a toothbrush mug and then threw it down. He ran downstairs to the café kitchen and found a mixing bowl. He filled it with water and ran back upstairs.

Piotr had pulled the curtains down and was stamping on the flames with his bare feet. He was swearing loudly. Kasia was moving furniture away from the fire. She pushed the bed towards the door. Jan ran and threw the water onto the flames.

The water hissed. The flames were out.

‘My feet!’ said Piotr.

‘Lie down. Let me look,’ said Kasia.

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‘Not so bad,’ she said examining the soles of his feet. ‘I don’t think you need the hospital.

I’ll get some cream and bandages.’

Janek was looking at the blackened curtains smouldering slowly on the wooden floor. He looked to his locked window. The dark man shape was not there. Had he imagined it? Just a memory from his dream?

Piotr was touching his feet carefully. Exploring the skin with his fingers.

Janek walked over to the bed and knelt down beside him. He put his hand on his father’s knee.

‘Thanks Tata. That was quick thinking. You probably saved our lives.’

Piotr looked at him. And then in a quick movement slapped Janek hard on the cheek.

‘You bloody little idiot. You could have killed us all.’

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Polar Fish

– a horror story The fire was out of control – the flames moving and dancing in time to a rhythm Janek couldn’t hear. He looked up – and there in the flames he saw the shadow man again. And even though the shadow man had no face, Janek knew he was laughing at him.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

ISBN 978-91-27-42017-5

9 789127 420175

burn.indd 1

Andy Coombs 10-06-08 16.25.54