One Dead Seagull Read Online Free PDF Page B

quietlyandreassuringlytowhoever
wasinside.Hepulled himself out
andbrought the driver ’ s hand with him. Long,redfingernailsgrippedtightlyaroundhispalmand
thebodyinsidebegantomove.
    ‘Comeon.Gentlydoesit.’
    ‘Den . Th e phone ’ s dead, ’ Ker r y yelle d fro m the doo r wa y .
    ‘It ’ soka y ,mywifehasphonedthepolice,’saidagravelly voice.Amanwithgreyhairandagreymoustachestood watchingfromthesafetyoftheothersideoftheroad.
    De n helpe d th e lad y t o he r feet . Sh e wa s shak y and ve r y tall . He r long , re d hai r splashe d acros s th e bac k of Den ’ s ves t a s h e pu t hi s ar m aroun d he r wais t an d slipped unde r he r arm . I move d t o he r othe r side an d helpe d he r int o th e house . Someon e ha d li t some
candle s an d se t the m u p o n th e dinin g roo m table . W e helpe d he r si t down . Sh e wa s thankin g u s an d t r yin g to ge t th e hai r ou t o f he r face . Sh e looke d lik ea model
underneat h th e runnin g mascar a an d tears . Ther e was n o blood.
    ‘Areyouokay?’Denaskedagainandshenodded.
    Isuddenly realisedthattheremighthavebeenother
peopleinthecarsoIranbackout.Alltheseatswere emptyandanairbaglaylimplikeausedcondomagainst thesteeringwheel.Therewasanotherlimpairbagonthe passenger ’ ssidehangingovertheglovebox.Thelady ’ s walletwasonthefloorandIreachedintogetit.Outside I heardaloudelectricalcrackandrememberedthe potentialbombthatIwasin.Ihurried
backinsideand gavetheladyherwallet.
    Th e ambulanc e arrive d i n al l it s flashing , wailin g glo r y . The n th e polic e cam e an d soo n afte r tha ta lumberin g great fir e truc k tha t spraye d foa m ove r th e fue l an d th e ca r . The ambulanc e me n wer e polit e an d gentle . Th e policemen
wer e gruf f an d tol d eve r yon e t o g o ou t th e back , shinin g the
wa y wit h brigh t torches . Carl y wa s sobbin g no w an d Rebecca
complaine d tha t i t wa s he r house . Th e policema n apologise d an d escorte d he r ou t th e bac k explainin g tha t i t was
stil l dangerou s t o b e i n th e fron t o f th e house.
    ‘Bloodykidseve r ywhere,’oneofthecopssaidtoSteve. Inawhile,afiremancameoutthroughthesidegateand toldthecopthateve r ythingwas
oka y .Hereflectedlikea
trafficsigninthecop ’ storchandhisrubbersuitsqueaked
andsquawked ashewalked.
    ‘Canwego?’Steveaskedthecop.
    ‘ Y es.Letmewritedownyournamesandaddressesand youcango.’
    Mand y ,Che r ylandStevewerethefirstonestoleave. Stevetold thecophisnamewas David.It was eleven o’clockandwestartedwalkingbacktothe Humes’house. Graciewas
gettingreadytoleaveas wegotthere.She listenedwithoutmakingasoundasKer r yandDentook
turnsintellingherwhathadhappened.
    ‘Luckyyouguysweretheretosortthingsout,’shesaid. IcouldhearhertalkingtoBar r yforhoursafterthat.
    •

Icouldn ’ tgettosleep.Ishouldhavejumpedonmybike andriddenhomeatthreeinthemorning.Idozedand wokeuptwentytimesbetweenthatthoughtanddaylight.
I wantedmyownbedandtheradio.Eventuallydaylight cameandIgotdressedandquietlylefttohavebreakfast
andsomedecentsleepattheflat.
    I t wa s a fogg y sprin g daw n an d th e magpie s were callin g quietl y a s
I pulle d up . Magpies , an d i n the
distanc ea squawkin g seagull . Eve n th e bird s weren ’ t properl y awake . Th e littl e alcov e a t th e fron t doo r stunk.
No t jus t tha t V elo-cat-pis s smell , bu t somethin g burnt
an d horrible . I n th e wea k dayligh tI coul d se e charring o n th e fibr o an d th e doo r lik e someon e ha d take n to the m wit ha ga s torc h an d th e plasti c fly-wir e ha d been
melte d al l ove r th e stee l o f th e buste d securit y doo r that lean t agains t th e othe r wall .I pushe d throug h th e door an d wen t t o Mum ’ s room . Sh e sa t u p lik ea rabbi t and aske d m e wha t th e matte r was.
    ‘Whathappenedtothedoor?’
    ‘Oh,wehadavisitorduringthenight.Someidiotslita
wholepileofpaperand...stuffonthe porch.Scaredthe lifeoutofme.Iputitoutwithwaterfromthekettleand called thepolice.Theywerehereforabouthalfanhour