Heaven Eyes Read Online Free PDF Page A

stood there on the quay in silence, lost in our thoughts.
    “The raft’s big enough,” I whispered. “Three people. Three doors.”
    I touched January’s arm.
    “I’ll look after him,” I said.
    “Hell’s teeth, Erin,” he said.
    Then he shrugged. He took Mouse’s five-pence piece and grinned. He stooped to the raft again.
    “Come on,” he said. “Let’s do it. All aboard.”
    We slid the raft over the edge. It balanced there, then crashed down into the water. Jan held on to the tethering rope. The raft disappeared while the water seethed above it. Stay down, I thought. Don’t come up again. Then it rose and rested bobbing on the water.
    Jan grinned and squeezed my arm.
    “Go on,” he said.
    He laughed at Mouse.
    “Go on. Go on. You as well. All aboard.”

W AS IT THE SCARIEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE ? No. That was the moment when Mum closed her eyes for the final time and left me all alone. But my head reeled. My heart thudded. My legs trembled. As I stepped over the edge and climbed down the rotting timbers of the quay, I thought I was climbing down to my death. Mouse climbed beside me. He gave me strength. “Come on,” he whispered. “Come on, Erin.” January watched us from above. He hauled back on the tethering rope, keeping the raft close to the quay. But there was still a three-foot gap between us and the edge.
    “Jump!” yelled January. “Go on. Jump!”
    Mouse went first. He landed facedown in the center, with his feet dangling back into the water. He laughed. He turned.
    “Come on, Erin!” he called.
    “Mum,” I whispered. “Mum. Mum!”
    I closed my eyes and leapt. I skidded on the varnish, on the water that was slopping across the doors. I squatted at the center with Mouse. Jan threw the paddles down. Then there was a scream and he came hurtling down on top of us. The raft lurched, slewed sideways, was caught by the current, and we were dragged away.
    We goggled at each other. We gasped and yelled with terror and excitement. The raft spun out toward the center of the river. The sky was vivid red. The river was like running molten metal. The massive bridge arched over us. We were drenched in seconds. We clung to each other. The water quickened, dragging us down toward the thickening mist. Suddenly January leapt up. He stretched his arms toward the sky.
    “Aaaaahhh!”
he yelled.
“Aaaahhh! Freedom!”
    The raft rocked and toppled him back onto us again.
    His eyes were wild with joy. His face burned like the sky.
    “Freedom,” he whispered. “Freedom, Erin!”

T HERE WERE EDDIES AND SWIRLING CURRENTS . There were little waves whipped up by the breeze. The river didn’t take one single course. We were dragged out to the center, then back toward the bank. We tried to control the raft with the paddles but they were skinny things, almost useless. At one time we were dragged upstream and it seemed we’d be heading to the distant moors rather than toward the distant sea. But then the current turned again and took us down again. We were bitter cold. We were sodden. Soon it was like the river had soaked through to our bones. All the time the evening darkened, darkened. The city started to glare: brilliant lights outside the pubs and clubs on Norton Quay. Music echoed across the water. We saw the people gathering there in bright skimpy clothes, out for thenight. A group of girls pointed out to us. They danced a jig and yelled out “Bobby Shaftoe.” Others watched, serious, maybe worried about us. Jan yelled “Bobby Shaftoe” back at them. “Nice night for a paddle!” he called. The girls squealed. The river dragged us toward them, then spun us back into the center again. We waved, trying to reassure the worried ones, trying to reassure ourselves. “Hell’s teeth,” Jan kept saying. “Hell’s teeth,” I answered. “Hell’s teeth,” whispered Mouse. He held me tight, wouldn’t let go. His teeth were chattering, his voice was quivering. “It’s going to be all right!” he