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wanted to get back and read these comics that Chris gave me,’ answered Asa before she had a chance to ask. She sniffed the air.
    ‘What are they? They smell old.’
    ‘Yes,’ said Asa, again making it up on the spot, ‘they’re Chris’s grandfather’s comics … Space Dan and the … Space … Rockets …’
    ‘Right …’ said Mum, and he was able to slip past and up the stairs.
    *
     
    Back in his room Asa took out the box and carefully removed the first of the leather-bound volumes, opening it on the first page. He set the mirrored box on the carpet, sat cross-legged in front of it, and began to read:
    I have discovered a colony of creatures on the Moor that I believe are new to science. At first glance they are insects: giant dragonflies; but on closer inspection appear to own human characteristics though I have yet to capture a specimen living or dead. I have spied them thrice at a distance and then only fleetingly.  
     
     
The clearest view was that of a pair who were tussling or playing. No sooner had I spotted them but they somehow became aware of me and looked about as if they sensed they were under observation. Whether they saw or smelled me I know not but they were gone in the direction away from me in a flash. All three sightings were within a mile stretch of the river course, on the south-facing banks of the downs. I shall return next week to this spot.
     
    The first few entries in the journal did not throw up much more new evidence. Tooth’s next few trips were failures followed by a few more fleeting glimpses.
    Asa took the roll of parchments and carefully unfurled it to discover a series of hand-drawn maps of Windvale Moor. These were marked with different coloured symbols indicating Tooth’s sightings and observations. The maps also confirmed that the building he had spotted on his trip to the moor was indeed Benjamin Tooth’s old farmhouse as he had suspected.
    Turning back to the journal Asa came to a chapter entitled: 
    On experiments in trapping techniques
     
    From the diagrams it was clear to him that Benjamin Tooth had no regard for the lives of the sprites, just as he had none for the Mereton Warbler. The first ideas he tried were rabbit- and bird-catching methods: wire snares and miniature sprung metal traps, but these had apparently been unsuccessful, at least in catching sprites:
    … the trouble being that I do not yet know what the beasts feed on. Those spring traps I baited with honey remained set, those I laced with flying ants catch’d meadow pipits. No matter, I shall dine on pipit pudding and ponder.
     
    The experiments got steadily crueller, incorporating barbed hooks and sharp blades, wire nets and pits of broken glass but nothing seemed to work and Tooth’s writing got scratchier and angrier.
    But whatever he tried next must have worked because when Asa turned the page he was presented with a beautifully detailed watercolour painting.
    For some reason this was almost better proof to Asa than the body in the pond or even the live ones he saw on the moor. Those already seemed like distant memories but here was hard evidence that somebody else had seen them too and Asa studied the picture closely for a long time.
    The creature in the painting appeared to be older than the ones Asa had seen. Its skin looked darker and more weathered and the thorns running in seams up its arm and legs were much longer. It seemed to be clinging on to the stem of a plant with its wings folded down its back towards the artist. They were the same dragonfly wings as Asa had seen but much more brightly coloured with a large ‘eye’ like a peacock feather at the tip. But though it was beautiful, there was something in the creature’s eyes that disturbed Asa.

     
    He turned to the next page of text and began to read in the mirror:
    At last! I have captured a live specimen! The people of Mereton will rue the day they ever hounded me from their stinking town. I shall be rich!  
     
     
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