Incendiary by Chris Cleave Read Free Book Online Page B

them. Then it all stopped.
    Sky put on their test card. It was just a black background and the Sky logo and a message that said WHY NOT UPGRADE TO SKY DIGITAL ? Yes I thought. Why not?
    Jasper Black was pulling his trousers on. He tripped over and stood up again he was saying Oh god this is just too horrible. He tripped again he couldn’t make his arms and legs do what he wanted. I stood up and I went over to the telly and changed channels to the BBC. I was cold. I was wearing only my birthday suit.
    It was
Grandstand
on the BBC and they were showing the racing. It was nice to see those horses scampering round on the soft green grass. Things looked very neat and tidy at Lingfield or Chepstow or wherever it was. No blood no fire just miles and miles of nice clean white fence. It was like fish fingers it was a great comfort always the same round and round forever and ever amen. But then the horses vanished and Sophie Raworth was just sitting down in the newsroom. Her skin was very pale. She didn’t have her nice orange makeup on and she looked like the ghost of Sophie Raworth it made me nervous. She looked at the wrong camera and she fiddled with the thing in her ear. News is just coming in she said.
    —Come on. Let’s go.
    —Go where? said Jasper. I must get to the paper it’ll be all hands to the pump this is huge.
    —Bollocks to the
Sunday
bloody
Telegraph
. My husband and my boy are at that game.
    —Oh my god, said Jasper. Yes of course they are.
    —You can take me in your car.
    —I’m afraid there’s no chance, said Jasper. All the roads will be completely blocked.
    —I don’t think you heard me. My husband and my boy are at that game. I need to get them home.
    I was crying now and I couldn’t see straight. I was shaking I was thinking please god don’t let them be hurt. Jasper Black looked at me standing there all skin and pubes and tears. Then he looked at Sophie Raworth on the telly and he looked at the clock.
    —3:30, he said. We don’t go to press for another 6 hours.
    I was thinking please god don’t let them be hurt or if they must be hurt please make it so it’s only a little bit. Please god it would be alright if one of them had a cut or something. Even a broken arm. But not the boy okay? I don’t want him hurt. If there must be a broken arm oh god it ought to be my husband he’s a strong bloke he could handle it. He’d make the best of it he’d have a plaster cast and all his mates would sign it. I looked at Jasper Black.
    —Please. Please. I need you to take me to the stadium.
    —Look, he said. The emergency services can handle this. They don’t need people getting in their way.
    —You don’t understand. My husband’s leaving the force. He’s going to tell his boss first thing Monday morning. We’re going to be safe. Please help me get them home. Him and the boy. So I can make them their tea. Please please please.
    I was howling now I was standing in front of the telly with my arms crossed over my tits and there was snot coming out of my nose.
    —Oh god, said Jasper. Look at you you poor thing. I’m being a complete prick of course I’ll drive you there. You mustn’t worry I’m sure they’re both fine.
    —Thank you oh thank you I just need to get them back here that’s all.
    —Yes of course, said Jasper.
    He looked very serious. I went to the front door.
    —Stop, he said. You’re not wearing anything.
    I looked down at myself.
    —Oh yeah.
    I went back to the kitchen and pulled on my clothes. My jeans had ketchup on from where my boy squirted the bottle too hard at breakfast.
    —Oh dear these aren’t very clean. I’ll just go and change them.
    —No, said Jasper. If we’re going we must go now.
    *                  *                  *
    The street was empty. Everyone was inside watching their tellies it was just me and Jasper Black out there. We got into his car. Like my husband said it was a lovely motor but I didn’t really