The Dark is Rising, a drama by Susan Cooper for BBC World Service.
Episode 7, The Besieging.
When the dark comes rising, six shall turn it back.
Three from the circle, three from the track.
Wood, bronze, iron, water, fire, stone.
Five will return, and one go alone.
Hawkins betrayal has cracked open our protection, and the dark could slip in at any moment.
Will looked up and saw, framed in the sitting room doorway, the outline of the visitor's face.
The rider!
Saw the red-brown hair, the blue eyes, and he froze.
Will, come here a minute.
Say hello to our guest, Mr.
Matofi.
This, Mr.
Motothin, his father's friend from goodness knows where, was the rider from somewhere outside time.
Quickly Will hid the Jamaican carnival mask from Stephen under a cloth.
As he turned back again, the rider stared at Will in open,
triumphant challenge, a small smile on his lips.
You will stretched out his right hand with its fingers spread stiff towards his family and time stop He froze them out of all movement and they stood as wax works around the room How dare you come here the two of them stood facing one another the only living objects there How dare you enter our house at Christmas?
No one else moved Nor did the hands of the clock get Come on, tell yourself.