title: The Secret of Sleep (Storytime)
author:  Malachy Doyle 
description: MALACHY DOYLE is a prize-winning author of over 90 books for children of all ages. His stories have been translated into 23 different languages. He lives on a tiny island off the north-west coast of Ireland. Blast Off! is Malachy's fourth QED Storytime book, after Albert and Sarah Jane, Digger and Lew and Danny, the Duck with No Quack.Gill McLean worked as a children's book designer before turning to illustration work. She is the illustrator of several popular children's books, including the QED Storytime Blast Off! Her fun animal characters and beautiful painting style make her illustrations unique.
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  # The Door
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Elia Wilkinson Peattie
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com
  
  * [ Chapter 1](doorelia_split_2.html#1_0_2)
  
  
  * [ Chapter 2](doorelia_split_3.html#1_0_3)
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  
  
  
  ###  Chapter 1
  
  
  
  
  
    
  "HE'S asleep, isn't he?" asks the man.
  
  
    
  "I can't be sure. I never could be sure! With his eyes always
  
  
  closed as they are, and with that odd habit he has of lying so still, I
  
  
  can't make out half the time whether he's sleeping or waking."
  
  
    
  "You haven't told him anything yet, I suppose?"
  
  
    
  "Told him? No. Oh, no, I haven't told him!"
  
  
    
  The woman shivers perceptibly, and draws closer to the leaping fire
  
  
  on the hearth.
  
  
    
  "Of course," continues the man, speaking cautiously still, "you may
  
  
  as well explain the situation to him. He's too young to take it to
  
  
  heart, and I know you agree with me that it's going to be the best
  
  
  thing for him in the end. Those childless pe