The Cradle of All Worlds. Jeremy Lachlan
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First published in Great Britain 2018
by Egmont UK Limited
The Yellow Building, 1 Nicholas Road, London W11 4AN
Published by arrangement with Hardie Grant Egmont, Victoria, Australia
Text copyright © 2018 Jeremy Lachlan
The moral rights of the author have been asserted
First e-book edition 2018
ISBN 978 1 4052 9133 0
Ebook ISBN 978 1 4052 9263 4
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library
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For Mum and Dad
‘One cannot map these hallowed grounds. This is a place between places, and a deadly one at that. Adventures beware: only the worthy may pass between worlds.’
Arundhati Riggs and the Colossal Door
CONTENTS
THE MUSEUM OF OTHERWORLDLY ANTIQUITIES
HIDDEN THINGS AND PUPPET STRINGS
THE CATACOMBS
FIRST INTERLUDE
THE WORK OF WINIFRED ROBIN
PART TWO
THE WONDER BEYOND THE WALL
THE SKELETON KEY
THE NIGHTMARE
THE MAN WITH THE BLACK BAG
TIN-SKIN TROUBLE
THE WAY THINGS ARE
HICKORY’S HIDEOUT
A DIFFERENT WINDOW
HUNTED
THE GRIP
LEECHWOOD HALLS
THE FLOWER IN THE DELL
THE BOUNTY HUNTERS
THE HALL OF A THOUSAND FACES
THE PRISON CAMP
INTO THE GIANT’S MOUTH
THE GUARDIANS
THE TRUTH ABOUT JOHN AND ELSA
THE GATEKEEPER, THE BUILDER AND THE SCRIBE
THE MAN WITH THE PORCELAIN FACE
ESCAPE
A CHANGE OF PLAN
THE SPIRAL ROAD
SECOND INTERLUDE
NOT THE GIRL SHE REMEMBERS
PART THREE
WAKING
THE FATE OF BLUEHAVEN
BEST-LAID PLANS
THE GREAT ADVENTURER
THE CRYSTAL CAVERNS
A TIGHT SQUEEZE
UNDERSTANDING WINIFRED
THE RIVER
DRIFTING
OPEN NIGHT AT THE CASKET BUFFET
THE NEST
THE SPECTRE