Toxic Treacle Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Echo Freer
Tags: thriller, Young Adult, breeding, Dystopian, society, Tragic, gender roles, children and fathers, rearing
uncomfortable about lying to Angel. He liked her; liked her a lot. Tragic was forever telling him that it didnât always work out that theyâd be able to breed with the nurturer of their choice, but Monkey hoped, more than anything else in his life (except maybe becoming a pro-footballer) that no one else would choose him for breeding before Angel turned sixteen - especially Moni Morrison. He felt his face flush with rage, before putting the thought out of his head and breaking into a jog.
When he arrived at the small lodge that Tragic shared with Jane, far from allaying Monkeyâs fears about his friendâs absence, what he found only served to deepen them. The one thing he could always say about Tragicâs home was that it was just that: a home. Janeâs artistic temperament had created a welcoming atmosphere. It was hard to explain it but, whenever he went to Tragicâs, there was a warmth about the place. It was cosy and friendly - much more so than any of his other matesâ houses. Friendlier than his own home, if he was being honest.
As he banged on the door now, though, it wasnât at all welcoming. The shutters were down and there were no lights on inside. He called through the mail-slat but no one answered. There was no sound or movement at all.
Perplexed, he ventured round to the back of the house. The windows at the back were also shuttered and the doors locked. His attention was drawn to the cables from the wind turbine by the side of the sustenance patch; they were draped over the fence and attached to the generator of the other gatehouse next door. That was weird. Why would Tragicâs nurturer give away their electricity? Didnât she know it was illegal? All surplus supplies had to be given to The Assembly.
Monkey hoisted himself up on the roof of the bike-house and peered through a damaged slat on the shutters over Tragicâs bedroom window.
âTragic!â Monkey called, banging on the shutter. âTradge! Are you in there?â
As his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness inside the house, he could make out several items strewn across the bed and floor: clothes, shoes, backpacks and papers. Tragic, apart from being tragically attached to his nurturer, was also tragically tidy. But today, not only was Tradge missing from school, he was missing from home, too. In other circumstances, it would be natural to assume that the house had been jacked, but Monkey had been all round and there was no sign of entry. Had he been arrested, as Angel suggested? Or maybe heâd done a runner - but to where? There was nowhere to run - Security was everywhere. And, more worryingly, if he had been arrested because of last night, wouldnât they be round looking for Monkey before long?
He slid down from the roof of the lean-to and the door swung open to reveal that it was empty: the bikes had gone. Security didnât take people on their bikes - Monkey knew that much. Perhaps Tragic had graduated early? Maybe he hadnât wanted the whole graduation party thing and had just slipped off to the Breedersâ Zone without any fuss? But, then, why would he leave his room in such a mess? Why hadnât he taken his things with him? If heâd graduated, surely Professor Reed wouldâve known and wouldnât have been giving Monkey the third degree as to his whereabouts? And why was Jane giving her power to the post-nurturer next door?
Something was seriously not right about this. Monkey spoke into his ring-cam. âAngel.â The girlâs face flashed on to the screen and his stomach tightened with a frisson of excitement. âCan I trust you?â
Searching for Tragic
âYour dinnerâs ready,â Vivian said wearily as Monkey pulled on his jacket. He ignored her and headed for the door. She raised her voice to try and sound authoritative.
âMickey, you havenât eaten and you need to take your vitamins.â
She held out her hand with
When he arrived at the small lodge that Tragic shared with Jane, far from allaying Monkeyâs fears about his friendâs absence, what he found only served to deepen them. The one thing he could always say about Tragicâs home was that it was just that: a home. Janeâs artistic temperament had created a welcoming atmosphere. It was hard to explain it but, whenever he went to Tragicâs, there was a warmth about the place. It was cosy and friendly - much more so than any of his other matesâ houses. Friendlier than his own home, if he was being honest.
As he banged on the door now, though, it wasnât at all welcoming. The shutters were down and there were no lights on inside. He called through the mail-slat but no one answered. There was no sound or movement at all.
Perplexed, he ventured round to the back of the house. The windows at the back were also shuttered and the doors locked. His attention was drawn to the cables from the wind turbine by the side of the sustenance patch; they were draped over the fence and attached to the generator of the other gatehouse next door. That was weird. Why would Tragicâs nurturer give away their electricity? Didnât she know it was illegal? All surplus supplies had to be given to The Assembly.
Monkey hoisted himself up on the roof of the bike-house and peered through a damaged slat on the shutters over Tragicâs bedroom window.
âTragic!â Monkey called, banging on the shutter. âTradge! Are you in there?â
As his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness inside the house, he could make out several items strewn across the bed and floor: clothes, shoes, backpacks and papers. Tragic, apart from being tragically attached to his nurturer, was also tragically tidy. But today, not only was Tradge missing from school, he was missing from home, too. In other circumstances, it would be natural to assume that the house had been jacked, but Monkey had been all round and there was no sign of entry. Had he been arrested, as Angel suggested? Or maybe heâd done a runner - but to where? There was nowhere to run - Security was everywhere. And, more worryingly, if he had been arrested because of last night, wouldnât they be round looking for Monkey before long?
He slid down from the roof of the lean-to and the door swung open to reveal that it was empty: the bikes had gone. Security didnât take people on their bikes - Monkey knew that much. Perhaps Tragic had graduated early? Maybe he hadnât wanted the whole graduation party thing and had just slipped off to the Breedersâ Zone without any fuss? But, then, why would he leave his room in such a mess? Why hadnât he taken his things with him? If heâd graduated, surely Professor Reed wouldâve known and wouldnât have been giving Monkey the third degree as to his whereabouts? And why was Jane giving her power to the post-nurturer next door?
Something was seriously not right about this. Monkey spoke into his ring-cam. âAngel.â The girlâs face flashed on to the screen and his stomach tightened with a frisson of excitement. âCan I trust you?â
Searching for Tragic
âYour dinnerâs ready,â Vivian said wearily as Monkey pulled on his jacket. He ignored her and headed for the door. She raised her voice to try and sound authoritative.
âMickey, you havenât eaten and you need to take your vitamins.â
She held out her hand with