Bright Angel by Isabelle Merlin Read Free Book Online Page B

the road and onto a rutted track that led into some woods. We parked in a clearing and milled around for a bit with the others before heading off up a path that went further into the trees. Marc was monopolising Claire and the others were all busy chatting to each other so I was left to straggle on behind everyone else. It didn’t matter to me. It was a lovely wood, the sunlight glinting through the fresh young leaves, the path springy underfoot from all the old leaves that had piled up during winter. There were flowers under some of the trees and moss growing on rocks and if you were far enough away from the chat, as I was, you could hear soft rustles in the undergrowth, and birds calling. For the first time in my life I heard a cuckoo. They really do go, cuckoo, cuckoo, or coucou, coucou, as the French say. It’s a nice sound, sort of intriguing. A little bit teasing, as if they’re inviting you to a game of hide-and-seek. There was a dove calling too, croo-croo, they go. That’s sort of sweet, and very peaceful-sounding.
    We finally emerged into another clearing and there all the peaceful sounds of the wood vanished behind us, because there was a great crowd of people there, and chairs set up, and equipment all over the place. Down one end there was also a tent and a big bunch of people gathered around it, all dressed up like Roman soldiers in tunics and leather armour, with shields and helmets and swords and everything. And there to one side, a little apart from the others, unmistakeable despite the get-up, a plumed helmet in his hand, was Gabriel’s big brother Daniel.
    My heart sank. Damn it. If I’d had any idea he was with Marc and his crew, I definitely wouldn’t have come. Well, at least he hadn’t seen me – yet. I hung back a bit, hoping he wouldn’t catch sight of me. Just then, to my great relief, somebody came up to him. They stood there talking for a moment, then Daniel walked off into the tent, still without seeing me. Thank God.
    I looked around for Gabriel, but couldn’t see him. But he must be somewhere around, I thought. Daniel had been so protective of him, there was no way he’d just leave him on his own somewhere. Maybe he was in the tent. I sidled off to a spot behind some chairs, right on the far edge of the clearing, where even if Daniel came out of the tent, he wouldn’t see me. Mireille was sitting there already, eating a chocolate bar and tapping on a BlackBerry. She smiled at me. Though she must be at least forty, she was still nice-looking, slim and chic and lively, her brown eyes sparkling behind their snazzy glasses. ‘Excited?’ she said.
    â€˜Oh, yes. Yes,’ I said awkwardly, trying to keep an eye on the tent flap. How stupid was that, I told myself. What did I really care if that stupid guy came out and saw me? I have a perfect right to come here. I was invited. I said, ‘There’s a lot of extras,’ pointing at the Roman soldiers.
    â€˜Oh. Yes. They’re members of a historical re-enactment society. From England, actually.’
    â€˜Oh, right.’ I knew about that sort of thing because my best friend Jessie’s older brother Sam, who I had a bit of a crush on at one time, belonged to one at home. A medieval re-enactment society. They dressed up in medieval clothes and ran around having sword battles and jousting and stuff like that. Like role-playing games, only historical. So that’s why Daniel was here. Funny. I’d not have picked him for a re-enactment sort.
    â€˜This group re-enacts Roman battles,’ said Mireille. ‘They’re very good. And they’re cheap. They do it for the love of it. They are very enthusiastic.’ She smiled. ‘But they can be a bit difficult sometimes – sticklers for the authentic rules and details, you know. They don’t like it if we change anything, not even if it’s just a tiny detail, like the pattern on a sword.’
    â€˜I