Icefire by Chris D'Lacey Read Free Book Online Page B

explain that Zanna was merely a friend from college, who’d come to drop off a book en route to a fancy dress party, when, to his astonishment, she veered toward the Pennykettles’ neighbor and said, “Hi, Mr. Bacon. Gosh, didn’t know you lived around here.”
    Mr. Bacon flicked a crusty glance at David. “Have you come to see
him,
Suzanna?”
    “Sure have,” she smiled. And before David could stop her, she’d leaned over and plopped a kiss on his cheek. “Hi, David.”
    “Hi,” he said, blushing. “How do you two know each other?”
    Zanna swished around, tassels flying. “The library, of course. Mr. Bacon is the best librarian in the world. He finds loads of interesting books for me, don’t you?”
    “Why are you wasting your time on him?” said Henry.
    Zanna smiled and said, “I’m educating him — in the ways of dragons.” She plopped a book into David’s hands, a large hardcover with a cover picture of a sleeping dragon.
    “Thanks,” he said. “Do you, erm, want to come in?”
    “Tsk, first mistake,” she said, slipping past him, “inviting a vampire over your threshold.” She giggled, showing a set of perfect white teeth, said good-bye to Henry, then stepped into the house.
    “OK,” said David, banging the door shut as he followed her in. “Liz, my landlady, isn’t at home. So promise me you won’t do anything —”
    “Shush,” she interrupted, flapping a hand. Shestooped sideways and peered wide-mouthed up the stairs, then rolled her eyes to every corner of the hall. “Wow, this house is really buzzing.”
    “Yeah, it’s the fridge. The thermostat’s wacky.”
    Zanna turned a circle. “Rain, don’t be dumb. This place is singing. Can’t you feel the energy? These walls must have a fantastic aura.”
    “Yeah, right,” he said. “Cup of tea? This way.” He hurried her toward the kitchen.
    “Honestly, you really can’t feel it?”
    “No. Sit down — and don’t scare Bonnington.”
    “Oh, you’ve got a cat!” With a squeal of excitement, Zanna scuttled across the kitchen to where a dazed-looking Bonnington was hanging over his food bowl. Zanna crouched down and tickled his ears. “Hello, Bonnington. I’m David’s friend, Zanna. He thinks I’m very strange because I dress in dark clothes and talk about things he doesn’t understand. But we don’t care about
him,
do we? You’re lovely, aren’t you? Would you like to be my friend?”
    “Leave him alone,” David scolded. “He’s very sensitive. Don’t lead him astray.”
    Zanna stood up and flicked back her hair. “I hope you’re not going to be horrible all day. I did bring you a book, after all.”
    David flipped through it, then put it on the table. “Looks good. I’ll check it out later. Thanks. Is that really your car out front?”
    Zanna nodded and looked around the kitchen. “Rich dental daddy. Spoils me rotten. Is this one of your landlady’s dragons?” She touched a finger to the dragon on top of the fridge.
    “Yes,” said David. “One of many.”
    “It’s cute. Why are its ears so frail?”
    “It’s a listening dragon. And before you ask, I don’t know what that means. It’s probably spying on us. If its eyes turn purple, run for it — quick.”
    “Purple’s my favorite color,” said Zanna, closing her eyes so that David could see her painted lids. “Is that how the dragons come alive, then — likethis?” She spread her fingers and flashed her eyes open.
    David gave her a withering look.
    “Just a joke. Chill out. Is this Lucy?” She pointed to the photograph of Liz with the snowball.
    “No, it’s Liz — when she was a kid. She keeps that snowball in the freezer.”
    “Really? Can I see it?”
    “No. Behave.”
    “Spoilsport. Where was it taken — the photo, I mean? Doesn’t look like here, with all those firs in the background.”
    “I don’t know,” said David. “I’ve never asked. Look, I’m going out into the garden for a minute. Stay here and bother