Through Dead Eyes Read Online Free PDF Page A

little, laughing. Alex sighed.
    For a while, Angelien continued to point things out to Alex and tell him about them, but more and more, Dirk would interrupt in Dutch and the two of them would start a conversation that Alex could not understand.
    Alex found himself trailing along behind them. As they approached yet another bridge over yet another canal, Alex came to a halt and let them walk on. A busker started singing across the street. A black-and-white cat brushed up against his legs.
    Alex wondered how long it would take them to notice he was no longer there, but they were already over the bridge and had not realised. Alex scowled and turned back the way they had come. The cat scurried away.
    To find his own way back, all he had to do was follow the main road they had just come from until he reached the big square near the hotel. He knew his way from there.
    But after walking steadily for ten minutes Alex recognised nothing and realised that he must have turned the wrong way. Or maybe this was not the main road he thought it was. He didn’t even know which direction he was walking in.
    He stood on the side of a small canal as the rain began to fall again. A girl ran by in a red hooded coat and her reflection dripped into the water like blood.
    Alex cursed and stared at the sky, raindrops spitting in his face. Suddenly all of Amsterdam looked exactly the same. He unzipped his jacket and took out his mobile phone.

Chapter 4
     
    Alex’s father, Saskia and Angelien were standing outside the hotel. Alex couldn’t hear what they were saying but he could see that his father was angry, even though he was barely saying a word.
    Saskia, on the other hand, was saying enough for the two of them. She was red in the face and wagging her finger furiously at Angelien who was looking uncomfortable.
    After a few minutes Angelien came into the hotel and walked over. She sat down opposite him. She picked up a sachet of sugar from the bowl on the table, and tapped it a few times before tossing it down.
    ‘Why did you just walk off like that?’ she said. ‘I looked everywhere for you.’
    Alex shrugged.
    ‘I was worried about you,’ she said.
    ‘Yeah?’ muttered Alex.
    ‘I’m really sorry about what happened,’ said Angelien. ‘All right?’
    ‘No offence,’ said Alex, ‘but I didn’t even want to go round Amsterdam with you. I wanted to go with my dad.’
    Angelien glanced at her mother who was still talking to Alex’s father outside.
    ‘Look,’ she said, dropping her voice. ‘I thought it was a dumb idea too, if you really want to know.’
    ‘Then why did you agree to do it?’ said Alex.
    Angelien opened her mouth as if to say something, but thought better of it and took a deep breath instead.
    ‘Because I care about my mother and I would like her to be happy,’ she said with a sigh.
    Angelien reached out and touched his hand.
    ‘I promise there will be no more Dirk,’ she said, squeezing his fingers. ‘He wouldn’t even help me to look for you. Look, Alex, I got into big trouble. Your father thinks I am not a responsible person and my mother – my mother says she is going to kill me. I wish that were true – at least it would be quick. She is going to go on and on at me for weeks. Please don’t give me a hard time too. Please. We’re friends, huh?’
    Alex took a deep breath. Despite the whole business with Dirk, Alex liked Angelien.
    He knew he could not stay cross with her. He hadn’t had much fun of late, and Angelien was fun to be with. He smiled.
    ‘OK,’ he said.
    ‘In any case, we need to talk about that mask you bought,’ said Angelien with a smile.
    ‘I know,’ said Alex. ‘My dad went mental when I told him I’d paid twenty euros for it.’
    Angelien rolled her eyes.
    ‘Bah!’ she said. ‘Another thing that was my fault apparently. But it doesn’t matter. Anyway, that’s not what I meant. The mask is –’ Angelien saw Saskia walking back and grabbed Alex’s hand. ‘Please, Alex