The Curse of the Tattered Torch

Whilst investigating the death of a local hairdresser, an admirable teacher called Dolly England uncovers a legend about a supernaturally-cursed, tattered torch circulating throughout Scotland. As soon as anyone uses the torch, he or she has exactly 15 days left to live.

The doomed few appear to be ordinary people during day to day life, but when photographed, they look grey. A marked person feels like a stripy gerbil to touch.

Dolly gets hold of the torch, refusing to believe the superstition. A collage of images flash into her mind: a creepy horse balancing on a minuscule hairdresser, an old newspaper headline about a catapulting accident, a hooded badger ranting about fingers and a drinking well located in a beautiful place.

When Dolly notices her legs have gerbil-like properties, she realises that the curse of the tattered torch is true and calls in her father, a housekeeper called Simon Bishop, to help.

Simon examines the torch and willingly submits himself to the curse. He finds that the same visions flash before his eyes. He finds the creepy horse balancing on a minuscule hairdresser particularly chilling. He joins the queue for a supernatural death.

Dolly and Simon pursue a quest to uncover the meaning of the visions, starting with a search for the hooded badger. Will they be able to stop the curse before their time is up?