Truckers Read Online Free PDF Page B

they’re at least as intelligent as rats, say.
    But he didn’t say any of this, because while he was thinking, his eyes fell on the Thing, clasped in Torrit’s arms.
    He was aware that there was a thought he ought to be having. He made a space in his head politely and waited patiently to see what it was and then, just as it was about to arrive, Grimma said to Angalo: “What happens to nomes who aren’t in a department?”
    â€œThey lead very sad lives,” said Angalo. “They just have to get along as best they can.”
    He looked as if he were about to cry. “ I believe you,” he said. “My father says it’s wrong to watch the trucks. They can lead you into wrong thoughts, he says. Well, I’ve watched them for months. Sometimes they come in wet. It’s not all a dream Outside—things happen. Look, why don’t you sort of hang around, and I’m sure he’ll change his mind.”
    The Store was big. Masklin had thought the truck was big. The Store was bigger. It went on forever, a maze of floor and walls and long, tiring steps. Nomes hurried or sauntered past them on errands of their own, and there seemed to be no end of them. In fact the word “big” was too small. The Store needed a whole new word.
    In a strange way it was even bigger than outside. Outside was so huge, you didn’t really see it. It had no edges and no top, so you didn’t think of it as having a size at all. It was just there . Whereas the Store did have edges and a top, and they were so far away they were, well, big .
    As they followed Angalo, Masklin made up his mind and decided to tell Grimma first.
    â€œI’m going back,” he said.
    She stared at him. “But we’ve only just arrived! Why on earth—?”
    â€œI don’t know. It’s all wrong here. It just feels wrong. I keep thinking that if I stay here any longer, I’ll stop believing there’s anything outside, and I was born there. When I’ve got you all settled down, I’m going out again. You can come if you like,” he added, “but you don’t have to.”
    â€œBut it’s warm and there’s all this food!”
    â€œI said I couldn’t explain. I just feel we’re being, well, watched.”
    Instinctively she stared upward at the ceiling a few inches above them. Back home anything watching them usually meant something was thinking about lunch. Then she remembered herself and gave a nervous laugh.
    â€œDon’t be silly,” she said.
    â€œI just don’t feel safe,” he said wretchedly.
    â€œYou mean you don’t feel wanted,” said Grimma quietly.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWell, isn’t that true? You spend all your time scrimping and scraping for everyone, and then you don’t need to anymore. It’s a funny feeling, isn’t it.”
    She swept away.
    Masklin stood and fiddled with the binding on his spear. Odd, he thought. I never thought anyone else would think like that. He had a few dim recollections of Grimma in the hole, always doing laundry or organizing the old women or trying to cook whatever it was he managed to drag home. Odd. Fancy missing something like that.
    He became aware that the rest of them had stopped. The underfloor stretched away ahead of them, lit dimly by small lights fixed to the wood here and there. Ironmongri charged highly for the lights, Angalo said, and wouldn’t let anyone else into the secret of controlling the electricity. It was one of the things that made the Ironmongri so powerful.
    â€œThis is the edge of Haberdasheri territory at the moment,” he said. “Over there is Millineri country. We’re a bit cool with them at the moment. Er. You’re bound to find some department to take you in. . . .” He looked at Grimma.
    â€œEr,” he said.
    â€œWe’re going to stay together,” said Granny Morkie. She looked hard at Masklin, and then