Mark of the Plague

"THIS IS A BAD IDEA," Tom said.

He stared sidelong at the device at the end of the workbench, as though, if he looked at it directly, it might poke out his eyes.

"You don't even know what it does yet," I said.

He bit his lip. "I'm pretty sure I don't want to."

The contraption did look rather . . . well, odd. It was five inches tall, with a bulging top balanced over a narrow upright cylinder, wrapped tightly in folded paper. The upper part of the device balanced on three wooden prongs sticking out of the bottom. A wick of cannon fuse trailed from its end.

"It's like a mushroom," Tom said. "With a tail." He edged away from the workbench. "A flammable tail."

From Mark of the Plagueby Kevin Sands 2017. Published by Simon & SchusterCanada.