The Paradise Trap Read Online Free PDF Page A

around here somewhere?’
    ‘I – uh – yeah.’ Marcus couldn’t help sounding dazed. ‘Are you – I mean, are we going down to have a look?’
    ‘Of course!’ Edison seemed taken aback. ‘Don’t you want to?’
    ‘I guess . . .’
    ‘We should take a can of drink as well,’ Edison solemnly recommended. ‘Just in case we get thirsty.’
    He waited until Marcus had retrieved a torch from one of the kitchen cupboards. There was no soft drink, but Marcus found a bottle of water instead. He stuffed it into the backpack, which was now hanging off Edison’s shoulders. Outside, the little white dog was still whining and scratching.
    ‘Okay,’ said Marcus, ‘I’ll go first.’
    ‘No, I will.’
    ‘No, I will.’ Marcus refused to give an inch. ‘It’s my caravan, and I’m the oldest. I’ll go first.’
    So it was Marcus who ended up in front, with Edison close behind him. Very slowly and carefully they advanced down the stairs, which creaked under their weight and wobbled slightly beneath the impact of every footfall. By the time they reached solid ground, they had already switched on their torches; the wavering beams flickered across a stone floor, a vaulted ceiling, and damp brick walls hung with cobwebs.
    ‘Oh, wow.’ Edison’s tone was reverent. ‘This is fantastic. It’s like a dungeon . ’
    ‘But what is it?’ Marcus demanded faintly. ‘Why is it here?’
    ‘Hey! Look at that!’ Edison pointed. The beam from his torch had come to rest on a closed door with a shiny brass knob. ‘Let’s see where that goes!’
    ‘Hang on,’ said Marcus, whose own torch beam had picked out another, identical door. The two doors were placed side by side.
    There was nothing else in the room; just the doors and the cobwebs.
    ‘This is crazy,’ Marcus faltered. He felt as if he were in a dream – or perhaps a computer game. Lots of computer games were played in virtual dungeons.
    ‘Which one looks safer to you?’ Edison asked him. Then, upon receiving no answer, he nodded at the left-hand door. ‘Let’s try that one.’
    He darted forward eagerly, before Marcus could pull him back.
    ‘Wait!’ Marcus shrilled. But it was too late. Edison had already turned his chosen knob and yanked open the door attached to it.
    Instantly, the air was filled with carnival music.
    The two boys stared. Their jaws dropped in perfect unison. Beyond the threshold lay a vivid, sunlit amusement park. There were striped tents and fluttering flags and rides and booths and banners, but no people. No one was shrieking on the roller-coaster or chomping on fairy floss. No one was throwing hoops at targets or buying novelty baseball caps.
    Though it was full of noise and movement, the entire park was empty of life.
    ‘Oh, wow . . .’ Edison breathed.
    Together he and Marcus stepped through the door onto a smooth stretch of green lawn. To their right, an enormous carousel was spinning on its mirrored axis, pumping out a cheerful, chiming song. To their left, a row of painted clown heads swung from side to side in front of a wall hung with alluring prizes: plush toys, kewpie dolls, inflatable aliens. Ahead was an arena filled with dodgem cars; beyond that stood a slowly revolving ferris wheel. Wherever Marcus looked, there were flashing lights or moving parts or happy, painted faces.
    Everything was bright and clean and colourful under a cloudless blue sky.
    ‘This is crazy,’ Marcus repeated, his voice hushed.
    ‘Yeah,’ Edison agreed, ‘but it’s great .’
    And then, just as Marcus opened his mouth to suggest that perhaps they shouldn’t stay very long, the six restless clown heads swung around to smile at Edison.
    ‘Hello, Edison!’ they chorused. ‘Do you want to win a stuffed blue gorilla?’

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    ‘HEY, EDISON!’
    S UDDENLY THE WHOLE FAIRGROUND SPRANG TO LIFE .
    ‘I’d love to go home with you, Edison!’ the stuffed blue gorilla pleaded.
    ‘Edison! Oh, Edison! Please come for a gallop!’ neighed the pastel