Blood Water by Dean Vincent Carter Read Free Book Online Page A

estate,
they could see more evidence of the rain's work. Even
though they were on high ground now, blocked drains
were spewing out water: there was simply nowhere
underground for it to go. However, the driveway leading
to Orchard Wells High School was clear, so James drove
in and parked. They walked up to the new reception
annexe. The receptionist, Mrs Evans, looked curiously
at the scientist, asking his name and the nature of his
visit but ignoring Sean and James – whom she knew.
    'Yes, hello. My name is Richard Morrow. I'm from
the Lake Byrne Field Study Centre. I, er . . . need to see
Mr Phoenix urgently.'
    'Mr Phoenix . . .' Mrs Evans checked her log book. Sean
and James exchanged worried glances, wondering what
they'd do if Phoenix was elsewhere or, worse, missing. 'I'm
sorry, I don't have your name down here in the visitor's
book. Are you sure your appointment was today?'
    'Yes – no – look, I really need to see him right now
– it's very urgent. Could you please call him?'
    The receptionist merely checked the book again, as if
to say That's not how it's done around here, I'm afraid.
    Sean decided to have a go: 'Mrs Evans, it's really
important we see Mr Phoenix. He found something of
scientific interest and Mr Morrow needs to evaluate it.
It could be very, very important.'
    'Really?' She looked up. 'What did he find?'
    'It's, er, a rare species.'
    'A rare species of what?'
    'We don't know yet.'
    'All right, bear with me a second.' She sighed, shaking
her head as she picked up the phone.
    Pupils and teachers alike were leaving reception and
heading out into the rain, beginning their journeys home.
Sean had a feeling that for some of them it might already
be too late; some were going to get stuck. He looked down
the corridor and saw Mr Titus, the headmaster, conversing
with two teachers and pointing in the direction of the
main hall. He looked very animated and concerned.
    'He's not answering his extension,' Mrs Evans said
eventually, after being interrupted by several teachers
and pupils asking about the weather conditions
and travel arrangements. She hung up her phone in a
manner that suggested she had more important things
to do than chase errant teachers. 'He might have gone
home already. I remember seeing him go out earlier, but
not coming back. You could see if his car's in the car
park, it's the black Honda Civic . . . By the way, Sean,
aren't you supposed to be off sick?'
    'I am. It's a long story. Thanks, Mrs Evans.' Sean then
remembered that Mum would be home by now. He
didn't have his mobile – he hadn't thought he'd need
it on his walk – but James should have his. He would
wait until they'd checked the car park, then get James to
phone her with a plausible story for his disappearance.
    With no other obvious course of action they went back
out into the rain, scanning the cars for the one belonging
to Mr Phoenix. James spotted it almost right away.
    'There it is.'
    'He hasn't gone home then,' Sean said. 'So he must
either be here, or . . . he never returned from his walk.'
    They stood there getting wetter and wetter in the
rain, trying to decide what to do. Suddenly there was
a flash of lightning, followed closely by a loud clap of
thunder, and the rain intensified.
    'This is ridiculous,' Sean said, the water dripping off
his hood.
    'Come on,' Morrow said. 'Let's get back inside
– quickly.'
    * * *
    The rain prevented any part of him from drying out or
getting warm. Not that he was concerned. He couldn't
even feel the cold anyway. He was numb, devoid of
sensation. All he could do was watch and listen as the
thing controlling his body took him up the road to the
top of the hill. Phoenix didn't know what the thing was
planning to do with his body, and he didn't care, he
just wanted it back. But he knew where it was taking
him – that seemed pretty clear now, though he couldn't
work out what it intended to do when it got there. He
kept getting