Demon Storm by Justin Richards Read Free Book Online

envelope had Mr Magill’s name on in Ben’s writing and underneath that was the address of the school where he was now working.
    ‘You’re right. Charlie’s birthday is on Thursday.’ Mrs Trundall sat down at her desk again. ‘I must remember to wish him a happy birthday myself.’
    *
    They received a little pocket money in the home. Not much, but Ben had been saving his for a while. He never spent a lot anyway. Some of the boys had Nintendos and PSPs and spent their money ongames for them. But Ben wasn’t really into that. He just bought a few books, the odd bar of chocolate or bag of sweets. So even before he started saving, he had some funds.
    More than enough for a train ticket to Bristol.
    He got the train times off the Internet from the library computer. He decided to catch the last train of the day. That way he shouldn’t be missed until morning. Seeing how little effort had been put into hunting for Sam, he didn’t think anyone would spend much time trying to track him down. Mrs Alten might recall he had written to Mr Magill, but that was a chance he’d have to take.
    Ben drifted off to sleep soon after the train pulled out. He was jolted awake as it left Cheltenham and again a few minutes later at Gloucester. He hadn’t really planned much further ahead than getting on the train. He knew there were two stations at Bristol and he wanted the one in the city centre – Temple Meads. But there was no point in trying to find St Humbert’s School at gone midnight. He just needed somewhere to wait in the warm until morning …
    There were several waiting rooms at the station. Ben chose the smallest, where there were only a few other people. A young man was stretchedout on one of the bench seats, his head resting on an enormous rucksack. An old woman with a supermarket carrier bag burped and smelt of drink. A man in an expensive coat complained into his mobile that he’d missed the last train and would have to wait until five a.m. for the next one and what was the country coming to and how awful it was and did they call this a service when you couldn’t even get coffee after midnight, never mind a brandy?
    Ben huddled into a fixed plastic seat in the corner of the room and eventually fell asleep.
    *
    When he woke, the station was coming to life. His watch told him it was just after half past five. The man with the mobile had gone and a few more people had arrived. A young couple with huge suitcases plastered with tags and airline labels were laughing together.
    Ben forced himself to wait a bit longer, then found a taxi at the front of the station. He told the driver the name of the school and the address.
    ‘You’ll be a bit early,’ the driver joked.
    ‘Extra maths with Mr Magill,’ Ben said.
    ‘At seven in the morning? That’s keen.’
    Ben settled back into the seat as the taxi pulled out into the start of the early-morning rush hour.
    ‘What do I say to Mr Magill?’ he wondered.
    Ben saw that the driver’s eyes were fixed on him in the rear-view mirror. Had he spoken out loud?
    ‘You all right back there?’
    ‘Fine, thanks.’
    *
    Ben waited outside the school gates until it was half past eight. Although it was a boarding school, some children obviously came each day. Ben tagged on to the back of a group of children who arrived together and walked up the long drive from the road. The main school building was red brick, imposing and Victorian. It was a bit like the home, only less forbidding and better cared for.
    Ben followed the signs for ‘Reception’ to a large wooden door. Inside was an entrance hall with another door leading into an office. The door was wedged open so the lady at the desk could see anyone who came in.
    ‘Can I help you?’ she called. ‘Sorry – I don’t think I know your name.’
    ‘It’s Ben. Ben Foundling.’ He went into the office. She looked like a kind lady, with grey hairand glasses hanging on a chain round her neck.
    ‘Foundling.’ She frowned. ‘Have