Waiting in the Shadows Read Online Free PDF

some of the others consider Abe’s way of thinking a bit too … extreme. We want to help our own kind, but we are looking for a more peaceful solution.’
    Stella shook her head, ‘Who are your kind?’
    Ket gave a gesture to take in the scene around them, ‘Tomorrow, when we are in more suitable surroundings, we will exchange background information.’
    They both continued to clear up and then had makeshift showers using plastic containers and cold water.
    Sel, Lon, and Jed appeared shortly afterwards. Each had a suitcase. Lon wanted to unpack them immediately, but Sel said they must all be reasonably clean before getting changed. She beckoned Stella to sit by the kitchen sink, once the boys had washed. She produced a box and applied a dye solution.
    â€˜We must wait for thirty minutes for the colour to take,’ she told her. ‘Go and sit outside while I clean myself up.’
    Stella sat outside and soon forgot how cold she was as the boys put on a fashion show for her. Soon she was laughing as they dressed in different outfits, fussing over jackets and belts like children with new toys. Often they asked her advice about different ensembles, although she could hardly see the colours in the fading light.
    â€˜Come, Stella. We must rinse your hair again,’ said Sel from the doorway. ‘We must all get some sleep now. Ket, do first guard duty, Lon and Jed can take over in two hours.’
    All immediately obeyed her. Stella sat and shivered while Sel poured cold water over her head and gave a sigh of relief when she was handed a towel and was able to rub her hair dry and some life back into her frozen scalp.
    Soon she too was fast asleep on the hard kitchen floor, unaware of the changing rota of guards during the rest of the night.
    She was woken by Lon gently shaking her shoulder, ‘Come. We must get ready.’
    Rubbing her eyes, Stella got up and looked around. The others had dressed themselves in their new clothes. Sel was packing all their belongings into the suitcase.
    Jed gave a pile of clothes to her. ‘Give me those clothes. We must not leave anything behind us. For Labs or Non-Labs to find.’
    â€˜You don’t think Abe knows we are here, do you?’ Jed asked. Lon also looked disturbed.
    â€˜No. Not yet. If we cover our tracks and merge fully into our new identities, we should be safe for the moment,’ she replied. ‘But we cannot underestimate him!’
    â€˜We chose well!’ Jed gave Stella a nod of approval as she smoothed the purple jumper down over tight black jeans. She pulled on a soft brown leather jacket and wrapped a sequined covered scarf around her neck.
    â€˜I’ve never worn such lovely clothes!’ she said. ‘What is my hair like? What colour is it?’
    â€˜Red!’ Johnny told her.
    â€˜Like a ruby!’ Leon added, grinning.
    She gave a gasp as Lon held a broken mirror up in front of her. Her hair was bright red and uncombed it stood in spikes from her head. She gave a laugh, ‘That doesn’t look like me at all!’
    â€˜It’s not meant to look like Stella. It’s Ruby, remember. Put some of the make-up on, too. You must look older,’ Sel told her. ‘Well chosen, boys.’
    â€˜Yes, thank you, Lon and Jed,’ the new Ruby told them.
    â€˜Leon and John,’ Sel said. ‘And Keith!’ She pointed to Ket. ‘And I am now, or will be when you have collected our IDs, Celia.’
    â€˜I want to be called Johnny,’ Jed stated, glaring at his brother who grinned smugly.
    â€˜John, Johnny – what’s the difference?’ the new Celia asked him.
    â€˜Two syllables! I don’t want to be one syllable! Like all the Labs! Why did you give the others two syllables?’ he pouted.
    â€˜What does it matter?’ Celia shook her head.
    â€˜Hey, I’m one syllable, too!’ Keith said, ‘I like Keith! It has a good