The Dark Is Rising

The snow continues to fall for days as food and fuel run low in the village. The Walker continues to be nearly incoherent. He has no memory of Will or of anything that has happened to him recently until Will happens to bend over, exposing the four Signs strung on his belt. Seeing them, the Walker screams and recoils.

Later, Will goes with his father and his brother Robin to the village store for supplies. The villagers in the store are feeling the strain of the last few days. The endless snow feels hostile to them. Merriman enters the store and announces that Miss Greythorne is inviting everyone to the Manor for shelter. The villagers in the shop are grateful and relieved, but Will’s father is standoffish toward Merriman. He dislikes Miss Greythorne’s presumption of noblesse oblige and tells Will and Robin that there’s no need to add to the crowd at the Manor.

However, Will wants to go to the Manor, where the other Old Ones are gathering against the Dark. Will also wants to get the Walker out of his home. He provokes the Walker into a “fit” by showing him the Signs, persuading Will’s father to take the old man to the Manor, where there is a doctor to look after him.