Heller Read Online Free PDF

the one about the cereal,”
Niq said. He suddenly burst out in a shrill, overjoyed singsong
voice, “ I’m the happiest girl in the nation now I’ve cured my
constipation! ”
    I cringed at
hearing that corny jingle again. I wasn’t going to admit to that,
so I shamelessly lied. “It wasn’t me, but I hear that all the time.
I guess I do look a bit like her.” Niq stared at me suspiciously as
if my protest wasn’t quite believable. I gazed back with wide-eyed
innocence. I had to admit I was impressed though – it was an
uncanny impersonation of my hammy acting.
    One of those
awkward silences descended. I smiled at him briefly and raised my
eyes to the lift ceiling, surprised at its intricate timber inlay.
I thought that must mean that the lift was quite old because lifts
weren’t built like that anymore. I hoped it was safe as it slowly
ascended, screeching misery all the way. To take my mind off that
worry, I turned back to the little Goth.
    “So Niq, do
you work here?” I teased gently. He was only thirteen or fourteen
at most and so slight in stature that one of those huge security
men could have crushed him with his bare hands.
    “No,” he
smiled shyly and peered up at me through that black fringe. “I’m
still at school, but I will work here when I finish. I want to work
here now, but Heller says it’s important for me to get a proper
education first.” He rolled his eyes at that sensible piece of
advice like a typical teenager.
    “And who’s
Heller?” I asked conversationally, barely stifling a yawn. The rave
club next to our unit block had been pounding out thumping bass
until five o’clock in the morning. I had finally properly fallen
asleep at one minute past five, only to be woken up at three
minutes past five by a garbage truck noisily making its way down
the street.
    “You don’t
know who Heller is?” he asked me with genuine surprise. “But –”
    Before he
could finish, the lift shuddered and stopped suddenly for a few
ticks before continuing again, unbalancing the both of us. Alarmed,
I clung like a gecko to the lift wall, my palms flat against the
side to brace myself.
    “Are you sure
this thing’s safe?” I asked, slightly shaken.
    “Hasn’t
crashed yet,” he replied, brushing the hair back from his face and
smiling up at me again.
    And thankfully
it didn’t today either. At last the lift stopped with a terrifying
lurch that made me reel against the side of the cabin, my hands out
for balance again, my stomach leaping into my mouth. The doors
opened and I prepared to step out to face my interview ordeal, but
unhappily the lift hadn’t made it to its destination. Instead, it
had decided to discontinue the journey about two metres short. We
were caught between floors.
    “Uh-oh,” said
Niq, pressing the close-door button frantically. Nothing happened.
He then pushed on the up button. Again nothing. Niq turned to me.
“I think it’s died.”
    “You think?” I
asked, a little sarcastic.
    “ Daniel! ” Niq screamed suddenly, making me jump.
“Daniel!”
    From the gap
in the lift, I saw a pair of legs walking quickly towards us.
    “Oh my God,
I’m so sorry,” a man apologised profusely to me, kneeling down to
peer awkwardly into the lift cabin. “Don’t panic. I’ll get you out
of there as soon as possible.” Then he turned to Niq, crossly.
“Niq! I knew I should have brought Ms Chalmers up myself instead of
trusting you. I told you not to use the lift. You know it’s not
safe.”
    I shot Niq a
smug told-you-so smile.
    “Sorry
Daniel,” Niq replied, pulling a face back at me.
    “Okay, let me
think for a second. Niq, I’ll get you out first and then you can
help me with Ms Chalmers. Grab onto my hands and use your feet to
climb up the walls of the cabin.”
    Daniel leaned
down into the cabin and grasped Niq’s hands. He hauled the little
Goth up until Niq was dangling from the floor of the next level,
legs kicking out wildly as he tried to maintain his grip. I