Ice Diaries by Lexi Revellian Read Free Book Online Page B

overboard for solar lights; several sets of
upright ones to line the edge of my balcony, strings of stars plus
twelve in the shape of tulips. Greg had added to his Doctor Who
collection with an Expanding Tardis Tent, and Archie was highly
delighted with a pair of National Geographic Porro Prism Binoculars
for star gazing. Charlie had half a dozen cushions and two throws
chosen by Sam.
    Nina turned up just as we had nearly
finished and gazed in disbelief at our haul.
    “What happened to the list,
people?”
    Charlie explained.
    “But … you could have just
gone to the next item! Tinned food, if I remember rightly.”
    “We did get some.”
    “This was more fun, though,”
I said.
    “Fun? You’re not here to
have fun! We need to divide goods systematically like we decided,
else it’s not fair.”
    “We’re all happy with what
we’ve got, Nina,” said Paul, reasonably. Morgan leant
back against the wall, not getting involved, watching, arms crossed
and expression sardonic.
    Nina took a closer look at the nearest
box and tutted. “Greg’s got a child’s tent!”
    “It’s a Tardis,” Greg
said. “I know it’s not the real one.”
    “What good is it? You can’t
use it for anything. If you were going to go off the list you should
have stocked up with clothes, then maybe you could change them more
often.”
    I hate it when Nina gets bossy with
Greg. She makes him lose confidence. He stared at his feet, visibly
deflated. I said, “Lighten up, Nina. We don’t have to be
deadly serious the whole time. If you like, I’ll nip down and
get you some solar tulips like mine.”
    Nina turned on me. “Solar tulips?
That’s typical of you, if you don’t mind me saying, Tori.
You never take anything seriously, everything’s just a laugh to
you. Maybe one day you’ll grow up a bit and realize life isn’t
just a long series of jokes.”
    I was tired, I wanted to get home, I
could do without Nina snapping at my ankles like a demented
Chihuahua. “Whatever. I’m off. You coming, Greg?”
Greg nodded and picked up his trailer rope. Morgan slouched over to
us. “Bye, everyone.” I grabbed my rope and the three of
us headed east together. At the roundabout Greg said goodbye and
peeled off towards his home.
    When we reached the flat I turned. The
sun was setting, burnishing the skyscraper windows; the snow glowed
gold and blue, breathtakingly lovely. I opened the door – the
beastly stove had gone out. While Morgan lifted the boxes over the
balcony railing I riddled the ashes, tore pages out of a Mills &
Boon and scrunched them, added firewood and got it going again. (Two
and a half million Mills & Boon paperbacks were mixed with the
M6’s tarmac to absorb sound, so they are resigned to abuse.)
The stove takes a while to heat; supper would have to wait. It was
too cold to take off my jacket or even lower its hood. My breath
steamed in the icy air. God, I HATE the cold. I tidied away my solar
lights, except for the tulips. I ripped off the packaging and stuck
them in a jar on the windowsill where they would get plenty of light.
Without being told, Morgan turned the trailer upside down so it
wouldn’t fill with snow and started to bring the boxes inside.
I let him get on with it. I fetched two glasses and a bottle of
Bollinger – one of the few advantages to the end of
civilization is the survivors get to drink classier wine –
removed the cork and curled up on the sofa.
    I raised my glass and whispered, “Happy
birthday, David.”
    Without warning my eyes swam with
tears.

    Ice Diaries ~ Lexi Revellian

CHAPTER 6

Morgan’s past –
or part of it

    Morgan finished stacking boxes inside,
shut the door and came to see what I was doing. I offered him a glass
of champagne, and he joined me on the sofa. He kept his jacket on,
but put his hood down. Snow crystals sparkled in his beard.
    “Celebrating? Cheers.” He
had a swig, took a closer look at my face and frowned. “Are you
all right?”
    “I’m fine,” I