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as if a giant had bitten it off, leaving the uneven remains sticking up like a broken tooth into the sky.
    ‘I did manage to do a little research into the parish,’ Growl admitted. ‘There are mentions of the church in some of the architectural texts. It’s unusual in that the tower is separate from the main building.’
    ‘Why did they build it like that?’ Maria wondered.
    ‘If I knew, I’d have told you, wouldn’t I?’ Growl snapped. Immediately, he apologised. ‘Sorry, the texts didn’t give a reason. Probably some local legend or story – there usually is in such cases. I hope we’ll find some clue in the church itself.’
    ‘It may not matter,’ Knight said. ‘The church is old.’
    ‘Fourteenth century,’ Growl agreed.
    Knight thought for a moment, then said, ‘What’s happening here only started in the last month. Something has changed recently. So looking at old records and documents might not help us at all.’
    ‘Or it might be something that happened in 1943, but it’s only having an effect now,’ Gemma suggested. ‘All these people had to leave home. That’s so sad.’
    ‘Upheaval, trauma, resentment,’ Knight agreed. ‘Bound to disturb the place. Good point, Gemma. But I think there must be a more recent trigger, even if the underlying problem is from back in 1943.’
    ‘All these people …’ Maria gestured to ghosts that only she and Gemma could actually see. ‘Gemma’s right. It was traumatic. Devastating. It changed their lives out of all recognition in a single day. A whole village, a whole community just … stopped.’
    Knight had his mobile out and was watching on the screen now. ‘Yes. But I don’t think they’re important. They’re just echoes, playing out the same day over and over again. Endlessly leaving the village.’
    ‘What about the pub where our friend Tommy got his lemonade?’ Growl said. ‘There was interaction there, not just a replay of past events.’
    ‘But to no purpose, or no purpose that we know of. Though maybe the pub is the place to start.’
    ‘Tommy’s dad saw the ghosts in the pub,’ Maria told Knight. ‘Maybe you will too.’
    ‘There’s something to look forward to,’ Knight said. He didn’t sound convinced.
    The ghosts had stopped their ethereal evacuation by the time Gemma and the othersreached the welcome sign with the name of the village painted out.
    ‘They did that at the start of the war,’ Knight explained. ‘They took down or blotted out any signs that might help the Germans if they invaded.’
    ‘Not much fear of an invasion by 1943,’ Growl said. ‘Hitler had made the mistake of attacking Russia and the Americans had joined in the war in Europe.’
    ‘Perhaps they just didn’t like strangers,’ Maria said.
    The lane opened out as they entered the village. There was a row of houses down one side. They looked ready to collapse – roofless shells, their empty window frames rotting away. The lane branched off, leading to more houses one way, the church and the school the other. An old-fashioned street lamp stood at the fork in the road.
    The pub was opposite the first row of houses. Its sign was gone, leaving an empty metal frame that creaked in the breeze.
    ‘The Green Man,’ Knight said. ‘According to Tommy.’
    ‘Whatever,’ Maria sniffed. ‘Doesn’t look like it’s open anyway.’
    Gemma stared round. She couldn’t see anyone any more. No ghosts, no echoes of the past at all.Except … ‘The church,’ she murmured. ‘There’s something about the church.’
    ‘The whole place is a ruin,’ Growl pointed out. ‘Not just the church. The houses have lost their windows and roofs. Falling down. The ghosts can have it.’
    ‘What’s that little hut?’ Gemma wondered, pointing to what looked like a tall, thin shed with broken windows round the top.
    ‘Phone box,’ Knight said, sparing it a glance. ‘We’ll look inside the pub anyway. You might pick up something.’
    The pub was empty. Dust and