Behindlings by Nicola Barker Read Free Book Online Page A

quickly withdrew, ‘I think he did see me…’
    Sure enough, after a few seconds, the window was darkened by a small shadow, then a nose –pushed up hard against the glass –with two inquisitive hands pressed either side of it.
    ‘Gracious,’ Ted murmured, backing off still further, ‘you weren’t kidding.’
    ‘Just ignore him,’ Wesley counselled boredly, ‘he’ll go away eventually.’
    ‘Who is he?’ Ted was mesmerised.
    ‘I already told you. Some kid.’
    The right shadow-hand suddenly peeled itself away from the glass, formed itself into a tight fist, and began knocking. ‘How do you know him?’ Ted whispered.
    ‘I don’t,’ Wesley shrugged, ‘he just follows me around.
    ’ ‘What’s his name?’
    ‘Pete. Patty. I can’t remember.’
    The knocking continued. It was loud and persistent yet maddeningly unrhythmical. After thirty seconds it grew mildly irritating, by fifty it was unbearable.
    ‘I think he might be stepping on Katherine’s hydrangea,’ Ted stuttered.
    ‘Then go out and yell at him.’
    ‘Should I?’ Ted looked appalled at the thought. ‘Will he become aggressive?’
    Wesley chuckled, ‘No. He’ll love it. He’ll lap it up. He’ll interrogate you. He’ll molest you. He’ll bend your ear. That’s all.’
    Ted didn’t move. ‘For some reason,’ he said, ‘that banging’s really… it’s making me… I think it’s just the… I think it’s the irregularity or something.’
    ‘Calm down. He’ll tire soon enough.’
    As if on cue, the knocking abated.
    ‘Thank God, ’ Ted shuddered, yanking his tie askew, his professional veneer denting like the tender skin of a ripe nectarine.
    ‘Come over here for a minute,’ Wesley commanded (the very image of icy unperturbedness), ‘and fill me in properly on these mango things.’
    Ted joined Wesley at the workbench. Wesley idly noticed that his forehead was glistening. He was sweating.
    ‘She makes these strange little creatures out of them…’ Ted said, fishing around inside his jacket pocket for a handkerchief, pulling one out and patting his brow with it.
    He glanced around him, ‘Here…’
    He moved to a set of shelves behind the TV and picked something up, but before he could bring it back over, a loud discussion commenced next to the window, where the small, intrusive boy had now been joined by a second, much larger figure.
    Ted froze. Wesley observed his reaction but said nothing, simply shrugged and then silently pushed his index finger into a soft heap of sand on the workbench. He made gentle, circular patterns with it, watching raptly as the fine granules flattened and dispersed. Ted remained glued to his spot by the bookshelves, anxiously rubbing his right palm onto his opposite elbow, listening apprehensively.
    What are you doing? the larger figure demanded.
    Who are you? the smaller figure responded.
    Who are you? the larger figure countered. And what are you doing in Katherine’s garden?
    Katherine? Who’s she? the smaller figure asked.
    This is her house. Does she have any idea that you’re here?
    I rang the bell, the smaller figure explained, but nobody answered.
    Well if nobody answered then she isn’t around, is she! Use your common sense. You’re treading on her hydrangea. You’re damaging it.
    So who the fuck is Katherine when she’s at home? the smaller figure enquired as the larger began firmly steering him away.
    How old are you? Shouldn’t you be at school or something?
    Christmas holidays, thank you very much, the smaller figure explained cordially.
    Their voices faded.
    ‘Welsh,’ Wesley noted, glancing up from the finely-granulated patterns he was forming, ‘is he local?’
    Ted nodded. ‘It’s Dewi,’ he spoke softly, ‘he owns the property opposite. He puts down wooden flooring. He did mine, actually. He’s very good at it.’
    ‘Why are you still whispering, Ted?’
    ‘Was I?’ Ted spoke louder again.
    ‘Yes.’
    He was just preparing to respond when Wesley noticed