The Phredde Collection Read Online Free PDF Page A

getting dark—the sunset deep red and purple over the ocean (strange how the sun also rises over the ocean as we look out from our castle—these things happen when it’s magic).
    ‘Time for the news,’ said Dad. He got up to turn on the TV.
    Suddenly Mark stood up. ‘I’m going for a walk,’ he said.
    Dad just nodded.
    ‘Don’t forget your homework,’ said Mum, picking up the newspaper.
    ‘I’ve done it,’ said Mark.
    ‘Oh good,’ said Mum vaguely. ‘What’s a nine-letter word for a member of the Tligit Indian people of Admiralty Islands, Alaska?’
    ‘Hoochinoo,’ said Dad, sitting back on the sofa.
    ‘Mark,’ I said.
    ‘Shh,’ said Dad. ‘The news…’
    I followed Mark out the door. ‘Mark,’ I said again.
    Mark nodded. ‘What?’ he asked.
    He looked different tonight. Nothing you could put your finger on.
    Just…different…
    ‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘Are you sure you want to go out?’
    ‘Yeah, I’m sure,’ said Mark. He glanced out the window.
    Then he was gone.
    I went back to the TV set.
    The news was over and this comedy came on. It was really funny and I was just waiting for Mum to remember I was there and send me off to do my homework, when Gurgle came in.
    ‘Gargle argle goo,’ he announced.
    ‘Oh, a visitor,’ said Mum, surprised. ‘Who’d be calling in at this hour? You weren’t expecting anyone were you, darling?’
    ‘No,’ said Dad.
    Gurgle stood aside and this bloke came in.
    He was old—even older than Dad. He had grey hair that sort of came to a point on his forehead and dark, dark eyes—a bit like mine.
    He just stood there for a moment, looking at us, and then he said, ‘Bill,’ (which is Dad’s name). ‘Bill. You don’t remember me, do you?’
    Then Dad jumped up and yelled, ‘Uncle Ron!’, and suddenly they were clapping each other on the back and Dad was dragging Mum over, and me too.
    ‘This is my Uncle Ron,’ cried Dad. ‘How long has it been? What happened to you, Ron? Sit down, sit down.’
    ‘Coffee, tea, cold drink?’ asked Mum. ‘We’ve just eaten, but if you’d like something I’m sure the butler…’
    ‘I’ll eat later,’ said Dad’s Uncle Ron. He sat down on the sofa and looked around.
    ‘Thirty years,’ he said slowly. ‘That’s how long it’s been since I saw you last, Bill. And there’ve been some changes in that time, haven’t there, boy?’
    I blinked. I mean, calling Dad ‘boy’!
    Dad just grinned. ‘I suppose you mean the castle,’ he said. ‘It was a gift last year from a family of phaeries that Pru here made friends with—really nice people by the way…’
    ‘And you’re married…and a kid, too,’ said Uncle Ron. His hands were small and square and hairy in his lap, and had short fingers.
    ‘Two kids actually,’ smiled Mum. ‘You’ll meet Mark soon—he’s just gone for a walk.’
    ‘But what have YOU been doing?’ cried Dad. ‘All these years—I was just a kid when you went off. You simply disappeared. I thought you must have had a quarrel with Grandpa, but Dad would never say.’
    ‘Well, no. He wouldn’t have,’ said Uncle Ron. He ran his furry fingers through his hair. ‘He wouldn’t have. They regarded me as a bit of a black sheep, I’m afraid—though maybe sheep isn’t really the right word for it.’
    ‘What did you do?’ I breathed. ‘Something terrible?’
    ‘Prudence,’ protested Mum.
    Uncle Ron just laughed. He had a nice laugh, and lots of long, white teeth.
    ‘No, not so terrible. People just thought differently in those days. There was a lot of…prejudice…around. People were a bit afraid of anyone…different.’
    ‘That’s what Mrs Olsen says,’ I said.
    ‘Mrs Olsen is Pru’s teacher,’ said Mum. ‘She’s a vampire.’
    Uncle Ron looked startled. ‘Isn’t that dangerous?’ he said. ‘I mean, vampires!’
    ‘Oh, no,’ said Mum. ‘Her family gets their blood congealed from the abattoir. They never touch the fresh stuff.’
    ‘Ah,’ said