The Monsoon Read Online Free PDF

his pate and he rolled off Tom’s chest.
    He looked up at Dorian, and let out a bellow.
    “The whole stinking litterV He came to his feet, and swayed unsteadily.
    “Even the youngest cub.”
    “You just leave my brother be,” Dorian threatened, white, faced with terror.
    “Run, Dorry!” Tom croaked dazedly, from where he lay in the bracken, without the strength to sit up.
    “He’ll kill you. Run!” But Dorian stood his ground.
    “You leave him alone,” he said.
    William took a step towards him.
    “You know, Dorry, that your mother was a whore.” He smiled, soothingly, and took another step forward, dropping his hands from his injured head.
    “That makes you the son of a whore.” Dorian was not certain what a whore was, but he answered furiously, “You are not to speak of my mama like that.”
    Despite himself he took a pace backwards, as William advanced menacingly upon him.
    “Mama’s baby,” William mocked him.
    “Well, your whore mama is dead, baby.” Tears flooded Dorian’s eyes.
    “Don’t say that! I hate you, William Courtney.”
    “You, too, must learn some manners, Baby Dorry.” William’s hands shot out and locked around the child’s neck.
    He lifted Dorian easily into the air, kicking, clawing.
    “Manners make the man,” William said, and pinned him against the trunk of the copper beech under which they stood.
    “You must learn, Dorry.” He pressed carefully on the child’s windpipe with both fingers, staring into his face, watching it swell and turn purple.
    Dorian’s heels kicked helplessly against the tree trunk, and he scratched at William’s hands, leaving red lines on his skin, but he made no sound.
    “A nest of vipers,” said William.
    “That’s what you are, asps and vipers. I’ll have to clean you out.” Tom heaved himself out of the bracken and crawled to where his elder brother stood. He clutched at his legs.
    “Please, Billy! I’m sorry. Hit me. Leave Dorry alone. Please, don’t hurt him. He didn’t mean anything.” William kicked him away, still holding the child against the tree. Dorry’s feet were dancing two feet above the ground.
    Respect, Dorry, you must learn respect.” He relaxed the pressure of his thumbs and allowed his victim to draw a single breath, then clamped down again. Dorian’s silent struggles became frantic.
    “Take me!” pleaded Tom.
    “Leave Dorry alone. He’s had enough.”
    Tom pulled himself to his feet, using the tree trunk to support himself.
    He tugged at William’s sleeve.
    “You spat in my face,” William said grimly, “and this little viper tried to brain me. Now you may watch him choke.”
    “WilliamV Another voice, rough with outrage, cut in from close at his side.
    “What in the name of the devil do you think you’re playing at?” A heavy blow fell across
    William’s outstretched arms. He let the child drop to the muddy earth and whirled to face his father.
    Hal Courtney had used his scabbard to strike his eldest son’s hands off the child, and now it seemed he might use it to knock William off his feet.
    “Are you mad? What are you doing to Dorian?” he asked, his voice shaking with rage.
    “He had to be, it was only a game, Father. We were playing.”
    William’s own rage had miraculously evaporated, and he seemed chastened.
    “He has taken no harm. It was all in good part.”
    “You have half murdered the lad,” Hal snarled, then went down on one knee to pick his youngest son out of the mud. He held him tenderly against his chest. Dorian buried his face against his father’s neck and sobbed, coughed and choked for air. There were livid scarlet finger marks on the soft skin of his throat, and tears were smeared across his face.
    Hal Courtney glared at William.
    “This is not the first time we have spoken about rough treatment of the younger ones. By God, William, we will discuss this further, after dinner, this evening in the library.
    Now get you out of my sight, before I lose control of